15/04/2025
Training Siblings Blues
Lucky enough to spend an hour recently with these Nine Week Old Brothers.
During our session we covered all things relating to the early weeks of puppy development & started them both with some early training exercises.
We also discussed the management of siblings which the owners are following brilliantly. Below is an explanation of what is known as Littermate Syndrome.
What is Littermate Syndrome?
Littermate Syndrome is a set of behavioral issues that arise when two puppies from the same litter (or even unrelated puppies of the same age) are raised together. These issues often stem from excessive bonding between the puppies, making it difficult for them to develop independence and proper social skills.
Signs of Littermate Syndrome:
Severe Separation Anxiety: Puppies become highly distressed when separated, making training and socialization more difficult.
Fearfulness: They may become overly reliant on each other, leading to increased anxiety in new situations or around unfamiliar dogs and people.
Difficulty in Training: Since they focus more on each other than their human, training sessions can become ineffective.
Inter-Puppy Aggression: As they grow, fights between littermates can become more intense, sometimes escalating into serious conflicts.
How to Prevent Littermate Syndrome
If you’re raising two puppies together, consider these steps to ensure they grow into well-adjusted, independent dogs:
Separate Training Sessions: Train each puppy individually to ensure they learn to focus on you rather than each other.
Encourage Independence: Allow them to spend time apart daily so they learn to be comfortable alone.
Socialization: Expose each puppy to different people, dogs, and environments separately.
Individual Bonding: Spend one-on-one time with each puppy to strengthen your personal relationship with them.
