Having two pups live their lives constantly together creates an alarming and harmful co- dependency. While it may be “cute” that your dogs “miss each other,” as they mature their inability to function when separated can cause serious stress related behaviour issues.
Taking on two puppies from the same litter often results in what is known as littermate syndrome. The puppies will be bonded to each other and this will make them less likely to bond to you. The dogs may not listen to you and will be much harder to train.
It is a very poor decision to get two puppies from the same litter in almost all cases. Sometimes, people with extensive prior K9 knowledge may be able to handle the added stresses of getting two dogs from the same litter, but it is still generally not recommended.
Professional trainers like myself recommend against bringing home two puppies around the same age, let alone two from the same litter. While this sounds like a good plan in theory, in practice it often causes quite a bit of heartache and potentially some serious aggression trouble.
Before settling on a breed, think about the gender of the dog. For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same-sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death. Those who work out a dominance order may not fare much better.
Many breeders recommend that your first dog be at least one-to-two-years old before you add a second to the family. If you have an old dog, he may not be physically able to play with or tolerate a pup.
Dogs are social animals and usually happier around other dogs, but a second dog will never be a substitute for inattentive, absent or too busy owners.
The easiest way to prevent littermate syndrome is to only take one puppy at a time. It is always tempting to take two because they are just so darn cute together. But no matter how cute they are the safer route will always be to just take one.
Allocate the Time and Resources for Another Pup
You also have to keep in mind that you'll need to invest extra for essential gear — collars, leashes and crates, to name a just a few items — as well as unexpected vet visits, potential boarding and possible pet sitters and dog walkers.
Research suggests that dogs are able to recognize their siblings and their parents later in life as long as they spent the first 16 weeks together. Intuitively, the less time dogs spend with their families as puppies, the less likely it is they'll be able to recognize a family member later on.
The short answer is no, littermate syndrome does not go away on its own. But the behavioral issues that arise from two sibling puppies being raised together can be addressed. It may take a significant amount of effort on your part to help your dogs achieve proper socialization skills and good behavior.
Most training professionals strongly recommend against adopting two pups at the same time. The biggest challenge of adopting two new puppies is their tendency to bond very closely with each other, often to the exclusion of a meaningful relationship with their humans. They can become inseparable.
As long as they aren't getting into serious fights and you don't see excessive bully behaviors, it should be fine. Of course, limit play time to a few times a day as the pups need to learn to play with you as well and bond with you.
On most occasions, it is generally considered dangerous to breed brother and sister dogs together because of the risk of long term health complications. Even if inbreeding is carefully planned and managed, it still has the potential to cause other indirect problems over time.
After getting impregnated by her brother, there's a high chance that female dogs will not deliver healthy babies. They may come out without any problems, but most cases of inbreeding result in spontaneous miscarriages and uterine complications. The hormones tend to go out of whack with incestuous pregnancies.
Whether you rescue an older dog or a puppy, a lot of dogs tend to follow the 3-3-3 rule when getting acclimated: 3 days of feeling overwhelmed and nervous. 3 weeks of settling in. 3 months of building trust and bonding with you.
All canines need individual focus, attention, play, and training daily, in addition to regular grooming. Having multiple dogs means an increase in the daily time spent playing and working with your dogs to make sure each is getting enough attention.
Introduction of a New Pet
Bringing home a new puppy or another adult dog can trigger jealousy in your dog, and they may show signs of aggression toward the new addition. Your dog might growl at the new dog, guard your lap, or try to get in between you and your new furry family member.
Littermate Syndrome Issue 3: Inter-Dog Aggression
Especially among same-sex siblings, fighting can become severe, even dangerous, as they reach maturity. Siblings often play hard, and fight harder. Because many sibling pups are only socialized with each other, they may develop aggression or fear towards other dogs.
Like with people, it depends. Just because you're related doesn't mean you'll be best friends. In many cases it's recommended for dog siblings to not grow up together, as this can lead to Littermate Syndrome: a form of intense separation anxiety.
In dogdom, there's a turn of phrase called, "Second Dog Syndrome". This describes the process of adding another dog to the home quite well, but not necessarily in a positive light. As humans, we are bound to forget all of the time and effort it takes to raise a puppy right.
For example, if you get a new pet and start paying it more attention than your dog, the dog will not feel betrayed in the true sense of the word. However, it may show signs of distress and disappointment because it is suddenly being treated differently or being deprived of something it is used to getting.
Two dogs can share toys, beds, grooming products, water bowls, larger bags of food, and treats. Safer for you and your furry family members. Two dogs protecting the home are better than one. Also, when you have two pups, they will take care of each other.