Having Multiple puppies together-your thoughts and opinions.

Well i saw a woman yesterday on walkies with two Lurcher puppies-both gorgeous n well cared for, but i must admit i thought how on earth??!?!
And i know a few folk on boards have/had pups together and then too i have thought how on earth?!?!
Some years ago now we kept on two stafford pups from a litter (if my memory serves me well) as it couldn't be decided which one to 'run on'-but that was madness and i vowed i could never do it again.
Same as for having Ralph now-i mean Florrie was like around the 18 months benchmark-and at times this was even trying, and now when we have our GSP puppy relative visit-i must admit he is lovely but i'm glad when he has gone home. Maybe its just me but i really couldn't manage with mutliple young puppies together-would feel as if i wasn't able to devote my full time too them etc.
Your thoughts/opinions on the subject?

I'm not sure getting young pups from the same litter is a great idea, but I've never done it so don't know.
I think if people have the time to devote to the pups and the experience in handling and training dogs, then that's fine, it's their choice and I bet it makes for lots of fun. I don't think I'd suggest it to an inexperienced owner or someone who hasn't been around pups for ages (like years and years) but if not, as long as they have researched the breed and know their stuff, I can't see a problem.
I've had young pups together (not for long periods of time however) and it is exhausting, yes, but oh so very much fun...if you are prepared for exactly what it entails....

I've never owned a puppy on its own never lone two! My friend who is very experienced with dogs kept two puppies from her dogs litter - it seemed like a nightmare to me - but she coped with it very well. So she now has 4 Staffies who love and play with each other very well indeed.

My friend has just got two grey hound puppies from the same litter after just a week he is feeling the strain, I think one at a time is enough for me, I would rather enjoy two dogs puppy hoods seperately so I could fully appreciate each of them growing up and give them the individual attention they need, then have two puppies at the same time, although it must be nice for them to grow up together and no doubt its alot of fun, each to their own I guess!

The thought had crossed my mind when I met willow as one of her brothers was also available. I decided against it but may perhaps consider another pup when she is 18mnths-2years.

Ailsa I have to say that I too have heard that it is not a good idea to get two pups from the same litter as it can lead to sibling rivalry. Though I personally have not had two pups from the same litter , it is only what I have heard, I also agree with Luke that you cannot devote enough time to give them the amount of attention they need, but this is only IMO. Also I think a lot depends on the breed, In borzois I have found that it is better to wait till your existing puppy is just over a year old and then get another, but this is as I say just my opinion. Other people will probably have an entirely different view. I think it is a very personal decision

I know of someone that has two JRT's who are brother and sister and they seem to manage fine and the dogs are well trained and very well cared for and happy. I suppose its nice if it works out. My sister ended up keeping three puppies from her surprise litter between her Bichon and her Yorkie and she didn't find it too much of a problem when they were puppies - she still has 2 of them now at 10 years old -sadly one got hit with a car last year

When I got Maddy. Dusty was just 6 months old, but I never had any problems raising the 2 of them together, but then again Dusty was pretty much trained and such.

I have thought in the future of getting 2 pups together (from different litters though) but that would be a long way down the line if it ever happened.

I am not inexperienced when it comes to dogs, and have (once) kept two from the same litter, which I had bred - but I would have to say never again!

four years on, they are fantastic dogs, well behaved both within my pack, and in general terms - but it was a bumpy road!
I trained them separately, socialised them separately and despite being allowed limited access to each other, were like the terrible twins...talk about double trouble

There is absolutely no circumstance that would see me selling or advising someone to take on two puppies at the same time.

I always counsel allowing 12- 18 months between getting one pup and taking on another.

..and yes, i do take my own advice these days

thandi

After reading everyone's comments im a bit worried now because we're due to get two puppies from the same litter next week