May
25
What’s wrong with getting two rottweiler puppies at once?
ByThe breeder was happy that we got two so they will keep company when we are out. I am a stay at home mom so I have all day to potty train and so far so good. My husband’s parents always got two dogs and they have been doing great, play together all the time, keep company etc, So why is everybody complaining about getting two littermates?
13 Comments
May 25th, 2010 at 3:37 am
Well it sounds like you could manage two so don’t listen to the complaining. Dogs are pack animals so if you can manage them, the more the better
Be prepared for a lot of work! Double the trouble.
May 25th, 2010 at 3:56 am
If you can devote the time, attention, love, and finances to both at the same time then great.
And if this is the case, I admire you. As a mother, it’s sometimes difficult for me to train the one puppy we have. My dogs are 2 years apart in age, because I didn’t think I’d be able to train two puppies together and still keep on top of housework and the kids.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:14 am
It’s like having twins. Twice the work, twice the supervision, twice the housetraining. Rottweilers in particular need to go to obedience class for both socialization and training and unless you and your husband can both go and each take one, it will be hard to accomplish. It’s a lot easier to get one, train it really well, then get another about a year later. The younger one often learns quite a lot from the older one, so if you did your job right the first time, the second one will be easier.
And of course the breeder was happy to sell two dogs instead of one.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:39 am
More often littermates end up with more behavior problems later. NOT ALWAYS but more often.
Be sure to spay and neuter ASAP. Call now to get an appointment as soon as they have available. Rottis are big pups so get it done now.
May 25th, 2010 at 4:49 am
It should be fine getting 2 at the same time, however, if they are of the same sex, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them growing up, because as they get older they may fight for dominance. Most breeders advise to get 1 dog first, leave it a couple of months and then get another, so that there is already an established hierarchy and the 2nd dog just takes its place automatically as bottom of the pack.
May 25th, 2010 at 5:15 am
2 puppies are very hard no matter what breeds but I guess my personal reason against it (not that I am but IF i was) would be they tend to be too dependent on each other and dont develop individual personalities and later in life this sometimes leads to them just fighting (for “dog pack” status usually). so i guess as long as *you* are not overwhelmed just some advice, do alot of separate activities (and equal amount) with them both, with play and training.
Also, stay on top of deworming and vaccines! what one gets, the other one is sure to.
May 25th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Since you have the time and appears the experience..this shouldn’t be a problem. The main reason for not getting 2 litter mates is breeding so be sure to spay/neuter as soon as you possible. You will also need to be diligent in socializing them with other dogs and people as they will form their own pack and not let anyone else in unless care is taken. They will also at some point struggle for dominance but with good training and patience it will work out. BOL!
May 25th, 2010 at 6:06 am
It is harder to housetrain 2, it is harder to crate train 2. Not only that, but they are equal in size, and being littermates they know what makes the other one tick, can easily and feel more comfortable bugging one another. Littermates tend to fight thru out their life. But they also tend to be more doggy dogs than people dogs when you raise 2 littermates together. If you rather have a pair of dog that prefers each other company over your own, go for it. I happen to like dogs that like to be with me, rather than with one another.
May 25th, 2010 at 6:30 am
It’s just harder to handle the training for two dogs at once, and often the dogs bond more to each other than to you. Most owners want the dog have its primary bond with them. Easier to train a dog that way. And the dog will be more people-oriented. A dog that grows up with littermate may always be more dog-oriented.
So it’s not really “wrong” to get littermates, but it makes your job harder. Since you are a stay-at-home mom, I think you can do it. You just have to make sure that you train the dogs individually, and don’t let them get out of control. You definitely want to socialize them to as many people as possible and get into obedience training ASAP. Get them in a puppy class, and set aside some one-on-one training with each dog for every day. You want to make sure you have a good bond with each dog individually, and make sure that they respect and honor your commands.
May 25th, 2010 at 6:41 am
There’s not one thing I can think of that’s wrong with getting two littermates. I know several people who have done the same thing and I’ve yet to hear them complain. In fact, the dog trainer I use has two Rottie littermates. If you’re happy, have the time to house train them, it’s great. Enjoy your pups.
May 25th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Q: What’s wrong with getting two rottweiler puppies at once?
A: Because too often the owner of siblings allow them to “play together all the time, keep company etc.”
Tony comments:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning multiple dogs, so long as the owner can step up to manage the pack. But red flags wave when the owner starts allowing the pack to manage itself (see your own words quoted above). Lots and lots of red flags.
Tony A-
May 25th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Getting 2 litter mates is the ideal way of getting 2 dogs. One should establish dominance before they get too old, which makes it easier, and the 2 will play together in a way that no other 2 dogs will do.
The only downside is twice the vet bills, twice the food bills, and at least twice as much time spent training them – oh, and twice the poop to clean up.
May 25th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I like my dogs to be about 2-3 years apart. For two reason, one, the puppy will learn from the adult. Two, as they age, the younger one will keep the older one active.
I could not handle having 2 dogs leave me at the same time. Being litter mates, I would guess that when they do go, it will be very close together. God forbid, they have a health issue when they are older, it is very difficult to carry two large dogs back and forth to the vet. For me, I couldn’t take the commitment it is going to be later in their lives.