I'm in tears right now. DH just called me from home and can't take having our two husky puppies, we've only had them for 2 1/2 weeks and we're both frustrated. We didn't realize how much work the 2 would be but I already love them both and I think he's expecting too much too fast. They both spend the majority of the day in their crates, we're trying to do everything separate because they're overly attached right now and won't listen to us. He doesn't think it's fair to them that they hvae to be in the crates so much and thinks that one puppy would be so much easier. I keep telling him even with one puppy, it would have to be in the crate a lot until its trained. what should I do?
Kathy116
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
Call Alpha Dog, Marylin is the trainer, she is amazing. FI highly recommends here and we also used her for our 2 pugs.
I don't have her # in front of me, but just check the white pages...she comes to your house for the sessions and is wonderful!
julykbride
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
I have 2 dogs (about 1 1/2 yrs. old) and I think it is easier to have 2 than one since they play together and keep each other company. After you have finished crate training them and you go to work, they can play together all day while they are alone or just sleep. The beginning is always tough whether it is one or two dogs. One thing I have to say is that our vet bills get HUGE with 2 dogs rather than one.
ThreeTwenty
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
I was going to say the same thing as JulyKBride. It is better to have 2 bc when you are both at work all day they can keep eachother company!
btrflygrl
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
DO NOT KEEP THEM IN THEIR CRATES for a majority of the day....you are having a hard time because they are cooped up and need to expend their energy. PLEASE GET A BABY PLAYPEN!!! and put it up AROUND their crates....it gives them room to play a little. Give them ltos of toys...but rotate them as pups get bored VERY EASILY!! Put paper down in about half the playpen area and as they go on it and know they are supposed to go there...make the area smaller!! Also, put some soiled paper outside and when you take them outside, PRAISE when they go potty!!! TRUST ME, they will tire themselves out if they have the opportunity to run and play. Has anyone else done this?? It worked for our Rottweiler and now she's a well trained (but mushy) dog.
starhead
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
We have a trainer, she told us to separate them and it's causing so much stress for them, crying and peeing and pooping in their crates. They won't listen to us because they're so into each other. I keep telling DH that he's expecting too much but he thinks it's too overwhelming. Plus they're littermates, which I have read on the internet (of course after getting them) that it's the worst because they are a pack by themselves and won't bond to you like one dog at a time would.
Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
I know its hard to crate...DH and I wimped out from our puppy's crying...but in reality most dog trainers say that the dogs will grow to LOVE their crate...
I think 2 1/2 weeks isn't enough time...you still have young puppies...having one will still be tough...
the playpen idea is a good one...our breeder told us about it...although we never did it...but have a section for the food...for the paper/wee-wee pads...and keep the crates in there as well...
just remember...the puppies will grow out of this phase...
starhead
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
They're fine in the crates, the male has started peeing in his crate when we take out hte female by herself, like outside or in the basement to play.
I know it's only been a short time, but DH thinks that one would be so much easier - of course it was his idea to get two. I want to scream right now.
susans
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
We had our dog crate trained in about 4 weeks. I'm not sure if I would have been able to handle raising two pups. She's a lot of work on her own.
Even though I agree with everyone saying that two pups is better than one, it seems like you are a bit overwhelmed with the double responsibility of raising two dogs.
Puppies SHOULD NOT be crated all day or even the majority of the day. Even when we were crate training, she was only in there for MAYBE an hour at a time. Other times I'd just watch her to see when she'd exhibit signs that she had to go out.
If they're making a mess in their crate, it means the crate is TOO BIG.
Seperate them into seperate crates, but make sure that they only have enough room to stand up, turn and lie down. A dog will no mess where it sleeps, but if the crate is too big, it will mess in a different spot. Also, up until 12 weeks or so they have to be let out EVERY 2-3 hours, immediately when they wake from a nap, after rigorous play and after periods of chewing.
It's so much work. I didn't sleep for what felt like a month straight.
I'm really sorry that you're going through this, but I'd give some serious consideration to your DH's idea. I want another puppy eventually, to keep her company, but not until she's 100% trained. I think it's easier to focus on one at a time and plus if you put a pup with an older dog, they tend to learn by example.
Good luck.
starhead
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
They actually are in separate crates, with dividers so they are the size for turning around, lying down, etc. and we also feed them in there. So it's not that the crates are too big. It's just their separation anxiety. Their crates were right next to each other, now they're on opposite sides of the room so as to provide some separation. That's where the trouble started. We only did this on Saturday and I'm trying to tell DH that you can't expect them to be great overnight. I'm at my wits end here.
michele31
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
I think, at this point, you both need to discuss this situation with the trainer. Giving up one of the dogs would put the other into tremendous stress. At the same time, training 2 puppies, especially large puppies, is a HUGE responsiblity. You need to really work this out with the trainer and discuss your options.
Melissa
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Re: Help DH wants to get rid of one of our puppies!
I have 2 huskies... I think having 2 is easier, but... husky puppies are hard to train to begin with. They wouldn't be listening to you hardly at all right now. It's only been 2.5 weeks. We took our puppy to puppy class. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED just to learn basics. You learn things you thought you already knew! Also, you will need to train them separately because they are not going to listen when they're both around each other. They each need to learn on their own the basics. You should be spending 20 minutes a day on each of them at least on training. Huskies are extremely smart... I think too smart!!! We are having some problems ourselves right now, and we know it's just out of spite. Also, we couldn't crate train with any of our dogs. Well, huskies... they cry and scream... not bark! They do not take well to being separated from you. I do not suggest getting rid of them. It would make matters worse, and then they would both end up gone! Good luck!
