Experts disagree — Some pet professionals argue against using the term because of its lack of research-based evidence. Signs of littermate syndrome in dogs can include excessive crying, whining, and destructive behavior when siblings are separated from one another, as well as a lack of interest in playing or interacting with other people or pets in your household, says Collier. Which means two puppies means double your obedience class and socializing time. In the worst-case scenario, littermates may attack each other. Dogs are social animals whose evolutionary history makes them willing and able to live in groups. Puppies may whine, bark, pace, pant, or exhibit destructive behavior when they’re separated from their littermate. ... Man With Down Syndrome Visits Brother At Windsor Castle. 1. Because dogs with littermate syndrome are so focused on each other, they may also bond less with their pet parents. She lives with her husband, daughter, three cats, one dog, and a pet dove. As previously mentioned, littermate syndrome sometimes causes puppies to focus on the other puppy rather than the humans in the home. There’s something called “sibling syndrome” or “littermate syndrome” that applies to puppies that are raised from young puppyhood in the same household. Over time, this can result in fear and aggression when they’re exposed to other dogs. 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. 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.) Puppy Sibling Rivalry, It's More Than Just Conflict - Dog Discoveries or. He’d cry, shriek, and try frantically to follow. Dogs experiencing littermate syndrome may only want to eat if their sibling is present. 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. And, if you’re a cat person, know this—littermate syndrome doesn’t seem to afflict kittens. A man with Down Syndrome is overcome with excitement after visiting his brother who works at … Many well-intentioned dog guardians have terrible tales to tell about the harm caused to one sibling by the other. Lance Cpl. Littermate Syndrome (sometimes called Sibling Puppy Syndrome) refers to issues that are more likely to arise when puppies from the same litter (or puppies from different litters under 6 months of age) are raised in the same household … Unwillingness to eat alone. Dealing with Behavioral Problems Sibling puppies may also be prone to picking up fights when they are bored or tired. After all, the thought of separating brothers and sisters from the same litter can tug at your heartstrings. When she's not working or caring for animals, she can be found enjoying the outdoors or reading a good book. High anxiety when separated from the other pup. Littermate syndrome makes training two puppies from the same litter especially difficult, says Graddy. 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!). Littermate syndrome can take toll on a family, especially with kids. 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. Because many sibling pups are only socialized with each other, they may develop aggression or fear towards other dogs. It would be counter-productive for members of … Everything is double the cost. All Rights Reserved 2021. Littermate syndrome can be managed, but it is a lot of work. 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. Related: 6 Sanity-Saving Tips On How To Manage Your Multi Dog Household. As your puppies adjust to their new normal, use treats and praise as rewards for staying calm when they’re apart, says Collier. I can’t talk about this subject enough. Raising Guide Dog Siblings. We frequently get dogs that were breeding pairs who seem very bonded to each other. Some families go to pick up their puppy from the breeder, and decide to bring home a second pup. 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. Our content and products are for informational purposes only. Dog aggression generally starts to manifest around 8 to 20 months of age – when dogs are teenagers. 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. The two had been together all of their lives and had never been separated, even temporarily. In her downtime, she enjoys meditating, weightlifting, and playing soccer. The nine-year-old siblings were smart and attentive, but whenever I walked the female a mere five feet away to work on leash skills, the male … 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. Jukin Media Verified (Original) * For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmedia.com In dog breeding and within other species where shows and competitions are big parts of the community, you can be sure that the popular sire effect exists. The latter of course is not the norm. Littermate syndrome is the acquiring of two (2) puppies from the same litter that often leads to them becoming very aggressive to eachother down the road, placing family members in harms way. For these reasons, adopting two puppies at a time may mean more work, not less, for some pet parents. That’s the main reason for picking this syndrome. This happens because littermates bond so intensely to each other that they fail to develop connections with their human family. Then it's easy to blame "littermate syndrome" then own up to the true cause of the issue, the owner's behavior towards them. AND a $500 SHOPPING SPREE at Muttropolis! L ittermate syndrome may not be a common concern for most pet owners, but the professionals agree that it is a very real issue that should not be ignored. Feed them separately. I run a dog rescue for retired puppy mill breeding dogs. Sibling syndrome is a real thing. The key is to treat them as individuals, says Collier. She is... Are you able to certify a dog as a therapy dog? Litter-mate "Syndrome" Litter-mate Syndrome . 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. Littermate syndrome can be difficult, due to the numerous behavioral issues that are involved. Let our authors & experts know what you think. From the beginning, pups recognize their littermates primarily by scent and that recognition is strongest when they are young, says Dr. Karyn Collier, medical director for wellness medicine at Saint Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey. Another solution if you must have two puppies? But when there are siblings that are abused, they take it out on each other. Walk them separately. Idiopathic head tremors in Bulldogs are rarely life-threatening. Littermate syndrome often … Log In. The Litter-mate Syndrome. 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. Dogs MUST be allowed to develop as individuals. When you’re considering bringing a puppy home, the desire to adopt two at once is understandable. 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. ADOPTING DOGS TWO-AT-A-TIME: OVERVIEW. 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). One of the only ways to make sibling puppies work in the long run is to make sure they’re spending more time apart than they are together. 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! Aggression between housemates is more common between littermates adopted together than unrelated dogs adopted at different times, says Graddy. My rule for puppies is to devote at least 18-24 months of training and socialization time to just one. Add me as a friend if you’re on Facebook! If you do get two puppies, make a firm commitment to spend social time and training time with them separately, to avoid having them super-bond with each other. Pet parents may notice these problems early on, though they may not arise until pups reach adolescence, notes Graddy. Sibling Puppies Fighting and Aggression - Tips from a Dog Trainer. Create New Account. © 2021 Great Pet Media. The email described a familiar scenario: “We were planning to adopt one puppy, but the breeder said that raising two sisters would be easier. If one dog is sick and must stay overnight at the veterinarian’s, the stay-at-home dog will become destructive and vocal. She loves writing about all things related to health, pets, fitness, politics, and activism. Littermate Syndrome is more than just double the puppy trouble when it comes to raising sibling puppies. As a result, teaching puppies even basic skills becomes a greater challenge than it would be if you were training them one at a time. 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. 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. Lauren Krouse is a freelance writer and researcher. The old professional dog men and owners knew about the pitfalls and problems that this action would create. You’re confused about what sibling syndrome is. He’s not that good, but he can get to where he needs to go. He didn’t start walking until he was around 4 years old. Difficulty with basic training. Sometimes this connection causes troubling behavioral issues known as littermate syndrome is sometimes puppies... T start walking until he was around 4 years old meditating, weightlifting, and to... 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