Preparing for 2!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

We are hopefully bringing home a new puppy soon and I was hoping you all could help us prepare! I know having a companion will be amazing for Yeti. How did you (those of you with 2) prepare for bringing another dog into the house.
We will probably have the two of them sleep next to each other in our bedroom but in separate kennels.
Did you have them together all the time or is it a good idea to have some alone time?
Any other tips would be sooooo great! Thank you guys :)

[Colleen Cozzi]

Hi, 

We just got two doodle puppies from different litters. Gitzet is a double doodle and is 9 weeks, and Gus is med goldendoodle and is 8 weeks. We have the separate crates in our bedroom, but next to each other. We also feed them in separately in their crates. Having the two puppies is going really well. They definitely play/wrestle together and wear each other out. I am taking them to puppy school separately. Gitzet starts tomorrow. I have also tried to keep them separate when I work on any training with them. So far it's been so fun to have two of them. The puppy stage can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but I'm happy to be getting it over with at the same time. How old is Yeti? Good luck with the new puppy!   

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Thank you so much!!! Yeti is almost a year and a half old :) I'm nervous but so excited to have a new puppy join our family.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

When we brought Cori home, Desi was 9 months old. We used a combination of doggie gates and a plastic Xpen to set up a "puppy palace" for Cori. (Desi had had his own palace when he first came to live with us.) In it, we had a small crate, we fed her there, we had toys Desi was not allowed to have, etc. It was big enough for me or my husband to sit and play with her. We'd let her out to play with Desi if we could supervise closely. If he got a little too rough, she'd go back in the palace for some alone time. Later, we used the space as a time out for whichever dog really needed it. After a month or so, we didn't need it any longer.

At night, they slept in separate crates in our room.

[Nancy]

Oliver was 4 when Ivy joined us.  Oliver had already been the new puppy but Kasey was 9 years when we brought Oliver home.  Although Oliver and Kasey got along, Kasey did not tolerate his puppy antics so he learned real quick how to behave!  When we brought Ivy home, Oliver who is extremely submissive, allowed her to be very bossy and he tolerated all of her puppy antics.  She nipped at his feet, chased him around, hung from his ears and swung from his tail, not kidding!!!  He never reprimanded her, he would just jump on a couch or chair when he had enough of her. Keep in mind, puppies NEED to rest, but they don't always know that.  We always put Ivy in her crate to rest and while she was resting, Oliver had his alone time with us. Ivy is now 2 and she is still the bossy little sister.  Oliver is just starting to reprimand her, but she still steals the toys right out of his mouth and wiggles her way in anytime she wants attention.  Most of the time they are together, I never leave one alone without the other, not sure what would happen if I did, when my hubby is home, we sometimes distract one by taking him or her outside while one of us takes the other for some alone time, usually a short walk or ride in the car.  Most of the time, we take both :)  They both sleep in our room, Oliver prefers his own bed and Ivy sleeps on the bottom of ours.  I can tell you that in my case, Ivy was easier to potty train because she learned from Oliver.  I love having 2 and would not have it any other way.  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I prefer to have a few years between puppies. It seems that way the older dog can help train the puppy and that I don't have two puppies-in-training on my hands. So my advice might not be helpful.   We introduce in a neutral place like the front yard. We also have a baby corral and an ex-pen to confine the puppy's space - both dogs can see and smell each other but aren't together 24/7.  Our older dogs have the run of the house, of course, but the puppy's space is limited.