Litter mate Syndrome

LITTER MATE SYNDROME

I must say that in special circumstances I will sell two puppies to one owner. But they are owners who are very dog experienced. 

Litter mate syndrome is a word used when someone purchases two puppies from the same litter and has a problem with the dogs.  You may of brought a puppy from one breeder then another for company.  It makes no difference if they come from the same litter or two different litters.  Puppies bond to each other. 
​It sure looks cute having two puppies together, but it's not without challenges.  Now I have got to be honest I love having two puppies together, as they entertain each other such a lot.  But I am experienced enough to do it.  I prefer keeping a boy with a girl over having two boys or two girls together. Because you have less problems if they are opposite sexes. 

If you have two together you have to be confident that you can give both dog adequate training on its own.  This often means double trips out.  So you need more time.  This is why retired couples often like two, so they have one dog each.  

I used to turn away people who wanted two together, but honestly I now listen to your home requirements and if I think it could work I will sell two. 

So what type of behavioural issues are seen with two together?

1. Fear
2. Anxiety
3. Aggression
4. Bully Behaviour
5. Cowardly behaviour
6. Separation Anxiety
7. Distress
8. Will not listen to basic commands. 
9. Fighting. 
10. No recall. 

DOWNSIDES OF TWO

1. Two puppies will focus on each other, to the exclusion of listening to you. 
2. They will do everything together and cannot cope on their own. 
3. One maybe the confident dominant dog and the other a shrinking violet and allows the other dog to take the lead. 
4. They have no recall and egg each other on running across the field until they are gone. 
5. They will be so focused on each other they cant cope if the other leaves, and cries, whinges, barks, pants. Stress.
6. They can pull more on the lead to get to each other. 
7. At training classes they can try the whole time to get to each other. 
8. When hormones change, two males can get horrible with each other, and so can bitches. It can develop to fighting. 

MAKING IT WORK

1. Walk dogs separately at least once a day. 
2. Do training out on the walk to get the dog to focus on you.  Hand feeding 101 is brilliant for getting their attention. 
3. Join to two training classes per week, and take one dog to one, then the other dog to next. 
4. Have separate beds even if they want to sleep together, and try and have some distance between them when sleeping. 
5. If the dogs require grooming your groomer may appreciate having them on separate days if they are crying inside the grooming parlour to get to each other. 
6. Have play sessions in the garden with each dog on their own. 
7. Feed dogs separately so they do not get food aggression. 

​Rachel xx
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