Can adopting littermate puppies ever work out well? It’s clearly not for the novice dog owner, but what about for folks who are more experienced with dogs? I asked dog professionals about their experiences—how did they end up with littermate puppies, how did they raise two puppies of the same age right, how are those puppies doing now? It was a lot of work, they say, but worth it!
Carol McPherson, Hoolaka Canine Specialists (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
My husband and I bought a lovely little beagle puppy from a wonderful breeder. Each time we visited, the one tiny puppy kept gravitating to my husband and they formed a pretty strong bond. My heart was set on the original puppy that we had purchased. We agonized over the decision to take both. I explained to my husband the amount of work it would take and how badly it could turn out, but he was convinced we could do it. It didn’t help my cause that no one else had shown any interest in the little puppy he wanted.
From day one we worked on having them breathe with “separate lungs,” bond with us, and to foster a loving relationship between the two. They attended different puppy classes, had their own veterinary visits, etc. It has been very successful for us. They are completely devoted to my husband and myself, love each other to bits, but can be separated without undue stress. They are nine years old now.
Gloria Jackson O’Connell, groomer and breeder of Afghan hounds (Spokane, Washington)
I have had littermates from five different litters over many years—two from litters I bred, and twice from my girlfriend’s litters. The two I have now, I got at two years of age. They had been together off and on during the two years. I also have had many dogs that I got as single puppies. The only bad thing I find about littermates is that since they are the same age, I seem to lose them within months of each other. I have had no problem with training.
Having had many littermates, I think it is good if they are separated periodically. For example, Abby goes for a walk with dad and Steppers stays home with mom. And also I feel that Abby and Steppers should not always go with the same person so they will not rely on only that person. From my [conformation] showing standpoint, I have generally had, as I lovingly say, “a handover dog”—meaning if I had to, I can hand that dog over to another capable person at the show ring and the dog will try to do his best in the ring for that person. It doesn’t always work that way, but that’s what I try for. Mostly my dogs have been shown by lots of other people because usually I have to stay home and work to afford to send them. My dogs have been to all of the States and Canada. I haven’t. What’s wrong with this picture?
Photo by Christine Hale Vertucci
Marcy Rauch, breeder of Australian shepherds (White Plains, New York)
I have two male Australian shepherd littermates that I bred. Keeping two was never the plan. Rocky was mine before he was out of the sack . . . I just knew it. Then, slowly, [I realized] BB could only go to someone special, then only to someone I really knew well —until I admitted to myself he wasn’t leaving.
Overall it worked out very well. They were super socialized, bonded to each other, but not overly so (no more so than any others in my home), as I did work with them separately.
My only regret was that I didn’t have enough time to train them to the level I would’ve liked. In hindsight, I would’ve trained differently/trialed differently with them. But in the scheme of things, it was just a minor [regret]. [I] lost BB to cancer unexpectedly a year and a half ago. Rocky missed him, but not more than another housemate.
[I was] definitely not a novice owner—started with a deaf double merle high-drive Aussie, a rescue Samoyed, a rescue Aussie that had major issues—[those were] my adult dogs, not counting my terrier from childhood. Plus, I fostered a number of other dogs . . . sane ones, behaviorally challenged ones, deaf ones, etc.
Adrienne Critchlow, DOGability (Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England)
[I] discourage [the adoption of puppy littermates] if asked in advance. However, for clients who have already got littermates when they contact me, I am as supportive as I can be. I explain everything they need to do to raise two well-adjusted dogs, help them through the process, and, where the owners are compliant, we do it very successfully. Most are surprised (shocked is probably a better word) at the work involved in doing it properly. Before I became a trainer, I raised two littermates who were both the most wonderful dogs, without any issues at all—but I was lucky enough to be able to take six months off work to do it!
Don Hanson, Green Acres Kennel Shop (Bangor, Maine)
[I] strongly discourage [littermate adoption] with puppies, encourage with kittens. Unfortunately, I am usually not asked until it has become a problem. I have had one success story—a retired couple who asked ahead of time. They adopted two pups from the same litter, a male and female. They were retired and so had the time to properly socialize and habituate both pups, together and separately. They also did a Puppy Headstart class followed by our Basic Manners class and, I believe, also a level 2 class. They drove 90 minutes each way to class, so you know they were committed. They also each spent time working with each pup and made sure both pups spent time alone, away from each other.
Laurie Schlossnagle, KPA CTP, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA (Layton, Utah)—Side By Side Dog Training
[I] have seven-year-old littermates. Once we realized the two of them belonged with us, the plan became for them to eventually be separated, but to be able to come back together when necessary. One is my dog and one is my daughter’s—she is now 24. When my daughter ended up living back at home for a year or so, we were very glad we had planned ahead for the possibility.
When they were puppies, we worked very diligently to help them develop their individual personalities, likes, and dislikes. While we sometimes fell into the, “let the puppies entertain each other,” we prioritized human/dog interaction (both singly and together). We took classes with each of them separately and took classes with them together. We crated them in separate rooms for a number of years (although now when they are in the same house, their crates are next to each other).
We are students of them and work to figure out what they like to do. We have always made sure they each get one-on-one time both at home (daily) and going out and about (when possible). They look very much alike, but have very distinct personalities! It was worth every second/ounce of extra work to see them as happy, well-adjusted adults. But it was a lot of planning and work for several years and we still work hard to maintain the foundation we laid.
They currently do not live together full time, but spend a day/weekend together on a regular basis. Dolly is my dog and she loves to visit hospice patients, listen to children read, and do scent work. Elphie is my daughter’s dog and she loves to go to work at the women’s shelter with her mom, do tricks for the assisted living residents, and play on Rally courses.
Danielle Davis, breeder of border collies (Romeoville, Illinois)
[I] discourage littermate adoption, though I myself keep littermates. And I did sell littermates to a couple in my last litter—special circumstances. It’s a ton of work. The couple I sold littermates to out of my last litter both run dogs in agility. They both actively train and trial their own dogs. That, and the fact that I’ve personally known them for years, gave me confidence that they would do okay with two.
I actually ended up with three from my second litter; they are five now. And have two nine-month-olds. I spend a ton of time training them separately, walking them separately, socializing them separately. It has to be to the point that if they are playing in the yard together, and I step into the yard, they drop everything and come to me. I am the highest-value reward to them all.
Here’s a link to more information on adopting littermate puppies:
http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/livingwlittermates
