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A dog training expert has revealed why adopting two puppies at the same time is a ‘terrible idea’, even more so if they come from the same litter.
Jennifer is the founder of Top Paw K9 Academy in Colorado and has dedicated her life to helping their owners bond with their pups.
She is warning potential pet owners about the little known phenomenon called ‘littermate syndrome,’ which can lead to undesirable behaviors in sibling dogs, such as aggression and excessive attachment.
She recommends dog owners to avoid getting two dogs at the same time, regardless if they’re from the same litter. This is because getting two dogs at the same time can cause extreme overattachment, separation anxiety, poor social skills, and a host of other potential issues.
Instead, Jennifer recommends that dog owners should adopt one dog and make sure it is well trained before looking for another pup around a year later.
Jennifer recommends potential dog owners to avoid adopting two puppies at the same time as they might develop littermate syndrome.
Littermate Syndrome
Littermate syndrome, also known as littermate dependency, is a behavioral issue that can occur when two puppies from the same litter are raised together and form an extremely close bond. This bond can lead to various problems, including but not limited to:
- Overattachment: The puppies become overly reliant on each other for social interaction and companionship, which can hinder their ability to develop relationships with humans or other dogs.
- Separation Anxiety: Littermate syndrome often results in severe separation anxiety when the puppies are separated, leading to distress and destructive behavior when they are apart.
- Reduced Training Focus: Because they are so focused on each other, littermates may pay less attention to training from their human caregivers.
- Limited Socialization: The puppies may rely solely on each other for play and companionship, reducing their opportunities to interact with and learn from other dogs and people.
- Aggression: In some cases, littermates may become overly territorial and protective of each other, leading to aggression towards outsiders or even towards each other.
Due to these potential negative effects, many dog experts and trainers recommend against raising littermates together, especially for inexperienced dog owners. It’s essential to provide each puppy with individual attention, training, and socialization to ensure they develop into well-adjusted, independent, and balanced adult dogs.
Jennifer explains littermate syndrome
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“When you adopt two dogs at the same time, they often form an intense bond with each other. This can make it challenging to establish a strong bond with their human owners.”
“This closeness can result in separation anxiety and various behaviors when the dogs are apart.”
“Otherwise, the opposite can happen and the two dogs want to kill each other,” Jennifer said.
Littermate syndrome is most likely to develop between the ages of eight to 12 weeks when the puppies are still together. However it can also happen in young dogs that are slightly older too.
“They miss a crucial phase of social skill development, leading to underdeveloped socialization abilities and anxiety when they are apart,” Jennifer continued.
Adopting two puppies at the same time, or within a short time frame, might cause them to develop ‘littermate syndrome’.
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“Littermate syndrome doesn’t always happen. But when it does, it can be scary and dangerous, and cause the owners a lot of problems.”
Although it is possible to adopt two puppies at the same time without experiencing any issues, the average person lacks the knowledge and expertise to prevent the syndrome.
“If you decide to bring two puppies into your home at the same time or within a short time frame, you should do a lot of research and hire a reputable trainer. However, it’s important to note that even a reputable and highly effective trainer cannot prevent littermate syndrome,” Jennifer concluded.
What the public thinks
A lot of people have thanked Jennifer for warning them from potentially making a mistake when adopting.
A pet groomer revealed her experience working with dogs with littermate syndrome.
“A pair of German Shepherds we groom on a regular basis must be groomed side by side. Otherwise, they become extremely agitated. It’s quite frustrating really,” they said.
Another said, “I’ve managed two dogs with anxiety for a decade now, and it’s so exhausting.”
“I adopted my dogs four years apart, yet their codependency remains strong. When one dog goes to the groomer, the other will howl and cry until they are reunited at home,” a third individual added.
However, not everyone agreed with Jennifer.
“I’ve had my two dogs from the same litter and it’s never affected me,” one individual said.
Another added, “it seems fake. My dogs are brothers and they love each other as well as their owners (us).”
What do you think? Do you think your dogs have littermate syndrome, or is it a myth?
Let us know in the comments below!
