Crate training two pups at once

[boxerX3]

Can anyone add some helpful tips on how to train two pups at once?  We have them in seperate crates, however I have seen mixed reviews on if you should keep them in seperate rooms or not.  Neither is fond of the crate but Chumlee can hold it better, Cain cannot.  Days they do great, it is at night that seems like we have newborn twins.  They go into their crates around 10:00 by 12:30-1:00 they are both crying to get out, and do not want to go back in. 

I know we deserve this by getting two pups at once but any advice is welcomed.

[WildBeanerz]

I have never crate trained. Mine have our laundry room as their bedroom. Can you say spoiled much? LOL

Anyway I know these questions will get asked when the others get on today so...

Are they near each other now? What room are they in? Can they see/smell you while they are crated (like in your bedroom)? Are you older dogs crated? Are they potty trained enough to have a blanket or something that smells like you in with them? How old are they again?

That's all I can think of for now but I know the more info you provide about what you have tried the more the others will be able to help.

[boxerX3]

They are in our office downstairs.  Caddie and Curtis no longer go into a crate at night.  The puppies both have blankets and a toy in their crate.  They are young pups and I know I'll get slack on this but they are only 8 weeks old now and we have had them for 2 weeks.  (The people who breeded them were young, unexperienced breeders and this was their first litter.  They had a new born baby 2 weeks before the pups were born with 4 other children at home, SO...)

[BoxerPerson]

You are going to have your hands full.  I am going to guess that you too are inexperienced in raising a puppy since you purchased them so young.  Leaving them with their momma until AT LEAST 8 weeks, longer is much better, is crucial for a happy well adjusted pup IMO . 

I would put them close to you, besides the bed - include a stuffed toy and let them be crated together for a bit, at least until they get used to being in a crate at night.  They need that IMO.  Once older you can separate them.  Puppies potty every few hours, and at night it seems more often.  Be prepared to take them out every 2 at night for training purposes, and after they eat, wake from a nap, and play. 

Taking pups that young from their momma was a mistake and hopefully you won't have any behavioral issues as they grow.  I think a plus tho is that you have 2 and they will learn from each other.  However, many people that have sibling pups end up rehoming one due to "issues", you may not have a problem, but then again you may.

[Christina]

Pups that young will need to go out every 2-3 hours at night. You should do it as uneventfully as possible. Quietly go out, go potty, and go back to bed. It shouldn't be play time or running, nothing like that. I would keep them in separate crates, but where they can see eachother. Together they will see crate time as play time instead of bedtime.  6 weeks is not ideal, but just make sure they get well socialized, and training is very important. You should be fine. 

[boxerX3]

They are doing well, and maybe admittedly unexperienced in raising two at the same time; we have raised dogs all of our lives.  As a family we are all taking roles in playing with, training, and taking them out both separately and together.  Again, they do great during the day.  They play, they go out; they eat, they go out; they sleep and wake up and they go out.  Night time, just like have a baby seems more trying.  They are socializing themselves very well with the other two dogs, Caddie our other Boxer has taken on a motherly role and watches them closely. 

I am most curious to their crying at night.  They both equally hate the crates.  When raising all of our other pups (even Caddie at 8 weeks) by week 2 they seemed to think of their crate as their "safe place" and didn't mind it as much as Cain and Chumlee seem to. 

As a family all of our dogs and us have participated and successfully graduated from a 8-12 week training course at a training facility outside of Atlanta.  When I called them this week to ask if I should separate the pups they said that they do during the first two weeks of arrival.  Then once accustomed to their crates they reunite them together.