The first of many I suspect. My family and I will be bringing home to new puppies in about three weeks, they are brothers from a litter of eight. We are thinking of using the crate training method, at the moment they are all sleeping in a big playpen. first question is this, Is it ok to have both of the boys in the one crate? Dave
Re: Crate Questions..... Hi Dave, Welcome to the forum,i am sure you are right about the questions especially with 2 puppy bundles ;D but this is a really helpful place to come. I can't help you as I only have one dog and he is our first dog,a yellow boy called Dexter 11 months old....inexperienced thinking aloud....I can't see why not?especially as they are litter mates........I want to believe that it would make it an easy and comfortable transition doing it together..... The friends I have with 2 dogs ( not siblings though) all cuddle up their sleeping areas together happily . You will get more experienced advice on this I am sure,enjoy all your preps,tell us a bit more about your puppies Best Wishes Angela x
Re: Crate Questions..... I've never had two puppies at once but, as long as the crate is big enough, I cant see why you couldn't keep them together in it. This is going beyond the crate question, but two pups from the same litter will be hugely attached to each other and your challenge will be to get them to focus on you, rather than each other. Doing separate training sessions, out of sight of each other, will be important. Way back when I used to teach puppy classes, now and then we'd get a couple who had bought two pups from the same litter. The pups would be put in separate classes (each with one half of the human couple), on the opposite sides of the field, and they'd still want to spend the whole class gazing at each other across the field, and ignoring their humans. The humans had not put enough time into treating the pups as separate individuals. I don't say that to be discouraging, just to make the point that establishing a strong one-on-one bond with each puppy will be very important and working on getting good recalls and good focus on you from each puppy separately will be crucial. The good thing is - that means lots and lots and lots of fun play time with your puppies! Make sure that plenty of that play time involves different humans taking a pup each to a separate spot in the house for one-on-one fun
Re: Crate Questions..... Rachael is right, this really will be a challenge to you. Again, I am not trying to be discouraging, it's just important that you realize this will be a lot of hard work! We had a family down our road who took two golden retriever puppies and ended up re-homing one because they couldnt cope. So now is the time to read up on training two puppies together, and making sure you and your family are prepared for the extra time and training input needed! You'll get lots of support from everyone on this forum though, so fire away with the questions! I don't see any problem with keeping the two pups in one large crate - unless this will increase their bond even more at the expense of your relationship with them. But I am sure they will love cuddling up together.
Re: Crate Questions..... my sons girlfriend as two sisters that they have had from being 12 week old,they are now 6years old, they have never had any problems with them,.....they are the most well behaved dogs i have met ......one of the poor girls is blind and the other one leads her...... they kept them together as baby's...i will ask her to take a photo of them
Re: Crate Questions..... Thank you all. Is there a two puppy guide here anywhere? I will try the search facilty in a moment. Dave
Re: Crate Questions..... Hi Dave, it was Kerryn who took on a pair from a litter quite recently. She hasn't been on the forum for a while, but she does keep her blogspot a little more updated - I don't know if this might be interesting for you. http://black-labrador.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/preparations.html
Re: Crate Questions..... Jen also has two brothers - Scott and Scout. Perhaps she can give some pointers? I had half brothers for many years (same mother, different fathers) - they adored each other and lived happily with never a cross word! However, we didn't get Bones until Billy was over two years old and already well-trained, so not the same situation...
Re: Crate Questions..... Hello Dave Kerryn here, welcome to the forum from me and my mad tribe, currently numbering four: Maia (13), Hebe (6) and the Dynamic Duo: Hester and Dido aged 4 months (almost). I've always had singletons before but for many and various reasons outlined on the blog (follow the link from Jac in an earlier post), this time around I took on two. It was one of the best decisions I've made. Yes, it's hard work, four walks today so far, including our inaugural two puppy outing - it was not a success I wasn't planning on taking them out together so soon but we're going to a puppy party at the vets next Saturday so I need to ensure they are at least manageable out together. But in so many other ways having two has actually made it easier and they're such a joy. Right then cages. We have one large cage (sorry, I know everyone else calls them crates but to us it's The Cage) which is big enough for two adult labs and currently the bed for the pups, they know the command "In your bed" and hop in happily waiting for their biscuit reward. The cage has vet bed at one end along with a big towel for them to snuggle into, the other end (by the door which is in a short side) has a stack of newspaper and an untip-up-able bowl (but as experience proves totally sitable or treadable in) for water. Because of our set up the cage is in the dog house which is where the dogs sleep overnight and not the main house; the pups are in there overnight and for short periods in the morning when I'm exercising the other two (well Hebe mostly) because there's no else around to keep an eye on them then; at other times they're around with me or family. We have gates on the kitchen door, my office and my sitting room so I don't need to watch them 24/7. However, there have been odd times, like today when we were moving furniture, that they've been confined. Apart from a tummy upset they've been really good at not messing their cage overnight, so that's not been a problem. They can manage 8-9 hours which is totally amazing and now I'm getting to the point where I'm actually waking them up! Today Hester stayed in bed until she heard the breakfast dishes, lazy idle little madam ;D I don't actually crate train, it's just a safe overnight bed away from the dangers of the being on the loose and so that they don't annoy the others, which in a confined space with no escape routes the potential for problems would be ever present, however they're all safe - pups in the cage, big girls on their bed; everyone can see each other and share the space but in a safe way. Because I already have two older dogs who are used to a 'pack' structure (ie multi-dog household) it's different and much easier than having two pups on their own. From all my research (I read reams before I decided to take on two) if you have no other dogs then you'll need to separate the pups for periods of time to ensure they develop their own identities and bond with you and your family rather than with each other first or even exclusively. And that may be easier if they have their own space, ie own crates. In one study I read they advocated not letting the two pups have any contact but I think that's too extreme, I want my lot to be a pack together - as long as I'm boss of them all! My two are being trained as two singletons, separate training periods, playtime, walks etc but in between they're with everyone else and each other. They play with each other and with the older dogs who are doing a wonderful job of teaching them their manners without me needing to step in too much. I hope that's helpful, feel free to post or contact me with any questions. I know you all love photos so here you go The not so Dynamic Duo at work. And Puppy playtime with referee Hebe. I'm aiming to have the latest post online tomorrow and I'll post a link on the forum for anyone who's interested. Kerryn PS Hello to all the regulars, as you can see I've been a little busy I'll be back more frequently when things are less manic! Trust you're all well.
Re: Crate Questions..... They're looking fabulous Kerryn as is Hebe and sounds like you're having a riot (in a good way!) 8)
Re: Crate Questions..... Aw Kerryn, they are gorgeous. Hard work I am sure (bad enough with one!). It must be difficult making time for all the separate training - I have struggled just with the one (ok, ok, just lazy - too much time on the laptop : ) Lovely to hear for you.
Re: Crate Questions..... So lovely to have you back on the forum Kerryn. Hester and Dido look absolutely beautiful. Hope you are well but I bet BUSY. Take care. Helen xx
Re: Crate Questions..... oh my word, absolutely amazing how well they look, you are doing a fantastic job.......
