The Key to Training Two Puppies at Once
Double the trouble or double the fun?
by Karen B. London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KA, | June 28, 2022
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It’s totally tempting to get two puppies at once (in dreams, we imagine having even more, TBH, even though it’s generally unwise to get more than one, and it’s especially type: entry-hyperlink id: kinshipArticle-merge-1145.) But as adorable as it sounds, two puppies at the same time is A LOT of work. Take heart, though: the problems you may encounter — feeling overwhelmed by double the training, for example — are common in households with two puppies, and you can definitely make the situation better.
The most important step is to spend time alone with each puppy daily. Besides helping you build a strong relationship with each of the dogs, this will also accustom them to being separated. Use this one-on-one time to work on training. The pups need to be trained individually before you try to work with them as a pair, because they are going to distract one another when they’re together.
The time you spend alone with each puppy shouldn’t be all work — engage them in other activities as well. Playing, type: entry-hyperlink id: kinshipArticle-merge-832, or taking a class together are all ways you can spend valuable time with each dog. Another benefit is that you can focus on doing what that dog enjoys most. Perhaps one loves nothing more than to have you practice type: entry-hyperlink id: kinshipArticle-merge-1447 on him, while the other pup’s favorite activity is running and jtype: entry-hyperlink id: kinshipArticle-merge-845.
It is wise to let them be individuals; living in the same house does not mean that they necessarily have identical personalities or that they have the same needs. On the flip side, the fact that one dog dislikes riding in the car doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun for the other dog. No matter how similar they are, treat them as individuals. The more you do, the more likely it is that they will have a strong bond with you, and the easier it will be for you to get their attention.
Recommended Reading
Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household by Karen B. London and Patricia B. McConnell.
Raising Puppies & Kids Together: A Guide for Parents by Pia Silvani and Lynn Eckhardt.
Karen B. London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KA
Karen B. London is a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) and certified professional dog trainer (CPDT) who specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression. She has written for a variety of magazines including The Bark, Clean Run, and the APDT Chronicle of the Dog, and has published in scientific journals including Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Ethology, Ecology, and Evolution, the Journal of Insect Behavior, and Insectes Sociaux. She is the author of seven books about dog training and canine behavior, including the forthcoming My Dog's Mystery Adventure: And Other Stories From a Canine Behaviorist and Dog Trainer.
