Hi,
I am new to this.
We have just bought 2 Boxer bitch puppies (7 weeks) from the same litter.
I contacted 2 dog trainers to arrange training and both said it was not a good idea to have litter mates and I should keep them very separately. I want to do what's best for the dogs and am now not sure whether to return one back to the breeder. We know it will be hard work to train 2 but is it damaging to their development to keep them together or separately?
Has anyone had boxer litter mates together?
Thank you

Good advice from your trainer.  Definitely more than twice the work of any breed!  To take one back to the breeder would certainly be the best plan in my opinion. 

To be honest, I don't know of a reputable breeder who would sell two litter mates to the same home. :(

Thank you for your advice, it's a difficult decision and I really want to make the right decision.

I had two dogs 13 months apart and that was bad enough. They have a tendency to form a pack and not listen to you. It's much harder to make a bond with two pups together as they will bond with each other first and then you (if they want to) so it is very hard to get them to listen to you. You would need to separate a lot of the time allowing play times together. Train them separately, walk them separately and so on. Flipping hard work and pups are hard work to start off with. Do consider sending one of them back to the breeder, a hard thing to do, but you will be glad you did in the long run. If you want two dogs eventually I would give it two years so that the older dog is well trained and can influence the new puppy with good behaviour.

It definitely is damaging to their development. Here's an interesting article about it that details some American studies done with guide dogs: http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/littermate-syndrome/
I have had littermates several times (NOT by choice) and I would rather go to the dentist. Without anaesthetic. Every day for a week. :) I do wonder what breeder you have found as no good breeder would ever sell two pups to the same home.... especially not two of the same sex as the chances of them starting to fight when older is huge.

Your trainer is right; two puppies together, whether siblings or not, is generally a huge mistake. To get the best out of them you'll need to keep them apart for more time than they're together; play with them separately, train them separately, walk them separately etc. They even need to sleep apart a few nights each week.

I had to keep two from one litter (nobody wanted dog puppies at the time) and despite me being used to having multiple dogs, by 5 years old they were as well trained as I'd usually expect at 2. And one of them only really blossomed when his brother died at the age of 10 and the rivalry for our attention eased. It was very sad.

It is extreamly hard work keeping or getting 2 from the same litter...try keeping 3 like I have done this time!! It certainly is not something I would recommend & I wouldnt buy 2 from the same litter. Even those well experienced find difficulty in training more than one puppy at a time. I also wouldn't sell to someone who wanted 2, unless I knew the person very well & that they were well experienced.

As others have said, it really isn't wise to have two together and there are a number of very good reasons why.  However, it may worth looking at YOUR reasons for taking siblings as there are still some 'old arguments' out there that we can probably help you counter

For instance, did you want them to be company for one another whilst you are at work?

Being both a boxer breeder and trainer (of 30+ years) I would say NO to two pups. It's not double trouble but more like 4 times the work.
Damaging to their development and being BOXERS can be very damaging to your home, car, property etc.

Thank you to everyone for your advice.
We have decided to return one to thee breeder so she can develop better.
Heartbreaking but I know it's best and better to do it now (8 weeks old on Sunday) I am not looking forward to telling my son but will explain it as best I can.
Maybe we will get another puppy in a few years.
Thank you

> Maybe we will get another puppy in a few years.

I like 2-3 years between dogs.  As well as making sure you have plenty of time to dedicate to training and development it also means that you don't end up with two elderly dogs at the same time.  Mine don't feel like adults until they are 3 years old AND that's just about long enough to forget how difficult puppies are - and make you think that doing it all over again is a good idea!!

Yes,
We work mainly from home so have the time to train.
Wish me luck telling my son!

Just wanted to congratulate you on your attitude and on accepting the excellent advice that has been given here.

Have you spoken to the breeder yet?

Yes,
We work mainly from home so have the time to train.
Wish me luck telling my son!

No, not yet, she left a MSG on my phone but she doesn't sound happy and I do realise that It's a disruption but I just want to do what's best for the puppies before I cause anymore damage.

Yes well done and what a sensible decision you have made.

Would be good to hear how it goes with the breeder and returning the pup as they obviously didn't understand the issues two sibling close together would have otherwise they wouldn't have sold them to you.

I am sure your son will be fine once you explain the reasons. Kids are quite accepting once you explain things to them :-)

Well done for doing the right thing for your family and the puppies.
Hopefully the breeder will take the puppy back easily, and do let us know how you get on :).

You have done the best thing for the dogs and I applaud you for taking the advice given here on board and acting upon it :-)

Apart from all of the very good reasons stated as to why you shouldn't have 2 siblings, the future may have been very sad for you. I prefer to have at least a 3 year if not more, gap between dogs for the simple reason that when one leaves us, we hopefully still have time left with the other much loved member of our family, although I realise that you can't foresee what may happen in the future, the odds are more in your favour if there is a gap between them.

Good luck with the breeder.

Well done you! You have done the right thing hard as it is as they probably love playing together. On the other hand you will get a puppy who will look to you for everything, food, play, love and exercise. It's going to be hard work as any puppy is, but great fun. I found when I got a second dog she was so much easier as she followed the older dogs example mostly and was much easier to toilet train. I'm sure your son will understand when you tell him that it will be better for the puppy especially when you say your puppy will need lots of cuddles from him to make up for being on its own.  :)

I'd agree with the trainer - hard I know when doubtless you love them both already, but I would strongly advise against keeping 2 bitches of identical ages. Hope the breeder doesn't make too much fuss!

Very wise decision. :) Having had littermates a few times (from litters I'd bred, where I had no choice as there weren't enough suitable homes for my rather specialised breed), last year I bought a puppy from another breeder, and it was SO nice to have a single pup, and she has so quickly turned into a much easier dog than all the previous ones. Much, much more enjoyable for everyone.

Bravo!

I just want to add another well done. It is nice when you give people advice, from your own experiences & they act upon it. So refreshing from those who want to ignore what is best & get all huffy when they dont get what they want to hear.

Hi

Just want to add that I agree with all the advice posted so far.  Well done indeed for making a difficult decision.  You have done the right thing for both puppies and for you and your family.  The timing is good too as the pups are still so young that there is time to find a good home for the other puppy with minimum harm done.

It is a shame that the breeder was not responsible enough to refuse to sell two siblings to you.  It meant that you then had to make a heart-wrenching decision - but entirely the correct one.

I have a new and absolutely delightful puppy, now ten weeks old.  He is an absolute joy to have around but he is very hard work (albeit in a good way - and because I want to do everything 'right' for him!) and the very thought of having two of him at once makes me feel faint!

Enjoy your remaining pup & good luck with the breeder.  Let us know how things go.   X

Well done on making a difficult decision. I'm sure you won't regret it. The single pups I've had after having the two have been so much easier because we could concentrate solely on them rather than splitting our time between two that we've had so much more fun, and they're much better behaved at an earlier age. You've definitely done the right thing. :-)

Jemaik,

Thank you, thank you for getting advice from a reputable dog forum like this one and listening. :-)

However, I'm actually quite worried about what kind of dog you have kept from this breeder as has been said no reputable breeder would ever sell two pups together unless to someone extremely well versed. Has this breeder done the required health tests for the breed? Is the pup KC registered? It is extremely important to only buy pups from health tested lines and from dogs of good temperament.

If the health tests have not been done, I truly would advise that you also take the 2nd pup back too, and then get one from a reputable breeder, it could save you a lot of heartache in the future, all pups are cute and we fall in love with them, but you have to think how the adult will grow up to be, will it be healthy, will it live long, will it have that good temperament and be the correct size and shape that the breed should be?

A reputable breeder will do everything they can to make sure every pet owner has a healthy and happy life with their pup.

Please do not even keep this pup, if the breeder has not done the most important thing of all and made sure that the dam and sire are suitable to breed from, the vets are full of badly bred animals, please don't keep this pup if the basics have not been done.

Wishing you all the very best. :-)

There are good Boxer breeders on this sites breeders pages (Tooolz would be a good place to start) and also on every breed club webpage.

Please be very careful...........

Agree with Toolz, having had two Boxer sisters together (the right home didn't come up so as a responsible breeder
I kept her) it was VERY hard work. it's not something I would choose to do.
Nor would I ever allow anyone to take two pups from the same litter if ever anyone came to me for pup.

Both pups tune in to one another and although I was lucky I had one that was a follower and one that was a leader
so I rarely had any spats/fights as pups go into adolescence and also with females into heat/seasons you can find
that you will encounter issues where some bitches will start fighting and mean it i.e. fight and do serious damage to one another.
Once this starts you normally end up having to rehome one of the pair. Boxers are also notorious they never forget so once fighting starts you won't be able to stop the 'war' between the siblings.

I was extremely lucky that the litter sisters would listen to me, although training as puppies was hard, the hardest part was when we
lost one of the sisters aged only 5 last year, the other took it badly and although we had mum and a litter brother (who came back to us aged 4yo) she missed her sister badly.

I know it's no consolation now but I truly believe that you have done the right thing by taking one puppy back to breeder.
Best spacing I've found is approx. 18 months as then you've been able to train the first to a reasonable standard before bringing
in a new pup. Then the puppy tends to follow the adult and learn from them.

Hi,
I would like to say a HUGE thank you for all your advice and reassurance.
We returned one of our puppies this afternoon and I genuinely feel we did the right thing (although very difficult)
We will not get our money back until she is sold but that is fine as her happiness meant more.
The breeder didn't believe there is a problem having litter mates but I feel happier that they will now have much more one to one attention.
Thank you again.
Now we just have Laska to focus on

I do hope you get your money back in the future. Must be a bit of a relief now that bits over.
Do keep in touch about your pups progress and if you need any further advice. There are some very knowledgeable people on this forum.

> We will not get our money back until she is sold

What...well that is bad as they are still only 8 weeks & easily still sellable. Might have been different if they were 3 or 4 weeks older....Just goes to show what kind of breeder this really is!!! £££$$$

I agree Lexy, and thinking there wasn't a problem selling two puppies together ,speaks volumes about the breeder, doubly so given they were the same sex.

I'd just like to tell you all that my puppy is thriving on her own, she is doing really really well. Thank you

Excellent news. :-) And much more fun for you, just having the one puppy to concentrate on. You definitely did the right thing. :-)

The other puppy went to a new home yesterday. I hope I get my money back from the breeder 😁

Will the OP have any legal come back if the breeder doesn't cough up ?
Great to hear your puppy is doing well :)

Just an update, my puppy is much better on her own, 1 night of crying and that was it. I'm getting my money back tomorrow (-£75) because she had another check at the vet and the free bag of food didn't go back with her? She did manage to go to her forever home within 48 hours of me returning her.

> I'm getting my money back tomorrow (-£75) because she had another check at the vet and the free bag of food didn't go back with her?

Wasn't a free bag of food then, was it! And the breeder's vet sounds expensive for a basic health check...

Yes I thought that...... It was a small bag of food and £44 for the vet!

TBh, though I agree that she should never have sold you 2 and you totally did the right thing taking one back, I think £75 to cover a vet check, the cost of the food you had and the hassle and inconvenience of finding a new home at short notice is fair enough. :-)
Have fun with your puppy!!