Raising littermate puppies can be very challenging. I’m not sure I would have raised littermates had I known in advance how difficult it would be. As a single owner, I discovered that you should never be outnumbered by your dogs!
I think it helped that Labrador Retrievers have a friendly nature so I never experienced some of the more serious consequences of raising littermates. It was only after I had committed to the two puppies that I read some of the horror stories associated with littermate syndrome.
Something Called “Littermate Syndrome”
Littermate syndrome refers to behavioral issues that may arise when raising two puppies from the same litter in the same household. It can result in problems such as over-dependency on each other, difficulty bonding with human owners, and rivalry between the puppies. Littermate syndrome often stems from a lack of individual attention, training, and socialization. To prevent or address this syndrome, it’s crucial to provide separate training sessions, individual attention, and encourage a strong bond between each puppy and their human owners. Additionally, maintaining consistent rules and addressing potential conflicts early on can help in raising well-adjusted and independent dogs.
Top 5 Tips for Raising Littermates
I can’t say I successfully followed these tips for raising littermates all the time but if I had it to do over I certainly would!
1. Individual Attention: Spending quality time with each puppy individually is very important in fostering a healthy relationship with each. In my case, I had been with Buster and Lily since birth. They bonded with me easily but they also have a strong dependency on each other. Now that they are older, we’ve worked out a schedule where Lily gets cuddle time in the morning and Buster gets one-on-one time in the evening. They seem to know and respect when it is their turn.
2. Socialization: While Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly nature, socialization is still crucial. I worked hard to introduce them to various people, environments, and other animals to ensure they grew up to be well-adjusted and confident. We went to the dog park twice a day and when they were about 6 months old, I sent them individually to daycare. This allowed them to socialize with other dogs on their own in a supervised environment. And it gave me time to spend time one-on-one with the other pup.
3. Separate Crates and Feeding: While it might be tempting to let them kennel up together, I set up separate crates for each puppy. When I left the house, they would go into their separate crates. They also slept in their separate crates at night. We started out with the crates in the same room but moved them to different rooms. I fed them in separate bowls — at first in their crates. However, they aren’t food aggressive so now they are fed outside the crate, still in separate dishes which they seem to respect.
4. Consistent and Separate Training: I tried. It was near impossible and took a lot longer to train Buster and Lily. I found trying to do separate sessions was very difficult. With just one person and two puppies, even if I separated them, the one not being trained was a distraction. In the end, I think that I trained Lily and then Lily trained Buster. I opted for one training subject a day and we drove that lesson home with multiple sessions. But in the end, I trained them together.
5. Recognize their Individuality: Buster and Lily are very different dogs. Lily enjoys the Labrador Retriever traits of sniffing and if there is a puddle, she’s in it. She is also very food motivated. Buster on the other hand, loves to play ball and is toy motivated. Buster has much more anxiety than Lily. He sticks with me while Lily is my wanderer. I recognize these differences and treat them accordingly.
Raising littermate puppies requires a great deal of patience and time. It’s normal for them to have occasional conflicts. But with consistent training and guidance, they can grow up to be well-behaved and happy dogs.
