You might be here because you don’t think it could be possible to train two puppies or two dogs at the same time. Well, it is possible, but it proves to have its own sets of challenges.
You’ve probably pondered on having more than one dog, or considered getting several puppies at once. Before you get excited, we’re here to tell you to think smart. Thus, if you don’t know anything about dogs, it’s simple to make blunders when trying to train one with human thinking.
Bringing up numerous pups in a single-family household might present unexpectedly difficult challenges. Regardless of how confident you are in your talents, you should never attempt to train more than one puppy at a time. This is because you may induce littermate syndrome in your dogs.
Read on to discover more about littermate syndrome and what it truly takes to train two dogs simultaneously.
Understanding the Littermate Syndrome
The term “littermate syndrome” refers to a variety of abnormal behaviors exhibited in dogs raised with their siblings (known as littermates). It is a condition that causes puppies to develop an abnormal amount of reliance.
One puppy’s demeanor is frequently reserved and quiet. This may appear to be a great idea at first, but it actually limits their potential, makes them more hesitant, and heightens their fear of moving outside of their comfort zone. While the second puppy is the more daring and self-assured of the two, it may experience fear if away from its sibling.
Because of their reliance on you, your puppies will experience severe separation anxiety. Even if you take one to the vet or separate them, they will keep looking for the other. If your puppies are dependent on one another, it will be more difficult for them to build relationships and be sociable with other pets and humans. Because of this, the dogs may get into more conflicts as they grow older.
Avoiding the Occurrence of the Littermate Syndrome
You can avoid littermate syndrome by raising and teaching your puppy separately from other puppies. They will, on the other hand, be more likely to converse with and trust humans.
Even if your dogs live with you, you may encourage them to develop their own sense of independence. This is not impossible, but it is difficult and necessitates discipline and concentration.
4 Tips You May Need
It is possible to avoid littermate syndrome if both puppies are kept in the same household; however, this needs a large amount of attention and innovative problem-solving.
Here are some tips:
- Individualize the puppies’ training. This will help them concentrate better during training. They should vary their exercise routines. Although this takes more time, it allows them to concentrate on themselves.
- Make sure that each dog has his or her own bed, crate, and toys. Use the same box no more than once. They should each go to bed on their own. To begin, place their boxes or beds near to one another and gradually move them further apart.
- Individualize your interactions with the puppies. Make each of the puppies unique. Spend some time alone with yourself to discover who you are.
- Each dog should be walked by himself or herself. Going for walks with a new dog may consume a significant amount of your time. Take your dogs for walks on a regular basis, but try to avoid doing so all at once.
Conclusion
Any dog lover would know how difficult it is to refuse cute puppies. At the same time, however, a real dog lover should be aware of the challenges of raising a great pet. With that being said, make sure you use this training time to improve your relationship with your dogs continuously, individually. This way, you can be sure what one needs and what the other needs, as well as avoid littermate syndrome altogether.
Are you looking for dog training classes in Escondido, CA? Gnaw On Their Skull is a professional team that specializes in the quality of life of both dog owners and their pets. Give us a call today to learn more about our services!