This can make it harder for them to reach their full potential when it comes to good behavior, says Graddy. Behavior specialist and author Nicole Wilde recalls a case in which two nine-year-old sibling Huskies attended her group class. If you find you don’t have the time, space, and energy to train and bond with your pups separately, consider reaching out to your veterinarian, a certified dog trainer, or a certified veterinary behaviorist for professional help. One of the most common signs of littermate syndrome is fearfulness around people or dogs. Period. It may sound ideal when dogs are such … Anecdotal evidence suggests that behavioral issues may arise during key development periods because the two puppies’ deep bond impedes their individual ability to absorb and grasp the nuances of human and canine communication. Signs of littermate syndrome in dogs can include excessive crying, whining, and destructive behavior when siblings are separated from one another, as well as a lack of interest in playing or interacting with other people or pets in your household, says Collier. Win a LIFETIME SUPPLY of Interceptor® Plus(milbemycin oxime/praziquantel) Great Pet Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Even getting the puppies to sleep in separate crates right next to each other is traumatic for them.”. It is not an official, recognized dog issue. Interceptor is a trademark of Elanco or its affiliates. While raising sibling puppies successfully can be a tall order, it is possible. Learning basic coping mechanisms and picking up on important human–canine communication signals is difficult or impossible for them. I've been doing some reading and came across "Littermate Syndrome". But if you don’t teach puppies early on how to be alone, and especially with siblings who have always been together, it will be catastrophic when one dies.” Dunbar encourages multiple dog households— “I always like having three dogs”—but the timing, temperament and age that each enters the home is paramount. We know she would still be fearful had we not separated the two before it got any worse. Littermate Syndrome is the name given to the common behavioral problems that arise when two puppies are raised together beyond the typical 10-12 weeks (about 3 months of age) that professional breeders recommend. At first, puppies with littermate syndrome may seem like they’re acting out or in need of obedience training. The key is to treat them as individuals, says Collier. may also affect unrelated puppies who are adopted at the same time and raised together Since fear is the canine’s default reaction to odd or unfamiliar stimuli, this muddled understanding of the world around them can lead to impaired coping mechanisms later on. I will say I have had dog trainer friends raise littermates together without an issue on multiple occasions, so it can be done. “Once we’ve done that, yes, he can live with other dogs and have free run of the house. Littermate syndrome can take toll on a family, especially with kids. I also know many people have and are raising littermates that are happy, healthy, well-socialized dogs. Littermate syndrome often … Because puppies with littermate syndrome dominate each other’s attention, they may fail to learn how to communicate, play, and socialize with other dogs. This early bond to one another can cause dog on dog aggression in the future and prevent the puppies from bonding to you. University of California, Davis, veterinary behaviorist, Train Your Dog, Train the People in Your Life: Part 1, Positive Reinforcement Works with Both Dogs and People, Recipes for Dogs: Meatloaf with Vegetables. “Everything else is a loss.”. Raising two puppies at once takes much, much more work. Dunbar agrees that it’s often best to separate littermates, especially if symptoms appear early, so that each has a chance to develop normally as an individual. It might seem more efficient, or easier to socialize and exercise two pups at once, but it rarely works out that way. Puppies may whine, bark, pace, pant, or exhibit destructive behavior when they’re separated from their littermate. Based on very little information, a surprising number of people jumped in and proclaimed this to be Littermate Syndrome and prescribed rehoming one of the dogs as the only possible solution. Signs can include excessive crying, whining, and destructive behavior when siblings are separated. However, preventing littermate syndrome can also be as simple as treating siblings as individuals from the moment they enter your home, says Collier. Littermate syndrome is the term used when two sibling pups, or two pups from different litters but of similar age, are raised in the same household and start to develop behavioural issues. Most would encourage new owners to adopt a single puppy who suits their lifestyle and to focus on the training and socialization that strengthens the interspecies bond unique to humans and dogs. © 2021 Great Pet Media. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. What’s more, you might think that training two puppies at the same time would be easier than adopting them one by one (and starting house training all over again!). We bought two, 8 week old, Shih Tzu. Dunbar, too, is adamant that one of the key lessons a puppy must master is how to be content with being alone, which is all but impossible with two siblings. Littermate syndrome can be difficult for pet parents to deal with, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. A quick Google search of “littermate syndrome” will yield a … However, when dogs experience littermate syndrome, these behaviors are linked to their relationship to their littermate. Because littermates are so focused on each other, it’s difficult for pet parents to get their attention. Maybe getting two puppies at once sounds reasonable, but many dog trainers, breeders, and shelters say that it’s much better for everyone involved if you add just one puppy at a … After we brought the girls home at nine weeks, their behavior became increasingly out of control. I have successfully raised two sets of littermates and have not witnessed or experienced littermate syndrome. Raising a puppy takes a lot of time and energy, regardless of how you go about it. She loves writing about all things related to health, pets, fitness, politics, and activism. A recent post in a Facebook group prompted me to write this. Cataract: Keeping Puppy Dog Eyes Clear and Bright, How to Help With Separation Anxiety in Dogs, 8 Things We Do That Really Confuse Our Dogs. If socialization with other dogs is important to you, you may also want to take them out for separate play sessions with other pups. Littermate syndrome is when two puppies adopted from the same litter give more attention to each other than their adopted family. For these reasons, adopting two puppies at a time may mean more work, not less, for some pet parents. Puppies who are only willing to play in pairs may be exhibiting signs. This fearfulness can occur when the puppies are together or separated from each other. Potential issues include separation anxiety, neophobia (fear of the unfamiliar), and aggression. After two years of living apart, siblings adopted by different pet parents are no longer able to recognize each other (1). Copyright © 1997-2020 The Bark, Inc. Dog Is My Co-Pilot® is a registered trademark of The Bark, Inc. Littermate syndrome has potential downsides. One of the most common signs of littermate syndrome is fearfulness around people or other dogs – this may also occur when the two puppies are separated from each other. 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