The Ultimate Guide To Adopting Two Dogs At Once

If you’re thinking about adding a new dog or puppy to your family, you may be considering adopting not just one, but two at once. 

It’s certainly a tempting thought – after all, who doesn’t want double the cuddles and fun? 

However, adopting two dogs at the same time comes with its unique set of challenges, so it’s important to carefully consider whether you’re prepared to handle this added responsibility. 

Having adopted both a bonded pair and two adult dogs who didn’t know each other, I can vouch for the fact that having multiple dogs can be a lot of work – but it can also make life easier in some respects. 

In this article, I’ll be discussing what to look out for, the potential hurdles to overcome, and how to maximize success with your puppy or older dog pair. 

Adopting Two Puppies At Once: What To Know And Consider

Puppies can be exhausting at the best of times – in a good way, of course!

For this reason, many professional dog trainers tend to discourage adopting two at once – largely because it requires significant extra work to raise them into well-adjusted, well-socialized, and well-behaved dogs. 

It also means twice the chaos and stress, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed.

Not to mention the disturbed nights during the potty training phase.

The Challenges Of Training And Socializing Two Puppies At Once

Training a single puppy requires considerable time, energy, and patience.

If you add a second pup into the mix you might find their training and socialization processes compete for your time and attention – leading to an inconsistent training regimen and insufficient socialization.

Additionally, individual dogs tend to learn at different rates and may develop different needs, making it challenging to provide individualized training and meet their needs simultaneously.

Establishing Boundaries With Manners Cues 

With two puppies in your home, it’s essential to establish boundaries by teaching them manners cues from the beginning. 

Puppy training needs to be consistent, and the dogs need to learn good manners and basic cues, like “sit,” “stay,” “wait,” “come,” “drop it,” and “leave it.” 

By modeling good manners cues, your puppies will learn to respect your shared space and each other.

Note: In the old days, dog trainers used to talk about “obedience” and “commands.” Now we talk about “manners” and “cues.” Think collaboration and partnership, rather than coercion and compliance.

Renowned animal behavior expert Dr. Ian Dunbar also recommends teaching bite inhibition to reinforce gentle mouth behavior whenever puppies bite hands or clothes to play. 

“Teaching bite inhibition is the most important aspect of your puppy’s entire education,” he says.

Want to know more about bite inhibition? Here’s well-known dog trainer Zak George demonstrating how to train it in your puppy. Or should I say, puppies!

Setting Up Consistent Routines To Maintain Positive Behavior 

Consistency is key in ensuring your puppies develop good manners and maintain positive behavior. 

This includes establishing a regular feeding schedule, potty breaks, and separate training sessions. 

According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, early and consistent training is crucial for establishing a strong foundation of good behavior. 

The Tendency For Puppies To Bond With Each Other Instead Of Their Humans

Puppies tend to develop strong bonds with each other, often to the exclusion of their human family members. 

This can make it difficult to train and socialize them separately, potentially resulting in under-socialized and untrained dogs – if you don’t handle things carefully. 

While it’s not impossible to successfully adopt littermates, it requires extra effort and attention to ensure their proper socialization and independent development.

The Importance Of Individual Attention And Socialization 

While raising two puppies together, it’s crucial to give each puppy separate attention and socialization experiences. 

Puppies who are trained and socialized separately tend to develop better overall behavior and coping skills than those raised together constantly. 

So make an effort to take each puppy on solo walks, provide unique experiences, and use separate areas for sleep and alone time. 

This not only fosters individual development but also helps to prevent over-dependence on the puppy’s sibling.

Fostering a strong bond with each dog individually will also ensure a harmonious family environment and encourage healthy attachment. 

Long-Term Commitment Of Adopting Two Puppies

Adopting two dogs means double the responsibility, time, effort, and financial commitment in terms of adoption fees and future expenses. 

This means it’s vital to fully comprehend the long-term physical, emotional, and monetary requirements.

Remember, you’ll need to provide dog food, shelter, toys, gear, grooming, routine vet checkups, and vaccinations for both dogs for the next 15 years or so (hopefully). 

On top of that, the dogs will need an ongoing training schedule, sufficient exercise, and mental stimulation. 

So consider whether you have the time, energy, and resources to ensure the dogs will receive the care and attention they need to thrive.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Adopting Two Puppies At Once

Adopting two puppies at once can have both benefits and potential drawbacks.

Here are some more things to consider:

Companionship

Puppies can be great playmates and companions for each other, preventing loneliness and boredom when you’re not around.

Shared Training

As they grow together, they can learn from each other and share positive behaviors.

Time And Energy

Training and socializing two puppies at once requires considerable effort and dedication.

Mealtimes And Walks

Having said that, in my experience, it’s just as easy to prepare meals for one dog as it is for two dogs.

Also, once you’ve done your separate walks and training to avoid over-attachment, it’s just as easy to take two dogs for a walk as it is one.

Two dogs are also better for guarding the house than one!

Sibling Rivalry

If not addressed early on, the strong bond between sibling puppies could lead to issues such as aggression and possessiveness.

This can be especially prevalent in same-sex littermates. 

Separation Anxiety

When two puppies have been together their whole lives and are closely bonded, they may find it extremely stressful to be separated for any reason, or to be left on their own – even for a short time.

Separation anxiety is a commonly reported behavior in dogs and if you adopt two puppies together, it’s important to be aware of potential issues arising.

Pre-empting Separation Anxiety

While some dogs are more disposed to develop a separation-related disorder than others, there are steps you can take early on to try to pre-empt and prevent it.

Here are some examples (I’ve already mentioned some of these but they are important):

Give The Dogs Opportunities To Practice Being Apart

Teach each puppy to relax in his own space while the other is being trained or handled separately. 

Each dog should be taught to tolerate some time away from their sibling and become comfortable with being apart, even if they can still see each other. 

Give Both Dogs Equal Amounts Of Attention And Affection

Make sure you provide individual attention and one-on-one time for both dogs to help prevent excessive attachment to one another. 

Set aside time for one-on-one interactions like training sessions, walks, and playtime to help build a strong bond with each dog and promote independence.

Considerations For Vet Appointments, Grooming, And Other Care-Related Tasks

It’s not always feasible to bring both puppies to every appointment, whether it’s for veterinary care, grooming services, or something else. 

To avoid separation anxiety, try scheduling appointments for each dog simultaneously, or try to minimize the time they spend apart for these tasks. 

If separation is unavoidable, ensure the dog left at home is already used to being alone for short periods of time and – importantly – can cope with it.

If he can’t cope you will almost certainly see the signs

Signs Of Separation Anxiety

Common separation anxiety behaviors include excessive barking or howling, urinating or defecating indoors, destruction of objects or property, chewing shoes, bedding, or clothing, digging, chewing furniture, pacing, and escaping.

If you have seen the beginnings of any of these behaviors in your puppy when left alone, I recommend consulting with a certified canine separation anxiety specialist. 

I’ll list my favorites at the end of this article.

Planning For The Dogs’ Future If One Passes Away Before The Other

This is a grim topic but a necessary consideration when adopting two dogs. 

As your pets age, one will almost certainly pass away before the other. 

To help the surviving dog cope with this difficult change, it’s important to have spent plenty of time introducing experiences where he is alone so he can learn to cope with being without his sibling.

Preparing Your Home And Family For The Added Responsibility Of Two Dogs

With two puppies in your home, it’s important to ensure your living space is safe and comfortable, and that your family is prepared for the adventure ahead.

Designing Pet-Proofed Areas In Your Home

Making sure your home is pet-proofed is critical. 

This means that all hazards like electrical cords, toxic plants, cleaning materials, and small items that can be swallowed must be removed from areas where the puppies will be allowed to roam. 

Create designated “safe zones” for your dogs – spaces where they can play, rest, and explore without the risk of injury.

Having two puppies running around unrestrained can be overwhelming for even the most experienced dog owners!

Acquiring Supplies You Need To Have On Hand

With the responsibility of two puppies, you’ll want to ensure you have all the necessary supplies on hand. 

This includes double of everything – two food and water dishes, two beds, two playpens, and plenty of toys to keep both dogs entertained. 

Stock up on essentials like food, treats, grooming tools, puppy pads, and cleaning supplies before bringing your new pets home.

Introducing New Puppies To Family Members And Other Pets

Introducing your new puppies to both human and other animal members of the home is crucial for their well-being and overall family harmony. 

Teach family members how to engage with the puppies calmly and gently, and make sure existing pets have a chance to meet the new additions in a controlled environment.

Keep exposures short and positive as the animals all get used to each other.

You can use playpens, dog gates, and long lines to help you.

I’ll talk more about this in a moment.

Does Littermate Syndrome Exist in Dogs?

The term “Littermate Syndrome” has been used to describe a range of behavioral issues that are sometimes observed in sibling dogs raised together. 

Despite its prevalence if you search online, there isn’t actually any scientific evidence to support Littermate Syndrome as a unique behavioral disorder. 

However, it is important to consider genetic factors and potential behavioral issues among siblings raised together. 

To avoid all doubt, you could always consider adopting puppies from different litters at slightly different times and adding in the second puppy once the first one has settled in.

Behavioral Issues in Sibling Dogs: Myth or Reality?

While it is widely believed that siblings are more prone to aggression, abnormal bonding, and poor human interactions, again, no scientific evidence supports these claims. 

While there is some anecdotal evidence of behavior problems in littermates, people report a range of different experiences.

The bottom line seems to be that not all sibling dogs will develop abnormal social behaviors – especially if you follow the guidelines above. 

Separation Anxiety Is Not Littermate Syndrome

Separation anxiety is a serious condition that should not be mistaken for Littermate Syndrome in any shape or form. 

If your dogs show any signs of separation anxiety as I outlined earlier, it is important to seek professional help and treatment. 

Early intervention and appropriate management can help alleviate the symptoms and ensure your dogs’ overall well-being.

Adopting Two Adult Dogs At Once: What To Know And Consider

I’ve talked a lot about puppies but what about if you want to adopt two adult dogs at once?

In fact, it’s largely the same – especially if you adopt a bonded pair.

But if, like me, you adopt two dogs who have never met, then you will also need to go through a careful introduction process.

Introducing Unfamiliar Dogs

When introducing a pair of dogs who don’t know each other, it is important to manage the home environment carefully and prioritize safety. 

• One way to do this is by using a dog gate or baby gate, leashes, and long lines to prevent any accidents or aggression.
• To start the introduction process, the new dogs should be separated from each other inside the home, each in their own safe zone. 
• Starting outdoors on neutral territory, if possible, gradual introductions should be made from a distance with both dogs on a harness and long line. 
• The distance depends on how much space you have and how the dogs react. 
• If you see signs of fear, anxiety, stress, or aggression, you will need to increase the distance.
• If you see soft, relaxed body language, pair that with yummy dog treats, and calmly end the session.
• Do lots of that and gradually decrease the distance – always looking for signs of negative body language. 
• Try to stop before you ever get to that point.
• These controlled introductions may need to be repeated over a period of days or weeks until both the first dog and the second dog are ready to meet face-to-face without any barriers between them.
• Keep interactions short and positive, and go at a pace that is right for both dogs. 
• Depending on the dogs, going for a short walk together – ideally with one handler per dog at a distance – can be a good way to build their bond through a shared positive experience and environmental distractions. 

Not sure what to look for? This video from The Family Dog provides a quick and simple overview of canine body language:

Preparing For Your Two New Dogs

As with puppies, be sure that you have the necessary supplies before bringing your two new dogs home. 

You will need two bowls, harnesses, leashes, beds, and toys for each pup. 

Make sure to also stock up on treats and chew toys, as having more than one pup could lead to some light competition – especially if one of the dogs is a resource guarder.

Be prepared for a period of adjustment, especially if the two dogs don’t already know each other. 

This can take anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks. 

During this time, it’s important to monitor both dogs closely, provide plenty of positive reinforcement and ensure that they each get enough exercise, attention, mental stimulation, and downtime.

Safe Space

One of the key insights I’ve gained from adopting multiple dogs is the importance of providing each dog with his own space in different rooms.

These could be a spare room or any quiet area in the home – each of which should be equipped with their own bed, toys, and treats. 

Dogs are social animals, but they also need their own time to decompress and recharge. 

By giving each dog his own quiet place, you can help to minimize any potential conflicts and keep each dog calm and relaxed.

How To Select Two Dogs To Adopt Together

When adopting two dogs, it’s important to examine factors such as breed compatibility, age, and temperament. 

Bringing home two dogs with compatible personalities will make it easier for them to bond and create a harmonious environment. 

I’m going to be honest though – on the two occasions I adopted two dogs together, I didn’t do any of that! 

Instead, I adopted the two dogs that most needed a home: either because they were the longest stayers in the shelter, or because they had some sort of physical or behavioral challenge that many potential adopters would not be equipped to – or want to – deal with.

Nevertheless, it’s good advice, so here are some tips to help you choose the right pair:

• Get to know the dogs: Spend time with potential adoptees to observe their behavior, energy levels, and unique personalities. 

• Choose dogs with similar energy levels: While it’s not necessary to have identical types or breeds, selecting dogs with comparable energy levels will ensure that they can keep up with each other. 

• Consider adopting an older dog and a younger dog: This pairing tends to work well since the older dog can help guide and mentor the younger, more energetic pup. 

• Ask for expert advice: Speak with shelter staff, veterinarians, or dog trainers to get their insights on how certain dogs may get along with each other.

Before You Go

If you’ve weighed everything up and made an informed decision that adopting two dogs at once is for you, remember that patience is paramount as you embark on this journey. 

With time and effort, you’ll foster a lifelong bond and positive relationship with your new family members and an unbreakable bond will be formed. 

Talking of which, check out my article 12 Tips On How To Socialize A Rescue Dog With Humans, where I showcase my proven methods for helping your new furry family members adjust to their new home and human family. 

It’s packed with valuable information and advice to help ensure a smooth transition. 

Resources

• AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization – American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
• Dog Body Language – What your dog is desperately trying to tell you [Video] – The Family Dog 
• How to Train Your Puppy to STOP BITING, Watch How Long it Actually Takes! [Video] – Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution
• Teaching Bite Inhibition – Dr. Ian Dunbar 

NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT?

If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely.

GOOD PLACES TO START ARE:
- COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers
- Pet Dog Trainers of Europe
- International Companion Animal Network
- Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
- Pet Professional Guild 

All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!