Puppies in Pairs

[Angela Kustron]

In my humble opinion :P I think having two dogs is a GOOD idea, but with rottweilers, only if you've owned them before and had no problems, and trained them very well. I think the reason I didn't have any problems last time (right now I only have Kelsey) was that as soon as I got them they started Puppy Preschool, moved on to Basic Obedience 1 and 2, then on to CGC. I think they were happier having each other. However, I would never get 2 PUPPIES at the same time. Kelsey is over 2 years old and I am now CONSIDERING a second puppy. Also, if you have an extremely alpha dog (which I luckily don't. The pomeranian (10yrs) is the alpha in this house ! :) ) I wouldn't do it.

[cdbeez]

I remember asking my breeder when we got Parris what she thought about us getting her a brother. Her reply was this "You should be her playmate, her friend, her everything - she needs to bond to you and have all of the attention it takes for proper training. After at least a year, if you have done a good job and have the room and the time...then and only then think about getting her a brother or sister. It will be better for you both." I am so glad I listened. Parris has been enough to handle for sure and as we all know, Rottie are such DEMANDING dogs, God love 'em. I am on the lookout for that boy over the next year but in no hurry to find him! Oh, my breeder also said that having two puppies at one time is like watching two dogs share the same brain!
;)

[damp]

I often hear it is not more work to exercise, train and walk two than one dogs. I don’t believe in this. Each dog must me be reared, trained, socialized played with as an individual?

MY time and space is only for one dog at a time and I prefer to do one thing 100% instead of two things 50%.

[Burnsway]

The pomeranian (10yrs) is the alpha in this house !

My 13 year old Pomeranian thinks shes alpha but My Psyche could sit on her and take her in a moment, we just don't allow it. My 16 year old chowmix is Alpha. Totally deaf and almost totally blind she can only see right up on you, has held that Alpha spot to the day.

All she has to do is grumble at Psyche and she might try to challenge but it doesn't last long befor she is put in her spot!!!

I too think some may be able to handle two pups at once but the average owner probably will have trouble.I had 2 puppy Pomeranians grow up together but that is a much different type of breed, And to me I perfer 1 to spoil then get another.... :D. I only was going to take Psyche's sister because I felt the outcome was going to be bad and as I felt, it was... :(

[Atti's Sissy]

I know what you mean Godfrey....
I have been trying to talk my mom into another pup for months now.....atti is 17/m/o and we have a big yard, nearly 2 acres, and Atti is a loving family pet.... I really think atti would love another one of him....lol, since he gets along very well with our gsd.

[Anton]

Raising 2 puppies together is not for everybody. My first Rottweiler was brought home at 9 weeks old. I was then able to get her litter brother at 4 months. They were night and day in personalities, and their destructiveness was due to the fact that I had never had a big dog before, and they were left alone during the day when I was at work.

The other "sets" I have raised are very much individuals. Each has gone in different directions regarding training, showing, etc. Their likes and dislikes (except for food) are different from each other. Some like showing, some don't. Some like herding, some don't. Some are really good at obedience, some aren't.

I try different activities with each dog, and focus on where they seem to have the strongest motivation.

Would I recommend raising 2 puppies at once ?? No, especially new Rottweiler owners. But then again.................some people can't even handle more than 1 dog at a time.

[his_servant5]

Howdy ya'll :) . This is a great topic. As most of you know by now, I have two pups from the same litter who are now 8 months old. Let me tell you, it can/ and does get very wild here...lol. Yes, it is hard, but we love them all in different ways and each gets "special" time alone. Their favorite is to go for a car ride with mom..lol. Let me also add that it has taken longer to house break them and teach Zoe (the newest addition) basic commands like sit and down. I agree with everyone else...it's a lot like raising kids. It has it's ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[Angela Kustron]

My son is like having twins! Man that kid can really cause some havoc! Then on top of it, I have a 4 year old, and a 1 year old daughter! My dogs are RELAXING for me! But I stay at home and have tons of time to spend training my brood, so two dogs is okay, but because I love training them. If you haven't got the time, even one Rottie could very possibly be too much!

[godfreyc]

Wanted to say I'm not talking about experienced dog owners who choose the work it takes to raise two pups. I'm talking about first time owners of any breed but especially rotties.

Originally Posted by Alexav: BTW, you can usually tell when someone is a little "idealistic" when they tell you they are going to get a pair of (insert breed here) and know what they will name them before they even lay eyes on them let alone see what the personality is like...Usually cutesy Disney pair names.

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. What comes to mind is the poor Dalmation. Boy have they been put through the ringer. Anyway somebody says "oh, I want one/two of those" Don't know anything about the breed and they run out to buy. They either buy 2 at once cause they think it's cute, get a better deal etc. or 2 months later their new pup has "issues" but isn't destroying the house so they assume he's just lonely and run out with almost no experience with whatever breed it is and buy either a dog of the same sex (bad IMHO) or a little sister. This only makes things worse and 1 year later both animals end up in rescue or at the pound or just put down. Well, think I've stirred it up enough for now so feel free let loose :D

[Roscoe's dad]

Mohave's Mom, No I don't have twins, a very close freind of his does and boy is he gray I am the Godfather of 1 and at least once a month I try to trade for the other one . About a month after his had the twins (15 yrs ago) he quit work and has not gone back. Stays up in his office away from the kids and plays the stock market. what a life