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What To Do With Two Puppies

by Belinda
(Nashville)

Well I didn't do the research beforehand but my two sons (7 years old) have asked for puppies for Christmas so I got them.

One is 9 weeks and one is 12 weeks. I have a friend keeping them. They are Mini Aussie's. My question is so they don't bond with each other, what do I do with them when I have to leave the house for an entire day?

I have a horse barn with two stalls available to make into kennels
or do I put them in one kennel together? From what I have read this would be a no no because they might bond to each other.

I live on 18 acres of land. I have 1 horse and a few cats. I have a garage with a dog door that I have had for years when I had Rough Collies, which I had two of but I didn't get them at the same time.

when I had my Collies I had an invisible fence for them. If I put them in a kennel in the back yard should I put them together or separate them and should they be able to see each other?

Thanks,

Belinda

Comments for What To Do With Two Puppies

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Two puppies
by: Patricia

I not understanding why you would not want to have the puppies bonded

two puppies
by: Anonymous

I was told if something happened to one you don't want the other to grieve himself to death, also for training purpose you want them to bond to their human

Let them bond
by: Rob

Put me down as another with some confusion over this "bond" issue.

What's the context of this advice you've received?

I don't know mini aussies but I have two of my own and prior to the second one I used to come home to varying degrees of boredom initiated destruction.

Yes they'll mostly bond with each other given that they are pack animals or be constant rivals trying to be higher in the pack than the other. That pack by the way includes you and anyone in your family and it will be your job to make sure that you and your family are higher in the pack pecking order than either of them. If you and your family are seen as pack leaders that provide safety, food and structure, they will bond with you and they will bend over backwards to try to please you... well if my two are anything to go by.

They will bond anyway
by: Anonymous

Even from a distance in separate kennels, they will still end up bonding.
If you don't want these two to bond, then do not have these two puppies unless they both reside at 2 separate properties altogether.

Littermate Syndrome Potential Problem
by: Anonymous

The issue isn't simply having them bond, but is littermate syndrome. I would recommend googling it for anyone with confusion on the topic. Puppies with littermate syndrome often grow up with one being far more dominant and the other submissive, both to the point that they can be unable to function without the other--nervousness, aggression, etc.

If you elect to keep them both, it is important to allocate time for each independently. Separate training, separate vet appointments, separate feedings and cuddles, separate play, separate walks. It is essential that they bond with you and your sons, not with one another as would be natural since they are the same species. In the doberman community it is usually recommended that one be re-homed unless the owner can commit 100% to the above for the first 8 months to a year.

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