Puppies are adorable, and it is adorable when they play together. However, is it a good idea to adopt two puppies at the same time?
There are pros and cons to adopting two puppies at once. They will entertain each other, but if adopting two puppies from the same litter, they may not easily bond with family members. Also, puppies need to have separate crates for a year, and each puppy will need to be individually trained.
Puppies are a lot of work, and two puppies mean double the trouble, as well as double the love.
Pros of Adopting Two Puppies At Once
Entertainment for You
Two puppies playing with each other is always entertaining, as long as they are not aggressively fighting. The play growls and tug-of-war head shakes always make me smile and laugh. When puppies are playing with each other, the owners do not have to entertain them and can do other activities, while making sure that the playing does not suddenly become aggressive.
Doggy Companions
When two puppies are adopted at the same time, they will play, cuddle, and generally stay at the other puppy’s side, especially if they come from the same litter. They will be each other’s companions.
Each dog will be a great companion for any children that are in the home. If there are two children in the home, and two puppies are adopted, then each child will have their own puppy to take care of and play with, which will eliminate any fighting between siblings about who gets to play with the puppy.
Cons of Adopting Two Puppies At Once
Training
When you get two puppies at once, you will have to train each of them both individually and together. “The dogs will need to learn the skills one-on-one with you before you can incorporate the distraction of having their other best buddy around.” (Source)
Training them separately will also ensure that each puppy will listen to you and your commands when you call them. When you train them together, then each puppy will learn how to listen to and focus on commands with distractions around them, which is very helpful when you are giving them commands in a busy area.
However, this means that you will have to spend a lot of time training each puppy, and it means more work for you and your family.
Littermate Syndrome
“Littermate Syndrome, otherwise known as Sibling Aggression or Littermate Aggression, is a non-scientific anecdotal term that refers to a whole host of behavioral issues that tend to present when canine siblings are raised in the same household beyond the normal 8 to 10 weeks of age.” (Source)
Here are some common symptoms of Littermate Syndrome:
- Excessive crying
- Excessive whining
- Destructive behavior when siblings are separated from one another
- Lack of interest in playing or interacting with other people or pets in your household
- Fear of unfamiliar people, things, places, or noises
- High anxiety when separated from the other pup
- An unwillingness to eat alone
If one or more of your dogs develop Littermate Syndrome, contact a local veterinarian for advice on what to do next, and how to prevent incidents from occurring.
It is horrible when Littermate Syndrome occurs, and it is almost impossible to cure. It is best to prevent it early by making sure that each puppy gets individual walks, attention, treats, and cuddles.
To help avoid Littermate Syndrome from happening, make sure that both dogs are well socialized with dogs that are outside of the home. Both puppies need to know that there is a world outside of the house and that there are other dogs other than their puppy companion.
If each puppy has their own crate or alternative space where they can go when they are tired or overwhelmed that the other puppy can not get into, then it is important for the owner to ensure that the puppy is left alone when they are in that space. This may be hard to do because when you know that your dog is overwhelmed, you want to comfort and pet them.
If two puppies from the same litter are adopted into the same household, they begin to rely mainly on each other, which makes it more difficult for them to bond with their human companions. One puppy will almost always become shy and antisocial, even if both puppies were outgoing and playful when they were adopted.
Costs
Owning two dogs will always be more expensive than owning one dog because you will need to purchase double the supplies that one normally would. You have to buy double the amount of chew toys, double the food, and double the training supplies. All of these necessary items cost money, and it adds up quickly. Large items, such as crates, which you will need two of, range in price from $30-$300.
More Work
When one adopts two puppies at the same time, they have to do double the amount of work. Two puppies mean two times the walks, two times the poop, and two times the training. All of these things require work and a lot of it.
If you are not ready to spend a lot of time doing the work that is required to care for and train two puppies, then that is perfectly fine. It is better to have one well-trained dog than two anti-social, badly-trained dogs that rely only on each other.
If Having Two Dogs is Not For You
If having two dogs is not right for your family, or you do not feel that you can adopt two puppies at the same time, that is perfectly fine. You can still socialize your dog, and give them a friend to play with frequently. Try arranging doggy playdates with a friend and their dog, as long as neither of your dogs has any known behavior issues.
Make sure that the dogs get along and like each other in order to avoid fights and injuries. This way, both dogs have someone to play with and get some of their energy out, and you get to socialize as well.
If you are not planning on breeding your dog, and you arrange a playdate with another dog that is the opposite gender of your dog that has not been neutered or spayed, it is probably wise for you to have your dog neutered or spayed, just in case.
However, if adopting two puppies will work for your family, get ready to have a ton of fun. Puppies are some of the cutest animals on this planet, even if they are a lot of work.
