We just bought 2 male mini schnauzer littlemates from a backyard breeder. After bringing them hone, we started reading on the internet about many potential problems that can happen raising 2 puppies at the same time. My wife wants to give one away. I don't. Can anyone give some real life advice. I know we should neuter them ASAP. I know it will take alot more time in training (individually & together). Should they be kept in 2 crates? Eat from different dishes? etc. How to stop potential future aggression? Thanks

I see no reason you can't raise litter mates together from birth. We have litter mate kitties here who are four years old and the girls get along famously.

Let me just say that one trip to the Vet will answer a lot of your questions. I understand you knew this was a back yard breeder, if I were you I'd be burning the phone lines trying to get a vet appointment as soon as possible for a health check (did you get any medical records with your pups?) If not at 11 weeks your pups should have already received their first round of puppy shots. You'll get a lot of good advice here but only a vet can determine the health and insure the future wellbeing of your pups.

Why did you buy from a backyard breeder, or did you not find out until afterwards? Yes, there can be potential problems with littermates. I have seen littermates get on fine, but NO reputable breeder would sell two pups to the same home from the same litter.

Yes, if you are using crates, use two, and keep those crates each dogs own personal den. Definitely feed them in seperate bowls. And yes, get them neutered. I am glad you are being responsible, and I don't think that you have to get rid of one now that you have them.

Raising two pups from the same litter shouldn't create any more problems than raising two pups from different litters. Yes, you might want to have them neutered as soon as your vet allows. This will not eliminate aggression but will help reduce it. You will still have two dogs that challenge each other for who gets to be the alpha dog.

I think they will be fine sleeping in the same crate; however, you will want to separate them if fight in a way that will physically harm one of them or if you notice vomit or a problem with one of their stools. This means one of them is sick, and you won't know which one if they're staying in the same condo.

Here's some information that may help you out a little:

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ggression.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ning-dogs.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ing-a-dog.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...schnauzer.html

I'm in the same boat as you! We bought 2 puppies, but different breeds. One is a pomeranian and the other a shi t-zu/poodle mix! They are 12 weeks old. I crate them together at night, but give them a lot of individual attention , love, and discipline during the day. The pomeranian is definitly the 'bully'!!! It's a lot of work, and they are males and I plan to have them neutered as soon as possible. I would find it very hard to give either one up, as my family is very attatched. So far, it's working out fine, and we take each day as it comes. My vet seems to think that what we are doing is fine, and quite honestly, that's who you should trust. Everyone has an opinion, and while it's important to listen to advice, you have to be the best judge for yourself!

I would definately say to keep them in different crates (you may want to do this gradually as they are used to being together right now). Definately feed from separate bowls. Do not allow one puppy to get more attention than the other. There will be one that will be wanting your attention more than the other. I had 2 male puppies from the same litter that I hand raised from 1wk old because their mother killed off the others. So I know a bit about raising 2 at once. I had them until they were 2yrs old. So I can probably answer most of the questions you have.

I am quite curious about why you would buy from a backyard breeder myself.... My mother has rescued two dogs, one was a backyard breeder bitch..for 10 years she lived in a very small cage that was barely big enough for her to stand up right in ( a min pin dog! so this cage was quite small) and for 10 years she just had puppies continuously over and over again. Apparently her last 3 litters did not survive of course with the strain on her, it's a wonder she did. She has some permanent cage marks on her body from where she had to lay all the time during nursing and sleeping, and her stomach is distended and other parts of her body in a bad state from giving birth so many times over the last 10 years. She is starting to come around, but some things she can not handle like closed doors or crating..it's really sad.
Do you guys not have any all breed rescues or humane societies near you?
I would be very concerned with the puppies health myself. I do not see why there would be any issue whatsoever in raising two dogs together at the same time, If anything its better because eventually you will realize that while at work, your dog needs a friend and you would end up getting another dog anyways....are they the same sex? if not than yes just get them fixed to make sure there is no further inbreeding, which unfortunately, some back yard breeders are known for. So just raise them smart and you should be fine

I completely disagree with your statement that "No reputable breeder would sell two pups to the same home from the same litter". There are MANY reputable breeders that would and do sell two pups to the same home from the same litter, and why not. As long as the potential owners show a knowledge of the fact that they are taking on a very time consuming and sometimes difficult task of raising "twins", there is not reason why it shouldn't be done. Yes, there are challenges involved, but no, it's not impossible. It just depends on how committed the "new parents" are to their "new children". Please keep this in mind.

Originally Posted by emma_pen

Why did you buy from a backyard breeder, or did you not find out until afterwards? Yes, there can be potential problems with littermates. I have seen littermates get on fine, but NO reputable breeder would sell two pups to the same home from the same litter.

Yes, if you are using crates, use two, and keep those crates each dogs own personal den. Definitely feed them in seperate bowls. And yes, get them neutered. I am glad you are being responsible, and I don't think that you have to get rid of one now that you have them.

Raising littermates has two major challenges, the bonding and the training.

Some people just assume that no one is smart enough or capable enough to deal with the challenges and say littermates should never be raised together, but neither issue is impossible, just a bit more work.

You should certainly look for as many ways as possible to do things individually with the dogs and get them used to being away from each other for periods of time. Their natural instinct will be to bond with each other more than with you, but you can work on increasing their human bond by doing things like hand feeding and separate walks and having you and your wife each play with and train a puppy in a separate room, taking turns with each dog. Most of this you will only have to do while they are puppies, until you know they've formed a strong bond with you and your wife.

The training is more intensive, basically having to do everything four times instead of one, once with each individual dog, then again with each dog while they are together. You can work on as many commands as you feel they are capable of when they are separated, but I'd only work on one of them at a time while they are together until they've really got it. So you could do sit, down and stay while they are separate, but only work on 'sit' together until they always do it every time before moving on to 'down'. It will be much harder for them with the other one around distracting them so you'll need a lot of patience here. You also have to preface every command with their name so they know which dog it's intended for. I have four dogs, and they have 'name commands' but when I want them all to come or all to sit I have a group name (in my case it's "Puppies")

Try to find something that REALLY motivates them (I make homemade treats that dogs will do ANYTHING for) and interrupt their play occasionally and make them come to you for it. When I was teaching mine to come right away when called I would give the first three dogs that arrived a treat, but not the last one. It only took one afternoon for them to get that they better come FAST when I call

My Chins are from different litters but are one week apart in age and have been raised together from 10 and 11 weeks old. They get along perfectly...but they are definitely "people" dogs. As long as you are aware of the special issues and you feel you are up to the extra work involved, there is no reason not to have littermates.

Sorry....forgot to mention a couple things...

As far as separate bowls and crates etc are concerned, you can just use your own common sense. If you think they aren't bonding well with you, then try separating them more (which could include crating and eating) but if you feel they are focused and responsive to you then there is no need to make them eat or sleep separately. You could separate them for a time, then put them back together when their bond with you increases...do whatever seems warranted based on how they are behaving for you. All dogs and all owners are different and very few "hard and fast" rules apply to everyone all the time.

Thanks for those useful links.

Originally Posted by 4doggies

Raising two pups from the same litter shouldn't create any more problems than raising two pups from different litters. Yes, you might want to have them neutered as soon as your vet allows. This will not eliminate aggression but will help reduce it. You will still have two dogs that challenge each other for who gets to be the alpha dog.

I think they will be fine sleeping in the same crate; however, you will want to separate them if fight in a way that will physically harm one of them or if you notice vomit or a problem with one of their stools. This means one of them is sick, and you won't know which one if they're staying in the same condo.

Here's some information that may help you out a little:

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ggression.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ning-dogs.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...ing-a-dog.html

http://www.all-about-small-breed-dog...schnauzer.html