Littermate Syndrome
Having two dogs is a great idea because they can keep each other company. Right?
The only thing cuter than a puppy is two puppies playing together.. "Getting two dogs at the same time seems like a great idea. Dogs are social animals, and a dog who will be alone all day can easily turn to destructive behavior or become anxious. Two puppies can entertain each other and keep each other company. So, what’s the problem with bringing home two puppies at once?" See what PACK LEADER Canine Behavioral Services Company has to say about the problems associated with Littermate Syndrome.
What is Littermate Syndrone
"From a young age, two puppies have formed a very strong bond, learning and feeding off of each other's emotions. This can lead to behavioral issues in one or both of the dogs as they develop, these behaviors often include:
- Fear of people and other dogs
- Extreme separation anxiety
- Crate Issues
- Issues when encountering new situations when alone
- Leash Reactivity
- Higher incidence of fighting as compared to non-siblings being raised together
These issues aren’t often experienced right away, but as both dogs reach mental maturity, they tend to intensify greatly. Littermate syndrome often causes aggression in breeds that are not prone to aggressive behaviors" To read the complete article by the West Suburban Humane Society, please click here.
Are there ANY advantages to adopting two or more litter mates?
Sure there are! But you need to be aware of the disadvantages too.
Three advantages are:
- Double the fun. There is nothing more entertaining than watching two puppies play together.
- They can help each other drain off excess energy.
- There may be some cost savings associated with buying two puppies from the same litter.
Here is a good article by Adrienne Farricelli highlighting The PROS & CONS of Raising Two Littermate Puppies.
