You have decided to get a puppy! Better yet, you want to get two puppies so they can keep each other company. Not only that, you want to get them from the same litter, so they’ll already know each other, and you’ll know where they both came from. Great ideas, right?
Well, maybe not. What if you find that the puppy siblings give their full attention to each other after you bring them home and none to you? What if, when you separate them even for a short time, they cry and panic and chew your favorite upholstered chair to bits?
Your puppies may have littermate syndrome, a strong bond where they cannot focus on anything but each other. Not even you.
Here we will take a look at littermate syndrome — what it is, what it looks like, and what can be done about it.
What is Littermate Syndrome?
When two littermate puppies are placed together in a new home, they can become strongly attached to each other and unable to shift focus to people or other dogs.
This leads to significant behavioral problems. For example, they cannot focus on you enough to learn commands or other things you want to teach them, and they do not learn critical socialization skills. In addition, moving one away from the other can cause severe separation anxiety.
Littermate syndrome can affect any breed, and even unrelated puppies adopted together can develop the condition.
Why Does This Canine Behavior Manifest Itself?
Littermate syndrome is about the pack relationship. The puppies have been together since birth, and then they’re placed together in the same home. Neither knows life without the other, so they become codependent.
When it comes down to pack behavior, we want the dogs to look to the pet parent for decision-making. But with the littermate syndrome, dogs don’t look at the human in the equation at all. Instead, they look at each other, thinking, Well, they’re doing this, so I’m going to follow suit. Whenever somebody comes to the door, we charge the door and jump all over and bark. The dogs feed off each other’s behavior, and the human in the equation has a hard time gaining control.
Signs of Littermate Syndrome
As described earlier, two puppies adopted together may form a bond that interferes with socialization skills and the ability to form other bonds. As a result, you might find yourself ignored while all attention is firmly focused on each other.
These puppies are anxious, often barking and whining. New situations are frightening to them. Also:
- In their anxiety, they can become destructive.
- When separated, they may not eat.
- They may only interact with others when they are together.
- They may be excessively aggressive with each other or other dogs when they’re older.
- It is almost impossible for them to focus enough on any kind of training.
Sometimes, one of the puppies is bolder than the other. As a result, the more introverted puppy can become withdrawn and nervous, especially when you keep the dogs separately. When you don’t establish yourself as the pack leader, the puppies are looking at each other for that leadership.
Littermate Syndrome and Aggressive Behavior
As dogs mature, you can start to see competition within the pack, especially when the puppies are of the same sex. One thing to watch out for is the behavior when the puppies have not been neutered or spayed. Dogs of the same sex may exhibit pack competition, where they establish pack hierarchy. The sudden onset of fighting between the dogs is actually normal pack behavior, especially when the puppies have not been adequately socialized.
How to Prevent Littermate Syndrome
Unfortunately, littermate syndrome is not a condition your puppies will simply outgrow. So what can you do about it? Either avoid it in the first place or learn what you can do to correct it.
The Case Against Adopting Littermates
The easiest way to avoid littermate syndrome is not to adopt littermates at all. In fact, many professional trainers and other dog experts advise against adopting two same-age pups simultaneously, especially if they’re from the same litter. Some breeders and shelters even have a rule against adopting siblings together.
Does Littermate Syndrome Always Happen?
Littermate syndrome may not happen 100% of the time, but it happens often enough that experts acknowledge it and do their best to contribute to it.
Separating the Puppies
Developing some independence at an early age is essential. So, we recommend doing some things separately. Take out one at a time, and let them develop confidence on their own.
Separating the dogs as much as possible and interacting with them individually helps keep that dysfunctional codependence from forming or strengthening. Have a crate for each puppy. Start by placing them near each other, then gradually increase the distance. Interact with them separately for walks, playtime, training, and socializing. This way, they cannot distract each other and can focus on you. They can learn that you are the pack leader.
Introduce each puppy to people and other dogs separately. Let them get used to the wider world during some one-on-one time. Have plenty of treats on hand to reward good social behavior. They can have time together, but it’s essential to treat them as two individual dogs and keep them separated for more extended periods until the symptoms of the syndrome are reduced.
Training the Puppies Together
Training them to act independently while in each other’s presence is also helpful. For example, have them both sit together. Call just one of the dogs to you. The other dog has to learn to stay in place until you call them, too. Having training sessions where they’re around each other teaches individual focus and attention to commands and reinforces your pack leadership.
How a K9 Certified Dog Trainer Can Help You
Dealing with littermate syndrome in sibling puppies already in your home can be difficult. You may not know how to break through well-established bad habits, especially when the dogs will not focus on you.
At K9 Basics, our team of dog trainers knows how to correct or prevent the behavioral issues associated with littermate syndrome. We can help you understand what you can do to encourage desired behaviors and establish yourself as the clear pack leader. Contact us for an appointment!
We all want to enjoy quality time with our dogs. Give us a call at (866) 592-2742, or, if you’re from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New York, give us a visit at 131 Kenilworth Road, Marlton, New Jersey 08053, to learn more about our dog training services. Also, browse our blog and follow our social media for various topics about dogs and their lives with us.
References
Lauren Krouse, Catherine Barnette. “Littermate Syndrome: Everything You Need to Know.” Great Pet Care, www.greatpetcare.com/training/littermate-syndrome-everything-you-need-to-know/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.
“Littermate Syndrome.” Canine Behavioral Services, 25 July 2022, k9behavioralservices.com/littermate-syndrome/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.
“Littermate Syndrome: Real or Myth?” PawLeaks, pawleaks.com/littermate-syndrome/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.