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Posted by PHRascal on December 29, 2002 at 11:19:05:
In Reply to: 1 or 2 puppies posted by labpups on December 27, 2002 at 19:16:55:
Hi there! Yes, two puppies would keep each other company and they would also be coconspirators in mischief, but in your situation I think two would be better. By the time you have kids, you can have the labs trained and they probably will be out of the puppy and adolescent stage. I do worry, though, about your plans for them while you both work during the day. Puppy bladders cannot go that long and to housebreak a pup you really need frequent trips out, lots of positive reinforcement and some kind of schedule. Is there someone who can stop in a few times during the day at first and take them out? Will they will be crated? Do you have carpet or hard-surfaced floors? If you have carpet, buy lots of Nature's Miracle for booboos. Don't expect them to be housebroken right away and the more effort that is put into getting them housebroken in a constructive manner, the bigger payoff for you in the future. I don't know where you live, but some areas have pet sitters who will stop in and let the pups out. They are usually bonded and you should get references. Is your yard fenced? Do you have a nearby off-leash park? Labs need lots of exercise. Do either of you jog? Dogs also love long walks. Buy sturdy toys and forget the cute stuffed toys for a while. Kongs are wonderful. Rope twists are good. My dogs are still chewing on an old round roast bone from many years ago, but they like the size and shape. You might want to consider bully sticks for chewing. I would be cautious about too much of any treat, including rawhide chew toys, pig ears, etc. Find yourself a good vet and follow his/her recommendations for feeding and care. Plan to enroll the pups in puppy kindergarten when they are old enough. The time, effort and love you put into the dogs when they are pups will pay off for you when you have well-behaved, well-socialized, housebroken and loyal adult companion dogs. Very importantly, be very careful where you buy them. Do not buy them from a pet shop or from a breeder who breeds multiple breeds at the same place (shades of puppy farms). Meet the parents, if possible, and find out as much as you can about the lineage. Visit the breeder and tour the premises. Get references for the breeder. Find a breeder who is dedicated to preserving the breed's standards and who will take the pups back if there is a problem. In other words, do research now to save yourself headaches and heartaches later. Good luck and be sure to post pictures when you get them!
~Rascal
:My wife and I are considering getting at least one lab puppy this coming spring. We both work during the day and we do not have any kids (yet). Has anyone heard if getting two puppies would help to keep them occupied during the time when they're by themselves? Besides double the cost/time on everything... are there any other downsides? We are trying to figure it out to see if it would be better to get two or one. We have a kitchen where they will spend the day as puppies and then we also have a fenced in back yard for exercise, etc. Any feedback or personal opinions would be welcomed. Thanks!!
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