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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Ev lives the Lower Mainland of Beautiful British Columbia, Canada where she has been training dogs since 1969. She is experienced in many methods including clicker and motivational training. Ev is an original Superdog Performance Team member and her own dogs have travelled and performed with the Canadian SuperDogs since 1984. She has also served as an A.A.C. judge ans is an original Member/Trainer with the Dogwood Pacesetters Agility Club.
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[Edit]
11/1/2005
We have just adopted two mixed puppies from a shelter. They are 9 weeks old, both male and neutered. My question is, is it a poor choice to adopt two brothers from the same litter? Will they have problems as adult dogs? Can we leave them in the kennel together and how does training them together affect their training? They will be together all the time, is this a mistake? Is it better for them so they won't be lonely? The sooner I can get answers, the better off we will be. We don't want to keep both of them if it will be bad for the dogs. Please answer me right away if possible!!! Many thanks. (pdiprima, Georgia)
Without going into pages of explanations and advice, I have answered your questions below as brief as possible.
Is it a poor choice to adopt two brothers from the same litter?
In my opinion, 'Yes', unless you have successfully done this before.
Will they have problems as adult dogs?
This is a very vague question for many reasons: Not knowing exactly what breeds are in their make-up ... your experience with raising 2 males prior ... how they are raised, trained & socialized ... etc.. you might and you might not have problems.
In my experience - "Always expect the worst and then you are more prepared."
Can we leave them in the kennel together?
Unsupervised - "No." Not being able to 'see' the dogs myself or see how they interact with each other, respond to authority, etc.. I would not take the chance.
How does training them together affect their training?
When you say together, does this mean asking them to "Sit." at the same time? Will they have different handlers and just in the same training area or room? Any training should be done 'One-on-One'. To be sure that your methods, timing, & responses are for a specific
dog learning a specific command, tackling 2 at the same time will defeat your purpose, frustrate both you and the dogs and almost be a waste of time.
They will be together all the time, is this a mistake?
Big Mistake!!! Dogs that are together all the time tend to make their own rules as a Pack-of-dogs would; doing what they please, never listening or obeying human commands or wishes, getting bored as a team and looking for solutions like escaping their confinement, trying to gather other members for their pack, etc.. There should always be 'Their Own Time' every day and sometimes more than once a day... time alone, time with you, time to train and learn, time for special attention without interruption, time by themselves and then time with their siblings.
Is it better for them so they won't be lonely?
Not knowing you or the dogs or the lifestyle you have or the environment they will be raised in - this is a tough question. Dogs do not get lonely like people do - they need companionship but will wait hours, days and even weeks to get it. If you are consistent about giving your dog QUALITY time every day to learn, play, cuddle, socialize, be groomed, etc., etc., then most dogs will wait until you are there to give them that time. Remember to think Quality and NOT Quantity. 2 hours sitting watching tv or being petted while you sit on the computer is NOT as good as 15 minutes chasing a ball and learning to give it to you when they fetch it back.
The sooner I can get answers, the better off we will be. We don't want to keep both of them if it will be bad for the dogs.
My personal opinion here would be to find ONE a good home and focus your time and efforts just on one. I believe that decision would be rewarding over and over again. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
Ev
Canine Caretaker Training/Consulting
Canine Caretaker Training/Consulting
http://www.k9care.ca
"United We Stand."
http://www.standunited.ca
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