What Is The Best Age Gap Between Dogs?

Every family is different

Before we go any further, I think we need to acknowledge that every family is unique.  The dynamics are different and the dogs are different, from those in any other family.

So I cannot tell you for certain that you’ll have an easy ride, or that the new additions to your family will be a disaster.

I can only tell you about probabilities.  And I need to point out that there are certain problems that commonly arise when two puppies are the same age, or quite close in age.

Two puppies from the same litter

Some people think it is a great idea to get two puppies at once. And I can see why. After all, the two dogs will be company for one another.

If you are a very experienced dog owner, or very lucky.  This may work out just fine.  But, and it is a big but, the probability is, you will struggle.

Not especially at the beginning, when two puppies are company for one another, but later, as they need training and guidance.

You can read all about this, in this article: one puppy or two? 

What about staggered puppies?

The lady who wrote to me recently was proposing a slightly different approach. Her current puppy has settled in and is progressing nicely.  These two puppies would be staggered in age. So one puppy will be half grown, whilst the other is very small.

In this situation,  there are a number of areas for concern,  and the dynamics of this two dog family are potentially even more challenging than with litter brothers.

And here is why.

Size and strength

Two same age puppies of the same breed, are similar size and weight.  They have similar reserves of energy, and like to play in a similar way.

A five month or six month old puppy plays in different ways from a two month old puppy.  And at six month’s old, his reserves of energy and his strength will be far greater.

Size difference alone can be an issue when puppies of the same age but different breeds, play together. But when there is an age gap too,  the problems are exacerbated.

Emotional maturity and rough play

Adult dogs unless poorly socialised are usually very tolerant of puppies.  There is an unwritten rule amongst them, that puppies under four months old can do pretty much what they please.

The older dog will often show an awareness of the puppy’s vulnerability and adjust his own behavior accordingly. He will allow the puppy to bite him and swing on his ears without retaliating.

A five or six month old puppy does not usually have the maturity to do this.  He plays rough, and you can like it or leave it. 

In short, many pups, are bullies. They are often still very playful, but this is big boy play and a small puppy is likely to be repeatedly ‘bowled over’  and may find the older puppy extremely intimidating.

This can affect the smaller puppy’s personality,  and it means that the puppies may need to be separated for a lot of the time.

Of course, there are exceptions. Some of my older pups have been quite gentle. But most play rough and need to be supervised around little ones.  Of course an experienced owner will cope. Largely by supervising and separating to ensure that the smaller pup makes it through the next couple of months without too many bruises or too much damage to his confidence.

But coping is not really the aim.  This should be a time of pleasure and enjoyment. 

Bonding with two puppies

If the two dogs are the same breed, the size difference will become less of an issue as the weeks go past, and the younger puppy grows. Unfortunately, there are other problems that now arise.

In many cases a small puppy will bond fiercely to his bigger, rougher, older brother.  So fiercely that he may have little time for his human friend.  This is always a risk in a two dog household, but is more so when the older dog is still a pup and so willing to engage the younger dog in long bouts of play.

In my experience, the only way to combat this, is to ensure that the new puppy spends more time interacting with you, than he does with the other puppy.  But this is not generally what people have in mind when they bring a second puppy home.

House-training

If you get a new puppy before your older puppy is six months old, there is a chance that he will regress in his house training.

Small puppies have accidents, and dogs like to pee where older dogs have peed and pooped.  Your older puppy’s cleanliness in the house has not been very long established,  so problems in this respect are a possibility.

It isn’t the end of the world, and you’ll get past it.  But I think it is something to consider, especially if you have just begun to allow your older puppy onto your carpets

Two crates

Most Labradors have not grown out of the chewing stage until they are well over a year old. This means that your older puppy will probably need crating at night, and when you leave the house.  If you put the new puppy in the older puppy’s large crate, he will probably pee in it.

New puppies need small crates.  This means you will need two crates in your home.  Unless you have plenty of floor space, this could be a problem for you

Obedience training two puppies

Early training has to be done in a one-to-one situation until the youngest puppy is able to begin coping with distractions.

You cannot train a six month old puppy with a two month old hanging onto his ears and biting his tail. You cannot train important behaviors like walking nicely on a lead, with two dogs at once.

If you have a great deal of spare time and are happy to spend much of it on separate dog training sessions, then this may not be an issue for you.

But in some families, it can mean that neither dog gets properly trained.  And being dragged along the street by two unruly Labradors is more than twice as miserable and dangerous, as being dragged along by one.

The right age gap

So what is the right age gap between dogs?

Well, I feel that ideally it’s anywhere between two and six years.

By the time your dog is two, you should have him pretty well trained. A two year gap also gives the older dog a chance to reach maturity, and to develop the patience and tolerance for young puppies that so many well-socialised adult dogs have.

At the other end of the scale, if you aim to get your next dog before your older dog is six, provided he is adequately socialized with puppies the older dog may still be willing to play with your new arrival.

Watching an adult dog gently play with and become fond of, a new puppy is a real pleasure.  And one that is worth waiting for.

Bear in mind that elderly dogs can become irritable with young puppies, so it is best not to wait too long.

Enjoy this!

I strongly recommend that you enjoy your only puppy for at least the first twelve months, and don’t be in too much of a rush to bring another dog into the family.

People worry that their only dog will be lonely, or find it difficult to make friends later on.  But raising a dog is not like raising kids in this respect.  Dogs have to adapt to living with another species, and to crossing the communication barrier between us.  This is definitely easier to achieve, when a dog is the only dog, at least for the first year of his life.

Try not to worry that he is missing out, or needs a playmate.  What he needs, is your attention, which will be halved if you get another puppy.  He needs to form a deep and unshakeable bond with his human family.  Short periods of play with tolerant friendly older dogs from time to time, will ensure that he grows up knowing how to be a dog.

When he is older, and trained, he will be a much better mentor and friend for you next pup.  And it will be far easier to manage the two of them.

How about you?

Do you have several dogs?  If so, what are the age gaps between them, and how did you cope when they were small?

I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments box below