Why Raising Two Puppies may Not be a Good Idea
Litter mates are Adorable but It Often Means Double the Trouble
Oct 19, 2009 Adrienne Farricelli
Many times prospective dog owners will visit a breeder and find themselves stuck in choosing between two puppies. One puppy seems to be really interested in being adopted and has made its way through the litter to just come and say hi, whereas, the other, on the other hand, has the most adorable face with very expressive eyes. Which one should be taken home?
It does not take long for the owners to decide the easiest way out: why not adopt both? This is the moment when owners will know exactly if they are dealing with a reputable breeder or a backyard breeder.
The backyard breeder will typically say: 'Why not? The idea is great, this way they will both keep each other company while you are away'. On the other hand, the reputable breeder will be much less excited and more reluctant with the end result of refusing to give the two away.
What's all the fuss about? Very likely the backyard breeder will be thinking of profits, while the reputable breeder will be thinking about the pup's wellbeing. Yet, for a first time dog owner, these different opinions may appear difficult to understand. Truth is, raising two puppies is much more difficult than thought.
It is nice to imagine both pups entertaining their owners and playing for hours. Best of all, indeed they will keep each other company while the owner is at work, but unfortunately this idyllic, fairy tale scene is far from coming true. More likely than not, raising two puppies together will be one of the most difficult situations dog owners may find themselves facing. For this reason, only quite experienced dog owners or breeders should embark on such adventures.
What are the reasons behind this? There are several, enough to discourage the most passionate prospective puppy owners out there. Following are some of the most likely issues to arise.
- Half Dog Syndrome
Because the puppies grow up together, they tend to bond a lot. When this happens there is a risk that they do not develop into their full potential and therefore, they remain two half dogs that need each other in order to feel whole. This prevents the dog from blooming into the dog it could be if it had bonded more with its owner.
- Excessive Stubbornness
Because the puppies tend to bond more with each other than with their owner, they may, as well, lose their interest and may not please their owner as one would wish. This causes a predisposition in being stubborn. A typical scenario is a puppy misbehaving and being scolded by the owner. Instead of feeling upset from the reprimand and learning from the correction, the puppy instead goes to play with its littermate caring less about the mishap.
- Lack of Time and Energy
It is difficult enough to raise one puppy; just imagine doubling the time, energy and effort that comes with dealing with two puppies. Often, therefore, one puppy or the other, or worse both, risk not being socialized or trained enough as they are supposed to.
- Scheduled Play Sessions
In order to avoid excess bonding, therefore it is best to keep the puppies as separated as possible. This means scheduling different training sessions, carrying on separate walks, separating sleeping areas and separating feeding areas to avoid the dogs bonding too much. The pups can be allowed to play, but this should be limited and scheduled as well.
- Stronger Pack Drive
The more dogs are in the pack, the stronger the pack drive. Therefore, two dogs require much stronger leadership skills than one. This often means that as an owner, you will need to work hard on being a good leader and that you must control the pack and prevent fights. Keeping two dogs together unsupervised may mean asking for trouble. Owners must supervise at all times and intervene as needed. This is the work for pack leaders.
- Same Sex Issues
Adopting two dogs of the same sex and of the same age may cause major rivalry once the dogs hit the adolescent and adult stages of their lives ( 18 to 30 months old). Such fights are greater in those dogs that are not spayed or neutered. However, even those altered may develop some feisty behaviors.This is particularly true of female dogs raised together. It is not unheard of female dogs putting up bloody fights that have turned out fatal. Males however, are capable of some intense fights as well.
As seen, adopting litter mate puppies may not be a good idea. Unless you have a lot of time and experience on hand, if you really want to own two dogs, it is best to raise one puppy into its full potential and then adopt another puppy once the first one has grown into a stable and mature adult dog.
Two Puppies Play a Lot But May Cause Trouble
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