Adopting puppies is an incredibly rewarding experience, but adopting siblings can bring some unique challenges. When considering adopting two puppies together, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of the situation. Adopting two puppies together can bring double the love, but also comes with a greater chance of behavioral issues and higher veterinary costs. In this blog post, we will explore the dynamics of adopting sibling puppies, and answer the question: is it bad to adopt sibling puppies? We will consider the potential benefits, as well as the potential drawbacks of adopting two puppies at once. Along the way, we will offer helpful tips and advice for prospective puppy parents. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that adopting a puppy is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly.
Did We Get Lucky With Our Littermate Puppies?
I don’t think so. When we adopted Rodrigo and Sydney, we heard both good and bad things about the decision from numerous people. Some of the advice was very blunt (even a little mean), but it was still sound advice that helped to shape the environment in which our dogs were raised, emphasizing the importance of dog training.
Before they turned three months old, Rodrigo and Sydney began working with a dog trainer. One of our initial tests involved seeing how they would react to being divided. Rodrigo would lose it if he was more than ten feet away from his sister; Sydney was fine. He grew out of this when they reached 5 months.
Earlier, Scout and Zoey became independent of one another; however, today, Zoey is very devoted to her entire pack and dislikes being parted from anyone.
The ASPCA’s Stance on Adopting Out Littermate Puppies
I spoke with Pamela Barlow, an ASPCA Behavior Consultant, about littermates and she shared many things that I have shared with you (but more eloquently).
Littermates can easily be adopted out to a family by the ASCPA, but they have a few requirements first:
1) How many hands are in the house? Having J as a partner makes life so much easier because J is playing with Scout and Zoey while I take Sydney and Rodrigo on a pack walk with friends. When one of us has a late work shift, the other is in charge of the dogs. Our partnership makes raising littermates effortless.
2) How often are they hands-free? We have four dogs, which can be challenging because of our full-time jobs, but our jobs give us the flexibility we need to be good dog owners. We’d struggle if one of us worked 60 hours a week or if we brought home two more dogs.
As Pamela points out, littermates aren’t identical twins; they’re two individuals with unique personalities and requirements, and we must be able to comprehend our dogs and cater to their various needs.
Four very different dogs’ personalities determine their eating habits, playtime activities, toys we bring home, and walking destinations.
Our responsibility is to raise well-behaved dogs, keep them safe, healthy, and happy, and to instill in them the confidence to function independently of one another.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Willie, Maggie and Tootsie are all sprawled out on the floor as I write this. Tootsie on a comfy rug, the BCs happy to be on the cool tile of the dining room floor. We’re all enjoying being home after spending two lovely days at the WWSDA Labor Day trial in Hudson, WI. The trial is run on a new (and much improved) course that is stunningly gorgeous (we were in Scotland?) and challenging, in the best of all possible ways. I wasn’t sure I’d run Willie after both his foreleg surgery and his coming up lame on a hind leg a few days before the trial, but he seemed sound for a few days before it so we gave it a go. We ran in the Pro-Novice class, one step down from Open, but the outrun was still very challenging. A long way away, with lots of hills and valleys where the dogs could lose sight of the sheep and get lost. How’d we do? In summary, Willie did pretty horribly his first run; he got boggled up finding the sheep and never settled (or listened) after that. It was not our finest hour. The second run was the opposite: His outrun was perfect, and the rest of the run was really good. He settled and listened and if I was a better handler would have done the fetch and drive perfectly. But the lines were good and we both had a great time. (Except for the last task, which was Maltese Cross instead of the usual pen. We’ve never even seen one before and acted like it I’m afraid.) However, overall it was a really good run. It began to pour as soon as Willie and I began our run, and everyone, even Jim, scurried away to close car windows, get dogs under cover etc. I’m calling it our phantom run, because no one but Willie and I saw it. Of course, isn’t that always the way? But I left the field very happy and proud of him.
Although the post’s title is a little strong, I do want to warn readers against adopting two dogs from the same litter because “it’s easier” to raise two at once or “we don’t want our dog to be lonely,” (ask someone who has twins if it’s easier than having one child). If the dogs are so enthralled with each other that they ignore you, then you might be.
Here are two photos of the Pro-Novice course. The first gives you a general idea of the trial’s scope. The sheep and dog are in front of the white panels in the center, having already been “lifted” by the dog and brought through the “fetch panels,” with the handler on the right (you must remain there until the final phase of the course).
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus, is an applied animal behaviorist who has spent more than 25 years working with, researching, and writing about dogs. She urges your participation, reasoning that the value of your voice will be greatly increased. When she can, she adds her own comments after reading each one.
Having said that, I should point out that there have been many instances where people have adopted their littermates without any issues at all. What transpires depends on a number of variables, such as the puppies’ temperament and early experiences, among others. etc. If you have a choice or are unable to follow the advice below, I would suggest holding off on getting two puppies from the same litter if you want all the odds on your side.
FAQ
Can sibling puppies live together?
Sibling puppies can be kept together, but it is typically not recommended. This is due to the fact that the siblings’ propensity to form a strong bond that undermines their relationship with the human members of their family.
Is it bad to get two dogs from the same litter?
Almost always, getting two puppies from the same litter is a very bad choice. Getting two dogs from the same litter can sometimes be stressful, but people with extensive prior K9 knowledge may be able to handle it. Nevertheless, it is generally not advised.
Should you adopt littermates puppies?
Adopting both of them could be detrimental to both puppies’ futures from the perspective of dog behavior. There is a real issue called “The Littermate Syndrome,” which can be mild or severe. Mild cases are barely noticeable. When one dog is separated from the other, you might notice some inconsequential fighting or slight anxiety.
Is it better to adopt 2 dogs at the same time?
If you want two puppies, consider adopting/purchasing one puppy and then waiting a year for the other one, as canine experts advise against doing so.