[v1204]

Hi Everyone!

Unfortunately I recently lost my 13 year old Yorkie, Matilda. Although I'm not ready to bring another puppy into my home yet, I hope I will be ready in a couple of months. In the meantime, I've been researching various options.

One option I 'was' mulling over was to get 2 puppies and raise them together. I would only get a male and female and then neuter and spay them as soon as our vet says it's okay. My rationale behind getting 2 puppies was to provide 'same species' companionship.

When I was investigating this option, I came across a website authored by Ed Leerburg <leerburg.com>. He was very adamantly discouraging raising more than 1 dog at a time. His arguments were: (1) they are pack animals and may look to each other instead of their owner for leadership, (2) rank issues may develop with more than one dog in the house, (3) they will be more difficult to train because they will bond with each other instead of their owner. He goes on to say that dogs don't need companionship because they sleep 12-15 hours per day. He indicated that people who think dogs need companionship are Anthropomorphic. So after investigating his site, I realized that I should only get one puppy.

Then I read several postings and threads on YorkieTalk.com about people who have more than one Yorkie. So what is really best? I would like to hear from those of you who have successfully raised more than one Yorkie and those who have been unsuccessful. Perhaps I should raise just one....but I want to know why I shouldn't raise 2?

Sorry this post is was so long.

Thank you
V1204