beagle puppy brothers

[neenoc]

I just adopted 2 beagle puppy brothers (7 weeks old) and can find NOTHING on line about how to raise 2 at once. Should they use the same crate, should they have their own individual feeding bowls, should they be taught basic commands together or separately etc? I attempted to get them from the humane society but they refused to adopt out siblings stating the puppies may bond with each other rather than with me. Since I was determined to have sibling puppies, I was forced to purchase from a breeder. VODKA and TONIC are now a part of my family but I want to ensure that the training process is beneficial to both them and me.

[Bill]

Treat them as indivuals, not as a pair. Seperate crates. Seperate feeding bowls. Trained seperately. Walked seperately sometimes, together sometimes. Taken out in the world seperately sometimes, together sometimes. If you aren't careful they will bond together so tightly that you no longer exist. I had Great Dane siblings in a class I taught one time and the only way they would work was if they were next to each other in the class. If I put on at one end and the other at the other end you couldn't get their attention because each was so worried about his sibbling. The owners didn't think they were bonded until after a few classes and then they could see it. Once they bond closely like that it is pretty impossible to eliminate that bond. I suspect this will be the last pair littermates you own. Another draw back that you haven't thought about is that because they were born the same day with very similar genes, they are going to die within a short time of each other. You will go from a 2 dog house to a no dog house very quickly and thats a tough adjustment to make.

[Justontime]

My goodness you have some hard work ahead of you, too beagle puppies will certainly keep you busy. My mum bought sibling puppies a male and female shiz tsu, they are over a year old now and still a handful. They have always been treated as individuals but it has taken a little longer to achieve some milestones than it would with a single puppy. It hasn't been hard to treat them as individuals because they have very different temperaments the girl is as brave as a lion and quite naughty, but the the boy is very placid and not at all brave.

[Orrymain]

I was told the same thing, even when not siblings. You want them to bond but you have to make sure that you are not removed from the equation. For a long time, my youngest had a hard time being outside if her sister wasn't. I just kept doing it from time to time, and now she is a whole lot better. Still, they are together so much, and with me, too, that there is some separation anxiety for her.

[kernow]

Having seen a member of my family take on sibling puppies it isn't something I would consider for the reasons that Bill explained and because it makes everything that bit harder. However you have them now, so make sure you enjoy them and for their sake do your best to make sure that they are not so bonded that one will not cope if the other dies, it sounds odd but I have known of that happening. Good luck with the puppies.

[neenoc]

I am so grateful for all of your responses albeit a little worried now that I know the real truth. Too bad I didn't do this research BEFORE I fell in love with these two little guys. I'm on my way to pick up another crate this afternoon so I can begin following the advice I have been given. I want NOTHING but the best for these pups and that's exactly what they are going to get! Thanks again and I'll keep you posted. What a WONDERFUL website.

[Justontime]

If you can walk them on their own fairly often and get each one used to being on its own in a room without the other it will make your life so much easier. It is a real problem if the one left behind cries and gets upset and you will not always want to take them to the vet or whatever in twos. Just enjoy them, the hard work will be worth it.

[Justontime]

I forgot to mention in my reply, it would be lovely to see a photo of your two puppies.