Hi, new poster here. I am an experienced lab owner, but we sadly lost our boy (12 y.o.) last month. We had our name down with a local breeder and are now going to be getting two puppies in a few months time. Our reasoning was that they would be company for each other and we could get the puppy phase over in a oner rather than doing it twice. I've owned multiple dogs, but never used a crate with any of them. I'm considering it for the puppies, as they will be up in our room at night initially. Should I crate them both together, at least for the first week/few weeks, or separate crates right from the start. I'm looking at crates with dividers that would be big enough for two to start off with, then get another one so they have one each? We'll need crates for travelling in the car anyway. Does anyone have any recommendations for ones that would work for a puppy through to a fully-grown dog? I do know we're going to have our hands full with two puppies, but are planning to divide and conquer/train them separately etc.
My wife and I also lost our 12-year old lab last October and got two puppies from the same breeder. We got our first eight-week-old puppy in mid-November and our second one (same dad, different mom) six weeks later. While our situation is a little different, perhaps we can share some information that might be helpful as two puppies at the same time exponentially increases the work and attention required. First, we bought a crate but only used it sparingly with the first dog. We had the advantage of training him full time (potty training included) until the next puppy arrived. He sleeps in our bed at night and has done fine from the beginning. Our second puppy has been crated at night since we got her and we've had no problems with either dog because of it. The biggest issue we found initially with two puppies was the constant interaction/playing together when they were together. It was exhausting watching them, taking outside, etc. They required constant supervision. After about a week, things got better and now we have a schedule where they have a playtime, nap, playtime, nap, lunch, playtime, nap, playtime, nap, dinner, playtime, nap, then bed. As I said, it's a very time-consuming process. They really play well together, have become best buddies, and often even nap together without disturbing the other. They are really happy together. I would make sure you spend a lot of time training them separately. This way you can get their full attention; you won't when they are together. One last comment: Be prepared!!!!
It's great that you're thinking about this ahead of time. Having two pups at the same time definitely takes a lot of planning and work, but if it's done right it can be amazing. The goal should be to have them sleeping in separate crates in separate places, but I wouldn't compound the transition to a new place with being separated right away. I'd start them in separate crates right next to each other where they can see, smell, hear, and nuzzle a little, and then gradually move those crates apart over their first two weeks at home. Move them so they can't touch first at first but can still see, smell, and hear each other. Then move them out of eyesight but still within the same room (this might mean on opposite sides of your bed). And so on. You don't want them to be "codependent" (to use a human term). They'll need to be able to be apart from each other (for vet visits for example) without causing distress. And as they hit adolescence, having separate spaces of their own to retreat to can prevent aggression & competition. You'll also need to set aside separate training, play, and socialization time for each puppy. You'll want them to each bond individually with their humans, to learn to brave the big world, and to interact with other dogs and humans independently. Signing up for separate puppy "kindergarten" classes and later obedience classes, identifying their individual strengths and loves for separate outings/activities, and having different days for daycare or similar are all good things to plan on. Individual feeding areas is also a good idea. Having a playmate at home their own age and size is a wonderful bonus, but try to make it an addition to everything you would do yourself to raise a healthy, happy only-child puppy. Doing that will help to avoid any littermate aggression or separation anxiety (or both) developing down the road.
You might be interested in reading the following link at. https://www.australiandoglover.com/2018/08/littermate-syndrome-in-dogs-fact-or.html
Very interesting Michael. I have also read recently that there is no evidence of this supposed " syndrome". I think it's important to debunk myths like this.
You might be interested in reading the following link. https://www.australiandoglover.com/2018/08/littermate- Do you want to link your source? I agrree. We need to understand better the causes of behavioural issues. Although we seem to have misunderstood the source,, the potential behavioural problen is still very real. Socialisation is important, and really hard work when there are two puppies of the same age.
https://winter2019.iaabcjournal.org/littermate-syndrome/ Interesting article on the myth of littermate syndrome
Thanks everyone for your helpful advice, we're planning our 'divide and conquer' strategies to the max, as we don't want chaos. Our children are older teenagers ( youngest is 17) so after an initial settling in period we've got the ability to have one in our room overnight, one in a different room. We're in the country, but have multiple neighbours with friendly dogs for socialising, as puppy classes may still not be running due to covid (we're in Scotland).
