{"id":14207,"date":"2024-10-22T19:28:50","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T02:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/uncategorized\/adopting-a-puppy-or-two-heres-what-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2025-03-17T10:21:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T17:21:20","slug":"adopting-a-puppy-or-two-heres-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/blog\/adopting-a-puppy-or-two-heres-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges of Adopting Two Puppies"},"content":{"rendered":"

As adorable as puppies are, they also require a great deal of care and attention, especially in the first six months. While raising a puppy is rewarding, it\u2019s also a lot of work for puppy parents to help their puppies grow up to be well-adjusted dogs. To set you up for success, we\u2019ve listed some key pointers for adopting puppies, whether you adopt one or two furry companions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should you get one puppy or two?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re thinking of adopting two puppies together at one time, you might want to think again. Below, we\u2019ve listed some reasons you might want to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n

Double trouble<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just double the trouble when you adopt two puppies. It also doubles the time and effort needed to train, socialize, and manage both puppies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fight or flight<\/span><\/h3>\n

While some puppy duos get along well, others can break out into fights. Because they\u2019re typically around the same size and going through the same developmental period, puppies can get into fights that could result in injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached at the paw<\/span><\/h3>\n

Puppy duos can become dependent on each other, often becoming more attached to one another than their pet parents. If one puppy is not present with the other, they can develop separation anxiety, panic attacks, and issues with socialization. These puppies might exhibit uncomfortable behavior around other dogs and people if they aren\u2019t given the necessary extra interaction and socialization time.<\/p>\n

We recommend that new pet parents put time and effort into raising one puppy before adopting a second puppy. Spacing out puppies provides the benefit of the older dog becoming a role model for the new puppy, helping them learn faster as they attempt to copy the older one\u2019s actions and behaviors.<\/p>\n

Tips for adopting and training puppies<\/h2>\n

These essential tips will help you navigate the crucial early months of puppy training<\/a> and development. Understanding these fundamentals will set both you and your new furry family member up for a lifetime of companionship.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more socialization, the better<\/h3>\n

The <\/span>puppy socialization<\/span><\/a> period is between 3-12 weeks of age, but it\u2019s recommended that they receive socialization with other people, animals, different environments, and situations through at least 16-20 weeks of age. Proper socialization will aid in how they interact with people and other animals in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

Positive obedience training<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important that puppies are <\/span>housetrained<\/span><\/a> and given basic obedience training, and we recommend new parents take their puppies to positive-reinforcement-based training classes to set the right tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about what to expect when adopting a puppy, watch our puppy parent orientation video:<\/em><\/p>\n