All of this is to say that our writer is dealing with a tough situation. Littermate Syndrome: The risky downside to raising sibling puppies Posted on July 18, 2013 by Jeff Stallings, CPDT-KA [Please note that an update of this article was published in … Our content and products are for informational purposes only. Sibling puppies may also be prone to picking up fights when they are bored or tired. Littermate syndrome can be difficult, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. They should each have their own crates, classes, one-on-one time with their people and identity. Unfortunately, the opposite is sometimes true: “Be prepared for two puppies to be twice the work of one,” says Dr. Heather Graddy, a relief veterinarian and veterinary behavior consultant in Englewood, Colorado. Socialize them each with other dogs. On the other hand, sibling pups belonging to some dog breeds used to working in packs such as hounds or other breeds that are particularly mellow may be easier to raise together. Dealing with Behavioral Problems All dogs were well adjusted and delightful dogs who lived long and productive lives, earned an array of titles from breed championships to sport HIT. She lives with her husband, daughter, three cats, one dog, and a pet dove. ... Half -Puppy Syndrome. We feature natural care, diet and training advice, information about complementary therapies like chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, and homeopathy, and advice from experts in the field. See more of A Dog Scared to Death of Everyone Just Needed a Hug - The Most Beautiful Video ♥ on Facebook. If socialization with other dogs is important to you, you may also want to take them out for separate play sessions with other pups. This can affect dogs of any breed and also unrelated puppies who are adopted and raised together. Here are seven important things you should know about head tremors in Bulldogs. In the worst-case scenario, littermates may attack each other. Take them to the vets separately. This piqued my interest and was met with some skepticism as it was something that I had never come across in my years of study and practice in the field of veterinary behaviour. Make sure that your pups are getting plenty of exercise and interaction with you, your family, and others—not just alone time with each other, she says. Investing that much time into one dog will generally ensure that you’ll end up with a well rounded, trained member of your household and society. Think long and hard about getting two new puppies at the same time. 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 … https://healthypets.mercola.com/.../littermate-syndrome.aspx Experts disagree — Some pet professionals argue against using the term because of its lack of research-based evidence. 1. The Lifesaver: Recall Training with your Dog. Try a joint game of fetch or alternating tug-of-war games with you, she suggests. Another solution if you must have two puppies? The latter of course is not the norm. Because many sibling pups are only socialized with each other, they may develop aggression or fear towards other dogs. That goes for food, heartworm and flea/tick preventative, vet visits, boarding, trainers, and all those new puppy essentials.Rember, you’ll need two collars, two leashes, two beds…Be prepared to take this on if you choose to get siblings. Remember that littermate syndrome is not a dog simply acting out. So it may be “easier” to have puppies to play with each other, but in the long run it most likely will not be easy. When a dog is by itself, there isn't much it can do, besides chew up a shoe or something. Sometimes this connection causes troubling behavioral issues known as littermate syndrome. Pet parents may notice these problems early on, though they may not arise until pups reach adolescence, notes Graddy. It’s hard work training one puppy by itself, and impossible to train two puppies at the same time. ADOPTING DOGS TWO-AT-A-TIME: OVERVIEW. Can animals die of sadness? This can make it harder for them to reach their full potential when it comes to good behavior, says Graddy. I found out about littermate syndrome after we had lost both dogs to old age - and finally understood why our younger dog never fully grew into himself. Most commonly, puppies develop separation anxiety due to hyper-attachment. Play with them separately. Littermate syndrome in puppies Anecdotal evidence suggests that behavioral issues may arise during key development periods because the two puppies’ deep bond impedes their individual ability to absorb and grasp the nuances of human and canine communication. Group living enabled the dog's ancestors, wolves, to work together to obtain food, raise their young and defend their territory. Littermate syndrome can be difficult for pet parents to deal with, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. My rule for puppies is to devote at least 18-24 months of training and socialization time to just one. There aren’t really any studies on sibling rivalry or litter-mate syndrome in puppies, but there seems to be plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting the negative effects. Littermate syndrome can affect dogs of any breed, and it may also affect unrelated puppies who are adopted at the same time and raised together. According to evolutionary theorists, all living things are innately programmed behave in such a way as to ensure the survival of their DNA into the next generation. Dog aggression generally starts to manifest around 8 to 20 months of age – when dogs are teenagers. The title of this post is a bit strong, but I do want to caution people from adopting two dogs from the same litter because “it’s easier” to raise two at once (ask someone with twins if it’s easier than having one child) or “we don’t want our dog to be lonely.” (Because you might be if the dogs are so enchanted with each other that they ignore you). Although you should maintain separate training, play sessions, and walks with your pups, you’ll also want to make some time for them to play together to help your dogs get along, says Graddy. In my most recent case, an owner’s email could serve as a go-to primer for this syndrome: At 12 weeks Following a recent query from a concerned, prospsective, owner, I thought I would take this opportunity to dispel yet another commonly held belief, one which only serves to prevent good people from taking lovely dogs into their families. There’s something called “sibling syndrome” or “littermate syndrome” that applies to puppies that are raised from young puppyhood in the same household. All Rights Reserved 2021. As previously mentioned, littermate syndrome sometimes causes puppies to focus on the other puppy rather than the humans in the home. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. Many well-intentioned dog guardians have terrible tales to tell about the harm caused to one sibling by the other. The popular sire syndrome in dog breeding is when a sought-after male is used to father several litters of puppies, thereby having that many progenies that some of them eventually will breed together (often, unknowingly.) Over lunch, veterinarian and dog behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and I discussed raising Littermate Syndrome: Why raising sibling puppies is misguided Posted on July 18, 2013 By Jeff Stallings, CPDT-KA Littermate syndrome is a condition in which hyper-bonded sibling dogs have difficulty relating to humans and other dogs. Train them separately. But when there are siblings that are abused, they take it out on each other. In some cases, littermate syndrome makes it incredibly difficult to train the puppies because they do not respond positively to anyone other than their sibling. Related: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips On How To Manage Your Multi Dog Household. They must have lots and lots of “only dog” time. We frequently get dogs that were breeding pairs who seem very bonded to each other. The term ‘littermate syndrome’ refers to behavioral issues that arise when two or more sibling puppies are raised together. Home >> Positively Contributors >> Sundowner Syndrome In Dogs First, the great news: advancements in veterinary medicine and nutrition are helping our dogs to live longer lives now than ever before. Sibling Aggression Learning basic coping mechanisms and picking up on important human–canine communication signals is difficult or impossible for them. WebMD explains the symptoms and causes of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, where someone exaggerates a child's symptoms or even causes the child's illness. Puppy Sibling Rivalry, It's More Than Just Conflict - Dog Discoveries Consider adopting unrelated puppies a few weeks or months apart, suggests Graddy. Littermate Syndrome Issue 3: Inter-Dog Aggression Especially among same-sex siblings, fighting can become severe, even dangerous, as they reach maturity. Littermate syndrome often … Make sure you’ll be able to give both dogs everything they need. The two had been together all of their lives and had never been separated, even temporarily. Sometimes littermate syndrome can take the form of non-stop fighting between the dogs. This early bond to one another can cause dog on dog aggression in the future and prevent the puppies from bonding to you. 1. All dogs went with us to dog club, dog shows, training and all that jazz, both alone and together. What’s more, you might think that training two puppies at the same time would be easier than adopting them one by one (and starting house training all over again!). Raising Guide Dog Siblings. As in humans, dog relatives share DNA, and it is possible that it is this DNA imprinting that keeps a dog from mating with a sibling. Littermate syndrome is when two puppies from the same litter are raised in the same home and develop a bond with each other. Difficulty with basic training. Bullying and aggression between siblings seems to happen more often than between unrelated dogs, and it can get nasty. However, it is more commonly seen in English Bulldogs. If you find you don’t have the time, space, and energy to train and bond with your pups separately, consider reaching out to your veterinarian, a certified dog trainer, or a certified veterinary behaviorist for professional help. The easiest way to prevent littermate syndrome in puppies is to not adopt two pups at the same time, says Graddy. We hope that this information will help you and your little family member as it is our sincere intention. Littermate syndrome can take toll on a family, especially with kids. It often happens when dog owners adopt two litter mate puppies or non-related puppies that are around the same age. In her downtime, she enjoys meditating, weightlifting, and playing soccer. Puppies may avoid interactions with new people, dogs, or things; become very still and quiet when you approach them; or bark, growl, and snap when presented with new things or situations. He’s not that good, but he can get to where he needs to go. But with longer lifespans comes a new set of challenges facing senior dogs, including arthritis, cancer, and the equivalent of human Alzheimers disease: canine cognitive dysfunction, or doggie dementia. As a result, unfamiliar people and situations could induce fear. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province … An older gentleman attended one of my group classes with his two Siberian huskies. Dealing with Behavioral Problems. Whole Dog Journal offers well-researched, in-depth articles about all aspects of dog care and training. #1 Head tremors in Bulldogs are due to multiple reasons Littermate Syndrome: Why raising sibling puppies is misguided Posted on July 18, 2013 By Jeff Stallings, CPDT-KA Littermate syndrome is a condition in which hyper-bonded sibling dogs have difficulty relating to humans and other dogs. Some families actually intend to get 2 puppies, from the same litter. … Interceptor is a trademark of Elanco or its affiliates. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in-the-know. 6. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. I can’t talk about this subject enough. For these reasons, adopting two puppies at a time may mean more work, not less, for some pet parents. The second puppy will definitely keep the first one company, but will also most likely become their true dependent or who they’re dependent on. 7. Puppies with littermate syndrome become highly dependent on one another. If you’re considering adopting two puppies at the same time, it’s important to consider the challenges that may come along with this decision, so that you can devote the time and energy to positive-reinforcement training. Twin Escalation Syndrome is an actual “syndrome” seen in human twins, that I believe can also be seen with sibling dogs or littermates. © 2021 Great Pet Media. Lance Cpl. Idiopathic head tremors in Bulldogs are rarely life-threatening. They’ll have to train with each dog individually, and then together. Unwillingness to eat alone. Related: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips On How To Manage Your Multi Dog Household. In fact, many veterinarians recommend adopting kittens in pairs. Over time, this can result in fear and aggression when they’re exposed to other dogs. Dogs MUST be allowed to develop as individuals. To help avoid littermate syndrome or put a stop to dogs showing early signs of attachment, there are a few things you can do. Essay On Cri Du-Chat Syndrome 1272 Words | 6 Pages. They Cost More. As your puppies adjust to their new normal, use treats and praise as rewards for staying calm when they’re apart, says Collier. Over time, though, a dog only retains the ability to recognize a sibling if they live together. If one dog is sick and must stay overnight at the veterinarian’s, the stay-at-home dog will become destructive and vocal. The misconception that it’s easier to have two puppies at the same time is all too common, because they’ll keep each other company! ... Man With Down Syndrome Visits Brother At Windsor Castle. This early bond to one another can cause dog on dog aggression in the future and prevent the puppies from bonding to you. The severity will vary between different households and the sibling puppies that are … Littermate syndrome is when two puppies from the same litter are raised in the same home and develop a bond with each other. 3. There’s something called “sibling syndrome” or “littermate syndrome” that applies to puppies that are raised from young puppyhood in the same household. Littermate Syndrome is more than just double the puppy trouble when it comes to raising sibling puppies. I run a dog rescue for retired puppy mill breeding dogs. Lauren Krouse is a freelance writer and researcher. 4. Outside of Littermate Syndrome, training two dogs is at least twice the work. We've compiled facts and researched from various sources and prepared an easy to read overview. We also test, review and evaluate products. Allow puppy time together. After all, the thought of separating brothers and sisters from the same litter can tug at your heartstrings. 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