Puppies are so adorable that it can be tempting to bring home two instead of one! Because of the hard work it takes to raise two puppies and the high incidence of behavior problems when puppies are brought up together, please consider the following before bringing home more than one.

Separation anxiety

Two puppies might play together, but are also likely to bond so strongly that they can’t tolerate being apart and won't bond with their humans.

Puppies have to learn to be alone to avoid developing separation anxiety, but this is difficult with the constant presence of another puppy. They will need to have their own crate for nighttime and for when you're away, be trained separately, and have separate play times and walks. 

Training and socialization problems

The puppies will need to be socialized separately so that they can learn to cope with unfamiliar situations. If they are constantly together, they will only learn how to function as a team: the result is often two dogs who cannot handle unfamiliar situations without the other present.

Training and socializing two puppies separately is a big time commitment, and as a result puppies raised together often end up untrained and undersocialized.

Cost

The average lifetime expense of owning a dog is estimated to be around $10,000. The cost of food, supplies, vaccinations, vet care, training school, boarding fees, replaced household items will be multiplied by two, so make sure that the cost of two puppies is within your financial means before adopting.

Housetraining

Until they are fully housetrained (which can take months), puppies have to be supervised constantly to prevent accidents inside the house. They need to be taken outside every hour to potty, often during the night. Your puppies may not be on the same bathroom schedule.

When to adopt another dog

Why not wait until your dog is an adult and then consider adding another? Give your puppy the attention and care he needs through puppyhood and adolescence before adding another dog to your family.