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I got my 2 Yorkies at 16 weeks of age in November 2008. It has been wonderful! BUT, thankfully I am not working, and have found that they require a LOT more attention, and patience with training than having just one.

It is imperative that you establish yourself as the alpha from the first moment you take them home. They have not ganged up on me yet at 8 months, and seem to get along very well for the most part. Each has its own personality, and you have to treat each one differently in terms of reprimands, etc.

They have their share of arguments, and I have to be very vigilant to stop them if it sounds to be more than just wrestling and a bit of viciousness creeps in. Be sure you have 3 times the amount of time than you would spend on having just the one.

I found crating to be impossible. They were always in each other’s crate, and no amount of training could convince them otherwise, even though I think it’s best for them to have a place they can each call their own.

Be careful about food sharing. With time and patience, it didn’t take too long to have them eating out of the same bowl. They love it when I hold a chew toy for them, and this helped in teaching them to share. I would only hold it if both would chew it at the same time. This helped in stopping food and toy possessiveness. I find it best to give them 3 identical chewies or toys, since one always believed the other had the best one. When given a choice between the remaining two, the squabbles would end. They now exchange their chewies peacefully.

Be aware that training is a lot more difficult. For example, each knows how to sit and stay individually, but to get them to do it together is another story. Since they will always be together with me, it’s necessary that they obey their commands at the same time. Often, one will not sit, or will soon stand up, and the other shortly thereafter follows. I did, however, take them to separate puppy classes, so that they would learn to socialize with other dogs on their own.

All of the books and advice I received suggested that I should not get two dogs of the same age at the same time. I read that 2 females will often fight to draw blood between 18 and 30 months of age. Two males will apparently also fight, therefore I chose one of each sex. (The female is now going into heat, so I will be frantic in another post shortly).

The expenses are astronomical, so keep that in mind. Twice the vet bills, 2 sets of booties and winter coats, 3 times the toys, etc. However with two of them, you are still going on one walk, need one carrier to take them into stores, one feeding (only twice as much), etc. so the actual "work" involved is not rreally doubled, in a way.

I love them so much, that I think I might add a third little Yorkie in 2 or 3 years.

Go ahead and get the two! They do keep each other company, and provide endless hours of play and companionship with each other that is impossible for a human to substitute.

I owned one Yorkie for 21 years. I often thought of getting another, but her closeness to me would have meant that sharing my love would have broken her heart. She was so reliant on me that I now decided on getting two. I am VERY glad I did.