If you're like most people, you love spending time with your dog. And what could be better than spending time with two dogs? As the saying goes, two are better than one! The more the merrier, right?
Dogs are social creatures and often love the company of furry friends as much as we do, but taking care of two dogs at the same time can add a few more challenges to your day-to-day routine. Here are a few tips to help make life with getting 2 dogs at once easier for both you and your four-legged companions.
Benefits of Getting 2 Dogs at the Same Time
Getting 2 puppies will be twice the fun! Let’s look at the benefits of bringing home 2 puppies at the same time.
Pack partners
Dogs instinctively have a pack mentality. Trainers will be the first to tell you that dogs need a defined hierarchy with one leader. Dogs naturally seek out this structure within their family.
When training two puppies at the same time, you need to be intentional about making yourself the Alpha in order to prevent any dominance struggles from developing. Enforce yourself as the leader of the pack!
Studies also indicate that dogs mirror the behavior of other dogs and of their owners. They learn to mimic rewarding behaviors while avoiding behaviors that offer no reward (or even a stern No!) The stronger the social bond, the more puppies will mimic one another. It will be your responsibility to ensure they’re mimicking desired behaviors.
Puppies’ interactions with humans where a reward is given shape imitative behavior. The key is to focus on desired behaviors you want your puppies to do and to pay no attention to what is not desired. Positive reinforcement is the backbone of behavior modification and is the most humane way to train your puppies. Let it be known that you are the gatekeeper of praises and treats!
Home homies
Another benefit of bringing home a second puppy is working with them both in a completely neutral environment. Introducing a new puppy to your dog that is already set in its ways and protective of its home may cause territorial problems. Allowing two puppies to learn and grow side-by-side in a place that they do not already claim as their own will help the transition in socializing them.
Using new toys will also keep training exciting for your puppies and will help keep them interacting. You don’t want to train two puppies with toys that one of them already claims. This could bring about resource guarding in puppies and will make it more difficult to see good results.
Support siblings
Training both of your puppies at once creates a built-in support system for each pup. This early socialization could also go a long way in keeping your puppies on their best behavior around friends, family, and other dogs.
Social development reduces stress for your puppies as well as for you! Knowing you can walk your dogs, take them to the park, and have them around your loved ones with the peace of mind that nothing bad will happen is crucial when living with 2 dogs around the same age. Give them plenty of treats when they display positive behavior and be sure to supervise their interactions at all times.
Once they are comfortable with one another, you can begin training sessions together. This will help reinforce good behaviors and create an enjoyable experience for both pups! Who knows — your two-dog team might even become best friends before long! Happy training!
What to Consider When Raising 2 Puppies
Of course, there are 2 sides to every coin. Here are some reasons why it may be better for you to start with one puppy at a time.
Dependent dogs
You must make sure that you are offering enough individual love to each puppy. If they become too dependent on each other, you may experience a roadblock in asserting your authority over them during training.
When you adopt 2 puppies from the same litter, a unique set of challenges may come forth where they develop a strong attachment to each other but not to their human parent. This dependency on one another interferes with their ability to interact in a functional way with other dogs and humans. This cluster of behavioral issues in puppy siblings has been labeled “littermate syndrome.”
Being a secondary relationship in your puppy’s life is probably not what you have in mind instead of being the head of the household. The way to combat littermate syndrome is to treat each dog as an individual. It’s advised to separate them when working on commands. Remember to make sure that you are the main influence on your puppies’ activity and behavior in order to prevent one of them being a negative impact on their level of obedience.
More money, more problems
Ironically, the joy and therapy that puppies offer are priceless, but that comes with a cost! Owning two dogs at once means twice the vet bills and other required expenses.
You will also need to double up on leashes, collars, nametags, crates, food and treats, and other accessories that you want to spoil your puppies with. Boarding and grooming costs are another factor to consider if you go out of town or choose breeds that require regular professional grooming.
There may even be costs that aren’t as obvious until you dig deep into your pockets. You may even need another vehicle to transport your family and 2 dogs. Perhaps you’d like to build a fence so your puppies can have a safe space to play. Your lease may charge double the monthly pet fees and non-refundable deposit fees.
Make sure that you are aware of both obvious and hidden costs and that you are ready to sustain your puppies’ lives for their full lifespans.
Does gender matter?
There is no empirical evidence that having two females, two males, or a male and female puppy makes raising a pair of puppies easier or harder. According to Brad Phifer, CPDT-KA, Director of Pet Behavior Services for Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center in Indianapolis, a dog’s personality is the most important indicator of raising 2 dogs at the same time, not necessarily gender.
Our recommendation is to have your puppy spayed or neutered when the time is right, so hormonal or aggressive behaviors should not be an issue. Of course, some dogs have specific preferences that you should be aware of, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn to love each other!
Although opposite-gender pairs are usually recommended in order to avoid any potential dominance issues, having the same genders can be a great way to provide socialization opportunities for your canine companions. Whether you're dealing with the same gender or both genders, the same basic rules apply: keep each pup on its own leash and keep them at separate distances from one another during training sessions. With consistent practice and patience, even the most chaotic duo can learn how to coexist peacefully! By employing this method, you'll likely find yourself with two very well-mannered sidekicks before you know it.
Puppy Concierge Tara Mir's sweet puppies are ready for Christmas
Should I Get 2 Different Dog Breeds?
You may be considering how to raise two different breeds of dogs together. There are various opinions out there, but the short answer is it all depends. The key is to do thorough research on the breeds you’re trying to put together and think about what you are looking for when adopting 2 puppies at once.
Certain breeds have more “prey drive” than others, and you don’t want your smaller dog looking like a toy to be rough-housed with. However, other large breeds are quite mellow and tolerant of smaller dogs that think they are also big dogs.
Your research may reveal that some breeds are better suited to be the “lone wolf” in the home, so you shouldn’t be getting a second dog anyways. Look for dogs that are agreeable in nature and naturally social rather than dogs that tend to be more territorial.
You should definitely look into breeds regardless of size that matches your household’s activity levels and housemates – including children.
Look into breeds that are a great fit right now for how you live your life. Now is not the time to decide to make major lifestyle changes in hopes that you will be more active if you get 2 dogs that are high-energy.
Consider dog breeds good for first-time owners or low-maintenance dog breeds if you’re becoming a new puppy parent. If you have children in the home, you may want to pick 2 dog breeds that are great with children or the best family guard dogs. Those who suffer from allergies will want to look into hypoallergenic dog breeds. People and families who could benefit from a companion animal may choose 2 pups known to be great emotional support dog breeds.
At the end of the day, you should have a good understanding of what type of dog(s) you are wanting to raise while finding dog breeds that are right for you. Do your research and use good judgment!
Pawrade Has a Wide Variety of Puppy Siblings For You
At Pawrade, we understand just how difficult it is to find a legitimate breeder, so we've put our experience and expertise to work for you. Searching our listings of puppies for sale of all different dog breeds and littermates will get your wheels turning for which 2 puppies you’d love to raise together in your home. We’d love to help you double the fun with 2 puppies!
