Advice needed on littermates

[DelphiniumHolly]

Hi everyone,

We brought our puppy home 4 weeks ago, and she’s doing brilliantly in all ways (training, sleeping, house training etc.) She’s really settled.

A family member also got a puppy from the same litter as us. Their puppy and ours are sisters. We meet up with them maybe one Saturday a month so we decided that it wouldn’t be a problem.

However disaster has now struck and the family member has had an emergency and had to go away for a while. We offered to look after their puppy until they’re back and things have settled down.

I’m just curious about how much I should be worrying about littermates syndrome? How long is it sensible for the other puppy to stay with us for before we encounter any problems? I’m so worried all my hard work with training so far is going to go out of the window. Would a week be okay do you think?

Thank you!

Presuming pups are 12 weeks, a week at this age is very unlikely to cause any issues.

I dog sit my dogs sibling they are 3 now and it's fine, puppies will rough house though so be prepared for that when you puppy sit but I don't think having her for a week will be a huge issue although you will be knackered 😀

A week should be okay, but I’d be overly cautious as it might not ‘just be a week’ depending on the emergency and the pups are still so little. Training can be hard enough at that age! Make time for each pup as if they were the only one.

• Feed separately always
• Walk separately sometimes
• Play separately sometimes

Try not to give your dog’s stuff to the other pup as this is the age that resource guarding can really kick in (it’s bloody awful, I’m 6 years in with a resource guarder!)

Yes this, I don't have toys out when I look after the other dog I play with them but they don't have shared toys.

I wouldn't worry about littermate syndrome for such a short period of time but you're going to need eyes in the back of your head looking after two 12 week old puppies 🫣

That’s brilliant, thank you for the useful info everyone.

I’ve been feeding them separately already anyway, but I’ll pick up the toys now (not that they’re interested in them, they’re just wrestling each other for 45 mins and then sleeping on a cycle 🤣). Well also try and walk them separately - shouldn’t be too difficult as they’re only having very short walks at the moment.

Are they okay to roughhouse as much as they like? I worry they’re taking it too far sometimes but neither one of them yelps.

Indeed, it’s been an interesting 24 hours so far 🤣 I just couldn’t stand the thought of her going to a stranger and being distressed!

Good luck @DelphiniumHolly - one puppy was hard enough 🤣

I had to.seperate them it was like WWE some days 😂 are they crated I'd crate them sleep is really important so they recharge and rest for the next round

They are crate trained thank god 🤣 I work from home but seriously considering taking some last minute AL to be the referee.

Just managing my first proper coffee of the day whilst they’re snoozing

Enjoy it while it lasts definitely crate them it gives their bodies a rest.

you know we have to see at least 1 pup for this invaluable advice 😀

This is true! Need to pay the puppy tax.

This is our gorgeous girl. I haven’t managed to capture her sister yet and don’t dare go near them whilst they sleep 🤣 but she is chocolate and white, equally as cute.

Oh lord, not just two puppies but two SPANIEL puppies!

take all of these, you’ll need them

Two puppies will DEFINITELY rampage.

Pic of my pup and friend's pup at ten weeks old meeting up in my garden.

Thank you 🤣 DH is under strict instructions to bring me some nice wine home tonight after he finishes work.

Luckily we’re both experienced dog owners. I feel this would break someone fresh to the puppy game. They’re also very good girls, picking up their training super quickly 🙌🏻

Oh stopit 😍

I mean😂

Its spaniels we have and they are A LOT .

With my friend's dog as pups {litter sibling} I had to ''pull rank'' and literally sit between them as like little children, they had got so over-excited with mouth sparring {A thing that their breed {Sighthound} likes to do as pups}

AKA ''Bitey face'', the clacking of their baby teeth was like being with a granny doing her knitting.

One on one side of the sofa, the other on the other side, so they could get some sleep.

Absolutely fine.

I’ve often thought ‘littermate syndrome’ to be a catch-all excuse for people who bit off more than they can chew and failed to adequately train the puppies - far easier to blame a mythical ‘syndrome’ than admit to your own failings as an owner.

A week or so is fine. Anymore and you’d want to look at separate training, sleeping arrangements etc

I took two puppies from the same litter and had no problems with either at all. I trained one dog and DH trained the other one. They went on separate walks most days and I sometimes took one dog out with me for an hour while the other stayed home. They are bonded to each other but also bonded to us too. If we both have to go out for a couple of hours they are good company for each other. They are both female dogs. They are almost 6 years old and no problem at all.