from the same litter... has anyone done this? your thoughts on this please

The good bits and the bad bits

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I've not (yet) kept two pups from the same litter - but I did bring in a boy pup from another kennel when my own litter were 6 weeks old. The first few weeks I didn't really notice much of a difference (when you go from 9 pups to two you wouldn't) - but as they got older - the commitment on my time was massive - as everything needed to be done separately (walking, training, feeding, sleeping etc) - and the bond between them was undoubtedly as strong (and possibly stronger) than siblings - and still is 2.5 years on.

Things were exacerbated somewhat for me, when a friend was rushed into hospital at 6 months pregnant, as we also temporarily inherited her youngest (about 5 months at the time) - and for a while, it was pretty much a 24x7 job - and it was also made worse by the fact I had to tell her her boy clearly had some sort of joint problems

Having said all that (and eek - my friend is pregnant again) - it is my full intention for various reasons, to keep two pups back from my next litter (whether that will be two girls or a boy/girl or even two boys remains to be seen dependent on what we get )

A lot of breeders do it - some often keep more - but you need the time, space and energy to be able to do it properly.

Anything you would like to share with us

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

yep i have. have 2 boys aged 30mths been easy until recently when 1 is trying to get dominant over the other, not helped by having a 9 year old entire male. nothing nasty just 3 boys trying with 1 trying to be aplha male, which i am on top of. x more of an issue when i am around

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love me love the dogs

Thanks swarthy, i know all about the hard work lol

I have been having some problems with one of the puppies (has had runny poo from a week old) its a lot better now, she is on meds for it.. ( vet said she she should get better with time ) this is not the one i was planning on keeping but i will if it don't get better

The one i am keeping has a lot going for her, so will not be letting her go, it maybe that i will be keeping too puppies but i have to do the right thing for her.. if that is keeping too puppies then thats what i will do

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Yep i know what thats like lol i have too entire boys

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I kept 2 out of the same litter. The twins but they are brother and sister rather than the same sex. The main thing I find is that they are very close to each other. Simba tends to be quite reliant on Amber he gains his confidence from her but she is more independant and isn't concerned about being seperated from him.

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Sammy you may be gone but your sprit will always live on in the sunbeams R I P Sammy

William- 6/11/03 - 24/3/10
Midge - 8/2/11 - 10-2-11

I kept 2 male puppies from a Bullmastiff litter I bred. Never again!

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Check out my English Shepherds
http://www.edenvillage.co.uk

Breed for a useful dog and you often get a beautiful, useful dog... breed only for a beautiful dog and you are on your own in the useful department.

I would love to keep 2 of ours i think it would be lovely

It would be lovely if you are happy for them to become inseparably bonded to the exclusion of other people and dogs - to raise them properly - you need to almost raise them as individual pups and to be able to give them everything you would give an individual puppy in terms of feeding, training, housetraining, exercise etc - you also need to ensure they can live separately - as I have known people have terrible problems later on if the dogs have had to be separated.

Our youngest is now 5 months, and having brought him in as opposed being born here has in some ways almost been harder work, even though he is a darling boy - but there was no natural transition from 6/7 pups to a singleton.

Although my dogs love each others company, every single one of them is happy to be 'on their own' with or without humans - bringing the pups up completely together as one entity is unlikely ever allowed to facilitate this, because the way the dog's personalities develop quite possibly won't permit it.

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

Keeping 2 puppies is seriously hard work.... separation anxiety nearly always occurs.
We made the mistake of running two on a while back.... never again will I make that mistake. Keeping 2 puppies was as hard as keeping the whole litter back.

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL