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[FionaS]

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Hi,

I have a 8 month old whippet bitch called Dolly and was thinking of getting another female pup who is 6 months old. Does anyone have any advice on introducing two young dogs and training them both? I have heard from some people that they wouldn't have two young dogs and others have said they have been ok. Dolly is cage trained and loves her cage she has her dinner in it and sleeps in there on her own accord, do you think they would be ok in a cage together and if so what size would be best?

Any advice would be great Dolly is such a lovely little dog that I don't want to upset her but she was 1 of 5 in her last house and i think she would love another dog to play with.

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Thanks!!

 

[Nicola]

I don't have any experience of introducing adolescents to adolescents. It's probably harder work to train two at a time, but I imagine they would get on like a house on fire once they've settled and would be great company for one another. I think the younger they are the quicker they adjust and welcome a new member to the family. Could be fun and noisy, but who wants a quiet life!

Good luck....fingers crossed it will work out. I'm sure it will :luck:

I'm sure others can give you the benefit of their own personal experience and wisdom. I'm only going by gut feeling. :b

 

[dessie]

I think it would probably be great for Dolly to have a playmate. :thumbsup: I would take her with you when you go to see the other puppy and let them meet, preferably on neutral ground although both being so young that should not be too much of a problem, and see how they get on.

If you do have the 2nd one, and especially as Dolly is fed in her cage, it might be wise to get another cage, at least initially as Dolly may well regard it as 'her' territory. But lots of mine double up in cages so once they get to know one another they could sleep together. I would not feed them both in one cage though!

For comfort, I would have a 24" x 36" as the smallest size cage for them both, although 2 bitches can get in a 21" x 31" cage (which is the size that I take to shows/lure coursing).

Good luck :luck: I would go for it!!!

 

[OEH]

Tess was 9 months (I think- isn't it awful that I can't remember) when I got Nana who was almost a year, so they were both teenagers. Nana was quite traumatised so not very young in temperament, but it was the best thing I have ever done. I made sure that I gave them a lot of individual play and training and walked them occaisionally on their own so that they were used to it if necessary.

They played and played and played.........................................and played and played and played and were both so much happier

I found in some ways it was much harder work than having one, but in others it made life so much easier- I didn't worry about going out for dinner etc and it is heaven watching them run together and now the two of them (both around 2 now) are next to no work at all.

 

[FionaS]

Thanks for your advice. I would always feed them apart just incase of fights!

I am going to take Dolly this weekend to meet the other pup and take them on a walk together to see how they get on. Seeing as Dolly was one of 5 and the new pup is one of 5 i think they should be ok together. I start training classes with Dolly on Monday and was thinking of training her to be a P.A.T dog. Does anyone have any experience of this?

 

[Janimal]

Welcome to K9 and Good luck if you decide to get another :luck:

Oscar was 9 months old when we got Kobi - they get on really well. A few teething problems at first just to be expected. But Im glad I too the plunge and got another - yes hard work at times - but as OEH says worth it - just to see them run around together - thats great and they love each other most of the time.