Same litter 2 puppies?

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BoggyGirl

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I have read a lot about this and most of it negative I just wondered what anyone here thinks?

I have a lab pup he is now 11 weeks old and he's lovely. We have had him about two weeks this weekend. We also have two older dogs. I was seriously tempted to get his sister at the time but didn't. The breeder still has the puppy and got in touch and asked if I did want her as they knew I was in two minds. The first puppy has been great so easy to toilet train and he really is a lovely dog. Am I mad to even think about it? I have read all about littermate syndrome the work of two etc doesn't bother me. Just wondered if anyone else has done it and how it worked out?
 
Ranyhyn said:
Yeah, I mean ulitmately (for me) I have a dog to have a bond. The litter bond will always be stronger IMO and I want/need that focus to be on me in order to do the training that I would like to do etc
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Thank you much appreciated. The nearest in age is the spaniel who is 14 months. They are nice playmates but he is more interested in me so I totally get that.
 
I have part time littermates BUT they were in different homes until 11 months. The breeder took a puppy back at 11 months, my daughter was looking for a dog (she no longer lives at home) so she decided to take the dog on as my boy is an absolute delight to own. Her dog frequently comes to stay. Both boys are entire and get on very well with each other and my other 3 dogs. They are very kind natured working red labs. I'm not sure if the boys do know that they're brothers. They get on very well and do seem to understand each other very well.
 
Thistle said:
I have part time littermates BUT they were in different homes until 11 months. The breeder took a puppy back at 11 months, my daughter was looking for a dog (she no longer lives at home) so she decided to take the dog on as my boy is an absolute delight to own. Her dog frequently comes to stay. Both boys are entire and get on very well with each other and my other 3 dogs. They are very kind natured working red labs. I'm not sure if the boys do know that they're brothers. They get on very well and do seem to understand each other very well.
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I had wondered as if we did take the other puppy they have been apart some weeks if they would know. Also as there are other dogs here if it would diffuse them being so close but the overwhelming feedback seems its a very bad idea! I have taken note.
 
It can be a nightmare, it's easy to slip into just letting them do so much together and they just become so bonded.
They can bind very strongly if similar ages and not related and then people are less important.
I would not do it and would be wary of a breeder who encourages it, no good breeders I know will allow to pups of similar get let alone the same litter go together to a new home.
 
We did it 2.5 years ago with Rotties (long story that I won't bore you with).

Barking mad and so time consuming!

They're walked separately and together. Penned (crates) with a barrier inbetween. Separate trips out, so doubling up so they both got to see everything. As full grown dogs now they're no longer toether when in kennels as, according to the experts, they are more likely to fight and if they get going it'll be awful.

Training is on-going and never ending. They're the only dogs I've not managed to house train overnight. They go through stages of being fine and then just not.

On the other hand, they're brilliant dogs and I'd not be without either of them.
 
Should've added: all the dogs will respond to en masse commands and individual commands. I can walk them off-lead and leave one sit-stay whilst heal with the other, send one away and keep one close, have one leave food whilst the other one gets it, etc. It's been hard work in terms of time and consistency but well worth it.
 
I have a friend with two lab litter mates. no problem with them at all. can be separated without any hassle. easy to train. and are much more interested in her than one another.
 
We have 2 littermate Lab bitches, 6 months old now, they have been the easiest to house train that we have ever had. We have an older Rottweiler bitch too. We have had pups in littermate pairs, almost all bitches, since 1966, mainly but not exclusively Labs. We have also had a few singles, mostly taken on as adults at the same time. I think you probably have the perfect set-up, so long as your older dogs are well-mannered.
I would certainly tell the breeder 'yes'.

ETA We had 2 Rotter bitches who were littermates, who were also easy to house train, they were crated together and usually slept wrapped round each other. Sadly we had to have one pts aged 6 because of cancer which is why we went back to Labs. the oly pups we ever had real trouble with was a pair of JRTs and I don't think that was because they were litter mates, I will never have JRT's again! They were terrible escapologists At one time we had 7 bitches (varied breeds) sharing an outside kennel, there was no fighting.
 
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I would never recommend it. Yes occasionally it can work out but more often that not it can be very hard work, apart from anything else if you have a male and female you will have the problem of seasons in the bitch . Even if you plan on neutering one or both you still have to cope for ideally 2 years before they are fully mature. I am quite surprised the breeder has offered you the bitch, most breeders I know would not like two litter mates to go together.
 
MurphysMinder said:
I would never recommend it. Yes occasionally it can work out but more often that not it can be very hard work, apart from anything else if you have a male and female you will have the problem of seasons in the bitch . Even if you plan on neutering one or both you still have to cope for ideally 2 years before they are fully mature. I am quite surprised the breeder has offered you the bitch, most breeders I know would not like two litter mates to go together.
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We kept entire dogs and bitches together for years with no problems, we just kept them separate if we weren't planning on having a litter.


Go, OP, you know you want to! :D
 
It seems to be quite hit or miss as to whether it will work or not. I’ve certainly known of full littermates who’ve posed no problems at all to their owners.

But, as MM has said, I too am surprised that the breeder offered you a second pup. I know when we got our dog I wanted to get two, but the breeder said no. I was offered the pick of any further litter the following year though.
 
We got two litter mates, and were quite proactive on trying to avoid the issues that come with that. Mine turned out great, the 'family' one is a bit of a head case. We always say it was a stupid idea and it was very stressful due to headcase dogs behaviour until about 18 months old. But that could just as easily be due to the breeding (complete and utter mongrels haha). Whilst everything is mostly settled now that they're 2, we certainly would never do it again.
 
It could depend on breed of dog. Personally if labs, id do it, as theyre fairly easy going in personality.
I got a husky/german shepherd bitch, there were 2 like her in the litter and i was tempted to have both.
I just took her as a teeny fat fluffy pup, already having a 7yr old neutered male parsons jack russelXstaffybull terrier.

She was easy to train, followed me everywhere, as she grew she started dominating the male....to be pack leader and to be number 2 in the entire household pack including humans...she saw me as number 1. She ignored my OH instructions to her, so i had him start to feed her, so she saw us both as number 1.

With ‘guard dog/protection dog’ breeds they prefer to be the only dog to protect humans. So she is very bonded to me, dominates the other animals to stay away from me (when she thinks im not noticing/looking) but in my presence is an angel and allows the other animals to be, but she does have jelousy and wants me to give just her my attention, thats her preference, but she knows we’re all a clan and is playful with all.

If i had got the other pup in her litter, i now know , with her breed, they would have fought for my attention and pack dominance.
To make it work would have required intensive training separately and together, but there would have always been their own private fights for dominance, yet i think thats normal behaviour in packs of dogs, to assert their position, like herd behaviour. Its just not welcome behaviour in a mixed animal home.

If youve got the time to train, with labradors id do it. With more dominant breeds, i wouldnt.

My pup is now 8, very lovely, plays with everyone, even the cats, loves all people. Shes so playful and incredibly loyal. I dont think that would be the case if i had got her sibling aswell from that litter...id probably have her muzzled 24/7!

You could try it, train them, if its not working out, rehome one of them.
 
Amyway In A Manger said:
It seems to be quite hit or miss as to whether it will work or not. I’ve certainly known of full littermates who’ve posed no problems at all to their owners.

But, as MM has said, I too am surprised that the breeder offered you a second pup. I know when we got our dog I wanted to get two, but the breeder said no. I was offered the pick of any further litter the following year though.
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This really. When we were looking for a pup I remember reading a few times that a good breeder will not sell 2 pups of the same litter to one home.

You're situation is slightly different OP as you're a few weeks down the line. Not sure I'd want to take the chance as if it didn't work out I couldn't bear the thought of rehomng pup now.
 
minesadouble said:
This really. When we were looking for a pup I remember reading a few times that a good breeder will not sell 2 pups of the same litter to one home.

You're situation is slightly different OP as you're a few weeks down the line. Not sure I'd want to take the chance as if it didn't work out I couldn't bear the thought of rehomng pup now.
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That was my worry the if it didn't work out. They are friends of friends who have had a litter rather than breeders as such. Not excusing the lack of knowledge but that may play a part. I can't believe how easy he has been compared to how the cocker was last year maybe that's why its been so tempting!
 
When I went to adopt a Doberman bitch I was told she had to go with her brother, they were 18months old so I took the pair against my better judgement. I trained them separately walked them separately and did different activities with them, they didnt mind being separated but they are so closely bonded even if they have the odd falling out. OP I wouldnt risk it, if they really bond strongly you will not have that relationship with them that you would have individually, the bond between my 2 is stronger than they have with me sadly.
 
The only person that I have ever known who has had to separate 2 dogs virtually permanently, was an experienced dog owner who lived on her own (divorced). She got a 'chocolate' Lab bitch puppy, all perfectly straightforward, got a 2nd unrelated Lab pup, when the first was fully grown. As the 2nd one became adult, the 2 just did not get on and would take any opportunity to have a fight. She did keep them both but kept them almost entirely separate.
As OP already has to adult dogs, I really can't see a problem with taking the 2nd pup, they will all be part of the pack and all will defer to the humans in the house, so long as they are brought up to do so.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
We kept entire dogs and bitches together for years with no problems, we just kept them separate if we weren't planning on having a litter.


Go, OP, you know you want to! :D
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I'm not saying it's impossible, I kept active stud dogs and several bitches for many years with no problems. However from the number of accidental matings I read/hear about it seems that this can be a issue for a lot of people, and just another thing for the OP to factor in when making her decision.
 
Certainly it is something to factor in but accidental matings seem to happen when bitch owners don't realise that their pet is attractive to the dogs that they meet out and about, or that the bitch's hormones will cause her to want to escape from their garden in search of a mate, rather than accidental matings between animals kept together.
 
If they have been apart and one already has established some training it could work. But think hard about if you want 4 dogs and two of them pups of differing sex.
 
I’m on my second set of littermates. First two were the easiest dogs ever, current two have been trickier in that they once ran off to hunt together. They have not been allowed to do that since, I’m pretty sure they do it again in a flash. Bear will leap to Zak’s defence because Zak is da (Bear is not) but they are super soppy, obedient dogs who are more bonded to us than to each other.
 
I think it depends on your expectations.
Some people like having litter mates as they entertain each other so you need to put less into it. Yes you end up with a less well trained dog but not everyone minds having to walk their dogs on leads (for instance).
Or people get litter mates and put 3 x the work into it and end up with nice well trained dogs.
So, if you want a well trained dog for not too much slog don't do it!
 
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