Raising 2 Yorkie Puppies Together

[chachi]

I got my two one month apart and they love each other but they are also bonded to us. The only traing challenge I encountered was it was harder to potty train 2 but I did it. They do need companionship

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by 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

Originally Posted by 107barney

Ed is a little dated and I think, incorrect. Temple Grandin wrote recently that dogs are not pack animals but they are family units and I thought that was an interesting theory. She said that rather than looking at people as their "alpha" or "leader" dogs look at us as their "parents."

I would agree with Ed that people do tend to anthropomorphize their dogs, however, it is widely known and observed that dogs have complex social orders, dogs grieve, dogs play, and many other things that make Ed's theory fail the laugh test.

As for not bonding with owners with more than one dog in the house, that is simply not true as many of us here know. My dog Barney will much prefer to curl up with me than be with the other two dogs. Teddy would rather be with the dogs. Daisy just wants a warm denning area. So they are all different and individual as dogs are.

I like the term "parents", as opposed to alpha/leader...I also like this author, you are talking about, Temple Grandin...Good Post...

[catser2002]

So sorry for your loss. In my opinion, the only really difficulty of having pets is that they don't live long enough - never long enough.

You'll get lots of different ideas about 2 puppies but reality is that the drawbacks or advantages depend a lot on the individual puppies. Some will be more of a challenge for sure - just like with human kids.

My two are twins - now 4 and 1/2 years old. We couldn't choose so we got them both and still think it was the absolute best decision we ever made. I don't think it was that much harder to potty train two at the same time but mine were fairly easy - no real drama. Nothing special I did. They just seemed to catch on or it is possible they may have copied each other. They do often copy some of each other's little quirks so having two may have helped - impossible to know.

With all their other training, they seemed to catch onto various behaviors at different rates and there are still some tricks one does better than the other.

However, the joy of two at once far outweigh any drawbacks. They are super attached to us and to each other but there is no confusion about who is in charge. And they can enjoy activities with each other that I'm not that interested in doing. Just don't find rolling on a dead worm all that appealing.

[agiee0714]

We bought our babies together (boy & girl) and our breeder told us that opposite sex babies tended to get along (bicker less) and babies from different litters bicker less. Not sure how 100% accurate her expertise is but I can say that after 7 yrs, our babies have NEVER had a fight. They absolutely love each other to pieces & while they did get into all kinds of mischief as puppies, we have not had the pack or training issues Ed mentions

[v1204]

Hi Everyone!!!!

Thank you so much for all the information and experiences you shared with me. Each comment helped me understand the situation a little better. First, I now understand that I need more than one opinion on the subject to make the final decision; and second, "it all depends on the situation and the puppies involved....".

I now feel that I can make an infomed decision, when the time comes.

Thank you very, very much!

V1204!!!!!

[v1204]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

I'm so sorry about the loss of your Matilda. You two had a lot of great years together.

I know you'll get a lot of great responses to your question.

Hi Princes mom
I 'think' I sent you a message. However, I'm new to disccusion forums and so if you didn't get it.....it's because i don;t know what I'm doing yet
v1204