two female puppies

[2rottiesmom]

I have a friend who is thinking of getting two female puppies. She has the time to spend with them and is planning to crate train. She already has an older female and a year old male. Everyone is fixed and the new ones will be as soon as they are old enough. I am just wondering if anyone her has had two female pups together and how they acted with each other. I know that females (and males) can be very territorial. Also, how soon can you spay a female. I have heard about waiting until their first heat but I am wondering what harm comes from doing it sooner.

Thanks for the help,
Rachel

[Sansano]

Well, this can definately develop into a bad situation. If I was goint to have 2 females I probably would go with siblings though. I don't foresee big problems between the two of them. However, one they mature(over 2 years) I feel she may run into HUGE problems with current female and the two younger females especially with a male around. Also, I think current protocol is to spay b4 the first heat but I may be wrong. Wish your freind good luck. She'll need it!

[Sharon Marples]

There is no harm in spaying them prior to their first heat and it takes a lot of worry away!:D I would definitely suggest that to your friend.

We have had friends (and puppy clients) buy two puppies at once. The main thing you need to make her aware of is that she remains the focus of the puppies. They will need to be separated and worked individually at times so that they do not look to each other for their support and companionship. It sounds as if she will have plenty of time to work with them so she should have no problems. Just be sure that they are separated (does not have to be always, just for a time each day) and that she works with them individually to make sure they bond closely to her and not to each other.

Sharon Marples

[Sheenagirl]

I haven't had two female pups at the same time. But I can tell you that my daughter has a 10 1/2 YO Rottie female (Cheyenne) and my Sheena is 6 1/2 YO. They will only tolerate each other for a short period of time. I have found from talking with other people that two female dogs could be a problem (most likely with your older female). You never know - one situation is different from another.

As far as the spay - my Vet said it's better to spay before the first heat unless the pup has had recurrent vaganitis and then they recommend spay after the first heat (the first heat cleanses).
;)

[Rottnlove]

As for her spaying question, how early is too early? I've heard of puppies being spayed before they even go to their new home!

[My3Rotties]

Well, let me tell you that I just got 2 sister's(twins)they are now 5 months old today. I've had them since they were 10 weeks, and I've said it now and I will say it again...I will never get two at the same time(well, at least with mine) they are the twins from hell. I also have a 2 yr. old male who is really good. The 2 pups are horror's and let me tell you..they are Double the Trouble(should of named them that). they get into so much mischief, and it is harder to train them for anything. If your friend has the time and patience then good luck to her. I'm not saying that I don't like my pups, or that I don't have the time or patience..but, they are terrible. They are good company for each other in a sense but it's double the trouble when they do something and you don't know who did what. Well, good luck to your friend.

[Rottnlove]

I would never advise anyone to get two puppies at once. I believe it's better to get one puppy at a time and focus on it's training and bonding. If you feel like adding another dog later, and have the time, go for it. Just be prepared in case their are some issues! :)

[AngelBunny]

2rottiesmom:

I think it's a bad idea. Your friend's older female--how old? How well trained is that year old male? Males mature at 3 so he has about two more years to go as a young dog.

Your friend's older female may not have an easy time of her senior years with three young dogs in the house. Furthermore, the old girl may take great offense to two maturing bitches in her house--this regardless of the fact all are spayed.

Your friend better have LOTS of time on her hands because she's gonna have to train and socialize those puppies independently of each other. If she takes shortcuts and takes both out together because she's pressed for time, the dogs will naturally focus more on each other than people and the outside world.

Finally, no quality breeder would ever sell two puppies from the same litter to the same person--especially when the person already has a young dog at home. Where is she getting those puppies?

People who have dogs of the same sex should be prepared for the nightmare that can occur if one day the two dogs wake up and decide they hate each other and one of them has to go because the planet is too small to hold both of them. The savagery of such fights must be seen to be believed. The wounds such dogs can inflict on each other is awful--and expensive to address. The destruction these fights can cause in your house (if one should break out inside) is shocking.

And the damage these fighting dogs can inflict on humans who attempt to break them up can land people in the emergency room.

If your friend is determined to get these two pupppies, I urge her to think thru this plan very carefully.

[Jamie & Odin]

Funny this should come up, as I was listening to "Calling All Pets" with Patricia McConnell this weekend, and someone called in with female Doberman littermates.

This is what Trish relayed:

With two males you get a lot of posturing for dominance ie. stand offs, puffed chests, growling etc. but the fights are not as frequent or viscious.

With two females, you don't get nearly the amount of posturing (which may serve as a warning of things to come in time to deal with) but when the fight for dominance happens, it happens fast and is low down and dirty.

The advice she gave was to not encourage, or even allow one or the other to be the dominant one, but to treat them EXACTLY the same. With the owner, at every point, remaining the dominant household member.

She even said to feed them together, switching off which one gets her bowl first, after earning it of course, making YOU the ONLY one in charge. Any display, no matter how small, of misbehavior/rudeness should be dealt with accordingly and swiftly.

This means following the "nothing in life is free" model, not just until a certain point, or they reach a level of obed. or behavior you're happy with, but pretty much for the life of the dogs.

Hopefully I didn't misinterpret, or mis-speak anything she said, as it's been a few days;)