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.
Make sure each puppy has their own crate to sleep in and even their own puppy toys. Don't get used to putting them in the same crate. Let them sleep separately in their own area. 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.
Crate them separately.
You can certainly leave them together in their puppy-proofed space when you're gone all day, but they should be crated separately at night. You can crate them near each other, but this is the perfect time to start habituating them to not always being in close contact with their sibling.
The short answer to this question is yes, it's generally better for each dog in a household to have his own crate. There are, as always, exceptions to this rule. Littermates tend to be more receptive to sharing a crate, for example, as are small dogs.
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.
Taking on two puppies from the same litter often results in what is known as littermate syndrome. The puppies will be bonded to each other and this will make them less likely to bond to you. The dogs may not listen to you and will be much harder to train.
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 fine to constrain one dog while keeping the other dog free to roam; this is common in many households where one dog is more comfortable being crated, or needs to be quarantined for any reason. Consider if the dog was injured and needed to be kept from the other dogs; this is the same sort of situation.
It's a common mistake that some owners make to just leave their puppy in their bed or crate to 'cry it out'. Even if they seem to settle down, this could actually be having the opposite effect to what you want and making them more anxious to be alone, causing them more stress.
Dog experts recommend not letting your puppy cry at night. It's likely to make their anxiety worse and could lead to behavior problems. Not only will you hear it, but your neighbors will hear crying, too. Even if you live in a soundproof home or have a mansion, the noise will be audible even if they're alone.
A good way to determine the correct size is to measure your dog's height when standing (top of the dog's head to the floor) and length (tip of the dog's nose to the base of its tail). Then, add 4 inches to the dog's measurements to determine the best dog crate size.
Two female dogs could act exactly like their male counterparts. As young pups, these two new female puppies may be friendly and pal around as you'd expect. But when they get a little older, they could vie for dominance.
Another common recommendation is one hour for each month of age. In any case, you should avoid crating your puppy for long periods of time. This goes for dogs too. If you need to use a dog crate for your pooch during the 8 or so hours you're at work, go home for visits or consider hiring a dog walker.
You should never completely cover your dog's crate as it can block airflow. Keep blankets away from heat sources, ensure the fabric is breathable, and avoid using knit blankets that may snag or unravel. Monitor the conditions inside the crate in humid summer weather to ensure it doesn't get too hot.
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).
After a productive day of play, even the most energetic puppies require rest. Your young dog will need a safe, comfortable environment where they can rest and recharge. That's why many dog trainers and pet parents rely on nightly crate training to keep puppies safe when they cannot be actively supervised.
You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.
Your older dog should sleep where they have always slept. There is no need to change their sleeping routine. It is preferable for your new puppy's confinement space to be in your room where they can see you (and your dog should they sleep in there). Make the area where they are sleeping cozy and warm.
A dog that's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. When crating your dog you may have to change your schedule, hire a dog walker or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in their crate each day.
Bond With Each Puppy
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. If you decide to get two puppies, make sure there is enough of you to go around.
If you've ever seen sibling puppies interact with each other you may be surprised to find they can be highly competitive, even brutal by fighting over food or toys. You'll see them pin each other like wrestlers, bite the other's ears and neck, then twist their bodies vigorously as if to dismember each other.
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.
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. Finally, take them on walks together, allowing them to sniff each other along the way.
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.