Are Two Pups Better Than One?

Sibling adoption can work, but it takes a very special owner who has twice the time and energy to give to puppy age. These sisters, Icebox and Spaz, have dedicated owners who knew how much extra time it would take to make littermate adoption successful.

I hear it all the time: “Honey, maybe we should get two! Look how much they love each other! How can we possibly divide them up? "

My family and I tend to have litters of rescue puppies frequently, and when approved adopters come around to make this big decision - which one will it be? - The conversation often takes this detour. Someone sees two cute puppies cuddling or romping around and says, "Why don't we just take two?"

It's a natural impulse. In fact, it was my own hope to keep littermates together when we groomed our first litter almost a decade ago. Back then, when a potential adoptive suppressed interest in two puppies, my heart was racing. Remember: Little Ben and Pretty Girl, together forever! I loved this idea! The benefits quickly added up in my head:

* The transition would be so easy! No sad puppy cries through those first few nights without the warmth and company of littermates.

* The pups would be so happy to have a friend to play with every day.

* There would be guaranteed abundant exercise, which would reduce the destruction and mouth of the household.

* Owners would be less stressed by the demands of puppy age because instead of having a bored puppy who is constantly seeking their attention, they would have two puppies who are damn happy with each other. After all I I very much preferred to have two pups in one because it was a lot less work for me.

I was excited to let the shelter know that one of our potential adopters wanted it two Puppies. Your answer? "We don't adopt littermates together." I was shocked. What kind of anti-puppy happiness policy was that?

A requirement for disadvantages

It turned out that I had a lot to learn. While each of the above is true, there are More Bullet Point Reasons Most Recommend Dog Trainers and Animal Shelter Professionals against Adoption of littermates, including:

* * Puppies need to learn to be alone. One of the most important things I try to teach my foster pups is that they are fine without their littermates. If I let her hang out with her mother and siblings in the same room every minute for eight weeks, adoption day would be scary for her. In the beginning, this means simply holding a puppy outside of the puppy pen for a moment and returning immediately. Then I might just take two puppies into the kitchen to play while I do the dishes. After all, I only take one puppy upstairs to hang out with a chew toy while I work on the computer.

Sibling adoption can indefinitely delay this important part of puppy education. Now are there two Puppies who may never have taken a breath when not next to another puppy. The longer that takes, the deeper they become connected. Some owners find that just months later they have a huge problem when they casually separate the pups - perhaps for a vet appointment - and find both dogs in complete panic, breaking walls and escaping from boxes.

Littermates Twilight and their brother TikTok have joined a family that includes another dog and three cats. Therefore, the duo is rarely alone and everyone becomes critical one on one with their human being.

Of course, you can combat this problem just as I do a litter in my house: by taking the time to take each pup somewhere each day. They need to have regular, varied experiences where they are separated from their siblings: in the house, on a walk, in the car, on a game date. If you have the time and perhaps the budget structure to allow this to happen, this may not be a problem. However, experienced trainers and staff at the shelter will let you know Most owners barely have time for a puppy, let alone two - even though they are thought You were prepared.

* Having a playmate always present is not enough to properly socialize a puppy. Playing daily with a Live-In-Packmate helps ...