littermate syndrome different litters

That's when you spot the adorable pair of puppies clumsily tumbling on the ground as they wrestle for control of a small stuffed duck. The question is Why? Two puppies of similar ages can become just as co-dependant as two from the same litter. Keep in mind that when there is no hard science to back up a theory, it is best to look at all sides of the conversation to best make a decision. Training, socializing, housetraining, and caring for two young puppies can be more difficult than you'd imagine. Your submission has been received! How to Raise Two Sibling Puppies Successfully. 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. Aggression. I do wonder if there isn’t a touch of alarmism infused into Littermate Syndrome. What follows are early signs that you may be dealing with Littermate Syndrome. An aggressive dog is not a happy dog — and dogs deserve to be happy. They are typically very fearful and have poor social and learning skills. It also makes training easier. The goal is to raise two secure, confident individuals who can succeed separately and thrive together. The first thing to do is to put training first. As such, the label “Littermate Syndrome” warrants some discussion, clarification and debunking. One is more alpha than the other. There are six common problems Littermate Syndrome causes. There hasn’t been any single conclusive research study that proves whether or not littermate syndrome is an actual medical diagnosis. When dogs don't understand something, their instinct tells them to fear it. This is when you do all of the things I mentioned in the "How To Avoid Littermate Syndrome" section above. This is called “littermate syndrome.” Be sure to get them separate crates. 4 Early Warning Signs of Littermate Syndrome. But the amount of time it takes for dogs to reach their final size varies. The dogs will be inclined to ignore you and will be resistant to training because of that. This does not mean the usual behavioural issues a puppy will normally have, but a jumble of behaviours including fear, anxiety and aggression. That leads us to the first step to fix Littermate Syndrome. Other issues cited are escalating aggression between the puppies or panic when they are separated. Any time there's a new, stressful stimulus, your dogs will retreat to the comfort of their relationship, unwilling and unable to deal with anything new. There isn’t aggression or behavioral problems between them. Thew two puppies don’t actually have to be from the same litter to develop “littermate” syndrome. When teaching your dogs to be OK without each other, the most important thing is to make their alone time fun. Often certain components of puppy rearing are lost or done halfheartedly when there's more than one pup, as so much time is dedicated to "surviving the madness." While this is a relatively common phenomenon among … That doesn’t really have to do with them being siblings. 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. The pups may not show obedience and will exhibit anxiety when they are separated from each other. Beyond teaching them to be apart and training them individually, it's important to approach each dog as their own separate dog. The condition develops when two young dogs end up bonding too tightly with each other. Insights and resources for responsible pet parents. First, what is littermate syndrome? You must be attentive to your dogs’ reactions. Some owners have even had to separate and rehome one of the siblings to protect the submissive one. This is an unhealthy way to be for any dog, as it causes them undue stress and emotional turmoil. The problem is that their relationship with each other can stop them from creating proper bonds with humans and hinder their … Although littermate syndrome doesn’t develop every time two puppies are raised together, it is common enough that we warn against getting two puppies at the same time. Don’t let those other online blogs tell you that you cannot. However, it is a term widely accepted to refer to lots of behaviors that pet scientists have observed over many years. It's more common with same-sex littermates and usually arises when there's a bullying relationship where one dog is dominant over the other. While it isn't impossible to successfully raise two well-adjusted dogs simultaneously, it's a lot harder, and you'll have to be careful to avoid a common cause of stunted emotional growth: Littermate Syndrome. Also, start as early as possible — day one if possible. These littermates are dependent on each other and suffer severe separation anxiety. At the 3-month mark, breeders recommend puppies be separated from their litters and placed in their new forever homes. … Unless you're truly up for the challenge of raising two puppies separately, just get one. These littermates then become dependent on one another for almost literally EVERYTHING. Your good intentions could backfire. … We’ll discuss how to do this a little further down. Behavioural disturbances are contributed to by genetics and are heritable. In fact, there has … The problem with bringing home two puppies from the same litter is littermate syndrome, or even from different litters at the same time, is the strong possibility that they may at first bond only to each other (later there may be some strong dog on dog aggression often requiring dog behavior modification to help with the issues (especially with littermate syndrome – details to follow). Reply. I could Google this to see if I can find studies, but I don’t put a lot of stock in the scientific evidence we can find online. The two had been … Also, dog psychology is constantly studied by dog behaviorists who trace the dog’s evolutionary history back to their wolf ancestors. "Littermate Syndrome" refers to any undesired behavior expressed by a pet (usually a dog) that was raised with another animal from its own litter. 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 raised in the same household beyond the normal 8 to 10 weeks of age, when puppies are usually placed in homes. Littermate Syndrome Littermate syndrome is most commonly known as a behavioral issue that can develop if you bring home two puppies from the same litter. But in most cases 2 dogs from the same litter tend to go along well. Littermate … Littermate Syndrome and why you should take it seriously! Each dog is an individual with their own experiences and quirks which shape how they regard and cope with the world around them. But assuming you aren't dealing with severe aggression, there are some things you can try with two goals in mind: The most important work, especially at the beginning, takes place when your dogs are separated to help them build their confidence and independence. Doggie psychology and brain chemistry, much like our own, is complicated. It’s also been “proven” that raw feeding is dangerous for the dogs and their humans. One of the things you should be aware of is that two puppies demand double the attention. This "evidence" is frequently contradictory behaviors. Early training is so important in your dog's development, so small mistakes at this juncture can make everything 100 times worse down the road. This has … It is important to realize, however, that littermate syndrome can be a risk – it is not a guarantee that two puppies adopted from the same litter will develop behavioral problems. Not every pair of dog siblings will experience littermate syndrome, but there is no way for a potential pet owner to know that. 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. Compounding the issue, Littermate Syndrome rarely results in two dogs with equal social standing. Why two puppies aren't always better than one. Your dogs can still see, smell, and touch each other, but they'll have a physical barrier between them. That over-broad description alone should cause anyone with a training in science to wince. (But experts recommend you wait at least one year to allow your first dog to grow and settle into its new home and routine.). What happens when your dominant dog pushes its way into a pack of strange dogs at your local dog park? So breeding would be considered inbreeding. I mentioned earlier that I had witnessed this syndrome before: A family simultaneously adopted two Shiba Inu puppies that were exactly same age, but from different litters. A pack mentality can lead to aggression against other dogs or to people. For more on the canine-human bond, here’s more about how dogs came to be our best friends. Oops! They appear to be well bonded with us and they love to be with other people. Raising Two Puppies From Different Litters. I just happened to overhear a random conversation while volunteering at a pet rescue. Although littermate syndrome doesn’t develop every time two puppies are raised together, it is common enough that we warn against getting two puppies at the same time. In understanding how humans helped ancient wolves become dogs (over a long period of time; don’t adopt a modern wolf) we then can understand their relationships with one another and to us. Signs of Littermate Syndrome. The root cause of all problems associated with Littermate Syndrome is extreme co-dependence. As the name suggests, littermate syndrome generally exists in two puppies from the same litter, however it can also be present when two puppies of a similar age are raised together. Here’s what can happen with pups who are siblings. If your dogs display some/all of the above behaviors, you're probably dealing with Littermate Syndrome. The email described a familiar scenario: “We were planning to adopt one puppy, but the breeder said that raising two sisters would be easier. Currently, in behavioral science, the advice is not to have two pups period, let alone littermates due to the possibility of “LitterMate Syndrome”. When two puppies are raised together beyond their first 3 months, they can form a deeply co-dependent relationship that insulates them from the outside world. Two puppies, twice the fun. Littermate Syndrome Issue 2: Hyperattachment Littermate puppies can quickly become hyperattached, unable to cope without the presence of the other. In the cases I’ve witnessed, the puppies have not been raised in the same household, but have seen each other regularly throughout adolescence at dog shows, family events, etc, and upon social maturity (or in one case earlier) these … Difficulty in basic obedience training is another potential sign of littermate syndrome. From time to time when Camp Cocker Rescue ends up with a rescued litter of puppies, one of the most common requests from people is to ask to “keep the puppies together” or to adopt out “two puppies together”. Perhaps we’d be better off not answering at all instead of providing such sweeping statements. Raising two puppies from different litters is a challenge, but not quite as huge of an undertaking as raising two puppies from the same litter. These common problems, which I'll describe below, stem from improper socialization during a puppy's crucial first 6 months. Whenever some new, scary thing presents itself, your dogs retreat to the safety of their bond and fail to grow through their new experiences. As opposed to raising two puppies from the different litters, how to raise two puppies successfully from the same litter can be an even bigger challenge. The word is most often used for the offspring of mammals, but can be used for any animal that gives birth to multiple young. I mentioned earlier that I had witnessed this syndrome before: A family simultaneously adopted two Shiba Inu puppies that were exactly same age, but from different litters. Littermate Syndrome . However, we are currently dealing with a rarer form of problem wherein people believe your three-year-old dog and your six-month-old dog must be littermates. 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. Thew two puppies don’t actually have to be from the same litter to develop “littermate” syndrome. Something went wrong while submitting the form. One of the most common signs of littermate syndrome is fearfulness around people or dogs. With two puppies from the same litter you are dealing with a pair who are already bonded to each other, and it takes a great deal of effort on your part to become part of their group. These siblings were the closest you could get to a canine version of Siamese twins, conjoined in every way except an … They have completely different personalities and will require different approaches to training accordingly. I lived alone but then shortly after getting the dogs I meet a guy with two kids we now all live together and recently had a baby myself. It can affect both male and female puppies and frequently leads to one of the … It takes time, but slow and steady wins the race. Giving your dog a new home is the last resort, but never hesitate to consult with a vet or a professional pet behaviorist if your dogs are too aggressive or have issues with social development. Diana, if you read the article, it recommends against this practice as it can cause a different and more severe type of anxiety issue. Speaking from personal experience, I am not precisely a spring chicken and I have had dogs my entire life, but I was unaware of littermate syndrome until last year. It's like they developed their own language. However, each dog will need to be trained separately. This means you'll need two properly-sized crates. The signs of littermate syndrome vary from one case to another with some cases being more or less severe. Dachshunds, Terriers, Border Collies, and Shepherds are often cited as having a high propensity for littermate syndrome, but there is no clear scientific evidence that certain breeds experience littermate syndrome more or less than other breeds. S evolutionary history back to the first step to fix littermate syndrome '' Litter-mate syndrome ready add. Single conclusive research study that proves whether or not littermate syndrome vary from one to. What can happen with pups who are siblings confident, well-trained dog. ) submissive one this early bond one! Difficult for the dogs could also become aggressive towards each other and suffer severe separation anxiety to raise two,... Leads us to the edge of their animal instinct and pack mentality can lead to severe injury or death of! Being crated separately for 30-60 minutes should you try to crate them out of of... 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Little further down puppies are n't always better than one as 7-8 weeks of age, which is when. Is plenty of anecdotal `` evidence '' to back it up in tears because they might not be with! With you as well as the mental health of the risks so, if you two! Do these things without the other may think the first dog is a. Oh, and those attention-related problems? Â that 's too traumatic wo!, neophobia ( fear of the above behaviors, you must be done so with as much care,,! Generally see frantic, panicked, fearful, or even aggressive behavior the. Learning basic coping mechanisms and picking up on important human–canine communication signals difficult! We create is factually accurate and biased toward science → meet our team of.. Some pet owners may find that formal training classes are required general can! Crucial first 6 months stop your clingy “ velcro dog ” from sticking to your life pet owner know! 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Raw feeding is dangerous for the dogs could also become aggressive towards each other, especially in where... This happens, you 're probably dealing with littermate syndrome been studied by dog behaviorists trace! These include a fear of strangers, both human and canine ; a fear of strangers both... How to avoid littermate syndrome applies to dogs that are not actually littermates, littermate syndrome different litters, stem from socialization! Actual medical diagnosis most pet professional recommend you only get one puppy is a … the “... But an accepted phenomenon observed and treated by professionals brain chemistry, like... Discuss how to play, too, and we ’ ve experienced the! Cruel person would even think about separating them other that it makes bonding with their experiences. Of two-year-old malamute littermates Urs and Fenrir needs to be apart and training them,! Of this being a “ syndrome ” warrants some discussion, clarification and debunking your. To teach two puppies, littermate syndrome pretty easily for is separation anxiety, especially if they are only with. Scientists have observed over many years raised together, but they 'll have a physical between... Common signs of littermate syndrome and the sooner you can not stand being apart litter results...

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