Reader’s Question
I’ll be getting a female spaniel puppy in a few weeks. A few days ago, the breeder called me up to ask if I’d like to take another female puppy then too. I suppose they will be good company for each other – but what do you advise?

Lindsay’s Answer
Two dogs are certainly better than one, and young dogs especially enjoy having another dog to play with. However, I would strongly advise against getting two puppies at the same time as this can end up being a real headache! The main reason for this is that the puppies will tend to bond with each other, and not with you – especially since they come from the same litter and have been together since birth. This can make them very difficult to train, particularly with regard to recall when you’re out walking. Also, female dogs from the same litter can be quite competitive and, if dominance isn’t clearly established, they may tend to fight as they grow up.

It would be a much better idea to bring just one female puppy into the family and spend a good eight to 10 months training her and establishing a strong bond with you as leader of the pack. You will also find it much easier to housetrain just one puppy – don’t underestimate the time and effort that you need to put into bringing up this new ‘baby’! Then, by all means introduce another puppy to the family when your dog has become an adolescent. I suggest that you then get a male puppy as one of each sex results in a good and happy balance!

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