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Do you want to adopt two puppies? Before you make a decision, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages that come with adopting two littermates or puppies raised together. With over 40 years of experience with littermates, I’ll share how to avoid the Littermate Syndrome and what you have to expect when having two sibling dogs.

1. Reasons for Adopting Littermates – And What Comes with It
   1. Littermates Keep Each Other Company: Alone Time Becomes Easier
   2. With Two Puppies, There’s Always Something to Do
   3. Littermates Feel Safer – Always a Friend by Their Side
   4. Raising 2 Puppies at Once: Hard Work, But It’s Also Done All at Once
   5. Adopting Littermates: More Time on One Hand, Time Saved on the Other
   6. Two Puppies at Once = Double the Mischief
2. Littermate Syndrome – Prevention Is Key
   1. With Littermates, You’ll Focus on the Essentials More Quickly
   2. Problems with Littermates: Don’t Forget Puberty!
   3. Higher Costs and Risks
   4. Together Young, Together Old – When One Goes Before the Other
3. Adopting Littermates – Not for Everyone

Reasons for Adopting Littermates – And What Comes with It

There are many valid reasons to adopt two puppies from the same litter. These include:

• You and your partner or family want to have multiple dogs.
• You want the puppies to keep each other company.
• You want multiple dogs, but without repeating the puppy stage in a short amount of time.

However, adopting puppies simply because they’re cute or because you can’t choose between them is not a good reason. Additionally, you should consider a few important factors when choosing littermates and raising them.

Littermates Keep Each Other Company: Alone Time Becomes Easier

One of the most common reasons for adopting two puppies is the concern about them being left alone. Many dogs struggle with being alone, especially when they’re suddenly separated from their mother and siblings. If you adopt littermates, you might think the problem is solved. But is it?

In reality, you can’t always guarantee that littermates will handle your absence better than a single puppy would. While the chances are good, you’ll still need to provide alone-time training, monitor their progress, and possibly arrange for someone to help if necessary.

There is a risk that one or both of the dogs might experience stress and anxiety when you leave, and in your absence, they could feed off each other’s stress and anxiety. Barking duets and even destructive behavior may occur.

With Two Puppies, There’s Always Something to Do

Nothing tires a puppy out as much as another puppy. Playing, exploring, running, and wrestling together helps train muscles, endurance, and coordination. This provides your dogs with reliable, positive exercise several times a day.

If you observe puppies at a breeder, you’ll notice they often play together for hours. Sometimes it’s rough, other times they gently share toys or suddenly crash from exhaustion. This type of play is something you can’t replicate no matter how many playdates or puppy school sessions you schedule.

Littermates Feel Safer – Always a Friend by Their Side

When a single puppy arrives in a new home, it is separated from everything familiar, including its family and mother. Even if the breeder has done a lot of groundwork, this experience can be traumatic. Some dogs settle in quickly and easily form bonds, while others need time and patience.

If you adopt littermates, the dogs will have each other, which can make their adjustment easier and faster. However, you will still need to work on bonding with them, especially if you want to avoid Littermate Syndrome.

Raising 2 Puppies at Once: Hard Work, But It’s Also Done All at Once

The life of a puppy is exhausting. Learning house training, adapting to a new home, bonding with you, understanding house rules, and dealing with new stimuli can make puppies forget they need to go to the bathroom or chew on furniture, among other things.

The first period with a puppy is demanding for you as well. You need to ensure your puppy is neither over nor under-stimulated. House training, nighttime awakenings, and constant corrections are part of the deal.

Now imagine multiplying this effort by three when you adopt littermates. House training becomes more challenging, and you’ll have to focus on separate bonding, walks, and training sessions for each dog to avoid Littermate Syndrome.

However, if you want to have two dogs eventually, adopting littermates can be a significant advantage. You’ll get the puppy phase done at the same time instead of starting all over again in a few years.

Adopting Littermates: More Time on One Hand, Time Saved on the Other

As mentioned in the article „Adopting Littermates: What You Need to Know,“ there are tips for avoiding Littermate Syndrome. But even without this, having two puppies will require more time than having one dog. Some additional time commitments include:

• Individual socialization
• Separate training
• Grooming
• Separate walks
• Dental care

Of course, you don’t have to do everything separately, but certain experiences need to be individual. Some tasks will inevitably double the workload.

However, some things are easier. Many dog owners constantly seek playmates for their dog. By adopting littermates, you’ve already solved this issue. While other dog owners search for puppy classes, playdates, and dog parks – and pay for them – you don’t need to worry about your dogs becoming socially isolated, nor do you have to spend money for dog interactions.

So, you save time, money, and effort.

Two Puppies at Once = Double the Mischief

A single puppy can quickly turn a beautifully decorated room into a scene of destruction: chewed furniture, ripped-up wallpaper, dug-up plants, and shredded cushions.

When you have two puppies, expect this behavior to happen even more often. If one starts, the other will likely follow. What starts as a harmless game can turn into a contest of destruction. In your absence, it’s safer to leave your littermates in a secure room puppy-proof room.

Also, be prepared for your puppies to feed off each other’s mischievous behavior. This can be entertaining at times, but it can also be frustrating, costly, and even dangerous for your dogs.

Littermate Syndrome – Prevention Is Key

Littermate Syndrome is often portrayed as an unavoidable consequence when adopting two puppies from the same litter. However, the truth is, you can avoid it quite easily. It requires more effort at the beginning, but it pays off in the end.

What may sound like a disadvantage can actually be a hidden benefit. Having two puppies at once has made me more resilient, and I now find it easier to handle multiple puppies instead of one at the same time despite the extra time commitment.

With Littermates, You’ll Focus on the Essentials More Quickly

Especially for first-time dog owners, there’s a tendency toward perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. People want to teach everything within the first few weeks: house training, sitting, staying, leash walking, recall, and perfect table manners. They expect the puppy to be perfectly behaved at home and outside.

When you have littermates, you are forced to focus on what’s essential. This helps you set realistic goals and keeps the situation more relaxed. It also makes you achieve your goals quicker and is more logical and therefore easier for your puppies.

Problems with Littermates: Don’t Forget Puberty!

Even if you’ve avoided Littermate Syndrome and everything seems to be going well, the onset of puberty can bring new challenges. While the puppies might have been best friends up until now, their bond might not survive the hormonal changes. Expect some friction and aggression during this time. With separate time apart, and retraining the golden house rule (we do not kill each other), things should settle down again.

Some people believe that this issue is unique to littermates, but that’s not the case. Puberty can also cause behavioral changes in single puppies as they grow when living with and adult dog.

Higher Costs and Risks

As with owning multiple dogs in general, you need to be aware of the higher costs, not only for the initial purchase but also for ongoing expenses. There are also greater risks if the dogs clash with each other or cause trouble together. However, littermates are no different from dogs from different litters or varying age groups when it comes to these concerns.

Together Young, Together Old – When One Goes Before the Other

Littermates grow up together, reach their prime together, and eventually age together. This means both may require increased care, more frequent trips to the vet, and possibly face the sad loss of one dog before the other. Some dogs handle this well, while others struggle deeply with the loss.

For this reason, it’s crucial that both dogs bond well with you and aren’t just attached to each other. They also should know and interact with other dogs to not be socially isolated if one dies.

Adopting Littermates – Not for Everyone

Many people are already overwhelmed with just one puppy. Many people experience the „puppy blues.“ Before deciding on adopting littermates, you should assess your experience and be honest with yourself. Do you have enough time, finances, patience, and support to handle two puppies? Will one puppy be yours and the other belongs to a family member or your partner or do you have (more than) enough help?

Only when you can confidently answer “Yes” to these questions should you consider adopting two littermates. Raising and socializing two puppies at the same time is not for everyone.