Tell me about littermate syndrome.

[Dontgiveamonkeys1350]

A friend of mine got to puppies from the same litter a few months ago. I have been helping her out with them ( long story )

I am not there all the time but I know this is not a good thing. They have bonded with each other and cry when the other one is not in the line of sight.

I have been walking them separately as I have been teaching them to walk on the lead nicely ( which is going well)

But the other one cries the entire time we are not there and the one I walked this morning cried all the way round the walk.

I have done some reading up on this. And know some stuff. But does anyone have ideas of what I can do to help this. I can see it ending in disaster but I’m only there for three hours a day.

Trust me when I say nothing will be done on their end to sort this. I just want any advice for what I can do when I’m there apart from walking them separately. Or this going to come crashing down in a few months.

[BiteyShark]

I'm no expert but I would be concerned about this

Trust me when I say nothing will be done on their end to sort this.

I think you might be banging your head against a brick wall if they don't try and train and walk them separately. I know when littermates have arrived at training classes I have attended they have advised that.

[Dontgiveamonkeys1350]

Yup. I thought at least If I walked them separately and train while out that maybe a tiny thing to help. But I’m beginning to think it is not going to help.

[adaline]

You can't do anything if they're not also willing to do something I'm afraid.

Bless you for trying and it's absolutely the right thing to do, but I don't think it'll work while they're not bothering. Raising littermates is really hard work and you have to be 100% dedicated for it to work.

[beachcomber70]

I knew someone who couldn't decide between 2 male pups so bought both.
No separation problems as such and all was well for a while until they got a bit older.

Previously toileting in the garden they then started to mark each others pee. One would go where the other had just been...and repeat. So they were peeing/marking about 30 times a day...then it began in the house.

Sibling rivalry at it's best. She rehomed one of them.

[MrsMozartMkII]

They need to do things at the home.

We have two year old brothers. It's been a constant balancing act of splitting them up. They're fine now, though as they're both big powerful digs we have to keep an eye on them from another irrespective. No issues to date and that's probably because we're so on the case. It can be hard work to be ever vigilant and mindful.

[beachcomber70]

Oh, and they started squabbling.

I think it's natural to separate littermates not keep them together as they mature.

We wouldn't really like to live with a brother or sister when starting out in life. Not conducive to personal development nor mentally very healthy.

[LochJessMonster]

Males or females?

Honestly, females- they will fight until serious injury/death. I've seen it happen again and again. One will have to be rehomed.

By walking and training them separately you are giving them a much better chance. They need to grow independently from each other. It might be enough.