What if they do get on...

[LucyA]

I hope I don't upset anyone by posting this but I felt I should share my experience with other new dog owners.

We got our first german shepherd at 9 weeks, nearly 10 weeks ago now, we went through hell with toilet training, we have a good few things to replace in our house and it took us a while to settle him into how he should behave. He is, luckily an incredibly intelligent dog and he is now an extremely well behaved puppy at 4.5 months. Of course he still does things he shouldn't from time to time but he is more than manageable.

Just over a month ago we started thinking about getting a second german shepherd puppy to keep our boy company. In the end we decided to allow our lodger to get her first puppy so we could see how it would work and if things didn't work out then we agreed that the puppy and our lodger would have to find other living arrangements.

We picked Honey and picked her up less than a week later, she is a 9 week old yellow lab. Another intelligent breed! Emma (my lodger) picked the first bitch that came to her, we thought having the bravest girl would mean she could hold our own with our very big boy. I was never concerned that he would hurt a puppy but I was worried he would be too playful and frighten a small pup.

When Honey came things were difficult to say the least.
For 12 hours we had constant noise, Blitz's deep woof vs. Honey's squeaky yap. It was awful, stood next to eachother we couldn't hear a word, we were all close to tears at this point. An idea to use the spray water bottle we use for the snake tank to tell them both off helped us pretty much instantly. They both learnt very quickly that fighting quietly meant staying dry. It didn't stop them fighting - they still do excessively, only playfully but try getting past them when they are at it, you soon regret it as they confuse your leg for their playmate or nearly trip you up using you as a hiding place.

Honey spent the first 3 nights in bed with her Mummy but was waking her through the night and it was getting increasingly difficult for Emma, we had decided previously that Honey was best there so they could not get too rough together when we couldn't supervise. It made the dogs worse, Honey became very clingy and even when left with Blitz she would cry for human companionship which was very wearing. When I say cry - I do mean howl and CONSTANTLY!!

We decided the only way to make Honey less clingy was to make a change now before it was too late and stuck Honey in the kitchen with Blitz for the night, surprisingly, the first bout of crying lasted only 25mins but she then woke every hour to try again. Nethertheless, it was far better than expected so we have stuck with that and Honey is mostly OK left with Blitz now. They have become very well bonded to the point that they pine for eachother now which is difficult when I am the only one in and I can't walk Honey (not jabbed yet) with Blitz, I can hear her howling from down the road and yes, our neighbours have complained!!!

Blitz was out of his chewing phase for now, but I have witnessed what happens, Honey chews something and Blitz comes straight over to see what it is and help.

Blitz was going through the full night dry, but now Honey is there and obviously can't, Blitz has decided he doesn't have to anymore.

When we feed them, we feed them seperately, sometimes they get so het up that they have been seperated that they will not eat.

If we take one for a wee and that one hears the other pining it won't go to the toilet and just cries to get back in.

It hasn't been long, but it feels like forever and I can promise you all this is the first and last time we will ever have 2 puppies together. We know it will pass but it is so hard, because of how hyper and destructive they are as a team we are having to keep them in the kitchen pretty much all of the time. When Emma is home she will take Honey to her room for a bit of TLC and we let Blitz have full roam for a while but the whining starts again. It is impossible to allow both of them to just run riot in the house (we have tried numerous times - it's a nightmare) With 3 of us we can manage but alone it is too much, we never get any peace.

When Honey starts walking we are expecting big improvements from both of them as we can tire them both out and they should be calmer.

I know all of the above is normal puppy behaviour but you will never understand how much work and stress having two puppies involves until you do it. If it was just me and Dan I think we would have broken down by now, thankfully the dogs are outnumbered which helps immensly considering how strong willed our big boy is getting.

I just wanted to say to anyone considering it, from a newbie who is trying it... WAIT, just until your baby is a bit older, give yourself chance to enjoy some peace and get your baby as you want them before you ruin it. We have created so much more work for ourselves.

I wouldn't change Blitz or Honey for the world but don't make the same mistake that we did, there really is no rush!!

Lucy x

Aww Lucy
I really feel for you all
I have to say though getting Troy at 8 weeks then Kaiser at 7 weeks just 2 months later was the best thing Ive done and dont regret it for a second.
They have not been separated though having always been together.
Maybe that was your problem
Mine have always slept together down stairs in the kitchen and it has ovbiously formed a bond.
When I get my girl though things will have to be slightly different, she will come upstairs with us at night only because the boys are over 2 years older than her.
When we are out I will crate her in the Kitchen and the boys will be in there too, and when she is older she will join them overnight in the kitchen.

Hope things improve for you all
Linda xxx

[LucyA]

I think Linda more than anything it is not for the faint hearted, I don't regret it but I don't think I expected it to be any different to how it was with just Blitz, I think I forgot she would have her own adjustment period and that her issues wouldn't be the same as his.
You will be more than prepared for your girl we have no doubts about that :P xxx

[wolfman]

A very helpful post of first hand experience for anyone else thinking of an addition..Thanks Lucy.

[sami]

A great post Lucy I am sure it will be very useful to many people.


I hate to say i told you so but I told you so!!!

You will get through it and end up with 2 happy good dogs.

By the way someone tell Liam to read this.

Tracy

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by sami

A great post Lucy I am sure it will be very useful to many people.


I hate to say i told you so but I told you so!!!

You will get through it and end up with 2 happy good dogs.

By the way someone tell Liam to read this.

Tracy

LIIIIAAAAAMMMMMMM



That was very helpful Lucy, + might make some think twice, it's definitely not for the faint hearted. Boris was 16 months when we got Tilly + even that was hard work, I'd still do it again though

xxx

[LucyA]

Thanks, I was hoping it would be seen as helpful rather than anything else.
My lesson has been ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE MEMBERS HERE!!!!!
They know best lol.
Xxxx

[kita]

Be careful about letting them get too dependent on each other, otherwise when they do have to be split it will be a nightmare - and it could be a time when you really don't want it, like if (god forbid) one gets ill and has to spend time in the vets, you would not want seriously ill dog to be also pinning for her/his best friend.

Try and get them out for even a short walk on their own each day and make sure you build up your relationship with each one separately.

As you have already found out training two together is virtually impossible, so you have to train them separately.

Don't worry you will get through it - I did and I took on worse, my first dog was a GSD and when she was a year old I rescued her litter sister and bought a new BSD 16 week old bitch pup in the space of 24 hours . It was total chaos for a while but I ended up with 3 fantastic dogs.

Sue

[Su-C]

Awww Lucy - I feel for you. I had 2 of my previous dogs about 17 months apart, and I must say I had it pretty easy. Having got Mason just 5 weeks or so ago, my OH is already planning the next - but it DEFINITELY wont be until Mason is well into his 2nd year.

I would just emphasise what has already been said. DO walk them apart, DO train them seperately and try to encourage as much time without each other as possible. I am sure as much as you like having Emma and Honey there, you wont be wanting a lodger forever, and the more time they spend apart as they gow up, the easier it will be!

Stick in there girl, you can do it!

Sue
x

[ClaireandDaisy]

In my experience there is always something with a new dog. The dog has digestive problems or you have forgotten how much attention they need, or you get disturbed sleep and find it hard to cope.
Bear with it. All the work you do now will be rewarded. It`s like bringing up kids - you have to go through the pain (tantrums / fights / sulks) to get to the good stuff (someone you are proud of).