[cdwoodcox]

I have no idea how some couples have a small child or children both parents hold down a steady job and then decide they want puppies too. Freaking crazy. I need time to decompress and I actually like what I do. I have three malinois and I don't bat an eye at that, but kids work and a puppy? Nonono.

Funny thing is. My dogs are my decompression time. Today I got off work, went and picked up my 13 yr old and his cousin, came home let the dogs out, sat out in the cold 18 degrees Fahrenheit and watched the dogs run and play, for half an hour. Watching them run and play is one of my favorite things to do. Besides coaching my son. Training with my dogs is one of the most relaxing things in the world to me. Phone gets shut off, no one is calling me. Not thinking about tomorrow's job, or if so and so is gonna call in again, or not thinking about the fact that so and so called in today, or who owes me money that is avoiding me. I could go on and on. My dogs truly are my time to forget all the BS that comes with running a business and having to deal with PITA people almost daily.

 

[cloudpump]

I hear that the best way to approach having 2 pups at the same time is to completely separate them from one another. Crate them in different ends of the house, separate walks, separate play and training sessions. Like you said, a trainer type can pull it off and many do.

Not true. Separate time is important, but they don't need to be isolated from each other.

 

[hvtopiwala]

i was actually just going to make a post asking this exact question!

i am planning on getting a GSD and also a Golden Retriever towards the end of the year. I have had 2 GSDs in the past (not at the same time). both reached off-leash training etc...so definitely have a decent background in training and the work puppies require!

My question is, would i be in a better position getting them around the same age (+/- 1-3months) or would i be better waiting at least 6-8months after i get the first one? If the latter, would there be a preference in breed to get first? I just didn't want to have solid training on the first dog get destroyed when the pup gets in the house but i also didn't want territorial issues with the first dog not accepting the second.

The reason we are planning on getting them towards the end of the year is our upcoming timeline in our lives, we have nothing major in the next 1-2 years coming up so it gives us ample time to dedicate towards the dogs as we work from home...so we didn't want to wait more than 6-8 months in between dogs to keep everything in line.

 

[LuvShepherds]

i was actually just going to make a post asking this exact question!

i am planning on getting a GSD and also a Golden Retriever towards the end of the year. I have had 2 GSDs in the past (not at the same time). both reached off-leash training etc...so definitely have a decent background in training and the work puppies require!

My question is, would i be in a better position getting them around the same age (+/- 1-3months) or would i be better waiting at least 6-8months after i get the first one? If the latter, would there be a preference in breed to get first? I just didn't want to have solid training on the first dog get destroyed when the pup gets in the house but i also didn't want territorial issues with the first dog not accepting the second.

The reason we are planning on getting them towards the end of the year is our upcoming timeline in our lives, we have nothing major in the next 1-2 years coming up so it gives us ample time to dedicate towards the dogs as we work from home...so we didn't want to wait more than 6-8 months in between dogs to keep everything in line.

You would have more time with each one if you get them at different times. Who is going to train each one? If you split the training, where you each take one dog and work solely with that dog, it could work. I prefer getting mine with space between ages.

 

[cdwoodcox]

i was actually just going to make a post asking this exact question!

i am planning on getting a GSD and also a Golden Retriever towards the end of the year. I have had 2 GSDs in the past (not at the same time). both reached off-leash training etc...so definitely have a decent background in training and the work puppies require!

My question is, would i be in a better position getting them around the same age (+/- 1-3months) or would i be better waiting at least 6-8months after i get the first one? If the latter, would there be a preference in breed to get first? I just didn't want to have solid training on the first dog get destroyed when the pup gets in the house but i also didn't want territorial issues with the first dog not accepting the second.

The reason we are planning on getting them towards the end of the year is our upcoming timeline in our lives, we have nothing major in the next 1-2 years coming up so it gives us ample time to dedicate towards the dogs as we work from home...so we didn't want to wait more than 6-8 months in between dogs to keep everything in line.

Get the golden first. The German Shepherd will be a lot more in the other dogs face and probably more rough in play. If the golden is 6-8 months old it will be better able to deal with a German Shepherd pup. Compared to a 6 month old German Shepherd trying to play with a golden retriever puppy.

 

[hvtopiwala]

thats what i figured. so you recommend waiting around 6-8 months in between each?

in regards to training, its between me and my significant other. (golden more for her and GSD more for me). I'm usually pretty strict on training and schedules as I've been thru it with 2 pups in the past!

if getting the golden first, as long as the its had solid training hopefully it sticks with the GSD pup comes in!

with getting 2 males, it'll boil down to the individual dog more correct?

 

[MineAreWorkingline]

IME, I would wait at least one year before bringing in another male dog.

Also, because the GSD is likely to have a stronger temperament, I would get the GSD first or you might have a struggle between a softer older male vs a more dominant younger dog that could result in fights.

 

[sjhillis]

I hear that the best way to approach having 2 pups at the same time is to completely separate them from one another. Crate them in different ends of the house, separate walks, separate play and training sessions. Like you said, a trainer type can pull it off and many do.

I have done the 2 puppy thing and it turned out wonderful!! We had gotten a Spinone Italiano pup and 6 weeks later we picked up our German Shepherd pup. We are a retired couple, without any other household members, that devotes their lives to the furry members of the family. We have separate crates in different parts of the house, train separately, but allow them to exercise and play together before training sessions. They truly were wonderful together and the Spinone is lost after the passing of the German shepherd so we are contemplating the 2 puppy thing again as we are also lost without a German Shepherd. I'm not sure if having a female and a male, and different breeds had anything to do with the happy environment.

 

[hvtopiwala]

luckily i still have plenty of time to decide but i do want to put deposits down on breedings when needed. I am still doing my research and talking to the local trainers here to figure out what is the best way to go. We have the infrastructure setup to raise 2 puppies at the same time but i want to do whats overall best. I read above that i should wait at least a year to get the second dog but that would put a hitch in the timeline we have planned for the next few years.

 

[Castlemaid]

Getting having 6 to 8 months between pups is still having two puppies. The older pup may be go strong and too rough in play with the younger one, and may cause injury, or may overwhelm the puppy, creating insecurity and fear.

Your older pup will be entering the teen-age phase at the time you get the new pup, and you'll have to deal with a teen-ager with little self-control who is testing his boundaries at the same time as dealing with a new puppy. Better to wait two or three years between dogs - that seems to be a formula that works out well.

 

[Thanos Stadium]

Should you only not by litter mates for germans or any breed? I'm looking to get a german but my wife wants a smaller dog. If we get one of each, would the same issues arise? Thanks for the help!

 

[NeilGarciya]

I believe keeping 2 puppies at the same time can be considered or result in both, good and bad situation, cause it all depends on you that how you are planning to grow them... if you can invest your time, it can turn out to be a spectacular opportunity! So, i'll talk about my experience that is going on for the last 1.5 year and my West Highland White Terrier and GSD grew up together and yes, i did get them at the age of 2 months... Westie being female and GSD being male, they play but never tried to go rough... I believe they always stayed behind the lines where things could go wrong between them...
So, meanwhile, it is all up to you how you handle it!

 

[selzer]

I believe keeping 2 puppies at the same time can be considered or result in both, good and bad situation, cause it all depends on you that how you are planning to grow them... if you can invest your time, it can turn out to be a spectacular opportunity! So, i'll talk about my experience that is going on for the last 1.5 year and my West Highland White Terrier and GSD grew up together and yes, i did get them at the age of 2 months... Westie being female and GSD being male, they play but never tried to go rough... I believe they always stayed behind the lines where things could go wrong between them...
So, meanwhile, it is all up to you how you handle it!

Yeah no. I cannot agree with this. It is far more important what the make up of the individual dogs is, and how that will mesh.

Your pups are 1.5 years old and you haven't had issues, yet. They are male and female, so that won't get you into SSA. But there are other specific issues that can be problematic now, or down the line.

It isn't all aggression. There is separation issues. They could be find together, but remove one from the other, to board them, or for training, or because one needs to undergo a surgery, whatever, and one or both of them can have serious difficulties. You might find that training them is more difficult because they or so focused on their mate, that they have trouble focusing on you.

Oftentimes I will leave older pups with a bitch, or just together. And that will work with bitches for 15 -18 months, and then I will notice that one of them is more bullying and the other much more submissive. They will need to be separated, or they will not reach their potential. In fact, they probably should have been separated before then.

I have raised several litter mates. And even some of them went to separate homes at 3 years or so, without too much trouble. It depends on the individual dogs, not so much what the owners do or do not do.

 

[wolfy dog]

How would it be if you raise a male pup with his mother? Can this result in the same problems as raising two litter mates?

 

[dogfaeries]

How would it be if you raise a male pup with his mother? Can this result in the same problems as raising two litter mates?

Carly and Russ are mother and son. I took Russ to work with me every day until he was about a year old, so they were separated quite a bit. I also had Sage. Never had a problem until he was somewhere between 1 and 2, when he decided he was in charge, and not Carly. He’s a very pushy dog. We had a few scuffles, but Carly apparently decided it wasn’t worth her while to fight with him. It’s been peaceful ever since. She’ll be 8 in Jan, and he’ll be 5 in Feb. Throwing Scarlet in the mix has been pretty easy. I don’t know why Carly likes her, but she does. Scarlet is 15 months old.

 

[selzer]

How would it be if you raise a male pup with his mother? Can this result in the same problems as raising two litter mates?

Yes and no. It depends. A pup gets a huge burst of confidence when it is removed from the litter and has to sink or swim without them. A dog left with a littermate or the dam does not get this. If the dog has weak nerves, this can be problematic, and the dog may lack functioning skills when forced to do something without the dam. A dog with a good genetic make up will be fine. He may be a little more attached to his dam, but she may ignore him as some dams really are ready to be done with their young. He may not bond as tightly with humans because familiarity with the canines is so much easier, but that could be true of any home where there are multiple dogs. And it depends on the dog.

I had a singleton once, who at 7 weeks old was more excited to be outside with me, than in with his mother. And his dam was happy to be with him, didn't try to drive him away or ignore him.

I think because littermates are the same age, and depending on where they are in power, I think they are much more likely to have issues. One bully, one submissive, or constantly fighting. Mother/son -- the dam is like the Queen of the universe and the dog pup is just a surf, there is no question about that, until and unless they dog reaches sexual maturity and the dam goes into heat. He will of course try to service her, and she will of course let him. And if that happens it could make general order of things somewhat different, though the mother would still be Queen. The dog pup would then be more akin to her honored suiter or even protector. If they are separated like they should be, and then reunited, he will most likely just remain a surf until fully mature, and it is possible that his natural pack order will never reach the level it would have if he was removed from the dam. Hard to tell though, because with living things, you can't go back and try it again.

 

[Nigel]

I have no idea how some couples have a small child or children both parents hold down a steady job and then decide they want puppies too. Freaking crazy. I need time to decompress and I actually like what I do. I have three malinois and I don't bat an eye at that, but kids work and a puppy? Nonono.

We had 5 kids, both worked full time, and raised litter mates. The younger kids and pups were easy, it's the teenagers that can make things difficult. :grin2:

 

[selzer]

Why are littermates a bad idea?

Well, because most people, it seems cannot even manage one pup.

And one pup is less than half the work of two puppies, from house training on up. For example, potty training: You get a good schedule and stick with it. Shut water off at 7pm, take the puppy to potty that last time at 11 pm, and then sleep until 5:30am if you are lucky. The minute you get up, you grab the puppy and rush to the door to let him out to potty. Somewhere, somehow, that bladder filled up. ok. With one puppy it isn't that hard, but snagging two puppies up to go potty? If you just let them out, betcha one of them is going to squat before you get to the door, or carreen through the house with the other puppy following in hot pursuit. Once you manage to get them out without pottying, they are rushing around with each other, maybe piddling some, maybe pooping (and trying to eat it) and maybe to busy with the other puppy. Drive you nuts. So the next day you leave on in the kennel and take the other out until it potties, good, go back in and the other pottied in its crate. Clean that up, the two of them managed to flip over the aquarium and kill your angel fish, the devils.

And that is just potty training. Much harder to do two at once. Any accident is an invitation to pee here.

And folks just can't seem to get one animal under control anymore. My BIL (yeah the one that threatened to kill every dog in my kennel), well, his kids are not 6 and 7. Six and a half years ago when Gwen was born, Andrea spent a lot of time with my folks and they had Cujo at that time, since Gwen was quite premature and spent months in the hospital. Larry was always a little afraid of Cujo. Cujo was an experienced baby-dog and was excellent with Andrea. In fact, Larry was a little impressed at how good the dog was with her.

But today, he is praising labradors as a great family dogs and GSDs as ultra-protective, and so on.

Whatever. I told him Elena could go into all my kennels and feed the dogs without my being out there. And he expects my dogs to eat him. But not labs. Labs aren't going to bite anyone.

I told him with all the bad breeding, labs are racking up more bites. And from a bird dog that is doubly troublesome.

People who are regularly around people with GSDs for 20+ years, and still can't get over their fear and prejudice of the breed, because of all the dogs owned by people who shouldn't own a critter. Well, how do we fight their perception with the general public? And we should be happy with the general public to raise two at the same time? Are you mad?

People who have the experience with dogs to raise two at the same time, well, they are not here asking about raising a pair of pups, they are out doing it. People who are worried about how they will manage it, welll they aren't asking advice in advance.

 

[KaiserAus]

I have no idea how some couples have a small child or children both parents hold down a steady job and then decide they want puppies too. Freaking crazy. I need time to decompress and I actually like what I do. I have three malinois and I don't bat an eye at that, but kids work and a puppy? Nonono.

I have two kids (10 and 11yrs old)
Two siamese cats
1 GSD (1yr old)
1 Husband who works away (away for 3 weeks and then home for 1 week)
And I work 50hrs a week

It is a struggle to keep everything going smoothly... I use the time of walking the dog and doing training as a time to decompress and enjoy the outdoors. Taking a walk down to the beach with Kaiser in the evening to watch the sunset is a great way to reset myself.

 

[Nigel]

Why are littermates a bad idea?

Well, because most people, it seems cannot even manage one pup.

And one pup is less than half the work of two puppies, from house training on up. For example, potty training: You get a good schedule and stick with it. Shut water off at 7pm, take the puppy to potty that last time at 11 pm, and then sleep until 5:30am if you are lucky. The minute you get up, you grab the puppy and rush to the door to let him out to potty. Somewhere, somehow, that bladder filled up. ok. With one puppy it isn't that hard, but snagging two puppies up to go potty? If you just let them out, betcha one of them is going to squat before you get to the door, or carreen through the house with the other puppy following in hot pursuit. Once you manage to get them out without pottying, they are rushing around with each other, maybe piddling some, maybe pooping (and trying to eat it) and maybe to busy with the other puppy. Drive you nuts. So the next day you leave on in the kennel and take the other out until it potties, good, go back in and the other pottied in its crate. Clean that up, the two of them managed to flip over the aquarium and kill your angel fish, the devils.

And that is just potty training. Much harder to do two at once. Any accident is an invitation to pee here.

And folks just can't seem to get one animal under control anymore. My BIL (yeah the one that threatened to kill every dog in my kennel), well, his kids are not 6 and 7. Six and a half years ago when Gwen was born, Andrea spent a lot of time with my folks and they had Cujo at that time, since Gwen was quite premature and spent months in the hospital. Larry was always a little afraid of Cujo. Cujo was an experienced baby-dog and was excellent with Andrea. In fact, Larry was a little impressed at how good the dog was with her.

But today, he is praising labradors as a great family dogs and GSDs as ultra-protective, and so on.

Whatever. I told him Elena could go into all my kennels and feed the dogs without my being out there. And he expects my dogs to eat him. But not labs. Labs aren't going to bite anyone.

I told him with all the bad breeding, labs are racking up more bites. And from a bird dog that is doubly troublesome.

People who are regularly around people with GSDs for 20+ years, and still can't get over their fear and prejudice of the breed, because of all the dogs owned by people who shouldn't own a critter. Well, how do we fight their perception with the general public? And we should be happy with the general public to raise two at the same time? Are you mad?

People who have the experience with dogs to raise two at the same time, well, they are not here asking about raising a pair of pups, they are out doing it. People who are worried about how they will manage it, welll they aren't asking advice in advance.

I agree, if you have to ask "can it it be done" you probably shouldn't.