There’s no denying it; a new puppy is one of the best things in the world. Much like the joy of having a new baby, a new puppy can give you those same warm, fuzzy feelings. So, if one puppy is wonderful, two puppies must be twice as wonderful, right? Well, not usually.
Adopting one puppy is a major life decision. Adopting two puppies? That’s like quadruple the work!
Most professional dog trainers recommend you adopt one puppy at a time to help him or her grow into an independent, confident individual. While it is possible to raise two well-adjusted dogs together, it’s a lot harder, and you’ll have to be careful to avoid a common cause of behavioral issues: littermate syndrome.
What is Littermate Syndrome?
Littermate syndrome refers to six common behavior issues seen in dogs who were raised with siblings beyond the usual 10-12 weeks of age (3 months) generally recommended by professional dog trainers.
During the first 3 months of a puppy’s life, he or she learns important behaviors from their family of origin, like learning to play, inhibit biting and important socialization behaviors. Once they reach 3 months of age, it’s time for them to be placed in their forever home so they can learn to be their own dog and explore new things outside the comfort of their mother and siblings.
Common problems related to littermate syndrome include:
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Extreme co-dependence
Anytime there’s a new, stressful situation, the dogs being raised together will retreat to the comfort of each other and try to avoid anything new.
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Separation anxiety
Sometimes the separation anxiety becomes so severe the dogs can’t be away from each other without an emotional breakdown.
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Poor social skills
You would think two dogs raised together would have great social skills, but this is not the case. The two dogs come to depend on each other and develop their own set of social hierarchy and way of interacting. Outside their bond, they don’t know how to socialize with other dogs or even people.
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Fear of strange dogs and people
Co-dependent pups tend to be more fearful of the world around them. When they encounter someone new, they tend to want to retreat or react in fear. Sometimes this includes aggression, which no one wants.
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Training difficulty
Early training is important for your dog’s development, but it’s much harder when there’s two of them. Co-dependent pups have a hard time focusing on anything besides the other puppy. Plus, training one puppy can be a challenge, especially if you make a mistake. Even small mistakes can make everything worse in the future.
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Sibling aggression
Sibling aggression isn’t as common as the others on this list, but it’s the most serious. This usually happens when they are same-sex littermates and there’s a bullying relationship where one dog is dominant over the other.
Sibling aggression can be dangerous, even deadly as they become full-grown dogs. Some owners have had to rehome one of the siblings to protect the submissive one.
Rationales for Adopting Two Littermates at the Same Time
Now that you have a basic understanding of littermate syndrome, let’s explore some of the most common reasons people say they want to adopt two puppies at the same time – and why it might not be the best reason after all.
Rationale #1. “I want to get two puppies so they have each other to play with when I’m gone.”
Yes, your pup does need companionship during the day when you’re gone. But leaving two puppies home alone is just asking for trouble. Think of all the mischief two puppies can get into without supervision.
A better solution is to bring your pup to daycare where he or she will be supervised and learn socialization skills under the loving care of a trained supervisor.
Being left alone together for long periods of time will only strengthen the co-dependent bond with each other, exacerbating the littermate syndrome symptoms listed above.
Rationale #2. “I have two children and they each want a puppy.”
What a sweet idea, but in reality, most of the time it will be Mom who ends up feeding, walking and cleaning up after the puppies. Is it really fair to Mom to have to do double-duty?
Rationale #3. “We want to have two dogs eventually, so it makes sense to get them together so they can grow up as best friends.”
If you get littermates together at the same time, they will definitely be ultra-best friends, much to the detriment of the dog-human relationship. The puppies will come to rely on each other exclusively and you will only be secondary in their lives. Many owners of adopted-at-the-same-time puppies express disappointment in their relationship with their dogs because the dogs depend on each other more than they depend on their dog parent.
Another response to this rationale is understanding how stressful it becomes for a bonded pair to be separated. Eventually, they will need to be separated, even if it’s for a health reason. When that time comes, it will be very painful for them.
Rationale #4. “I’m too busy to spend time with a puppy. A second puppy will keep the first puppy occupied.”
If you’re too busy for one puppy, you’re definitely too busy for two puppies. To successfully raise two puppies, they need to eat, play, train, crate, walk, go to daycare and the vet separately. The goal is to raise two secure, confident individuals who can succeed separately and thrive together. And that takes a LOT of time and effort!
Rationale #5. “If we adopt a second puppy, that’s one fewer that might be euthanized.”
Of course I don’t want to see more puppies euthanized. However, in most shelters today, finding homes for puppies isn’t a problem. Most shelters are easily able to place most, if not all, puppies surrendered to them. It’s the adult dogs who are most likely to be euthanized. If you really want to save a life, adopt a grown-up dog instead of a puppy. Or, if you adopt a puppy now, come back for an adult dog in a few months, after the puppy has grown up a little and learned basic manners.
Rationale #6. “The breeder we are buying from thinks it’s a good idea if we take two.”
If you’re buying from a breeder who encourages you to take two puppies at once, run away fast. A responsible breeder will, in most cases, refuse to sell two puppies to one home, except on rare occasions. Someone who tries to push two puppies on a buyer is not a responsible breeder and isn’t doing anyone any favors, including the puppies.
Other Factors Involved in Adopting Two Puppies At the Same Time
Behavioral issues are the primary reason trainers recommend against adopting two puppies at the same time. But there are other factors to consider as well.
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Cost
While this is obvious, it’s worth mentioning. You will have to buy two of everything – collar, leashes, crates, dishes, beds, etc. And then you will have two vet visits for checkups, spay/neuter operations, illnesses and vaccinations, not to mention any prescriptions your dogs will need. You will also want to consider pet insurance premiums. There’s a lot of expense in having a dog; consider the cost of having two of them!
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Clean up
Let’s face it – one pup produces more than enough waste for any sane human to deal with, and with two pups, it’s double the production.
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House training
It takes time to teach your pup to potty outside – imagine trying to teach two of them at the same time! House training a pup is one of the most frustrating parts of having a dog, so imagine how much more stressful it will be with two of them to deal with.
Final Thoughts
Most of the time adopting two puppies at the same time is not worth the extra time, energy, cost and headaches. Please be honest and realistic about whether you and your family members have the resources and commitment to give both puppies what they need to ensure a lifelong, loving home with you. A better approach is to adopt one now, and another in six months to a year, when the first has bonded with you and at least completed his or her basic good manners training.
Have you ever adopted two littermates at the same time? How did it work out? Please share your experience with the rest of the Canine Campus community in the comments below.
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