Gabe and Rose look very alike and are clearly litter mates. They are a bonded pair and really do not like being separated. The first attempts to take one on a walk without the other lead to screaming. Even separate crates allowing touching and line of sight caused vocalizations early on. We worked to help them have a few minutes away from each other, but also prevent stress. We need to have a relationship with each dog, and we need for each to be able to survive if the other is lost. Gabe needs to be Gabe and not only Gabe and Rose. Rose needs to be Rose without always being Rose and Gabe. They need to be individuals, not just the twins.
Gabe is naturally calmer and can face new information and situations a little better. Rose is more social and appears to have been held more than Gabe. They call for each other when we train separately. If we train and keep each one very focused and busy, it is easier.
We understand the importance of twins also being individuals. We have had three bonded pairs prior to Gabe and Rose. In two cases the bond occurred when they met at our home. In the other, they came to us as a bonded pair–Bella and Dante.
Bella and Dante were inseparable as puppies. They were partners in crime! These two delightful Shar Pei danced, clowned, laughed, and raised eyebrows to communicate to us. They walrus-ed (open mouthed, head bobbing play) from across the room and made us laugh. Dante died suddenly. They were old, but it was such a shock–even for our vet. This pair slept together, played together, and belonged together. We had trained them together and separate. We had prepared them for this–even though we never wanted it to happen. I knew Bella could survive without the Dante (it would have been harder the other way), but that we would need to be sensitive to her changing needs. The night after losing Dante, Bella walked to our bedroom door and sat. She looked back at me, and her message was clear–I now sleep with you. I opened the door and said, “okay, just for a night or two.” She was with us for most of the year–and slept in bed with us every, single night.
Twins bring such energy, joy, and chaos. They also bring new responsibilities. We will need to watch out for pack behavior and potential bullying toward other housemates. We must be certain each twin is an individual. For every training, each must learn so both know what to do. We even prepare for the impossible, the unthinkable, and the inevitable.
Gabe is gentle, protective, watchful, playful, and calm. Rose is social, talkative, devious, joyous, playful, and fun! He learns the complete command more quickly than Rose. Once Rose has a command, she is incredibly confident with it. She works to create commands for us. She goes to the door to ask for outside. She goes to the gate to ask to go inside. She jumps into the air to ask for attention–and does it without breaking our noses!! Gabe is finding his voice when he plays and watches Rose train us. He sometimes asks for petting and touching by standing next to us. When we love on him, he leans in. Rose is learning that too! We call the behavior “hug.” Yes, they are training us, too.
In the last two months, Rose has had to be at the vet a couple of times to see to a hematoma on her ear. I stayed with Gabe and explained she would be coming home. I focused on being calm and certain of our decision. (And yes, this was difficult.) Gabe had to go to the vet without Rose. I stayed with Rose and worked on my calm, voice, and training. In each case, there was some vocalization. Rose wanted to follow Gabe off the property and screamed at me. It took 15 minutes to calm Gabe and about an hour for Rose. Our separate training and evaluations of Gabe and Rose are helping them to learn to trust and be more confident–even away from each other.
There is a blessing in twins! There is chaos in twins! There is also the Gabe and the Rose in this set of twins. Taking the time to help each individual grow is an important part of training and their independence. This awareness can help them through many stages in life. It also grows the bond we have with each one. Our responsibility with the bond includes thinking about many possible futures and setting the dogs up for success.
Relationships are complicated. Relationships with dogs mean paying attention on another level–they don’t usually talk (okay, Rose does!). Relationship with bonded pairs means bonding to the individuals and the pair. This takes some thought, planning, and time. Our reward comes in the form of wags, snuggles, snorkles, and the calm independence of each blessed beast.
Paw Prints on My Heart and on My Pants 