Litter Mates-- Double the Joy; Triple the Time #2

Once we realized what we had gotten ourselves into, we began to follow the recommendations from various sources of how to go about raising litter mates to be individuals who are well-bonded with their humans. We have contacted a trainer who has given us some good advice and the pups are signed up for Puppy Class. We also have a friend who is going to take them one at a time to her house to socialize with her well-behaved, easy going adult dogs (a doodle and a golden). She is a sitter for lots of dogs in our community and will use our commands to continue training.

Our life now --which began the second week after we brought them home--consists of full time puppy duty or "doody" as we like to call it. They have been sleeping in one, extra-large crate with the divider between them. They have slept from 10 pm to 5:30 am each night since the third week they were home with no accidents--knock on wood.

We take them out separately every morning at 5:30.... even on weekends. They come in and eat in the kitchen, but can't see each other and are not allowed to switch bowls or visit the other pup. We have play time in the family room together, but they do not get to interact. They can snuggle with a human or play with toys as long as they do not try to play with each other. Two of us take them to different locations when it is time to get ourselves ready for the day. We take them out twice more before taking them to their daytime digs. We have placed a fenced area in our basement with a crate and toys (and pine shavings for bathroom time in the early days) for the time when we are away. Up to this point, they have been together, but will be separated in two pens in different locations later this week. They are not making "piles" in their pen, but are still making a little liquid. We plan to start some crate time during the day (while we are at work) in another week or so. They take naps and have quiet time in their crate when we are at home, especially on weekends.

When we get home each afternoon, we separate them for training, exercising, playing and bonding until bedtime. We have a gate on the front porch and an outdoor exercise pen so that they can spend some time alone without us and/or their sibling. Tonight they are sleeping (we hope) in individual crates for the first time. We have put them side by side and plan to gradually increase the distance between them until they are in different rooms. They are in there at this moment and protested for about five minutes before settling down. I expect more rebellion over the next few days.

We are fortunate that on any given day, two out of our three children are very willing to help with the puppies and follow our lead in training and commands. Our middle son actually shares as much of the load as my husband and myself and is willing to do all puppy chores---even shampoo the rugs! We think we have been blessed with two pretty easy-going, smart puppies, though I may not say that after we reach adolescence. So far, they both have learned to sit and stay, lay down with a "most of the time" stay, come, leave it and wait to be released when going outside. Of course, all of these feats are only performed consistently amid regular, low-key household distractions. If there were an unexpected distraction outside, I imagine that they would ignore us in favor of indulging their curiosity. Loose leash training is progressing, but is certainly a work in progress, as I am guessing that it will be for quite some time. Currently, we are using regular collars, but have checked out the posts about easy leaders, prongs and choke collars in case we need to increase our efforts. We are trying to teach them to fetch. Sadie will bring the toy back sometimes... Coal just gets it and lays down with it.

Our challenge right now is to teach them not to jump and wiggle like crazy when they greet us after hours of separation. They do it with all five of us and everyone who comes to visit. We are trying to make them sit and wait to be greeted, but the wiggle factor is off the charts. Miss Sadie has become very insistent about getting up on my bed in the evenings and is trying to do so without an invitation. Will it always be this way...as soon as you get them to perform a skill fairly well, a new thing pops up--times two?!!!

We need more socialization with other dogs, but feel like we should wait until after the last round of shots. I've read mixed views on this and wonder what you all think... They love our Nana's Yorkie, but she does not love them! We've considered in-board training and are keeping that in the back of our minds in the event that one or both of them decides they would rather listen to the other pup than us.

Coal and Sadie are 13 weeks old today. Did I mention that I am exhausted and have absolutely no time for myself? It's actually a blessing, I think, as I needed a change of pace... and I really appreciate the responsibility my kids are learning. I sure hope one of these furry friends will become a therapy dog, because I think I am going to need it before we get the whole pack to adulthood.

We are learning their individual preferences and enjoying their sweet personalities. We do feel that they are bonding well to each of us, though probably in a different way than they would if they were "only puppies." I will always wonder a little bit what each of them would be like if we had only one. After 7 weeks of living with them, we know for sure that two puppies do indeed require three times the work, at the very least. We also know that the happiness they bring is--well--more like ten-fold.

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