While you were looking for a dog to bring home, it hadn't been your intention to bring home two of them, but then you fell in love with two sisters. "How could I separate these two adorable puppies," you thought to yourself. "They are both coming home with me."

And so on your way home, you stop and get another bed, a second dog crate, and a second training leash and collar. Immediately, you can tell that "Whimper" and "Whiner" are two very different girls. Whimper approached you and was there to offer you puppy kisses the moment you reached out your hand to her. On the other hand, her sister Whiner peed on herself when you reached out to her and hid behind her sister. Still, you told yourself, you can't separate these two and you'll make a go of it. They need each other, after all.

When Whiner peed on the floor in the kitchen, despite being shown the wee wee pads and your attempts at demonstrating how to use them (indeed your wife got it on video and continues to show friends and family to this day), proved fruitless. Whimper on the other hand, got it the first time and never did you have an accident in the house with her again.

When you are home with your girls, Whimper likes to sit right by your feet, whether you are watching TV, reading a book or playing on the computer. Whiner, by contrast, seems to prefer being outside, patrolling your property. Whether it's a passerby, a wayward squirrel or a moving cloud, Whiner is there to let everything and everyone know this is HER home. Although she doesn't show aggression, she does let it be known that she knows something is a potential threat. Indeed that moving cloud is the biggest of them all!

Wherever you go, you can almost guarantee that Whimper will be at your feet and if you aren't careful, you could step on her paws, she is so close to you. Whiner, although she seems very loyal to you, seems to prefer sitting by her lonesome, chewing on her deer antler.

Realizing that your training program was starting later than you would have hoped, given that the girls were 4 months old when you brought them home, you figure that you can just jump right in. They're older presumably, you tell yourself, more apt to "hear" you better. What you didn't bargain for is that each dog is different. What you noticed as being differences in their personalities, will likely help determine how quickly or slowly each responds to training.

From the moment you pull out the crates and have your girls sleeping in them at night and while you are away from home, you see that Whimper loves her crate and is perfectly obedient when you say "inside", in she goes. Whiner, you notice, not only doesn't want to use hers, she takes to sleeping on the porch. Although it's true that you are the boss and decide when your girls go to the bathroom, eat, where they sleep, etc. sometimes it is really best to recognize that each of your dogs is different and personalities should be considered as well as establishing who Alpha is your home.

Something else you notice as you're training your dogs is that when you reprimand Whimper, she cowers. Perhaps she is just really sensitive?

By contrast, when you correct Whiner, you notice that she needs a heavier hand. She tests you in the same way your sister's 3-year old tests her. You find yourself putting Whiner in a submissive move more and more often and wonder why this is necessary when Whimper is this docile, sweet natured girl who lives to serve you. You almost want to believe that Whiner is testing you, but you reason with yourself that she's a dog and not a human. All the literature you have read suggests that only we as humans attach those emotions to a dog and they in fact don't exist in them.

So, what's different about Whimper and Whiner? As they grow up, it will become more apparent that although they are from the same litter, they are just different dogs. In the same manner that your sister's 3-year old tests the bounderies constantly and has her in tears frequently, his sister is docile, responsive, and has never once disobeyed her parents.

Does this mean that you will need to train them differently? Definitely! What works on Whimper is child's play to Whiner. Whiner, you'll discover, prefers patrolling the perimeter, barking at potential threats such as moving clouds and all things with two or four legs. In fact, when the house down the street was broken into, it was Whiner who thwarted the would-be burglar's efforts. She became the neighborhood hero as she literally apprehended the criminal by knocking him over and sitting on him until the police came. Although Whimper showed up, once she realized that Whiner had everything under control, she lay down and groomed her nails.

What this very true, all of it, word-for-word story should tell you is that dogs are different. They possess very distinct personalities. Some are high energy, others can be considered low-key. What makes Whimper easier to train might be why you see her retreat to her crate at night and be by your feet during the day. Regardless of her size, she's a lap dog at heart. Rather than disappoint you, she will get your commands the first time you give them. Whiner by contrast, is head strong, a watchdog and will be resistant to training. Is one better over the other? You should be so fortunate to have one of each living in your home. Just make sure to show Whiner that it's okay to give you puppy kisses when she's not barking at the moving clouds.