IF you are thinking of getting two puppies at the same time, think long and hard first. Whether you thought they would keep each other company, the breeder thought it was a good idea, or you just plain can't decide on which one puppy to bring home, two is definitely twice the work.
I am a big fan of multiple-dog homes, I think it is great for dogs to have canine as well as human companionship. That said, I consider the best scenario to be that of having a fully trained, well adjusted, strongly bonded adult dog (or dogs) that understands all the rules, before bringing in a second or third dog to the family.
Having two puppies growing up together is just like having twins. Just when one is doing so well, the other gets into trouble. Twice the housetraining, twice the cleaning, nipping, supervision and twice the amount of quality time spent on alone time. It is of the utmost importance to spend one-on-one time with each puppy so that they can develop to their full potential. It is extremely important for the puppies to bond with their human pack. This means spending alone time with you and your family.
If you already have two puppies or have decided that you really want two puppies, then read on. Puppies tend to pack together and you can be left on the sidelines if you do not make a point of being the most important factor in each of your puppies' lives. You should put aside alone time for playing, training, socialising and exercising each puppy. Most puppies will tend to lean on one another whether for reassurance or protection and not deal with situations fully on their own - they need to deal with life.
Training is much harder with two puppies, but can be done with individual focus. Each puppy will have a completely individual personality. One puppy may breeze through the sit stay, while the other puppy may have a very hard time staying for more than a few seconds. You will need a great deal of patience and understanding. You must train each puppy individually until they have a good grasp on a new behaviour. Then putting the puppies together to perform their new behaviour is your next training step.
Each puppy needs its own bed/crate, bowl, collar and leash. They will also have their own names to learn which can be very difficult when there are two. Again, alone training is needed for this step. Having one puppy crated and one with you, call that puppies name until they come to you, reward with a small treat and tons of praise. Repeat this until they come running when they hear their name. When choosing names for your two puppies, try to pick names that are not similar sounding.
Most of all, you will need to be a strong leader with good communication skills. Your puppies will look to you for guidance and you must be prepared to show them the way. There will be a good deal of chaos to deal with, with two pups. Puppies fight, wrestle, play and lose their tempers often. You will need to step in often and call time outs to restore tranquillity.
If you've taken the plunge, patience and understanding will get you through the puppy years.
