2 Puppies @ Once?

[E.J.]

So after the loss of my dog Scout, I have started a peripheral search for another.... Always have had/will have, a dog in the house....

Anyway, we talked numerous times about getting Scout a friend to have around. I looked a bit, but always hesitated related to having to go through the training process ALL OVER AGAIN.....

Now I wonder...... What if I did it.... What if I picked up 2 dogs....???

Anyone here done it? Would you advise against it? Thoughts?

[68TriShield]

We got two Dalmation pups at one time.
We would do it again in a heartbeat,they keep each other company.

[shilala]

It's just as easy to train two at once as it is one, but it's a lot easier to train a new dog with an old dog.
If you're talking about little dogs, I'd say go for it, especially if you think you'll enjoy them. If they're big dogs, I'd train one first and add a puppy in a couple years. Big dogs tend to get big and dumb together and get a mind of their own (bad habits) if you can't spend lots of time with them.
It's not so much what will they do, as what do you have time for.
Let us know what kind of dog you're getting so I can live vicariously through you. I miss having dogs, bad.

[mosesbotbol]

If you can get two from the same litter, how cute would that be! Male and female. What breeds are you looking for?

You could also get two dogs from a shelter that seem to get along with each other.

I have always taken in dogs as adults, so I have little puppy experience.

I have 2 ACD blue heelers they are litter mates ones a male Mahone and the other a female Pogue. I would always have 2 dogs, sometimes it get difficult with training them to do tricks and stuff but they keep each other busy so in the end I think its better

[Razorhog]

I also suggest getting shelter dogs. The people that work there can tell you the temperament of each dog. A lot of shelters have websites where you can see and read about them. Depending on your stage in life, getting a puppy might not be the best thing - two would be crazy IMHO. My dog is 6 years old now, and I got him when I was single. I had time to watch him like a hawk during the potty training time. Some friends of mine have a dog that died, and they immediately got another puppy. They have a 2 year old girl and another dog too - trying to watch/train a puppy in that environment is nearly impossible. Now the dog is getting older and still not house trained.

[neoflex]

We more or less did the same thing but got them 2 months apart. My wife trains them together and I actually think they learn quicker together because if one gets it the other one follows and than figures out the command. We also like the fact that if we are not home that they have each other to occupy one another rather than always getting into trouble like our Dalmation did when left alone for too long. Our two dogs are always playing together and will rarely be found away from the one another.

[E.J.]

No rescue dog.... One bad experience was enough....

[CigarNut]

We got two togethger (miniature Poodles) and don't regret it. We were warned however that the dogs would tend to bond with each other more than with us, and that is true. Still, no regrets!

[SmokeyJoe]

OHHHHHHH.... OK.

You didn't mean THESE puppies.



More on topic... everyone I know that has tried two dogs has said they prefer it. We are sticking with one at my house, though.

[papichulo]

those look like small melons

[Razorhog]

I have a miniature schnauzer and a golden retriever. They are a great pair, but not bought at the same time. The schnauzer is dominant and incredibly intelligent. The golden is a little dopey, but very sweet and lovable. Next big dog I get will probably be a Goldendoodle.

[ashtonlady]

I have had 2 dogs at a time. But I am also a believer that you should raise one dog at a time.

[montecristo#2]

I think I am on the side of one at a time. I would probably get one and then wait a year to get a second. Although, I can only speak from experience. We tried two puppies at the same time and had to return one to our breeder (granted these were our first dogs). She was actually really against it but thought we could give it a try. She was really cool about the whole situation though.

It was extremely hard to separate them when we had both. All they wanted to do was play with each other and they were rather violent when playing (they were litter mates). Plus, house training was twice a difficult as we had to constantly watch two puppies.

We actually thought they would keep each other company when we were gone. But instead of no lonely puppies, we had two lonely puppies. Granted, we have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and these dogs were basically bread to sit on peoples laps, so independence is not in their DNA.

Now that he has calmed down and is fully trained, sometimes I wish we had not returned his brother, but I know it was best for both him and Crick (the one we kept).

Also, I cannot imagine twice the Vet bills - two dogs to vaccinate and get fixed at the same time.

[King James]

I didn't get my two dogs at the same time, but the older one was still around a year old when we got the other. the older one obviously had a head start and was fairly well trained by the time the pup came around, but I don't think you would have too many problems either way

[hotreds]

Yes!

[Lucky_Hippo]

When my Chocolate Lab started to look like she was going down hill we brought in a boxer pup. The puppy "forced" the Lab to play and she started to move around more. Lost some extra weight and got a little of the bounce in her step back. Although she's slid in the health department since then, that was 2 years ago and I truly belive the puppy helped all of us to gain a few extra years together that we probably wouldn't have had.

[jaydub13]

Originally Posted by Brilliant

I have 2 ACD blue heelers they are litter mates ones a male Mahone and the other a female Pogue. I would always have 2 dogs, sometimes it get difficult with training them to do tricks and stuff but they keep each other busy so in the end I think its better

Pogue and Mahone?!?! LMAO That's fantastic! Well done!

And I agree with what most everyone is saying. I have one dog now, but if I had it to do over, I would have gotten 2 at once. Especially since I have a cocker spaniel, and those dogs just love to cause trouble when they're bored...

[Volt]

My ...... man cannot have too many dogs. They bring smiles to my face, lower my blood pressure and make me laugh with their antics. Only keeping peace with the wife keeps me from having more.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by montecristo#2

I think I am on the side of one at a time. I would probably get one and then wait a year to get a second. Although, I can only speak from experience. We tried two puppies at the same time and had to return one to our breeder (granted these were our first dogs). She was actually really against it but thought we could give it a try. She was really cool about the whole situation though.

It was extremely hard to separate them when we had both. All they wanted to do was play with each other and they were rather violent when playing (they were litter mates). Plus, house training was twice a difficult as we had to constantly watch two puppies.

We actually thought they would keep each other company when we were gone. But instead of no lonely puppies, we had two lonely puppies. Granted, we have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and these dogs were basically bread to sit on peoples laps, so independence is not in their DNA.

Now that he has calmed down and is fully trained, sometimes I wish we had not returned his brother, but I know it was best for both him and Crick (the one we kept).

Also, I cannot imagine twice the Vet bills - two dogs to vaccinate and get fixed at the same time.

Hehe - I have had chows for the past 20 years - independant is all they are. They favor us by letting us pet them and play with them. Fiercely loyal and great defenders of the homestead.