Have 4 month old, brought home 2 month old. ADVICE!

[Amber Anderson]

See photo below. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think they are puppies just being puppies, but this is the right time to take control and let them know that "you're the boss".  There is an online training program that several DK members have used, and it gives some great information to get your puppies started on the right path.  Google Doggy Dan and take a look at the program.  With two pups to train at the same time I really think you're going to need some training help. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think you are nuts! No, seriously, you are not nuts, but certainly brave-- this will not be easy as it is hard to get training done with one when the other is constantly distracting him--II had a much easier time when I introduced a second doodle in that I brought home an 8 month old doodle, all trained, to a home with a 13 month old doodle, who was also all trained--BUT I had the same issue--the younger dog was more of an alpha and my older dog had to adjust to having toys taken etc--but here is the difference--I SEPARATED them with gates and let them have 5 minutes of playtime several times a day--then the length of time gradually increased--I remember that after two weeks, they were both lying quietly nearby and it was like a miracle!

I also think that you should not tolerate the growling and barking the second dog is doing-- not only is it making your Mickey a victim but that behavior could spread to you--I think that younger dog is going to need a lot of work to respect you and your other dog--it will happen but not on its own--you need to put in the time--and train each one SEPARATELY as well as together.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What the others have said and adding.  It doesn't matter who becomes your dominant dog and I would let them settle almost all of their disputes and who eats first etc. 

You don't need a special dog bowl to feed your dog - any bowl will work until you can purchase what you want.  They should have their own food bowls and you should stand their and keep each one in his own space for eating.  What I did to start was set one bowl around the corner from the other so there wasn't a direct line of site.  I make my dogs sit  and wait until I release them to eat.  If they get up off their bottom before I set the bowl down, I stand back up with it.  You could do this by holding one bowl in each hand and using your body as the separation or enlisting another family member or using a baby gate or corral to keep them separate but together until they learn.  It is important to establish manners when eating and it also helps you to know the dogs better.  Shared water bowls - just fine. 

I have to say you are very brave to take on two puppies.  Your hard work now will pay off in double the loving later.  

[Leslie J]

Wow, you are brave!!! Kids and two puppies!!! They sound like they're doing fine together to me... but I think it's really important for you to take them to puppy class separately so they develop a strong bond with you, not just each other.