Disclaimer: I am not a professional dog trainer or expert—just a proud dog mom sharing my personal experience with training my Frenchie twins, Kimchi and Pebbles. Any advice or tips mentioned in this blog are based on what worked for us, but every dog is different. Please consult a professional trainer or veterinarian for expert guidance tailored to your specific needs.
The Adventures of Kimchi and Pebbles: Potty Training - Twice the Fun, Twice the Mess
Potty training one puppy is challenging enough, but when we brought home Kimchi and Pebbles, our Frenchie twins, I thought it would be just as easy to train them together. How wrong I was! From mid-play accidents to one puppy figuring it out while the other stubbornly held out, it quickly became clear that training two puppies was a whole different ballgame. While we hoped to synchronize their potty habits, it became important to give each one their own time and space to learn, and I realized that treating them as individuals was key to success. Double the puppies really does mean double the mess—and double the patience!
The Adventures of Kimchi and Pebbles: Independent Adventures
Preventing Littermate Syndrome with Independent Activities for Twin Frenchies
Raising twin Frenchies, Kimchi and Pebbles, required a focused effort to prevent littermate syndrome, where puppies become overly dependent on each other. To foster independence, we started early by alternating solo outings, such as bringing one puppy in a satchel to the store while the other stayed home. We also balanced playtime by allowing them to play together and separately, encouraging individual confidence and growth. Socializing was key—sometimes they met new people together, and other times we took them separately to places like PetSmart. This approach helped them grow into well-adjusted, independent dogs while maintaining their strong sibling bond.
The Adventures of Kimchi and Pebbles: Healthy Sleep Routines
Establishing Healthy Sleep Routines for Kimchi and Pebbles was one of the first strategies we worked on when we brought them home at 8 weeks old to help prevent littermate syndrome.
Dogs that sleep together form deep emotional bonds, much like family members in a close-knit group. This behavior is natural and beneficial for their emotional well-being, provided it is managed in a way that also encourages individual independence. The bond formed through sleeping together is a foundational aspect of their relationship, influencing how they interact, learn, and grow together.