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. Dealing with littermate syndrome is very difficult, but it can be done. At that time we had not heard of littermate syndrome. 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. Puppies with littermate syndrome often suffer from intense separation anxiety when apart; conversely, one of the two may be dangerously aggressive toward the other. Raising Two Puppies - Q & A's with Dr Katrina - Duration: 1:45. It is also important to note that not every pair of siblings will develop this problem. I also have OFA hips/elbows/patellas done and eyes were done 2019. Other issues cited are escalating aggression between the puppies or panic when they are separated. I want to run what we have done by you and solicit your feedback and wisdom. If you do adopt two dogs from the same litter, there are some things you can do to ward off littermate syndrome: Schedule separate outings: To ensure that pups are looking to you for guidance instead of each other, take them to separate puppy classes, on separate car rides and on separate walks. You You 1,532 views. Is Littermate Syndrome real? It might seem cute at first but it can have serious psychosocial implications down the road. But not because of any syndrome (which sort of places the responsibility of the problems on the dogs) but because of my own limitations. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. I thought it was great, so I'm sharing it. Remember that littermate syndrome is not a dog simply acting out. Below is an article written by my trainer on littermate syndrome. Littermate Syndrome is the name given to the common behavioral problems that arise when two puppies are raised together beyond the typical 10-12 weeks (about 3 months of age) that professional breeders recommend.. Littermate syndrome can be serious if you’re not experienced with raising dogs and don’t work with a dog trainer. I will say I have had dog trainer friends raise littermates together without an issue on multiple occasions, so it can be done. My adults are fully health tested. Dachshunds, Terriers, Border Collies, and Shepherds are often cited as having a high propensity for littermate syndrome, but there is no clear scientific evidence that certain breeds experience littermate syndrome more or less than other breeds. You can find the original here: Littermate Syndrome | Paws Abilities _________________ Getting two dogs at the same time seems like a great idea. You’re confused about what sibling syndrome is. They’ll have to train with each dog individually, and then together. The hallmark behavioral problem of littermate syndrome is fearfulness of people and often other dogs, which leads to training hurdles. ,What happens when you get more than one puppy at the same time? Littermate syndrome affects dogs over 8-10 weeks of age, which is typically when young puppies join their forever homes. What Is Littermate Syndrome? We give away dog toys, gear, gift cards & more every month! These puppies seek comfort from each other, not you. First, what is littermate syndrome? Problems such as their individuality would be lost, and there would not be a bond between dog and owner but a bond between dog and dog. Signs of Littermate Syndrome Many experts and organizations in a position to know (for example, animal behaviorists, dog trainers, and rescue professionals), discourage dog guardians from acquiring puppy littermates. Littermate Syndrome is more than just double the puppy trouble when it comes to raising sibling puppies. An owner should know that preventing littermate syndrome doesn’t just double their workload, but rather triples it. 12:00. They’ll have to train with each dog individually, and then together. This means that I use Embark DNA to test against 180+ genetic diseases to ensure that I am not breeding two recessive carriers together to prevent any possible diseases in my puppies. I know lots of people who could raise two puppies at once (and some have). Last week we decided to try to sell one of them but we could not bring ourselves to part with her. Littermate Syndrome: 2 Small Pups, 1 BIG Problem (What Is It & How To Fix It) 27 Things To Consider Before Adopting A Dog (The ULTIMATE Guide) Want FREE Stuff? How to deal with littermate syndrome. Littermate Syndrome is a real thing and it can cause major issues for both the pups and for you. Dealing with Behavioral Problems Like most behavioral problems in dogs, there are many tactics you can use to prevent and lessen the effects of littermate syndrome. Littermate syndrome is a social 'disorder' characterized by intensive bonding of two littermates to the extent of excluding most animals and people out of their own social circle. Littermate syndrome: The pups are fighting . Of course not every pair of litter mates falls victim to Littermate Syndrome but it is a risk. Littermate syndrome. Bringing a new puppy home is an amazing experience that will change your life, but some breeders may try and encourage you to take a littermate also. According to Dr. Karen Becker “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.” Because aggression is so often fear-based, these pups may become aggressive or “spooky.” Or they may simply seem to remain distant, detached. “Littermate syndrome” is based on anecdotal evidence that often two siblings adopted together bond intensely with each other, to the exclusion of their human family. These littermates are dependent on each other and suffer severe separation anxiety. Now facing the wake up call of littermate syndrome, we have read posts here and articles online on how to tackle it. Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog the photos and videos you take with a cameraphone. Are you thinking about getting two puppies at the same time? I have recently been alerted to the term “Littermate Syndrome” which seems to have become common parlance and a kind of pseudo-diagnosis in some dog behaviour circles. YES! Raising two puppies at once takes much, much more work. It impacts puppies of roughly the same age, the puppies don’ have to be siblings, despite the name. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. But I'd say more often than not it doesn't go well, especially with pet owners. Most experts strongly advise against raising sibling puppies -- because they may become difficult to handle as they mature due to Littermate Syndrome. Some people would be able to handle such a commitment of two puppies, but littermates can come with a whole set of challenges you may not be expecting. Littermate syndrome can take toll on a family, especially with kids. One thing that we should note is that you will want to be careful when your pups start fighting. Littermate syndrome can be managed, but it is a lot of work. Most professionals recommend getting just one puppy at once. Littermate Syndrome isn’t a 50/50 proposition if you’re ready. Sadly, the AKC is just an organization that breeders (including puppy mills) purchase pieces of paper from that says they’ve registered their puppies as “AKC registered”. Remember that littermate syndrome is not a dog simply acting out. Raising a puppy takes a lot of time and energy, regardless of how you go about it. 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. What Is Littermate Syndrome? Littermate Syndrome: A Tater Tot Case Study - Duration: 12:00. Dr Katrina Warren 18,942 views. Littermate syndrome is when two puppies adopted from the same litter give more attention to each other than their adopted family. (And Exclusive Tips We ONLY Share With Subscribers) Thank you! The most common definition is that it is when two puppies from the same litter are raised together and develop a bond with each other that prevents the puppies from bonding with the owner. Littermate syndrome often … Littermate Syndrome is something I have reserached a lot, as it is something I have come across multiple times. I also know many people have and are raising littermates that are happy, healthy, well-socialized dogs. In some cases, littermate syndrome makes it incredibly difficult to train the puppies because they don’t respond positively to anyone other than their sibling. Littermate syndrome is behavioral change in puppies that occurs when pups bond more tightly with each other than with their owners. The Dunbars explain what you should expect when you get more than one puppy at once. Responsible breeders rarely allow litter mates to go to the same home. These common problems, which I'll describe below, stem from improper socialization during a puppy's crucial first 6 months. It's more difficult than it seems. As we mentioned previously, related pups tend to fight MORE than unrelated ones and these little tussles can get quite heated. The premise of littermate syndrome is that it is harder to train and socialize two pups at one time and that they should be made independent of each other or there will be problems when they are separated. 1. I have successfully raised two sets of littermates and have not witnessed or experienced littermate syndrome. Littermate syndrome can be managed, but it is a lot of work. 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