When a person decides they want to add a puppy to the family, it’s an exciting time. It’s also a time where there is a lot of pre-planning to get the home ready for the new addition. When potential pet parents are choosing the right puppy to bring home, it’s natural for them to wonder if they should instead purchase two puppies instead of one.
Here’s why this train of thought may not be a good idea after all…
A Breeder May Not Want To Sell Two Puppies To The Family
Breeders in good standing are very particular when it comes to placing their puppies in the right home. While it’s a personal choice, some agree that they do not give pet parents two puppies from the same litter. The reason behind this is that breeders want to ensure that their puppies are receiving the appropriate time of attention, affection, socialization, and training.
“Raising a puppy takes a lot of time and commitment,” said San Diego dog trainer David Greene. “There are some breeders that really hold their ground on this.”
On the flipside, rescue organizations with puppies may follow this protocol for the same reasons.
It All Comes Down To The Pack
Dogs are pack animals, so they will gravitate to one another in the home. According to Greene, littermates will already have a bond, so this could pose a problem to a potential pet parent that wants to build their own bond with the puppy.
“Because these pups are already littermates, they will want to play with each other and not engage with you much at all,” Greene said. “If you are looking to build a relationship with your dog, then I don’t recommend getting more than one puppy.”
There will be a different dynamic between a pet parent and their puppy if there is more than one puppy in the family.
The Truth About Dog Training
Raising a balanced dog means consistent dog training. It’s learning how to live with your dog which takes commitment and consistency. If a pet parent brings more than one puppy in the household, this can potentially jeopardize those training goals.
“There will be a tug of war — the puppies wanting to be with each other and not with you. This in itself will be a real struggle for training,” Greene said. “They will constantly be looking for their littermate and not wanting to engage with you which is not an optimal scenario for training sessions.”
Greene is quick to point out that if a family is merely looking for two dogs to hang out, then having two puppies is just fine. However, if a pet parent wants to bond with their dog and build a relationship, then it’s best to steer away from the two puppy idea altogether.
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Performance K9 Training can help parents build the perfect pet relationship by tailoring a comprehensive approach to behavior modification programs. After a two-week “board and train” program, we continue to teach pet parents the skills they need with three private follow-up lessons. Contact us now to learn more!
