My friend has a saluki lurcher pup who is a few months old. She has just heard that the breeder is wanting to sell the pup that he was going to keep (her pups litter sister). My friend is wanting this other pup. She is wanting to know if this is a bad idea. She has a lot of experience of dogs and has always had more than one but has always waited until the pup was a little older. She basically wants to know the pros and cons of taking on this pup. She isn't working so is at home al day.

Thanks for any help
Helen

Hi Helen, with deerhounds having littermates or two of the same age usually works out very well, but it can rarely go wrong if the two are bitches and they take a serious dislike to each other as adults. If that happens you probably have no choice but to re-home one. It happened to me with two sisters, but I find the advantages enough that I still prefer not to have a single deerhound pup.

The disadvantages/problems seem to be far more common and the advantages far less in most other breeds. As far as I know salukis are much the same as deerhounds in this respect but I'm not certain so it would be good if you took advice from a saluki person. It may also depend on which breeds are behind the lurcher half of the pups. Does your friend know?

Thanks Sharon. I will pass that on. My friend does know the breeding behind Molly and she did tell me but I've forgotten!

I've asked a friend in saluki's as well.

Thanks for the advice.

Helen

Hi,
I've just done this with two Labrador pups although the are brother & sister, not sisters and so far so good !
I am at home most of the day and so can keep an eye on them. Obviously with two pups they take a lot more watching to make sure that they are not up to something they shouldn't be but so far I've left their cages open all day and they are in and out alternating sleep and play, ripping up newspapers, running about the place etc [$ they seem to be getting on just fine ! They are still only 9wks old but already they go to the back door when they want the toilet, most of the time, we're still having the odd accident ]) they seem to learn from each other though! They cuddle up together to sleep ( as they are right now) and seem to enjoy each others company.
Early days yet for us though but so far things look quite promising :) I don't know if I would risk same sex sibblings though but having said that I do know of someone with two Lab brothers who live together with no problems.
I think the crucial point here is that you really need to consider very carefully what you would do in the worst case scenario where they took a complete & utter dislike to each other such that they could not live together. :( You need to have a contingency plan set up in advance. We have very good friends who are Labrador owners who have said that they would help us if this occured, but hopefully we won't need to call on them :)
Hope this is of some help.

Thanks - it is a a lot of help.

Are they more likely to dislike each other as they are litter sisters?

Helen

Helen, yes. A male and female usually get on and while two dogs may fall out they don't usually bear long term grudges. But when two bitches take a real spite they often continue it forever and may fight to the point of serious damage or even death.

I didn't word that very well. Is there a chance of them disliking each other because they are related? Is that too many things stacked against them. Would it be better if they weren't related or does that not come into it? Hope I've explained that - I know what I am trying to say!

Helen

No, being littermates rather than just two of the same age won't make any difference, especially as thay have been parted for a while.

BTW Helen, have you heard back from your saluki friend? Be interested in what (s)he thinks.

Thanks Sharon! You are being a fantastic help!

Haven't heard from her but I will let you know when I do.

Helen