Two From One Litter Or One Now And One Later?

[Fiona_m]

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Hi All

I am very much looking forward to collecting my new boy in a few weeks time. When I went to see him, his breeder had another unbooked boy and suggested that they came to me together, it would settle them better (apparently). I know that I want another whippet, but had planned on later, in a few years.

So my questions are these, I would be most grateful if you would be kind enough and let me know your opinion:

Has anyone taken on/kept 2 boys from one litter? Has it gone well? Would you do it again? Would it be better to take the one and come back later for another? I have a busy family and the little fellow is (hopefully) going to be my shadow - if he has his brother too, will they bond together more? Can you think of any other considerations that I should consider in my decision? Other than the cost one, of course!

Many thanks from a whippet novice....

F

 

[Seraphina]

I think that 2 pups the same age are mostly a good idea. They will cope better with the big change of coming to live with you, they will keep each other company when you have other things to do. On the other hand you will have double of the little wet accidents. But that does not last long.

If you are getting a new puppy while you already have young adult, you will need to be very careful that the older one is not too rough with the baby. I would never let them play without supervision until the pups is at least 4 months.

Whatever you decide, we are looking forward photos, lots of them

 

[Suzycbee]

You may find that 2 from the same litter have built up a bond already before they come to you, 2 pups from different litters might be better. You might find that 2 pups settle easier than one, but obviously you have your work cut out with house training 2 and also double the insurance and food etc, (but you would already be aware of that). Havig more than one whippet is great fun and of course, when you have to leave them, they have a play mate so that is a plus factor.

Anyway, good luck and plenty of pictures would be lovely please

 

[AnnSa]

If i had two like Terrible Tala i would leave home.........

 

[lalena]

all depends whether you have the time and patience to deal with a pair, training them apart so they dont distract each other during 'lessons'. one pup can be a handful, two =quadruple the trouble :lol: then of course you may potentially have some rucks when they both hit puberty and want to be top dog, whereas with an older and younger same sex pair, its less likely, though not always the case when one is naturally more submissive, and neutering can help should this arise.

good luck, and however many you bring home, pics are required here

 

[k4tie-d]

we got two girls for our first pup, and yes they settled so easily, only moaning for 5mins the first night. They kept each other amused, they wore each other out, and just great fun to watch when out running together.

on the other hand they took longer to house train as trying to get them syncronised with their pees and poops was difficult, and if you didnt catch them in the act how would you know which one had left the puddle. they cost alot more! not just the food aspect and insurace, but double on the jags and microchip, which here i think its around £90 a pup, and its not just at first, obviasly with two together they will get their boosters at the same time, and my girls have come in to season almost exactly together so now we are looking at a £300 bill to have them spayd together ruby in the next two weeks and starry just after xmas, its just little extra things that we never really thought about and well should have.

Recall was difficult to teach, after months of trying we eventually used a whistle and treats and finnally have got it down, but it was a nightmare in the begining.

i love my girls and i wouldnt change taking two for anything, and before we got our 3rd i was 100% sure that taking 2 together was the best idea, as they seemed to bond with us just as well as bonding with each other. and yes it has been easy to look after them, and leave them (when need be) as they have each other 24/7.

but now on having our little boy smokey, i see exactly what we have missed from taking 2 instead of one. there is that bond between you and a pup which is their far more with smokey than it is with ruby and star. and i dont think you can understand that unless you have taken on 1 pup and 2pups.

he is alot more work, and a complete waste of time in a good way he wants to play all day, where as ruby and star would have been contented with play fighting with each other all day. recall has been pretty simple to teach, house training was a breeze, but that was alot down to his breeder having him at a very good stage before he came here

i think you just need to think long and hard about what you really want dont let the breeder push you into taking 2, if you dont feel its right for you.

there was no pushing needed for us, we just knew when we went down that it was fate that starry was still their and she would have to come home with us, but i do realise what we have missed in having 2 as our first.

i hope this post makes sence, its pretty early in the morning so iv probabilly rambbled on alot.

there are quite a few topics on here about taking one or 2 pups, if i get time later on ill have a look for them for you.

good luck what ever you decied.

and enjoy your pup(s) while it/they are little as they dont stay little for long

:huggles: :huggles:

 

[k4tie-d]

sorry to divert you away from the lovey k9, but this is where the last topic was on having 2 pups, maybe worth a little read :thumbsup:

http://www.thewhippetforum.com/forums/inde...mp;fromsearch=1

 

[jazad]

Wow Katie - what a wise post! I agree with everything she said! We got two boys from the same litter - and in all honesty I don't know if I would do it the same if we had the opportunity again. Unlike children and kittens where two isn't necessarily double the work of one - with puppies I'd say two at the same time is more work than double the work of one - especially if you have a busy household - you really need to make the effort to do 1:1 training - and for us that wasn't always possible - so at just over 1 although they are house trained and do the basics they are not nearly as well trained as I would have liked - and that's because we didn't have the time we needed to invest in 1:1 training every day.

The flip side is they keep each other company and we've had no night time crying... they play together and are rarely if ever bored... oh and watching them free-run together is a joy!

So ask yourself is the breeder looking after your/ the pups best interest? Or just trying to empty the nest a little quicker?

 

[rls22]

That is a really sensible post Katie, I well remember you being very pro two from the same litter!!

We have always said that we would never allow two of our pups to go to a new home together. I think one puppy is more than enough; enjoy your first whippet, take time to bond, get his training sorted before thinking about adding another to the pack.

We kept one of the girls back from our last litter while her owners were on holiday, she was 12 weeks by the time she went, so was with us an extra month. In that time her and her sister Rowan (who we kept) were just obsessed with playing with each other.

I am quite disappointed that a breeder would be trying to convince you that taking two together is the better option. It really isn't.

 

[k4tie-d]

That is a really sensible post Katie, I well remember you being very pro two from the same litter!!
We have always said that we would never allow two of our pups to go to a new home together. I think one puppy is more than enough; enjoy your first whippet, take time to bond, get his training sorted before thinking about adding another to the pack.

We kept one of the girls back from our last litter while her owners were on holiday, she was 12 weeks by the time she went, so was with us an extra month. In that time her and her sister Rowan (who we kept) were just obsessed with playing with each other.

I am quite disappointed that a breeder would be trying to convince you that taking two together is the better option. It really isn't.

yes i know i was, and to be honest, if we hadnt had Tyg stay with us for 2 weeks we would have been none the wiser, we either wouldn't have been looking for a pup or we would have been looking for 2, (w00t)

but seeing Tyg on his own and they way he acted with us, compared to when Ruby and Star were pups there is definatly a difference the bond thats there is not as strong when you have two, we both felt that, i think OH even more as he was then set in having a only boy as the next one, and Smokey ticked all the boxes :wub: :wub: (apart from that smokey was an only pup so we had no choice but to take one) :lol:

i wouldnt change taking them both for anything, but i would say just make sure its right for your family, the work of two in everyday life isnt harder, your already doing the walks the feeding the poopascooping, they settle quicker, and seeing the two of them playing together is just amazing, but to train them the work is trippled, the cost of them is doubled, and the reward back (in the way of bonding with you) is slightly less. :b

its alot to think about but it should be, cause its a friend(s) for life :huggles:

 

[whippetmad]

Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you...........if you can feel you can cope with two then go for it,it can be more harder as regarding to training etc,but you must decide and really think this through,also who ever lives in the same household

Love to see some pic later :thumbsup:

 

[Fiona_m]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. Having considered it closely and with the desire to get it as right as I can with my new best friend, I have told the breeder that I will be taking only the 1 baby, as I originally planned. I think she was rather disappointed, but hope that it won't sour the feelings of happiness I have over my little fellow. I have given her my deposit which she has accepted - I only hope she doesn't now turn around and say I can't have him - if I don't have both.... But then, I'm probably paranoid and over reacting - she undoubtedly wants her pups to go to good and happy homes as much as I want to have him in mine.

Pics to follow very shortly - he will be home soon, can hardly wait... Now to buy a few things to make him really happy here.

A little more advice if possible, what size of crate would be the best for one whippy? And, does everyone insure their whippets? I know they are really healthy dogs (exceptions aside), what is the best cover to buy for a little one?

Thanks and thanks again

Fiona

 

[rls22]

I definitely think that you have made the right decision. And if the breeder is funny with you about it then I think you are best getting a pup from elsewhere. The relationship between puppy owner and breeder is very important as you should be able to go to them with any question no matter how trivial.

A 36" crate would be ideal for your new boy, fill it with lots of comfy bedding and he will love it.

As for insurance it is an absolute must. Not wanting to scare you but Alfie from our last litter broke his leg at six months and had he not been insured his owners would have been faced with a three grand vets bill to provide him with the best treatment possible.

I recommend Argos platinum cover, which is about £10 a month.

 

[k4tie-d]

i think you have made a good decision :thumbsup:

36" is perfect size, as its got plenty of room for one spolied whippy :wub: but their is room also just enough room for whippy number 2 when the time for him or her eventually comes (w00t) :-

good luck with your pup, cant wait to see pics :huggles:

 

[whippetmad]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. Having considered it closely and with the desire to get it as right as I can with my new best friend, I have told the breeder that I will be taking only the 1 baby, as I originally planned. I think she was rather disappointed, but hope that it won't sour the feelings of happiness I have over my little fellow. I have given her my deposit which she has accepted - I only hope she doesn't now turn around and say I can't have him - if I don't have both.... But then, I'm probably paranoid and over reacting - she undoubtedly wants her pups to go to good and happy homes as much as I want to have him in mine.
Pics to follow very shortly - he will be home soon, can hardly wait... Now to buy a few things to make him really happy here.

A little more advice if possible, what size of crate would be the best for one whippy? And, does everyone insure their whippets? I know they are really healthy dogs (exceptions aside), what is the best cover to buy for a little one?

Thanks and thanks again

Fiona

Glad you made the right choice We all look forward in seeing pics

 

[Seraphina]

I would never try to talk anybody into taking 2 pups, especially if they never had a dog before, but I really cannot see any of the problems described here.

I house train whole litters before I sell them; by the time they are the 8-10 weeks, they are quite trained. the trick is to get them out of the house when they wake up and after they have eaten. I start training them when they are about 4-5 weeks, I sneak into their room first thing in the morning, call them and run out of the house, with the whole litter chasing me. Once they hit the grass they usually do their business and get big praise and cuddle. Soon they start heading for outside all by themselves. The new owners usually report only very few accidents, some report none............... well, until the first rainy day .

There was a litter that I ran on 4 pups until they were some 5 months old, I leash trained them all together. Their first show was when they were just 3 months old and they walked all together into the crowded hall like if they did that all their lives.

That was my C litter, they were born and raised in the house, and were left in the house with my other dogs when I went out.

But of-course, 2 dogs will cost twice as much.