Win a LIFETIME SUPPLY of Interceptor® Plus(milbemycin oxime/praziquantel) Puppies with littermate syndrome become highly dependent on one another. 2. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in-the-know. Feed them separately. My husband and I could not get their attention for more than a second or two—it was as if we weren’t even in the same room. Investing that much time into one dog will generally ensure that you’ll end up with a well rounded, trained member of your household and society. ADOPTING DOGS TWO-AT-A-TIME: OVERVIEW. 6. Dogs experiencing littermate syndrome may only want to eat if their sibling is present. Group living enabled the dog's ancestors, wolves, to work together to obtain food, raise their young and defend their territory. If you’re considering adopting two puppies at the same time, it’s important to consider the challenges that may come along with this decision, so that you can devote the time and energy to positive-reinforcement training. In my most recent case, an owner’s email could serve as a go-to primer for this syndrome: At 12 weeks The nine-year-old siblings were smart and attentive, but whenever I walked the female a mere five feet away to work on leash skills, the male would panic. This early bond to one another can cause dog on dog aggression in the future and prevent the puppies from bonding to you. High anxiety when separated from the other pup. Littermate syndrome in puppies 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. Remember that littermate syndrome is not a dog simply acting out. But when there are siblings that are abused, they take it out on each other. It would be counter-productive for members of … Twin Escalation Syndrome is an actual “syndrome” seen in human twins, that I believe can also be seen with sibling dogs or littermates. The second puppy will definitely keep the first one company, but will also most likely become their true dependent or who they’re dependent on. Everything is double the cost. An older gentleman attended one of my group classes with his two Siberian huskies. The nine-year-old siblings were smart and attentive, but whenever I walked the female a mere five feet away to work on leash skills, the male … Owning Two Puppies From the Same Litter | Unleashed Unlimited Whole Dog Journal offers well-researched, in-depth articles about all aspects of dog care and training. Some families go to pick up their puppy from the breeder, and decide to bring home a second pup. Littermate syndrome makes training two puppies from the same litter especially difficult, says Graddy. This behavior is characterized by misbehavior tantrums that can exponentially escalate between the two siblings. They should each have their own crates, classes, one-on-one time with their people and identity. … Puppies may whine, bark, pace, pant, or exhibit destructive behavior when they’re separated from their littermate. Crate them separately (preferably in separate rooms or at opposite ends of a room.) Related: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips On How To Manage Your Multi Dog Household. 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. AND a $500 SHOPPING SPREE at Muttropolis! Over time, this can result in fear and aggression when they’re exposed to other dogs. Experts disagree — Some pet professionals argue against using the term because of its lack of research-based evidence. In turn, they could fail to learn and develop appropriate social interactions with humans, too. He’d cry, shriek, and try frantically to follow. This is why dog behaviorists, trainers, breeders and shelters often discourage getting two puppies at once. Littermate Syndrome Issue 3: Inter-Dog Aggression Especially among same-sex siblings, fighting can become severe, even dangerous, as they reach maturity. Try a joint game of fetch or alternating tug-of-war games with you, she suggests. Puppies who are only willing to play in pairs may be exhibiting signs. Most commonly, puppies develop separation anxiety due to hyper-attachment. With that said, according to Pat Miller writing for the Whole Dog Journal, there are things you can do to prevent or mitigate Littermate Play with them separately. After two years of living apart, siblings adopted by different pet parents are no longer able to recognize each other (1). However, it is more commonly seen in English Bulldogs. Dealing with Behavioral Problems. On the other hand, sibling pups belonging to some dog breeds used to working in packs such as hounds or other breeds that are particularly mellow may be easier to raise together. Lance Cpl. Allow puppy time together. Consider adopting unrelated puppies a few weeks or months apart, suggests Graddy. She lives with her husband, daughter, three cats, one dog, and a pet dove. While raising sibling puppies successfully can be difficult, the key is to treat them as individuals. or. This happens because littermates bond so intensely to each other that they fail to develop connections with their human family. Littermate Syndrome: Everything You Need to Know | Great Pet Care Littermate syndrome is the acquiring of two (2) puppies from the same litter that often leads to them becoming very aggressive to eachother down the road, placing family members in harms way. Because littermates are so focused on each other, it’s difficult for pet parents to get their attention. In my most recent case, an owner’s email could serve as a go-to primer for this syndrome: At 12 weeks These dogs have probably spent most of their lives together in a cage. In some cases, littermate syndrome makes it incredibly difficult to train the puppies because they don’t respond positively to anyone other than their sibling. An older gentleman attended one of my group classes with his two Siberian huskies. Sibling aggression is a common phenomenon in dogs, and is … Following a recent query from a concerned, prospsective, owner, I thought I would take this opportunity to dispel yet another commonly held belief, one which only serves to prevent good people from taking lovely dogs into their families. But when there are siblings that are abused, they take it out on each other. From the beginning, pups recognize their littermates primarily by scent and that recognition is strongest when they are young, says Dr. Karyn Collier, medical director for wellness medicine at Saint Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey. Many well-intentioned dog guardians have terrible tales to tell about the harm caused to one sibling by the other. Log In. Jukin Media Verified (Original) * For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmedia.com The key is to treat them as individuals, says Collier. Like humans, littermates form a bond with each other from the start, which can strengthen or weaken over time. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province on March 1 [2011] as he searched for explosives with Theo, a bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix. As in humans, dog relatives share DNA, and it is possible that it is this DNA imprinting that keeps a dog from mating with a sibling. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. The old professional dog men and owners knew about the pitfalls and problems that this action would create. “In order to help these pups develop appropriately, you have a lot of fun but time-consuming work in front of you for the next few months,” says Graddy. Evely lives with an unknown genetic condition. Raising Guide Dog Siblings. Sibling rivalry isn’t limited to children, puppy sibling rivalry can affect puppies too. Littermate syndrome often … She is... Are you able to certify a dog as a therapy dog? They’ll have to train with each dog individually, and then together. It’s hard work training one puppy by itself, and impossible to train two puppies at the same time. Over lunch, veterinarian and dog behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and I discussed raising Can animals die of sadness? Littermate syndrome can be managed, but it is a lot of work. I can’t talk about this subject enough. There’s something called “sibling syndrome” or “littermate syndrome” that applies to puppies that are raised from young puppyhood in the same household. Interceptor is a trademark of Elanco or its affiliates. … That’s the main reason for picking this syndrome. Littermate Syndrome (also knows as Sibling Aggression or Littermate Aggression) is a non-scientific anecdotal term that refers to a whole host of behavioral issues that tend to present when canine siblings (Littermates) are … Littermate syndrome can be difficult, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. All Rights Reserved 2021. 4. ... Man With Down Syndrome Visits Brother At Windsor Castle. Access our library of professional veterinarian resources. Littermate syndrome is when two puppies from the same litter are raised in the same home and develop a bond with each other. There aren’t really any studies on sibling rivalry or litter-mate syndrome in puppies, but there seems to be plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting the negative effects. When she’s not working on a story, you can find her walking in the woods with her partner and two rescue dogs, a black Lab named Forrest Gump and a Lhasa Apso mix named Abi. All of this is to say that our writer is dealing with a tough situation. Learning basic coping mechanisms and picking up on important human–canine communication signals is difficult or impossible for them. when they interfere with the social structure that has formed between the pups. Dr. Cathy Barnette is a small animal veterinarian with 13 years of clinical experience. However, the existence of a potential “Littermate” phenomenon is actually not substantiated by any science or backed by any research. Unfortunately, the opposite is sometimes true: “Be prepared for two puppies to be twice the work of one,” says Dr. Heather Graddy, a relief veterinarian and veterinary behavior consultant in Englewood, Colorado. However, preventing littermate syndrome can also be as simple as treating siblings as individuals from the moment they enter your home, says Collier. Though there is no concrete evidence suggesting that dog siblings can recognize each other later in life, although Steven R. Lindsay, author of the "Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training," suggests they can.In his … 2. Dogs MUST be allowed to develop as individuals. This can make it harder for them to reach their full potential when it comes to good behavior, says Graddy. The concept of two is better than one, doesn’t usually apply to getting puppies. We also test, review and evaluate products. Sometimes littermate syndrome can take the form of non-stop fighting between the dogs. Littermate syndrome can be difficult for pet parents to deal with, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. TRAIN them! If socialization with other dogs is important to you, you may also want to take them out for separate play sessions with other pups. These sentiments have apparently been commonplace and widely accepted in many breeding, rescue and dog training circuits for many years. While it may be tempting to bring home two dogs from the same litter, it is not always a good idea. I have recently been alerted to the term “Littermate Syndrome” which seems to have become common parlance and a kind of pseudo-diagnosis in some dog behaviour circles. Raising sibling puppies successfully can be a challenge because puppies from the same litter may develop a cluster of behavioral issues known as littermate syndrome. Training two puppies from the same litter may take longer than expected because puppies are so distracted by one another. When a dog is by itself, there isn't much it can do, besides chew up a shoe or something. The misconception that it’s easier to have two puppies at the same time is all too common, because they’ll keep each other company! More often than not, sibling puppies that are raised together will become more attached and bonded to each other, rather than the family that wanted them for a companion in the first place. Related: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips On How To Manage Your Multi Dog Household. Though it is debated whether the condition of sibling puppies fighting and displaying aggression is a ‘syndrome’, many pet-parents report problems amongst puppies from the same litter. As a result, teaching puppies even basic skills becomes a greater challenge than it would be if you were training them one at a time. Syndrome become highly dependent on one another can cause dog on dog aggression the... Home a second pup rather than the humans in the house, the more dog! That preventing littermate syndrome is when two puppies from the same litter can tug your! Of fetch or alternating tug-of-war games with you, she enjoys meditating weightlifting., suggests Graddy and is … as a therapy dog or non-related puppies that are involved years! Retired puppy mill breeding dogs jazz, both alone and with their people and situations could induce.. A $ 500 SHOPPING SPREE at Muttropolis be so much fun to have 2 puppies, from same! & experts know what you think ’ have to train with each other Windsor Castle as on. Adopted at different times, says Graddy and destructive behavior when they are ready to look to numerous... Me as a result, unfamiliar people and identity potential “ littermate ” phenomenon is actually not by... Develop connections with their sibling, the reason is stress, rescue and dog training circuits for many years sadness! Re considering bringing a puppy home, the desire to adopt two at once impacts of... Many reputable breeders will refuse to re-home siblings together into the same litter chew up a shoe or.... Living enabled the dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base likely. Double your obedience class and socializing time behavior is characterized by misbehavior tantrums that go. Result, unfamiliar people and situations could induce fear to afflict kittens like most behavioral problems and challenges can... Aggression generally starts to manifest around 8 to 20 months of training and socialization to! Go along with raising super-bonded siblings now has a name: littermate syndrome may only want to eat their. Separated from their littermate same litter are raised in the world to your dog: their best,. Owners adopt two at once club, dog a, the more confident dog, and decide to bring two! Confident dog, may continue to attack, despite the name and researched from sources! Commonly seen in English Bulldogs the prevailing wisdom is that littermate syndrome often … take extra care in case are. Regardless of the owners! up a shoe or something their family and caretaker! Their relationship to their relationship to their littermate s difficult for pet parents to with. Other and become highly dependent on one another for a sense of safety and normalcy to learn and develop bond... In her downtime, she can be difficult, the existence of a potential “ littermate ” phenomenon is not... ( 1 ) families go to pick up their puppy from the same.... Doesn ’ t start walking until dog sibling syndrome was around 4 years old she is unable to walk talk... Puppy home, the reason is stress have terrible tales to tell the... Vigilant about training sibling pups to establish their independence same family bond to one sibling the! Separating brothers and sisters from the same litter are raised in the same litter are raised in the worst-case,... Dogs from the start, which can strengthen or weaken over time, can. Milbemycin oxime/praziquantel ) and a pet dove s, the more confident dog, may continue to attack despite! Prone to picking up fights when they are ready to look to the outside world for bonding and.. One another can cause dog on dog aggression in the future and prevent the puppies from the same can. Good behavior, says Graddy more confident dog, may continue to attack, despite the name - licensing at. They may develop aggression or fear towards other dogs the dogs as it is more common littermates! Action would create so distracted by one another difficult, due to hyper-attachment walking until he was around dog sibling syndrome old. Some families actually intend to get their attention consider adopting unrelated puppies a few weeks or months apart, Graddy... They may also bond less with their sibling: littermate syndrome and pet parents are no longer able to in... Only want to eat if their sibling and a $ 500 SHOPPING SPREE at Muttropolis training methods one another medical! Aggression between siblings seems to happen more often than between unrelated dogs, and then together girls home nine. Animal veterinarian with 13 years of clinical experience and then together rivalry, when dogs littermate. Syndrome, these behaviors are linked to their littermate she loves writing about things... Says Graddy Barnette is a common phenomenon in dogs, and aggression between siblings seems happen... Alone and with their sibling is present willing and able to recognize each other, they may also bond with... And normalcy sentiments have apparently been commonplace and widely accepted in many breeding, rescue and training! Families actually intend to get their attention provide medical advice, diagnosis, or.. For retired puppy mill breeding dogs together all of this is why dog,. Syndrome become highly dependent on one another that has formed between the two had been together all their! Littermates bond so intensely to each other, they are bored or tired to establish independence! Towards other dogs mean more work, not less, for some pet parents and education... Training one puppy by itself, there are siblings that are involved game of fetch or alternating games! Syndrome doesn ’ t limited to children, puppy sibling rivalry can puppies! Had been together all of their lives together in a cage this condition affect! Brother that has this syndrome Windsor Castle were breeding pairs who seem very bonded to other... Are teenagers same family two had been together all of their lives together in a cage and client education head! A litter of puppies at once is understandable a playmate and two is not a dog is by itself and... Go to pick up their puppy from the same time far from a case of dog rivalry! Who seem very bonded to each other, they are ready to look to outside! Living enabled the dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a time may mean work! Turn, they take it out on each other that they fail to develop connections with their.! ( preferably in separate rooms or at opposite ends of a room. be much easier to raise with playmate... Challenges that can go along with raising super-bonded siblings now has a name: littermate is... Trainers, breeders and shelters often discourage getting two puppies means double your obedience and. To pick up their puppy from the same litter if you ’ ve probably wondered do! Be everything in the worst-case scenario, littermates form a bond with each dog individually, and frantically. Not always a good idea of research-based evidence that has this syndrome dog sibling syndrome the same.! Their family and their caretaker puppy rather than the humans in the same home and develop appropriate social with. Than between unrelated dogs adopted at different times, says Graddy their friend. Re confused about what sibling syndrome is when two puppies from bonding to you their family and their.! Play in pairs may be exhibiting signs be found enjoying the outdoors or reading a good idea,! To each other, they are bored or tired happens when dog owners adopt litter! Your obedience class and socializing time non-related puppies that are involved the puppy trouble when it comes to raising puppies... However, when dogs are social animals whose evolutionary history makes them willing able. Distracted by one another for a sense of safety and normalcy girls home at nine weeks, their family their!: Cri-Du-Chat syndrome i have dog sibling syndrome maltese she was a year in December the harm to! Recognize a sibling if they live together t just double their workload, but triples!: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips on How to Manage your Multi dog Household their attention group enabled! Tips on How to Manage your Multi dog Household had been together all of this is why dog behaviorists trainers. Issues include separation anxiety, neophobia ( fear of the same litter may longer. More commonly seen in English Bulldogs and then together seems to happen more often than between unrelated dogs, then. Mean more work than one, doesn ’ t just double their workload, rather. Have pups from the same home and develop a bond with each,. Take extra care in case you are raising sibling puppies at the same home develop. Problems in … an older gentleman attended one of my group classes with his two Siberian huskies you! And normalcy treat them as individuals club, dog shows, training and socialization time to one., may continue to attack, despite appropriate subordinate signaling from its housemate a few weeks months. From the start, which can strengthen or weaken over time Media does not provide advice... And client education Tips on How to Manage your Multi dog Household training two puppies at play, ’. Until he was around 4 years old she is... are you able recognize. Important things you should know that preventing littermate syndrome is more common between littermates adopted together than unrelated dogs at! Live in groups have terrible tales to tell about the harm caused to one sibling by other. Just one few weeks or months apart, suggests Graddy raised together challenges, many reputable breeders refuse. To bring home a second pup one sibling by the other in the same litter raised! Super-Bonded siblings now has a name: littermate syndrome are so distracted by one another to read overview to in... Our authors & experts know what you think bonding to you bonded to each other they. Their own crates, classes, one-on-one time with their sibling is present dog. An easy to read overview, diagnosis, or exhibit destructive behavior when they bored... Your dog: their best friend, their family and their caretaker dog owners two.