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Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / littermates
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:06 UTC
i have already asked for advice reguarding littermates, i would like to know if any1 on here has kept 2 littermates, and how was it?
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:11 UTC
I wouldn't ever do it again through choice; it's much, much, much more work than one puppy at a time.
- By PennyGC [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:15 UTC
I was planning on keeping one from a litter of smallish dogs - bitch had 6 gorgeous pups and I fell in love with one of the boys, then a buyer pulled out from one of the bitches so I kept that one and the one I liked... so kept 3.  Total disaster... but the dog and the bitch who'd been sold both grew into giants (for the breed) so ended up in pet homes (would have been large agility dogs) and I kept the original bitch I wanted (a small agility dog!).  They were so much work I'd not advise it!
- By Lexy [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:25 UTC
We have done it 3 times. It is hard work but at the time we(mother & I) both showed. I wouldnt do it now unless ther was 2 cracking pups in the litter. It is perhaps easier maybe if its dog & bitch as ther can be split classes but if same sex unless ther is 2 of you one has to go in a higher class.
I have only touched on the very basic of showing & not mentioned the day to day training needed!!
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:25 UTC
my OH decided to keep a male, which is fine, but a female stole ma heart lol, all the rest of the litter went to their new homes on sunday, i know i could get her a new owner, just would really like to keep her
- By Lexy [gb] Date 01.11.12 20:55 UTC
I do know how to spell there honestly...lol
- By rabid [gb] Date 01.11.12 21:02 UTC
tommy, I thought you already asked this question and everyone said not to keep littermates (pretty much everyone), but you've done it anyway and now want to know what we think about it?  (confused)
- By agilabs Date 01.11.12 21:10 UTC
I would say a rough rule is that it is 3 x as hard as 1 puppy, they will need individual handling, training etc plus time together. If you and your OH would effectively be taking responsibility for a pup each (his'n'hers) it would be easier than constantly struggling to to do each pup justice. What breed/type are they? Some breeds would be easier than others. I ended up keeping 3 labs for 8 months then 2 from then on, I kept then separately (they were kennelled when not with me) and they spent more time with me than each other so grew up more interested and bonded with me than their siblings. If on the other hand you've got a couple of terrier types and leave them together 100% of the time without a lot of time training them separately I suspect you'd end up with a couple of disinterested, independent thugs who prefer rough and tumble fighting to working for you! :)

Good luck whatever you decide.
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 01.11.12 21:34 UTC
yeah rabid, i did, i asked about keeping littermates, and im now asking who had or has littermates, its still not a defo, but yes i would like to keep her, my OH is against it, and has said bout the hard work, the seperate trainning, and walking and all the rest of hard work, and i know i shouldnt let my heart rule my head, just maybe thought some1 has or did keep littermates and the outcome may have gd, and like i said i have ppl interested in her..the breed is cs
- By Stooge Date 01.11.12 21:38 UTC
Not sure what breed those initials indicate but as you have probably still got one available I am sure you are not permitted to say.
I can't see the point of hunting around for that one poster who has managed two siblings successfully when the vast majority has told you that it is fraught with difficulty and is therefore the most likely outcome for you and would not be good for either you or the dogs.
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 01.11.12 21:43 UTC
yeah i know every1 is ryt, just hard to let her go, lol i know im big softie
- By Goldmali Date 01.11.12 21:50 UTC
I have the following littermates:
1. Brother and sister now aged 10, crossbreeds.
2. Brother and sister aged 6, Malinois.
3. Brother and sister now aged 4, Malinois.
4. Sister and sister and sister now aged 2, Malinois.
5. Brother and sister now aged 18 months, Papillons.

So possibly better experience than most here due to the above.

1. Cannot be walked together as they still compete so much with each other, and absolutely above all can never be let off the lead together. (Each on their own is fine.) Far, far more reliant on each other than on any human, very little bond to humans at all. This is despite them being fairly well trained  (SEPARATELY) -bitch has her Silver Good Citizen and dog has his Gold plus has competed in obedience. I hate to think what will happen if one dies before the other.

2. This pair is fine, because the dog was sold as a pup and did not come back until 20 months of age, so the close bond was never established.

3. Almost identical to number 1 except both have behavioural problems on top.

4. Two of them get on okay, fingers crossed so far anyway. The third cannot be allowed anywhere near one of the other two as one of them attacks her the moment she sees her, so they have to be kept apart at all times.

5. The dog became the put upon one, always in the shadow of his more forceful sister, and has only now come into his own as last weekend he moved in with my daughter so the pair was finally split up. When they met at training class yesterday he wasn't even happy to see his sister.

Needless to say I (well not just I, my husband as well) have spent a lot of time working on all of these. As a comparison we now have one single Mali pup we bought in a few weeks ago, and the difference is so incredible.The RELIEF, the ENJOYMENT of having just one pup to train, it's amazing. You don't have to do everything twice! The pup is more attached to US than to another pup! I think I would PAY to NOT have to have littermates, but each time has been out of necessity when the right homes did not appear. Sadly with Malinois it's not uncommon as it is a difficult breed to find the right homes for, the two Papillons was basically because the dog (now neutered) only had one testicle and so nobody wanted him, not even as a pet. If I had a choice, I would never, ever keep two.
- By celticjulezey Date 02.11.12 15:09 UTC
tommy going thru the same thing myself! it is hard, ive noticed that when one pup is doing something or off to explore, the other has to follow, or take the dog toy off the other 1,which leads to a fight, plus my vet said they wont be able to develop their own wee personality, so i have to decided to let the other boy go, which is the best thing for both of pups and urself, im not an expericed breeder, i just decided to let my girl have a litter, and that is the last, it has been an experice and eye opener, and i take my hat off to the breeders on here, so like goldmali who has experice, and typed the experice, so an answer like goldmali has given id take it on board, as thats the kind of answer u were looking for, and not a telling off, but gd luck for whatever u decide
- By suejaw Date 03.11.12 07:55 UTC
I haven't had litter mates but know of someone that's done it twice, however neither adult in the household works as such, they have the means to split up dogs and have kennels and training is done apart and they've never had any issues. I think a lot depends on your situation, household and the breed you have. I'm guessing you have a small busy gundog breed? I know you can't say actual breed.

A lot will depend on how dedicated you are to making this work, being opposite sexes I'm assuming this should make it a wee bit easier as they aren't competing against each other with the fear a fight will break out when they grow up!
- By Lexy [gb] Date 03.11.12 08:47 UTC
Not all breeds of the same sex fight, up until 4 years ago our house was only bitches. We have no fights & never have!!!!
It probably does depend on the breed to a degree but also the owner.
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 03.11.12 12:00 UTC
thank u goldmali, i have already asked bk a while ago, and ppl said said not a gd idea as rabid pointed out, just wanted to hear other pp experiences was all, but i know i cant have both, and the new owner who has been interested in her from day1 is comming later this afternoon to pick her up :-( its the ryt thing to..
- By tommy75 [gb] Date 03.11.12 12:04 UTC
yeah celticjulezy, i agree, even if ur a celtic fan lol, but yeah i did notice some of the points u said, and it is the best thing for both pups, just sad to see her go, and thanks for ur input
- By celticjulezey Date 03.11.12 12:30 UTC
eh? tommy, il ignore ur first sentence lmao,..so u have decided to let her go, i know its heartbreaking, i was in a state, but its for the best, the way i looked at it, my pup would get the attention, time and trainning he needed from me, and the other pup the same from his new owner, it is hard, but u done the right thing..
- By Paula Dal [gb] Date 05.11.12 13:47 UTC
I have done it, 2 girls, high energy breed, it is a lot of hard work but I've not had a problem so far and they're nearly 3yrs old.
Paula
Topic Dog Boards / Behaviour / littermates

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