Purchase of two male puppies

Hi, I have just purchased two male jack russell/lakeland terriers puppies (brothers). They have just had their first vaccinations & I thought I would book them both in for dog training classes.

When I told them I had bought two boys I have had nothing but negative comments about not being able to leave them alone etc. They have told me they will fight possibly to the death of one of them. It has really upset me & I really wanted them as company for each other not to be segregated..

Please advise me I would be most grateful.
Michelle





Hi Michelle
Don't panic about this! While it is true that with two pups of the same sex there is a fair chance that they will fight or squabble when adult, it won't necessarily be 'to the death'. That is a bit melodramatic.

However, it is possible that two adult males will get into some serious fights, and it wouldn't be accurate for me to say that this situation is without risks.

Fortunately there are measures you can take and things that you can do to minimize this eventuality. It's also true that a lot depends on the individual personalities/temperaments of the dogs (and breed) involved.

Dogs don't care about familial relationships the way humans do, and when mature, there won't be any lingering 'love' between them just because they're brothers. However, if you've raised them around each other, and they've learned to co-exist and know what behavior is acceptable, they have a better chance of getting along for life.

Before your puppies reach 6 months of age, I would strongly suggest that you have them both neutered. This will help minimize the male tendency to mount, fight, dominate etc.

Raising two puppies is definitely more challenging than raising one, and it's important to make sure that you give each one plenty of individual one-on-one time with the humans in the family. You want them to bond with you and your family, not just each other.

Always ensure there are plenty of toys and treats to go around. Fighting over possessions (or resources) is the most common trigger for aggression. I would also recommend feeding them separately (either at opposite ends of the kitchen, or in separate rooms) to avoid the development of 'guarding' or food-based aggression. Always correct your pups if they fight over things. Obviously a certain amount of squabbling is normal with siblings (of any species) but don't allow out and out fighting.

As the pups grow they will show their individual personalities and one will likely become the most 'dominant' of the pair. By accepting this and reinforcing this natural order (eg feeding or petting the more 'dominant' pup first) you will help to keep the status quo and avoid too many jealousy issues.

Ongoing socializations and Obedience Training you should be able to ensure that your pups behave appropriately. If you run into problems your vet or a good animal behaviorist can help.

I wish you the best of luck with your puppies.