Woops hadn't read all the thread and seen the latest about your mum having the pup!! I think that is brilliant - best of both worlds!!
In my case we were going to get two males (the second was a month younger) and the plan was for them to grow up together. We also received some similar advice as that on the site but due to having plenty of time to devote to the dogs we were going to go ahead. We only changed our mind re the second pup as there were some health issues with the first pup and as the second had some similar breeding lines I had some concerns and pulled out. I do want to have another dog as my pup loves other dogs sooo much (even ones who are not so keen on him
To be quite honest it was harder work than we expected - our pup is clearly not such a fast learner as your Poppy
He was harder to housetrain than our two springers twenty years ago which grew up when we had less time to devote to them
I think you have the best solution as no doubt the young pups will spend plenty of time together
