Four years ago, when I was considering adopting my dog Kochi, the most important requirement was that he get along with Cannon, my bearded collie. I introduced them to each other in a controlled environment. Cannon, who was around 5 at the time, tended to come on a bit strong — very friendly, but a bit over the top. Cannon was excited to meet Kochi, and Kochi ... not so much. But over time, Kochi clearly developed affection for his “brother.”

Once again, though, Kochi is an “only” dog. I think he's adjusted well to Cannon's recent death — after all, Kochi was a stray survivor, getting by on his own before he was “rescued.”

We will someday get him a new “friend,” probably a puppy when the time comes. I expect he will not be thrilled at first, but I also expect him to acclimate and learn to coexist, and even enjoy his new “sibling.”

Mostly through my adult life, I've had multiple dogs at the same time. There have been a few rare times that I've had just one dog. When Mayday's “siblings” all passed on, for awhile he was an only dog until we got Cannon. When Mayday died, Cannon was an only dog until we got Kochi. Now Kochi is an only dog ... for now.

Every once in awhile, a client will ask me about adopting two puppies from the same litter, adopting two dogs at the same time or adopting a second dog for their dog. Owners want the two dogs to be companions. Sometimes, they are thinking of replacing a dog that died, when the dog that's left is bereft and depressed for several weeks.

I'm not a big fan of adopting or keeping two puppies from the same litter at the same time. There's certainly nothing wrong with a dog having a dog friend — to play, run, sleep curled up next to and talk “dog” with. The issue isn't so much whether to have more than one dog. Rather the question is whether it's advantageous to a puppy to be raised simultaneously with another pup the same age. Often, it is not.

More often than not, one of the puppies grows up to reach the owners' expectations, but the other doesn't. In my own experience, I've kept littermates only once — two English mastiffs, Apple and Adam. Apple was a wonderful dog, but she never bonded with us the way our other dogs, including Adam, did. Apple was always a bit of a flake — happy, but different. She had a good life, but I wonder if she would have been better off if she had not grown up in her brother's shadow.

Other breeders and owners have recounted similar experiences: When they keep or adopt two puppies at the same time, it seems as if one doesn't quite reach his or her potential.

Often, however, the issue is more one of bonding. The puppies will develop a stronger bond with each other than they will with the humans in the household. That's not good for anyone.

It's especially true if the puppies are at home while the family is at work, in which case the puppies are alone together for the majority of their day. When the family is home, they'll play with both puppies — again, the pups will be together. The result will be that these dogs will strongly bond with each other. Take one away for any reason and the one left behind will be inconsolable.

It's not bad for dogs to bond with other dogs, but the stronger bond — the strongest attachment — should be with the owner. It's healthy for dogs to play together, just as it's important for children of like age to play together. But when play time is over, we want the child to go home with his parents — the ones with whom we are most strongly attached.


Gail Fisher, author of “The Thinking Dog,” runs All Dogs Gym & Inn in Manchester. If you would like a topic addressed in this column, email gail@alldogsgym.com or write c/o All Dogs Gym & Inn, 505 Sheffield Road, Manchester, NH 03103. You'll find past columns on her website.