“They’re so cute together! Let’s get both!”
I can’t tell you how many times these words have been said by excited families at the breeder’s house or shelter. Those two adorable puppies wrestling together seem like the perfect package deal. Why not bring home both?
That’s when I usually have “the talk” about something called littermate syndrome.
A bunch of people have been asking me about littermate syndrome lately. Several of my clients are thinking about adopting sibling puppies, so I wanted to share what I’ve learned from working with lots of littermate pairs over the years.
Here’s the deal: littermate syndrome is definitely real, but it’s not the guaranteed disaster that some people make it out to be.
Littermate syndrome happens when two puppies from the same litter become super attached to each other instead of to their humans. They become like best friends who can’t function without each other.
Signs of littermate syndrome include:
Here’s something most online articles won’t tell you: I’ve seen plenty of littermate pairs grow up to be awesome, well-adjusted dogs who live happy lives.
What’s the difference between success and disaster? Owners who understand the extra work required and actually do it.
If you’re thinking about getting littermates, you should know that two puppies isn’t just double the work — it’s often triple the work.
Each puppy needs their own training time, and they need to be trained together too. This means:
The people I’ve seen raise great littermates all do these things:
This means separate walks, separate training sessions, and separate playtime with humans during training. Some even take each puppy to different training classes!
One of my clients, would take one puppy to the park while her husband stayed home with the other. Then they’d switch. It was a lot of work, but their dogs are amazing now.
Successful owners make sure their puppies learn to be okay on their own. Sometimes this means separate crates or different rooms for nap time.
Both puppies need to learn patience. Successful owners make one puppy wait while the other gets a treat, goes through a door, or gets petted.
Every single person I know who raised littermates successfully says some version of the same thing: “I’m glad I did it, but I probably won’t do it again.”
That pretty much sums it up. It can be done, and done well, but it’s a ton of work.
I wouldn’t recommend littermates for most families, especially first-time dog owners or people with busy schedules. It’s a lot like having twins – some people handle it great, but most find it overwhelming.
That said, I don’t buy into the doom-and-gloom warnings that some trainers post online. With the right approach and commitment, littermates can absolutely grow up to be wonderful family pets.
If you’re dead set on adopting littermates, don’t let fear stop you. Just go in with your eyes wide open about the extra work, and be ready to put in the time to raise them right.
Want specific strategies for raising littermates successfully? Drop me a comment below or reach out directly. I’m happy to share what works!
Your friend with treat-filled pockets,
Ryan
If you’ve already adopted littermates or are determined to do so, here are the basics to set you up for success:
Remember: the goal isn’t to keep them apart all the time. It’s to make sure they can function as independent dogs who also happen to live together!
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