We'll be picking up 2 Golden Retriever puppies on Friday. I couldn't find too much information on what to watch out for when house breaking 2 instead
of one. anything we have to watch out for or do different than with one? can we take them out together to have them get their business done?
0 Kudo
house breaking 2 puppies
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 Tyler |
house breaking 2 puppies |
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Posts: 6 07/02/08 4:38 PM |
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Schiptosign |
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Posts: 5231 07/02/08 6:20 PM Professional Trainer/Moderator |
Welcome to the message boards.
Likely they will be too distracted playing to focus on the potty job. To have hope of being successful raising 2 together, they must basically be raised separately. They need to be in separate crates at night and during rest times during the day, have separate potty and exercise time with the people, separate play time with the people, separate training time and snuggle time with the people. Puppies raised together can become VERY dependent on each other such that they suffer major separation anxiety when separated. Another possibility is that as they mature they fight so that one has to be rehomed to keep them from injuring each other or worse. I would suggest only getting one puppy now, raising him/her until at least one year old and housebroken and trained, then consider adding another dog. 2 raised together seems very cute and easier, but it is a TON of work to do it successfully. |
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H2Odogs |
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Posts: 925 07/02/08 6:25 PM |
Oh, be still my heart! 2!! Oh, wow! Two!!
I have 2 Goldens (see my Avatar) I got 1 puppy, then another puppy 6 months later So technically I also had 2 GR puppies at basically the same time. I can relate. And quite frankly I don't remember how I did it because all I can remember is how darn adorable they were. I know I used 2 separate crates, monitored their food intake (duh) and fed them each in a place where they couldn't see each other eating. That I distinctly remember because it was the only altercation they ever had. Food or otherwise. It's OK to take them out together to pee and poop. The only thing I can say from experience is that you really have to allow some time to spend with each of them separately as they are going to be automatically programmed to bond more to each other than to you, if they are always together. So try to think of them as 2 different dogs instead of 1 unit. It's not as easy as it sounds. I'm sure I could think of more advice for you once I stop swooning, but right now I have visions of Golden Retriever puppy breath and bellies x 2. What ages are they on Friday? Males? Females? From a breeder? Local? What made you choose Goldens? You MUST put up pix. I have to see these puppers!! There will be more people offering suggestions for you that can think rationally at the moment! Keep us posted on their progress, -Diana |
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cdturner |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 5335 07/02/08 9:58 PM Moderator/Rescue |
I basically did what H2Odogs did. I had one pup, and when he was 6 months old, an adorable puppy was brought in to the shelter where I volunteer, and I
adopted her, too. They're both 9 years old now.
Are they reasonably good dogs? Yes, I think so. Would I get two that close together again? No Do I recommend doing it? No Unless you're going to devote almost all of your free time to the training of the pups, they're not going to get the training and attention that they would get if you had one puppy at a time. If you have children in your home, other relatives that you need to spend time with, a job, volunteer work, community/church activities, a social life (that doesn't involve dogs  ), you're
going to be  .
It sounds as if I'm being extremely negative concerning a choice you've made, and I'm sorry. That's not a great way to welcome anyone to the boards, and I'm delighted that you've come here. However, if I don't say something, I'm afraid that in a couple of weeks, you'll be asking "Why didn't anyone warn me?" So, welcome!
Carolyn
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divinek9 |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 432 07/02/08 11:11 PM Administrator |
Welcome to the boards |
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 TKW |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 3711 07/02/08 11:24 PM Professional Trainer/Moderator |
Oy, I just wrote a whole thing giving you a real picture of what your days will look like with 2 puppies and lost it.
At any rate, you're looking at an average of each puppy going outside about 15 times a day from sun-up to sun-down. Grooming, handling, playing, training, socializing... all separately. I usually recommend one or 2 play periods a day together, but the rest are individual playtimes with you. At Puppy Kindergarten I like to see the pups in 2 different classes if possible. If not, you'll need 2 handlers, keep the pups at opposite ends of the training room, and switch dogs with the other handler so you both get a chance to work wtih the puppy in class as well as at home. Fair warning... the more they cry the more important it is that they be allowed to develop and learn how to cope without one another as well as get along respectfully in the house. Don't be fooled into thinking that they miss each other so you have to keep them together. Coping with being alone is a skill all puppies have to learn. Much harder for pups raised together. I'd look at how much time you feel you have every day with no obligations other than to do what the puppies need you to do. I'm guessing between 2 - 3 ? That wouldn't be enough. However.... should you decide to get the pups, and hopefully a male/female combo, we will help you the best we can. Just hoping our collective experience can help guide you to a well-informed decision. |
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Tyler |
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Posts: 6 07/02/08 11:28 PM |
I'm very realistic about the amount of work and I have tons of time, my partner is working from home as well, so we're in the lucky situation of being
able to be around 24h. I'm not afraid of the work , it's really more about how seperated they will have to be while being trained and learning.
they will be (almost) 8 weeks old photos will be provided as soon as possible :-) |
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H2Odogs |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 925 07/03/08 8:09 AM |
I would also like to add that you should have a recall name for both at the same time, as well as their individual names.
For example, if Sunny gets distracted by a squirrel, it's "Sunny, Come!" If Cooper is chasing a tennis ball in my neighbors yard, it's "Cooper, Come!" If they're both headed towards a stream I don't want them go go in right after they've been groomed, it's "PUPPIES, COME!!" And they both show up. Or we age getting in the car, it's "Puppies - Get In!" By the way, they are over 9 and are still referred to them as "PUPPIES"!!! Just habit. 
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SW845 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 16299 07/03/08 8:14 AM Professional Trainer/Owns Board |
Getting dogs six months apart is not the same as raising littermates together.
Please pay special attention to the moderators comments here - they are giving you excellent feedback without any enthusiastic breed bias clouding their vision. 
Having raised two pups together - here's the deal: Crate them separately - ideally in different rooms. The reason to this is two fold: 1) it gets them used to being by themselves and 2) if you need to walk one, you aren't leaving one yipping in the crate as you leave the room. With your set up, you will easily be able to take them out separately so they can learn to play with and focus on and bond with you. I basically gave the two pups pretty minimal time together for the first six months with me. A play period to day, some hang out time in the house, but basically I rotated them constantly treating them like two individual pups I was raising rather than a pair. I got them out and about and around lots of other dogs and people so their world was quite large beyond each other. In this way I raised two dogs who were attached to me, confident being on their own and bonded to but not overly dependant on each other. Why go through all this hassle? To prevent raising, as has been said here before, a dog with one brain and 8 legs, dogs who panic when separated and who head off on their own together when loose. I am not overly concerned about aggression between them - if they are good Goldens - but a male and a female would be ideal. Second choice, two males. Last choice, two females. Also, take them to separate puppy classes.... It can be done, it is well worth doing ... but most people just aren't up for the task. Getting one, waiting six or more months and then getting another is a much better plan (and not remotely the same thing).
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first.
Last Edited By: SW845 07/03/08 8:23 AM.
Edited 1 time.
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TKW |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 3711 07/03/08 8:48 AM Professional Trainer/Moderator |
Ah, thanks Sarah.... that was also in my first eaten post.... crating separately in different rooms.
Glad you are able to be there for them 24/7. The part about going out separately from sun-up to sundown? change that to throughout the night as well
I also had mentioned the m/f vs m/m and lastly f/f as Sarah mentioned. Whew! Good thing there are a few of us here to pick up each other's slack
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SW845 |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 16299 07/03/08 9:21 AM Professional Trainer/Owns Board |
Yeah, night time runs are best separate anyway since the pups will start to play with each other (yeah, voice of experience here) but sometimes, if both need
out then both need out... it's a lot of juggling at first but everyone falls into step pretty quickly... well worth the effort...
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first. |
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KellieB |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 2798 07/03/08 10:41 AM Senior Member
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Welcome.
We just had a member recently try to prevent her friend from adopting 2 littermates at the same time. Here's the original post: http://familydog.yuku.com/topic/10115 And the conclusion: http://familydog.yuku.com/topic/10689 From my understanding this very, very rarely turns out to be a positive thing for the owners, or the dogs. One puppy is a tremendous amount of work. So much work that you sometimes start thinking "what did I get into!?!?"...I can't imagine compounding that by a factor of say 10ish. You are going to have to work very very hard (and you have to work very very hard with one puppy) to make sure that they spend hardly any time together, and are mostly with you. This will mean that at any given time, there will be one puppy free in your house while the other one is crated. Trust me...you're going to want some "dog-free" time. Yes, puppies are cute, but I think you'll appreciate the experience a lot more if you wait 6 months to a year before adding your 2nd dog. ~Kellie
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PoochProfessor |
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Posts: 372 07/04/08 9:54 AM Professional Trainer
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Wow...in your question from an earlier thread about what age to get a puppy, you never mentioned you were getting 2. I'd have given you more info then, for
sure.
A good breeder will not try to foist 2 on you...I hope this is not what happened. Sarah and others' comments on here about raising 2 are right on. I'm not trying to toot anyone's horn, but they are exactly right. The fact that you'll have someone home all the time (24 hours? do you both ever leave the house to grab a bite or something?) will mean the pups should get more looking after than if you both worked, so that sounds good. But the stuff about separation cannot be taken lightly. Many people get 2 because they want them to grow up together, and they like the idea of them wearing each other out (less work for the people) and this is the advice they ignore ("Oh, they're so cute playing...what harm can it do?") The harm it does is done before you know it. Ont thing about littermates that has not yet been said is that one is always more controlling than the other (unless you follow Sarah's rules to the letter). This means that the less controlling one will never reach his or her full potential as a dog, and will always be "under the thumb" of the other pup.  This often leads to serious aggression later.
Regardless, if you are locked into 2, you've been given great advice here. I do hope it works out for you. You will certainly have your hands full for a while.
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Tyler |
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Posts: 6 07/06/08 3:07 PM |
Hi Guys,
sorry for the late reply, we've been very busy for the last two days  and thanks for the great advice, you guys are amazing and we appreciacte the opinions and concerns very much  . We decided to get two puppies as our lifestyle allows it, the time, the
seperate raising, the cost (referring to the other case that was mentioned) all are not a big deal (just to assure that Tyler and Kobie are getting a good
home). The breeder did not talk us into it, although she did say that she often has sold 2 to the same people after we told her about the feedback on this
message board. It's great to know what to watch out for and how to deal best with two puppies.
Photos will be uploaded very soon, both have already proven very photogenic 
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Tyler |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 6 07/07/08 10:32 AM |
The first online photos of Tyler and Kobie (the first of hundreds to come, I'm sure )
Thanks again for the advice, we've let them spend some time together over the weekend and now one is with each of us in their [EDIT: Freudian slip - "our", not "their"] own office and it's probably easier on all of us )
Last Edited By: Tyler 07/07/08 10:39 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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H2Odogs |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 925 07/07/08 10:55 AM |
Somebody call an ambulance for me...I'm going to faint.
This brings back so many memories for me, I can't even stand it! Look at that big ole head on the right - be still my heart! They are exceeding adorable. Get me a pacemaker - quick!  
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H2Odogs |
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Posts: 925 07/07/08 10:59 AM |
DO I SPOT a lipstick kiss mark on the snout in first pic?
My vet just deadpans when I come in and says "Lipstick?" and I sheepishly say "yeah..." I kiss my dogs faces all the time. May I ask who your breeder is and from where? You can PM me privately if you want. -Diana |
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