Socialize and play with them separately: This fosters pup independence and lets the more timid dog play without competing for your attention. You can try taking one puppy at a time with you on a short outdoor errand, or bring him over to a puppy-proofed friend's house for a meet-and-greet.
It is a very poor decision to get two puppies from the same litter in almost all cases. Sometimes, people with extensive prior K9 knowledge may be able to handle the added stresses of getting two dogs from the same litter, but it is still generally not recommended.
It can take up to one month for an old dog and new dog to really settle in and accept each other's position in the pack. If you want a second dog, you need to be ready to commit to this process and not panic.
Individual time with each puppy is crucial. Walk and socialize them separately. You can take them separately to doggy day care on alternating days. When you take them separately to doggy day care then it forces them to get to know and interact with new dogs and not just play with their littermate.
Bond With Each Puppy
Each dog gets a chance to learn and adapt to his new home and bond with his owners without sibling competition. You'll find it easier to train one puppy at a time. Dogs are social and usually enjoy playing and being together, but what they want most of all is time with their people.
Two puppies might play together, but are also likely to bond so strongly that they can't tolerate being apart and won't bond with their humans. Puppies have to learn to be alone to avoid developing separation anxiety, but this is difficult with the constant presence of another puppy.
It is difficult to train and properly socialize two puppies at the same time. “Littermate syndrome” can often develop because the pups tend to prefer each other's company over that of any human.
You can start by putting their crate or bed close to each other, but gradually move them apart so they get more comfortable being apart. Play with each puppy alone instead of as a group. Make sure you tend to each puppy alone. Spend time alone with them to help encourage individual identity development.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
They enter sexual maturity around 7-9 months and social maturity at 1-3 years. With that maturity and wisdom, they may be less interested in playing or they might play more roughly when excited. That rough play may lead to aggressive habits.
Dogs are social animals and usually happier around other dogs, but a second dog will never be a substitute for inattentive, absent or too busy owners.
Before settling on a breed, think about the gender of the dog. For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same-sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death. Those who work out a dominance order may not fare much better.
In dogdom, there's a turn of phrase called, "Second Dog Syndrome". This describes the process of adding another dog to the home quite well, but not necessarily in a positive light. As humans, we are bound to forget all of the time and effort it takes to raise a puppy right.
Most training professionals strongly recommend against adopting two pups at the same time. The biggest challenge of adopting two new puppies is their tendency to bond very closely with each other, often to the exclusion of a meaningful relationship with their humans. They can become inseparable.
It is estimated that the mortality rate is around 20-30% of "live-born pedigree puppies" in the first three weeks of life.
Allocate the Time and Resources for Another Pup
You also have to keep in mind that you'll need to invest extra for essential gear — collars, leashes and crates, to name a just a few items — as well as unexpected vet visits, potential boarding and possible pet sitters and dog walkers.
All canines need individual focus, attention, play, and training daily, in addition to regular grooming. Having multiple dogs means an increase in the daily time spent playing and working with your dogs to make sure each is getting enough attention.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in. When you do leave your puppy alone, it's a good idea to crate train them, or leave them in a puppy-proofed room.
You want your dogs to have positive experiences with each other right from the start. Let your dogs sniff each other and greet each other normally. Give them positive reinforcement through calm verbal affirmations. After letting them play for a while, put both dogs in a “sit” or “stay”, then let them interact again.
Give your dog plenty of opportunities to go to the toilet in an appropriate place. Take them out when they wake up, after every meal, after playtime, before bed, before you leave them and when you come back, and then every 45 minutes.
Your new puppies should be crated separately and kept close enough for you to hear them at night if they need you. Train them individually: When training two puppies, the dogs should attend training classes separately.
Getting a second dog could make your first dog feel displaced and uncertain. While the majority of dogs will get along well with their new sibling, your first dog may not be happy having to share their toys, space, territory, or even their owner's affection.