{"id":6303,"date":"2021-10-26T08:49:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T16:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/south-orange-county\/?p=6303"},"modified":"2025-02-26T20:58:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T04:58:07","slug":"what-is-littermate-syndrome-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sitmeanssit.com\/dog-training-mu\/south-orange-county\/what-is-littermate-syndrome-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Littermate Syndrome in Dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019ve ever seen a litter of puppies, you\u2019ve probably had the urge to adopt all of them at once. Or at least 2 or three. It\u2019d probably be easier to raise them that way anyway, right? That might not actually be the case. When you take two puppies home at once, you run the risk of them developing a list of behavioral issues known as <\/span>Littermate Syndrome<\/span><\/i>. Read on for our teams<\/a> take on this topic:<\/span><\/p>\n Littermate Syndrome is an observed behavioral issue that usually develops in puppies over eight weeks old. It’s caused when puppies that are raised together develop such a strong bond that it keeps them from effectively interacting with anything else. Now, not every pair of puppies will experience Littermate Syndrome, but it’s important to be able to identify it so that you can take immediate action to prevent it. <\/span><\/p>\n As puppies develop Littermate Syndrome, you\u2019ll notice a change in how they interact with others. You might also notice a display of separation anxiety from the other puppy, which can be stressful as you try to train them. This dependence on each other will make it harder to bond with other members of the family, like you or your kids. These two are some of the bigger indications of Littermate Syndrome, but are definitely not the only ones. Some other symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n The best and <\/span>only <\/span><\/i>real <\/span>way to avoid Littermate Syndrome is to just <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> adopt two puppies at once. Even if you think it will be easier to train them at the same time, you do run the risk of them developing a syndrome that could force you to rehome them. Adopting them months – or even years – apart will be your best move.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you decide you\u2019d like to adopt puppies together, then treating and training them as individuals will go a long way. This means that they each have their own crates, their own bowls, their own beds, and even their own rooms. Creating this sense of self will force them away from this toxic codependence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure to socialize them with other dogs, too. Let them know that other dogs exist and that the world is much bigger than their litter. Even having separate play sessions for each puppy can teach them how to be independent in their relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you need some extra help, you can always reach out to dog training programs. Here at <\/span>Sit Means Sit<\/span><\/a>, we offer a free training consultation so that you know which direction you need to go to improve your puppies\u2019 life. Just make sure to train them separately to solidify the idea of individuality.<\/span><\/p>\n You can\u2019t always anticipate things like this happening. Sometimes the best you can do is your research. Pay attention to your puppy\u2019s behavior, and make sure that you take action to prevent this syndrome from developing.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve ever seen a litter of puppies, you\u2019ve probably had the urge to adopt all of them at once. Or at least 2 or three. It\u2019d probably be easier to raise them that way anyway, right? That might not actually be the case. When you take two puppies home at once, you run the…<\/p>\nWhat is Littermate Syndrome?<\/h2>\n
What are Some of the Symptoms?<\/h2>\n
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Is it Avoidable?<\/h2>\n