Hi

I have somebody wanting to buy two litter brothers from our litter. I have serious reservations as I have heard much negative information on the behavour of litter sibblings living together. I am thinking of refusing, whats your thoughts??

Panic

Definitely refuse; tell them that a puppy deserves at least a few months its owner's full attention if it's to have the happiest life.

Don't do it!

From a purchasers point of view. We originally wanted two pups (breeder very happy with this, no prob being brothers and so much easier with two!), God we must have been green, stupid, gullible and just a touch of madness. Ended up with cousins 12 months apart, though the elder didn't come to us until he was 10 months. Would never have two so close again, not fair on either pup, you just don't get enough quality time with either early on IMO. Dont do it.

Please don't, it will probably save all involved heartache at a later stage. I'm sure that there are success stories but two litter mates will be a nightmare to train- they listen to each other and not the owner unless they are dealt with as totally seperate beings.
They might love each other now but what about when they mature?

What are the persons reasons for wanting two together? 

> What are the persons reasons for wanting two together? 

I have had this request so many times.  Sigh.

When I ask, they say it's to keep each other company.  Which means that I am extremely unlikely to sell them ONE pup.

It is the puppy buyer's job to keep the dog company!

I think you should thoroughly 'grill' them on their reasons why and how they will cope etc.

I have sold siblings together previously.  The first was to a friend of mine, she and her partner wanted a bitch each and they had plenty of time to devote to training the girls.  It worked really well, girls are now nearly 9 and a credit to them, well behaved/sociable etc.

Four years ago I had 2 litters close together (just because I was giving one bitch a final attempt of getting in whelp and didn't think she would - but did!!)  A family wanted a dog pup - lovely family and after coming to view litter phoned me the following day and asked for another from the other litter.  I was very reluctant and had them over regularly to assess them etc.  They were a lovely family with 2 older children who were very keen to help out, family had the time and space etc  - this has also worked out very well and boys get on so well together.

Then last year my friend with whom I co-own a bitch had a litter - we had a lady who had been waiting ages for a bitch pup.  When her partner came with her to view the litter, he fell in love with another and wanted her.  Again, we really assessed the situation, he had taken early retirement, she worked 2 days a week, experience in the breed etc and the girls are gorgeous.  They live near us and we see them reguarly and they both attend my training club.

It can work, but you have to be really sure the owners know what they're taking on.  I have an enquiry for 2 dog pups to go together again now.  They have previously had siblings as well as 2 others at the same time.  They have provided us with lots about themselves but we need to meet them in person before we will truly even consider homing 2 puppies with them.  He is adament he wants them from the same litter as the family have such fond memories from when they had 2 together previously.

If anyone ever said they wanted 2 together for companionship for each other it would be a straight 'no' - it is a huge commitment and it should be them that actually want 2 pups together.  If a pup needs companionship it would say to me that they are not at home as often as they have said, or are not prepared to devote individual time to them.

I would be interested to hear of others where the reverse has occurred.

Hi

We are probably going to refuse they will still take the one though. They like our Bitch and the stud, we are having 1 litter so we can keep a bitch. They two have semi retired and have read up. Commited to training setions seperately and to give them individual time and training to develop them.

I could assist later as well as we run a flyball team but they cant touch this until they are a year old

However I felt it may still fall down and felt if that happened I would have let them down as well as the pups they are a family member so has been harder saying no but explained they would thank us in the long run.

I advised after a year start looking for the second dog. We do Flyball and the dogs going to this home will also do flyball so the dogs are worked and this makes them very happy (Where trying some herding lessons later in the year).

I could do with knowing any responsible breeders that breed Boarder Collies or WSD's they dont have to be pedigree. Well tempered ethicaly bred pups etc for when the time comes, I could always jump on here a year later I suppose.

not all siblings living together are a nightmare and untrainable. I have 2 litter sisters and they are nearly 15 months and so far it has worked well for us. Both are shown and have been fairly successful so far so training is going well, they have separate characters and differing needs. They are not my first dogs and maybe having other dogs in the house has helped with them not just bonding to each other? Ask plenty of questions and think about it carefully.
Paula xxx  

In the norm i'd say its not a good idea.

A friend of mine has twice had siblings and its all been fine. Then again her and her hubby are around all of the time, they have other dogs and do train the pups apart and they have not had any issues. I think the breed in question is also another thought on this too. 2 males is another thought, i'd be wary very wary and its not something personally i'd ever do myself, take on 2 siblings of the same sex at the same time.

This is something that has to be fully thought about with all aspects taken into account. I wouldnt sell 2 to just anyone who asked, however i have done it twice. Once with two sisters and once with a brother and sister. These people i had total confidence in and they had PLENTY of time to devote training times individually.

I am in touch with them both and both couples are absolutely fine with no disagreements between the dogs and both dogs well mannered, well socialised and very devoted to their owners not just each other, so i would say it can work but only for the right situation.

Once with two sisters and once with a brother and sister

Hi,

With my own breed and bloodlines, l would have no worries about the above going together, BUT, l would not have even considered 2 DOGS going together. In all probability, it may very well have worked out, but what would have worried me was, what happens when they get to the "teenage boy" stage, when they may become a bit bolshie and decide that one wants to be TOP DOG? That's when it becomes a big problem, 'cos by then you love them both equally, and  may well have to decide to let one go, as they cannot be trusted together anymore.

A friend of mine had two sibling gsd together it has worked out fine for her but again both husband and wife are around most of the time and the dogs were both taken to training but separately one week each.
By contrast my sisiter and I both had a pup from the same litter. She and I dont live together but it was obvious when they pups were together that it would have been more than either of us would be able to manage had they been both owned by one of us
I think to an extent it depends on the owners.

Also rather breed dependent as in many breeds two of the same sex would not live together in harmony once past the puppy stage, and in others two of similar age would cause difficulties, even if otherwise same sex got on well.

We got two together, different but similar breeds as we couldn't agree (and yes, I thought they would be company while we were at work), 3 days apart. Had no trouble at all until they were 3 years old when I added a bitch puppy and all hell broke loose, took another 5 years and a house move before I could halfway trust them without each other, would have had to rehome if they'd been large dogs instead of small. I know it can work out, but unless these people are very experienced I would say no. If they're semi retired and committed to lots of training the single dog will be fine with them, and perhaps they can have one from another litter in 2 or 3 years time.

I wouldn't allow 2 litter sibblings to go together. I know there will be plenty of people out there who have had 2 and it's worked fine, but there are plenty more for whom it hasn't been fine.

A breeder friend refused to pups to go to one home last year, the peole said they would then be happy with one pup. She still refused them a pup believing that they would instantly get another pup elsewhere ... she did absolutely right. They ended up getting 2 litter mates ... 4 months down the line they were back on the phone to her asking her for help as they were having major problems. They ended up re-homing one of them as they were just not willing/able to put in the time and effort.

I think the people who are genuinely experienced enough to deal with 2 puppies at the same time and willing to put twice the amount of work in are very few and far between.

> With my own breed and bloodlines, l would have no worries about the above going together, BUT, l would not have even considered 2 DOGS going together.

I would much prefer to have two males together than two females.  A bitch is far more likely to fight to the death.

Hi

We refused. They are only 5 weeks so should be fine, decided against it especialy as first dog for them together. They understand and are still having the little boy they chose.

I would much prefer to have two males together than two females.  A bitch is far more likely to fight to the death

Hi Jean,

In my breed (Boxers), and my bloodlines, l sometimes found - certainly NOT always, but sometimes - when the old testosterone reared its ugly head LOL, that is when there could be a problem with the dogs, especially if both had dominant personalities. So l decided many years ago that, rather than be the cause of such a problem, l would never sell 2 dog puppies to the same family. The bitches were never a problem, but l think that different breeds, or come to that, different bloodlines can vary considerably.

> I would much prefer to have two males together than two females.  A bitch is far more likely to fight to the death.

I have two males that hate each other to the point now where they never see each other as they start the second they set eyes on each other. The two bitches on the other hand would fool an onlooker into thinking they were best buddies till they were able to sink their teeth into each other. There is no growling, grumbling, no staring, in fact they will lie by each others crate seemingly without an evil thought in their heads. Fiendishly cunning is the phrase that comes to mind lol. I know that the first time I allow them loose with each other all hell would break loose, and parting them takes two of us,they would fight to the death. The males I can part on my own with a jet of water from the hose pipe in their faces but the bitches are a whole different ball game. The two males are litter mates and they both get on with my third male with no problems,it's just each other they hate. The bitches get on with all the males.

So your two males fight with each other, and your two females fight with each other? How on earth do you cope with that? In a lifetime of living with multiple dogs I've never had any seriously fight, all my dogs live together with run of the whole house and are never caged or kennelled. I wonder if it's a breed thing or simply down to leaving adults to put a pup in it's place. I read so much about people caging pups separately, or giving dogs time out and I wonder if this leads to fights later? I recently tried to separate an older dog, give him time on his own in the kitchen, but found that it just made matters worse when the pack where together, so I've left him out with the rest and they are giving him the space he needs  :-)

I'm used to it by now as the males are 6yrs old now. I have a big enough house to keep them seperate and have the time to exercise them in pairs. The two males are very good at steering clear of each other so it's really the girls I need to stay on my toes with. Would I choose to do it again? No. I had to split the males up yrs ago as the fights started to become serious,the girls fighting was a sudden shock as they were fine with each other till last yr when they had a serious attempt at killing each other over a bubble!

I've had an enquiry for our planned litter from someone who was going to have a 12 mnth old at time of taking pup home and wanted to know if they could go on our list.  We said no way - we won't home a pup where there's another dog under 18mnths old.

Just tagging on to the end and not replying to anyone in particular.

I was at a coutry fair a few days back and a lady was there with four puppies all from the same litter.
I was asking if she was keeping them all (they were around 3-4 months old) and she said yes, i asked how she coped with training and how they interacted with her, as she was telling me they love being with her and listen to her they all dived in a mad play scrum and took her off her feet and nearly on to her face. I dint have time to ask how she'll cope when they are all sexually mature!!
Have to add these are a very very high energy breed too!!