10/22/2025
Very good points (and look at those cute Labs🐾💕)
One of the most common questions I get as a breeder is "When is the best time to add a puppy to my family? How much of an age gap should there be between a new puppy and my current dog?"
Like any good question, the only accurate blanket answer I can give is: "It depends!" There isn't a single answer that is best for all families. But- I can give you some things to think about and some opinions so that you can make a decision that will increase the odds of success in your own household.
First- It is pretty well agreed upon that the WORST age gap is zero. In other words... don't get two puppies at once. In fact, this is such a troublesome scenario most of the time that we don't actually sell puppies in pairs and we don't place puppies where another very young puppy has already been acquired. Two puppies are WAY more than double the work. If you think house-training a puppy requires a lot of your attention, try watching two youngsters at once!
Even if you have another keen family member on board to help you with basic training, the fact is that two puppies at a time will be very difficult to socialize, exercise, train, and entertain as individuals within the same household. You may have heard of the phrase "littermate syndrome," and this is a well-observed phenomenon that occurs when two puppies of similar age (not necessarily littermates even) encounter issues through maturity as a result of insufficient individual development. It can express in different ways, such as difficulty (anxiety) being separated from each other, or excessive competition (rivarly) that can become aggression as they get through adolescence. I'm not saying that raising two puppies together cannot be done successfully.... just that the average family is not really prepared for how much extra work it takes to do that, or the potential fallout if it doesn't go well.
But assuming everything goes perfectly with littermate puppies, and they grow up to be well-adjusted best friends, easy to manage and capable of being individuals, there's still one other thing to consider in the long term picture. Managing two senior dogs at once can be almost as difficult as raising frisky puppies. As most dogs require increasing care as they get into their twilight years, consider if you will have the time, financial, and emotional resources to handle double the elderly trouble.
So, okay- we've established that puppies around the same age are a bad idea. But is there a maximum age gap on the other end?
If you already have an older dog in your family, it is prudent to consider how likely they are to enjoy a frisky puppy. Some senior dogs really get a spring in their step and having an animated little one to coach gives them new energy! But, for seniors who are experiencing some aches and pains- or if they were never really excited about other dogs to begin with- a bitey, jumpy, often rude little puppy may bring stress or misery! You'll really want to evaluate your individual senior dog and your ability to keep the two safely separated if needed, before deciding if adding a puppy during your dog's elderly years is a good idea.
With special considerations to those two extremes, somewhere in the middle will be the best for most families. When people approach us about adding two puppies at once, I always suggest this:
Get one puppy now. Then, in a year, if you feel like you still want a second puppy, get your second one then.
And you know what? After that year of raising puppy number one, most families decide that a little bit of a longer gap would suit them better. A one-year-old dog is still a puppy at heart (or at best, an adolescent!).
We find that most families wait until their youngest dog is around 3-4 years of age or longer to add a puppy and that this generally allows the first dog to be well-trained, and somewhat settled as an adult, before the cycle begins again.
If you are a competitor, it is worth considering how a puppy fits into your competition timeline. How long does it take to get a new puppy ready to compete in your sport? At what age does a dog generally retire? Are you hoping to have multiple dogs competing at the same time, or is it best to plan for the puppy to begin competing, as your older dog is retiring?
Certainly, if you have an older dog who is a good role model, it can be incredibly helpful to have that dog assist in puppy training. Modelling calm, confident behavior- and being an occasional playmate!- can make puppy raising a lot easier!
It's really nice for most dogs to have a buddy. Especially in the modern world where the humans are often away from the home for most of the day, a dog with a companion often has a better quality of life than one without. But getting that age gap correct makes the difference between two dogs who play together, nap together, and are happy friends, vs having a pair of dogs that must be carefully managed for their own safety and sanity.
What do you think? Is there an age gap that works best in your household?
(Photo: 3.5 month old Velveeta and 9 year old Pepper)
