2 Dogs, 2 Bitches or 1 of each??

Benny Cake

I am looking at getting two pups from the same litter. I am keen to get 2 as my wife and I work during the day and I believe they will keep each other company for the 8 or so hours we are away... We have a decent sized, well enclosed garden so they should have plenty to keep them occupied!!

My question is which combination is better? 2 Dogs, 2 Bitches or 1 of each...
Or, should I get whatever I like and get them neutered down the line..

Thanks,

K

Shanao

Best off getting them neutered down the line no matter what you get anyway. What breed are they; some breeds do better as opposite sex pairings than others. Personally, I find male and female works quite well though I am hoiping to add another female into the dynamic down the line.

Winston79

We have 2 collie cross rescue dogs, one 3yrs and one 2yrs, both males. We didn't get them at the same time but they have bonded really well and get on. The fact that they are the same breed (which yours obv are!) helps as their temperament and energy levels are the same so they feed off each other. They are great company for each other. Like yourself we got 2 dogs so that when we're out they have company, and the 2 lads love it, always playing.

Getting them neutered is a good idea, part of the process when getting both our dogs was to have them neutered straight away. It didn't change them one bit either, back to hyper in 24hrs!!

Benny Cake

Thanks for the responses lads... they're a cavalier cross btw.

I came across this link when doing some research, the guy makes some interesting points..

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/choosing/siblings.shtml

piperh

D_Red_Army wrote: »

Thanks for the responses lads... they're a cavalier cross btw.

I came across this link when doing some research, the guy makes some interesting points..

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/choosing/siblings.shtml

I've just read that article and i've read Leerburg saying you should never have 2 puppies together well i have 2, both 7 1/2 months from different litters that i took at 12wks both rescues. I went for 1 and came home with 2 :rolleyes:

What i would say is training is harder and you need a lot of patience as you can never be sure which 1 or if both dug up your flowerbed or chewed the skirting, but it can be done with perseverence. My 2 are doing quite well most days and have developed their own personalities.

What we tend to do is sometimes walk them seperatly or if we're going out take one of them and leave the other at home so they're not completely dependant on each other and don't get upset being on their own. I found teaching recall easy as i took it in turns at the start to keet 1 on the lead and let the other off, so even if they didn't want to come back to me they'd return to each other. Now they are both whistle trained to.

You need to make sure they're socialised with other dogs as well as just each other.

Shanao

D_Red_Army wrote: »

Thanks for the responses lads... they're a cavalier cross btw.

I came across this link when doing some research, the guy makes some interesting points..

http://www.doglistener.co.uk/choosing/siblings.shtml

No offence, but mind if i ask why a cavalier cross? What are they crossed with? Are these rescues or are you buying them?

There is a syndrome known as littermate syndrome as well, where the littermates will fight basically to figure out who's boss. Seems to affect littermates more than puppies who are raised together from seperate litters. Have only seen it a few times myself, and mostly in big dogs, but I would still reccommend a male/female combo

andreac

I wouldnt recommend 2 pups from the same litter to be honest as they can develop littermate syndrome.
Its also very hard to train 2 pups at same time and even more so from the same litter so i would recommend you dont get 2 from the same litter and wait a while before you get a second one.

If you relaly have to get 2 then get male and female.