Littermate syndrome is a very serious problem that can arise when you raise two puppies together, whether they are from the same or different litters. Most of the time, it is strongly recommended that families refrain from bringing two puppies at the same time, because littermate syndrome is very serious. But if you are determined to bring Whitney and Kristi home at the same time, there is a way to prevent it from developing. It will only take (literally) twice the work, time, and effort, and it’s not something most people are willing or able to do.
Littermate syndrome 101
First of all, it is important to understand exactly what littermate syndrome is and what it entails. What happens when you bring two puppies and the pups together is that they learn to be too dependent on each other. While this may seem like something that’s not all that serious (you want them to bond as siblings after all, right?), It can create big problems for both Whitney and Kristi when they don’t know how to function apart from each other. What usually happens is that one dog will assume the dominant role while the other will become much more shy. If Whitney is in charge, it doesn’t allow Kristi to reach her true potential, because she will always be shy and will look to Whitney for guidance. For her part, Whitney’s dominance relies heavily on Kristi’s obedience. A bully is nothing without his backing, and Whitney will weaken without Kristi. Neither dog will develop its own independence.
Also, they will be so dependent on each other that they won’t bond as well with you or other members of your family. They will always be against you, because they will become a unit that cannot be separated. If you physically separate them for any reason, even for short periods of time, they will become irritated, angry, or even aggressive. Their overdependence on each other can even result in them fighting each other.
It becomes a confusing world when you don’t know who you are, regardless of another person, and just like with humans, it will wreak havoc on Whitney and Kristi’s personalities and prevent them from reaching full maturity. In some cases, physical growth has also been stunted by litter syndrome. Littermate syndrome was noted to be so severe in service dog training that organizations will no longer allow volunteers to breed two at a time – it turns out that neither dog is mentally fit for the job.
If you have two puppies from the same litter or the same age, most dog experts and veterinarians will advise you to go home with one of the dogs. But is there any other option? There must be something you can do to prevent relocation, right?
In fact, there is a way to stop littermate syndrome, and it is this: you will need to feed, bathe, walk, play, train, and confine each puppy separately for the first full year. This is a great effort, but it is the only way to prevent problems that would otherwise occur. Whitney will need her own separate feeding, walking, and playing time, and Kristi’s should be completely separate from hers. They should only be allowed to interact for very short periods with supervision. Raising a puppy is a huge responsibility, and this is duplicating the work you will need to do, but if you don’t want to go home to either Whitney or Kristi, it’s your only option.
Once Whitney and Kristi are over a year old, well adjusted to the family, and well trained, they can be allowed to freely interact with each other and become friends. At this point, they will have reached maturity and developed the independence to exist as their own dog and not as part of a totally codependent duo.