Beagle - one or two??

My husband and are planning to adopt a begle. The oppertunity has come up to get 2.

Any comments on raising 1 or 2 puppies? All imput would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Two puppies can be more difficult because they tend to bond with each other rather than the humans in the family. Most people recommend waiting until your first pup is around a year old and has a good start on training before getting the second.

That being said, it is possible, of course, to get two puppies and raise them well. It just takes more work! Training sessions should happen with the pups alone with you, which of course takes twice as much time and usually requires help from other family members to occupy the other pup. You also need to make sure you do fun things with each of them both alone and together to help establish a bond with you.

Something I have also noticed with two dogs is that it is harder to be the pack leader. For instance, before we got Bonnie, I always required Nala to sit before everything else she wanted to do. But Bonnie came to me untrained and not used to such things. So, here I am trying to make them both sit at the door to go out. Nala would eventually give up and stand up and then I'd have to get her to sit again and then Bonnie would wander off, and so on. A dog can't understand that their reward is based only partly on what they do and also on what the other one is doing, too!

So anyway. It can be tricky. Also make sure you have enough money for twice the vet bills, twice the food, twice the equipment, etc.

 

Thanks for the info....we have concidered that and are ready for the extra work. With Beagles being pack animals I think it would be nice for them to grow up with a sibling.



We are getting Tequila & Whiskey

http://members.shaw.ca/ACBpups/

 

I agree with what Jimaya said and would like to add that getting siblings is a very bad idea. Research the why's before getting siblings!

 

With beagles being pack animals, I think it would be beneficial to have them think of your human family as the pack before adding another dog. I love that my dogs have each other to play with and keep each other company, but Nala was 9 months old when we got Bonnie, and Bonnie was already grown up (18 months).

 

I think it is a great idea. We got a bloodhound and a greatdane at the same time when they were both 5 wks. Thye are huge dogs when they grow up and we actually ept them inside until they reaches a couple of months and then got too big. They loe each other but would rather be with us so as long as you spend enough time with each one they are going to bond with you the most instead of the other dog because dogs enjoy people more than other dogs.

 

Another good reason to get 2 is because they have each other when you are away.

 

Dogs enjoy people more than other dogs? Not necessarily. Depends on the dog.

Eliza, don't you have two St. Bernards that live inside your house? Is there such a thing as "too big" to live inside? I know Danes are inside dogs.

My roomate in college grew up with 4 Newfoundlands that were all inside. I visited her house once and it was wall-to-wall dog! :shock:

 

Too big? NEVER! lol. As long as you have a nice big, comfy couch, and a chair for yourself, everythings fine.

There are some issues though, you can't leave anything on the floor, or have anything nice on a coffee table, or anything on a coffee table for that matter, and you can't put food too near the edge of the counter, or unattended on the counter....other than that though, I don't see any real issues.

Oh....and you have to be willing to vacuum at least once a day.

Do dogs love people more than other dogs? I also say it depends on the dog. With my dogs, I think they are in a way more dependent on me, like they know I take care of them, so they are always really happy to see me and affectionate and whatnot. But they do love each other. They do NOT like to be separated - they have a separate doggy relationship. I'm sure they sit around and gossip about me all day.

 

Hehe, I can't put food too near the edge of the counter with my medium-sized 50-pound dogs. And then of course there are the cats, who can go anywhere and like a surprising assortment of food.

I would imagine if a very large dog liked to race around and wrestle with the other dogs, one would have to teach them that is only allowed outside. But other than that....if you ever lose power, the dogs will keep you warm! :lol: