Factors to consider if you’re thinking of buying two sibling puppies

Choosing the right puppy to join your family is something that takes a lot of time and thought, but once you’ve made the decision to get a puppy of a certain type and feel confident in your choice, it can seem all too easy to pick two instead of just one. This is particularly likely to happen if you view a litter with just two pups left, or if the pup that first catches your eye seems to get on particularly well with one of their siblings.

There are certain advantages to getting two sibling puppies together, and in some ways this is easier than buying two puppies separately at different times, but this doesn’t mean that getting two pups is going to be a walk in the park, or that it will prove to be easier overall than getting two dogs at different times.

If you’re considering buying two puppies or have already done so, this article will explain some of the factors that you need to bear in mind when managing and caring for them, and provide some insights into problems that you might face along the way.

Read on to learn more about the factors you need to account for if you’re thinking of buying two sibling puppies together.

Twice the expense

First of all, the seller of the pups might offer a small discount if you take on two pups, but this won’t necessarily be the case – and even so, buying two puppies still represents a major financial commitment.

You need to consider not just the initial purchase price of the puppies here, but also the cost of the lifelong care for both dogs. This means double the food, equipment and accessories, as well as twice the cost for insurance, vet’s fees, and everything else your dogs might need.

Don’t forget to factor this in too – there is much more to caring for dogs than just feeding them!

Two puppies can be a lot to handle

Puppies can be a lot like toddlers in terms of how demanding they are. If they’re not sleeping they’re potentially into everything, exploring the world and looking for things to do – or chew! This takes many first-time puppy buyers aback when they begin to realise just how much work is really involved in looking after a new pup, and two pups can be twice as much hassle.

Additionally, puppies learn a lot from observing and interacting with other dogs, so if one pup develops bad habits, the other may soon start copying them!

Both of your pups are individuals and need treating as such

Just because your new pups are siblings doesn’t mean that they are cookie cutter copies of each other. The temperament of different pups from within the same litter can be vastly different, and so your pups might well exhibit different preferences, behaviours, personalities and favourites.

This is not a problem as long as you respect the difference between your pups and ensure that you provide for their needs in the way that suits each individual dog, but it is something you need to bear in mind.

Pair bonded dogs can be hard to separate

Two dogs that have never lived apart from each other usually form very strong bonds, which can be incredibly hard to break later on. This means that if your dogs ever have to be separated long term or if one of them dies a long time before the other, managing this can be difficult.

Ensure that you get both pups used to being alone and spending time without their sibling from an early age, to avoid separation anxiety further down the line.

The pups’ bond does not guarantee that they will get on later

On the flipside, just because two dogs are siblings doesn’t mean that they will always get on well, even if the two dogs are very close to begin with.

As they grow, develop and learn on their journey to becoming adults, you might find that the pups’ initial bond breaks down to a certain extent, and that the dogs begin to become more independent of each other.

This is fine, but it may also lead to competition between the dogs or battles for dominance, which means that you will need a plan in place to manage this.

Each pup needs individual training and one to one time

Having two puppies or dogs doesn’t necessarily take twice the time of one in every respect – your dogs should be able to be walked together when they are properly trained, and will help to provide socialisation and company for each other too.

However, training your dogs in the first instance and on an ongoing basis is something that needs to be done individually for each dog, requiring time dedicated to working with each pup one on one.

Dogs and puppies also need the undivided attention of their owners on occasions to strengthen their bonds and ensure that the dog feels loved and important, and this is something else you need to be prepared to provide.