Okay - I have read the Ian Dunbar book and am now scared..

[TheBlackMoth]

sh*tless.

All the things we can do wrong.

We have had the puppies two weeks and are still having accidents - but I thought was ok until I read this book.

It's really scary - I don't think I can live up to these standards.

Also really worried now - because someone said a responsible breeder would never let someone have two from the same litter.

Why is this are they going to hate each other. Will we not be able to cope.

A very worried person!!

 

[TGM]

I've never had two pups at one times so I can't comment on that aspect! However, I did read the ID book and although it did sound rather intimidating on paper, the practice was much easier in reality. Even if the pups are having 'accidents' you can still crack the house-training, but it is all about timing, observation and praise. The weather now looks to be improving so things should become much easier. Make sure you or your children play with the pups as much as possible in the garden, as usually when there are excited is when they are most likely to evacuate! And when they do their business in the garden you want to give them lots and lots of praise and preferably a food treat as well.

The other two most important points I got from the book were the importance of socialisation and bite inhibition. Do try and invite as many people round to your house as possible to meet the pups and when they are old enough take them out and about to meet people and other dogs.

At the end of the day it is up to you what you want to expect from your dogs. If you want perfectly house-trained dogs which are unlikely to ever poop on the floor, even if you leave them for quite a while, then the more effort you put in now then the better your chances are. Short term pain for long term gain

.

ETA: I did follow the ID book almost to the letter and our dog has turned out to be everything I ever wanted from a dog and more! She is absolutely perfectly house-trained, accepts strange people and strange dogs without any fear, would never dream of biting people, has never trashed the house and doesn't worry when we go out.

 

[Oneofthepack]

Two weeks isn't that long. Don't panic, ask for advice if you need it and enjoy them. Did you want advice on how to housetrain them or are you happy with the way it's going? What is it that you're afraid you're going to get wrong?

 

[TheBlackMoth]

Well the book is very prescriptive and it doesn't deal with having two at once.

We don't know many people - although have about 25 people over the weekend - but that was a one off - my family visiting from down south - so meeting a hundred people is difficult.

We have taken them out - carried of course - to pets and home and the Warrington Horse Show.

I suppose the biggest worry is that we have taken on too much with two at once. I didn't worry until someone said that she thought no responsible breeder would let someone have two from the same litter - now I am worrying that something will go wrong!

Paranoia has set in!

 

[huggz]

You're going to have to work twice as hard.
Seperate walks & training sessions...equal time spent with each on their own.
You want them to fit into YOUR pack....hard when they are their own little pack.
Breeders do advise against having littermates go to the same home, but I know a few people who have done it...but be prepared to work at it.

 

[CAYLA]

I agree re- the 2 puppies at the same time thing,.....but hey u have got them now

so chin up and get stuck in.

Have you introduced them to a crate? no reason just being nosey

 

[TheBlackMoth]

They were born in a crate and looked after in one so they are used to it. Yes we have bought a big crate and are in the process of teaching them to go in on command.

As they are going to be alone for the morning and then again for the afternoon (about 3 hours at a time) I thought two would mean they had company.

They are doing ok - the play fighting is a bit real - but I suppose that's only to be expected.