Littermate Syndrome in Dogs: How to Prevent it and How to Fix it!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- We want to help you prevent and fix Littermate Syndrome! Are you raising and training littermate puppies? Do you have littermates that are fighting? Fixing littermate syndrome and stopping your dogs from fighting is possible, it just takes a good plan and a lot of effort. Matt Covey, shares his years of experience on working with and preventing Littermate Syndrome.
After watching this video check out our newer Littermate Syndrome Video! It has a lot of good content and training footage in it. • Can You Fix Littermate...
It discusses different ways to calm them down during play. It is a lot more fun to watch than this video! Take a look and let me know what questions you have after you watch it!
This video is meant to educate dog owners who currently have or are considering getting littermates. We recommend you avoid getting littermates, but if you already have them we are here to help!!!
Not every time you raise littermates will lead to issues, but if Littermate Syndrome does arise it can be a huge problem. Our recommendation is to always assume that two littermates will develop Littermate Syndrome and take a series of steps to prevent it. If you have littermates remember that it is 3 times more work than raising one puppy! You need to do all of their training and socializing both together and separate.
Generally littermate syndrome leads to socialization issues but it can also lead to fighting between the siblings. When littermate syndrome turns into fights between the dogs we call it Sibling Rivalry Syndrome. This usually occurs because one dog has become too pushy/dominant while the other dog has become too submissive.
Your job when raising littermates is to make sure they are comfortable even when separate. This means you need to work on a lot of socializing and obedience training with your puppies while they are separated to ensure that they learn how to be happy on their own. If they are stressed during this process you need to use your obedience commands as a calming tool. They goal is to use Heel and other commands as a way to "reset" your dogs' brains and calm them down. We have hundreds of littermate syndrome success stories, and they are all due to having an action plan and then working hard.
Make sure to crate your littermates separately, preferably in separate rooms. This helps them handle being alone and can prevent or help fix separation anxiety. If you have never done this you will need to start slowly to make sure the dogs are able to handle the process.
00:00 Intro
00:35 What is Littermate Syndrome
01:13 How to Prevent Littermate Syndrome
01:59 What issues arise?
04:50 Training involved
09:40 Recap
Have a question? Please comment below! We are here to help!
We offer customized In-Home and Dog Boot Camp services that are able to help you prevent and fix the common issues that arise between littermates. We have trained a ton of littermates and would love to help you as well!
For more information please check out the links below:
More Littermate Syndrome Information suburban-k9.com/littermate-sy...
Dog Boot Camp Information suburban-k9.com/dog-boot-camp/
In Home Dog Training Information suburban-k9.com/in-home-dog-t...
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Check out our new Littermate Syndrome Video! The content is different than this one and it has a lot of training footage showing you what to do with your littermates! th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Also, remember that if you have Littermates, socializing them is even more important than it is when you just have one dog. Make sure to create a full socialization plan rather than just winging it. Check out our Socialization video for tips on how to create a full plan. th-cam.com/video/JXdgvxS3azk/w-d-xo.html
I have two litter mates currently that I got from a friend. They are German Shepherd / Pitbull mix. They have been great together. I started doing a lot of research of LMS when I got them. This video was super helpful! I have been separating them a lot lately, as they just recently turned six months. Taking them to different stores separately, going on walks separately, etc... even dropping one off at my parents house for the day to see how they do without me or their brother. 100% agree that it is 3x the work, but worth it in the long run IMO if you are able to manage it. I love watching them grow both individually, and as a unit. Great video!
Wow! You have been doing a lot of hard work! I'm impressed!!! Dropping one of them off at your parents house for the day is a great idea. Most people don't realize how important it is to be proactive in order to prevent issues from arising. Is there anything you think is missing from the video or additional content you would like to see? Our company handles a huge number of aggression cases each year and the goal of our channel here is to help prevent issues from arising in the first place. We are going to create some more Littermate Syndrome content and want to make sure we are giving people the information they want the most!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining A few things I've been concerned / curious about lately with them are...
- how much playing is okay before its fighting?
- How much time apart is too much time apart?
- Tips on training them together? So they don't feed so much off of each others energy (if that's even possible lol)
Thanks for the feedback!! Great content!
Great questions! We are working on another Littermate Syndrome video, but I wanted to get you some answers quickly as well.
When it comes to evaluating dogs play styles we believe in two main principles. The first, is there must be give and take. It is normal for dogs to play rough, but it is not appropriate for one to always be the one on top of the other. In normal healthy play you will see that dogs take turns on their back and then the other will let them up after a short period of time. If one seems to dominate the play session it should be addressed.
When evaluating play we look at overall body language and not just the individual components. What I mean is that barking can be fine, growling can be fine, showing teeth can be fine. They can also all be warning signs. In a play session with normal give and take all of these things can be fine and you will be able to tell by the fact that each dog is taking turns controlling and being controlled.
The second principle is to know your dogs. Some dogs are able to escalate their play to a fairly high level of roughness without anyone getting mad. Other dogs will play rougher and rougher and then all of a sudden one gets mad and starts a fight with the other. For this reason we have different rules for different groups of dogs. If yours escalate to the level of fighting while they are playing I would suggest teaching each dog the place command and have their "place" be on opposite sides of the room. If they are starting to escalate too much I would send each to their place for a while to calm down. This will take a lot of practice but it is totally worth it.
As far as how much time they should spend apart, the only times I have seen a client have their littermates spend too much time apart is when they are fully separated after a fight. If dogs fight it is important to get them together again soon.
It sounds like you are extremely proactive and are doing all the right things. Having them spend a day per week at someone else's house is great and doing some separate socializing and training each day is great as well. If they are living in the same house and loose with each other for play time each day I can't imagine you will ever have them separated too much. The two important things are to make sure they get to play with each other each day and that they get experience training/socializing together as well.
When training them together there are some good things you can work on to encourage calmness. It is great to practice training one while the other watches from a down stay or place command. Work up to the point that you can call one dog and have the other remain in their stay or place command. This can be hard but it teaches them to listen to their name and operate independently.
It is also great to set up play sessions with other dogs and practice training one dog while the other is playing nearby. You can practice on leash obedience with one while the other wrestles with their buddy and then switch after a few minutes. This is great from an obedience perspective and it also teaches them how to play without their sibling around.
Are they doing well at all of their obedience commands? It is important that they master heel, sit, down, stay and come. As suggested above I would have them master the place command as well. Feel free to reach out with more questions!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you for all of that!
Thank you so much. Me and my partner took 3 littermates. I don’t regret it at all as I know they wouldn’t have good homes and they’re amazing pups who deserved a chance. My only regret is not doing this research sooner. But they’re still young and I’m very confident we can provide them a happy comfortable and safe home with your videos and others.
It sounds like your dogs are lucky to have you Lily! Definitely check out our newer Littermate Syndrome video if you want some more guidance and feel free to reach out anytime!
Started seeing the issues with my litter mate German shepherd puppies after having them for three days and came looking for information. Great video, thank you!!!!
I'm glad you found the video! Here is a link to a newer littermate syndrome video we made that has more practical advice and training footage. Reach out with any questions! th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
I bought a dog for a Christmas present for my mom, her little dog had past a couple of months earlier at the age of 16. The dog was still a puppy, it had another female with it but I couldn’t afford both. So we brought her her Christmas present, well the dog seemed anxious and very scared. My mom decided on buying the second. The problem arrived on January 11th, the dog I bought had pups, six of them. Well I choose one to take, and between me and my mom they were taken care of. My youngest daughter (17), wanted one as well. So, we have two, they are almost three months. I am having a difficult time potty training due to their bond, I’m thinking. So have started working this syndrome out with them now. Glad I ran across this situation videos early in our life together. So now starts the work. Thank you for not degrading people, that is not what kind and loving animal lovers need. Support and knowledge is best. I take in animals that have been abused and they usually have no problems adjusting to our home and their fur mates. We separate any who can’t and give them the love they need. Again thank you.
Sounds like you are working hard! Here are a couple videos that could help a lot. The first is our newest Littermate Syndrome (it has more info than our original one). The second video is a potty training video that should help a lot. Reach out with any questions!
th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/-jjlXIdGAIs/w-d-xo.html
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you very much. My little ones are 3 and a half months, yorkies. Would you say they should be able to hold their urine for an hour?
I understand the “don’t get two puppies,” but we are probs here cuz are circumstances led us to getting litter mates
Understood! That is exactly why we make our littermate videos. The goal is to explain what littermate syndrome is and give guidance if you already have littermates. Have you checked out our newer littermate video? It gives a lot of practical guidance that will steer you in the right direction. Here is the link! th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
My husband and I just ended up with two rescues (littermates already bonded) and I am praying I can do what it takes to remedy it so they both thrive.these videos have given me an idea of where I need to start. Definitely going to be difficult as they are already so reliant on each other… when I do separate them for short periods of time( even just to go for a walk with one, the other barks bloody murder until we return, which I am afraid stresses them out too much) the girl is definitely more reliant on her brother than he is of her though.. he is also more calm than she is for the most part. They are now 10 weeks and we have had them for 1 week. We have them crated separately, he goes to bed without a fuss, she needs someone there until she falls asleep. ( these two, along with their 4 other sisters, were literally thrown out with the trash.. and I can only imagine what other trauma they have from the previous owners..)
Morning! Sounds like you have your hands full! Check out our other Littermate Syndrome video. It will give you some more guidance. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Here is a video discussing dogs barking in the crate that will be helpful as well! th-cam.com/video/zuykDVpBX70/w-d-xo.html
Let me know if you have any questions after watching them!
I got littermates with the humble intention they will grip up together. So they don’t feel lonely but when the vet tech mentioned littermate syndrome I started looking it up. Interesting enough I saw the symptoms especially when I made a bit of an attempt to socialize them.
Watching a videos on remedying this will help me a lot to move forward with my boys. They are currently 12 weeks and I have hope to help them. Thank you. I’ll follow up in a few weeks with progress.
Morning Fiorella! Here is a link to our newer Littermate Syndrome video which should help you a lot! th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Reach out with questions anytime!
Good luck 🤞
Thanks!!! I like your thumbnail graphic!
I accidentally squired 2 pups in Bacalar, Mexico. They were left for dead together in a bucket. I couldn't just leave them to die and here there are many strays, no one will adopt here or care to my standards. So my travels to Belize and Guatemala took a halt. They were very sick when I got them 2.5 months ago, approx 5 weeks old. Lately I've inately felt the need they need to be trained and socialized separately and together. A friend told me about this "syndrome" (I'm medical I understand what defines syndrome), and told me I needed to give one away. I'm abit opinionated, I asked her if she had twins and they exibited sibling rivalry, if she would give one away. Here, that would basically mean one would end up a street dog. Like what is this? Lol. Sophie's Choice??? I refuse. I will triple the work.
Sounds like the pups are lucky you found them! Here is a link to our newer littermate video which should be helpful to you. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Reach out with questions any time!
I got 2 three month old pug litter mates with 0 training. We got them potty trained in a week and a half. They're good on walks. Now all of a sudden they just constantly play fight. We started to separate them and train them but it's been a few days and when they're together it's 90% fighting. One is more relaxed and has a humping problem the nervous runt will start fights constantly. What a handful. Just staying diligent in training
Great work on potty training them so quickly! You must have been very consistent! To get a handle on your current issue will definitely be doable.
What you need to do is use classical conditioning to your advantage here. If every time they see each other they get to wrestle and fight pretty soon they will be conditioned to get excited and amped up just by the sight of each other. This is an involuntary response and will be tough to fix in the moment.
What I would do for the next week or so is practice training them on leash for the majority of the time they are together. You can work on anything. Heel, sit, stay, down etc. The goal is that they are so used to feeling calm in each others presence that they calm down on their own because they have been conditioned to feel that way.
This works extremely well and doesn't take that long to achieve. Definitely spend a lot of time socializing them separately. The nervous one could turn into a big problem in the future due to a lack of confidence.
Keep up the hard work and let me know if you have any questions!
Our older dog, Bailey, had a litter of 6 Lab/Weimaraner mix puppies last December (2022). We were able to re-home all but 2 of them; they are still with us and will probably remain that way. They have been great dogs in-home, and they are great walkers; but, we just discovered that socialization is very difficult - people and other dogs are an issue as they both become defensive, snip, and growl at others--even our friends that they've seen sporadically since they were born. We don't really know many people where we live now and are not familiar with a variety of terrain, and it doesn't help that we're both introverts. We have been working on separating them more frequently; we just haven't been able to be consistent due to our schedules and lack of connections (people and dogs). What you have outlined in your videos is easy to follow, we just need more tips on how to curb or lower their stress when the other is gone and maybe some tips for how we need to "behave" when introducing them to others (since we are also not very social people). Neither puppies are concerned much when mom is gone (Bailey)--just a few minutes at the beginning, then they calm down with the person still at home with them.
Your pups are just hitting their teenage phase and are starting to come into their own. This is the age that previous socialization related issues often arise. When dogs develop littermate syndrome they often do well for their first six months or so and then you see the issues arise as they develop. The first thing I would do is watch our newer littermate syndrome video if you haven't already. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
After watching that I would make some progress on their leash training. It is essential you can stop them from pulling when you need to. Here is a video on that topic. th-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/w-d-xo.html
Use their heel command both as a calming technique when one leaves the home and as a way to do calm greetings.
We have a video on how to do introductions with fear aggressive dogs in the works right now. We just filmed it and plan to release it within the next couple of weeks.
Let me know what else we can answer!
I have two American Bully brothers that are 1 1/2 now (my husband's dog and my dog) and a month ago had their first fight. They have always play fought but this was a full on fight resulting with some minor injuries. Within 4 days, there were a total of 3 more fights. We have since kept them separated full-time but did try multiple times to get them around each other with no prevail. If they see each other, its instant growling and then attempting to get to one another. We did not start off with them being together all the time but about 7-8 months ago they both started going with my husband to work daily and both staying home with me on the weekends. (My boy used to stay home except 1-2 times a week with our other dogs but my husband started taking him more because they seemed to have more "fun" when they were both at his shop) My bully has always been more pushy and my husband's gets stressed when he isn't in close proximity to people but neither one has ever appeared to be shy or submissive. They both get a long with other dogs, cats, and all humans but now we are living in a baby gated house to avoid fights which almost seems to be making it worse. My husband does not want to neuter his dog but mine has been as a result of the conflicts (he would have been at 2 years regardless). I'm so lost on how to get them to coexist peacefully together again.
Hi Cayenne. Sorry to hear you are going through this. I know how stressful it can be. From what I hear, the fighting doesn't sound like it is necessarily caused by Littermate Syndrome. If the dogs are both calm and happy even when not around each other and are generally social with other people and dogs it seems like you avoided Littermate Syndrome so that is one less problem you need to fix!
Same sex dogs often fight and American Bullies are definitely prone to this issue. I would suggest neutering the un-neutered dog as soon as possible. It won't fix the problems, but will make them easier to fix.
To start reintroducing the dogs I would take them for long walks together as much as possible. This will require two handlers to ensure you can keep whatever distance is needed at first. Walking together will allow them to reconnect in a peaceful and non-confrontational way. I would make sure they are heeling the entire walk so that this is a calming experience. After you have done this a few times I would start letting them smell each other for a short period of time at the end of the walk. Muzzles can be useful for this process to limit the chances of anyone getting hurt.
Once this goes well on the walk, I would repeat the process in the home. Use leashes and muzzles as needed to ensure everyone is calm and safe.
What you are working on can be challenging and dangerous. It is something that can be attempted on your own, but if you have a trainer in your area that you trust to handle aggression it would be wise to bring someone in to assist.
We have 2 female Schipperke mix litter mates that we adopted when they were around 1 year old. They were found living under a dumpster before they were brought to a shelter and when we got them they had horrible anxiety and clearly some trauma. At first they did great together but slowly over time they started periodically fighting.
We now keep them separated from each other with a baby gate at all times at home to prevent fights. When they are in public or on walks they do just fine, walking beside each other, no aggression whatsoever. But at home, especially in excited/high stress moments they try to fight through the baby gate and sometimes if one slips through a doorway or something they will lunge at each other, often biting or scratching and clearly trying to hurt one another.
We would do anything to fix this problem as they are both beyond precious to us. We don’t want them severely injuring each other and we just want a peaceful home! We are looking to have children and can’t have them fighting with babies around. Please help!
I am sorry to hear about the fights you are seeing. It sounds like this has evolved to become true aggression rather than just improper play. The first thing I would suggest is teaching them the place command. This is a great way to defuse fights if the command is trained at a high enough level. Here is a link to a video: th-cam.com/video/Xk4YI6AOPAw/w-d-xo.html
What state do you live in? We have trainers around the country that can help out and our company founder (Matt Covey) travels around the country for cases like this. He also offers training sessions by phone. Let us know if there is a way we can assist!
My previous 2 dogs werent littermates but we got them 3 months apart (it's a long story). They were the bestest friends! We did lots of things separately when they were younger such as training, walking and outings which im sure helped.
You could definitely tell that they missed one another when they were separated but it wasnt destructive or anything, and actually the only time they got anxious for the other one and would look out the window was when one was going to the vet (they both got anxiety when going to the vet). It was a lot of work but i dont regret it one bit.
I think the hardest part is actually when one inenvitably passes first. One of my dogs passed away last may and my other dog, who never had separation anxiety in the past even when separated (except when one at the vet but they never barked they would just sit by the window), began barking when left alone. Fortunately my dad is semi retired and is home for much of the day so he was able to be home with the dog up until his passing last month.
Sorry to hear about your dogs passing. I know how hard that is😔 It sounds like you did everything right when they were young and set them up for a long life of happiness and success!
Thank you so much for this wonderful video. We adopted two great Dane litter mates, male and female from a foster mom and unfortunately came from a very horrible beginning. I did not know about littermate syndrome, and we are incredibly overwhelmed in our home with it. They fit the description Exactly and we do not want to rehome one, but are almost at our wits end. I want to try to do everything I can to correct this and love both of them very much. The female, who is the more shy one is actually the more aggressive one. We cannot have people over our home because she acts like she wants to eat them advice do you have for bringing people into the home, they are extremely codependent and if the female gets aggressive, the male does also but can tell he is only doing it because she does. I will be taking her to the public and pet supply store and the tractor supply also and starting to socialize them separately. I am also wondering what your advice issending one puppy away to grandma’s house for the weekend ever so often to help them become independent. Thank you so much.
I would start by leash training them and make sure they can "heel" past any distraction without pulling. Here is a video showing that process. th-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/w-d-xo.html
Once they can "heel" well I would start practicing the heel command at the door as a calming technique. Here is a video showing that process. The dog in the video is not aggressive at all, but the process is the same. You are just trying to get your dog in a listening state of mind rather than a reactive state of mind. th-cam.com/video/zgbJQjNUN6w/w-d-xo.html
It would also we worth watching our newer litter mate syndrome video. It has some more practical advice that will help you out. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Sending one away for the weekend from time to time is a great idea! This will help them cope on their own and will make training much easier on you on the weekends where you only have one dog to train.
Let us know what questions come up!
I have a unique situation. I just got 2 fitting pups brother and sister 6 weeks ago. I brought them home to 4 dogs . 1 9 yr old german Sheppard. 3 yr old rescue Shepard mix and her 2 yr old daughters. A trailer sent me ur video and I read up on this littermate syndrome. The sisters also has the litter mate syndrome. I have separated the potties at kennel time. They are out if sight of ea other, but in the same room. There is no were in the house they would not hear each ther. Yesterday was good day separated them train went good apart and did nor miss the other. Female is aggressor and male passive sometimes. Today male did not want to be separated. No crying just laid by the door. Now the original sisters are very aggressive with each other. I have slow that down and the amount they get aggressive with potties. Mama is awesome with all dogs. Sheppard is as food as she can be. She has her own medical issues. But has the bluff in on the younger 4. My question do I stop all rough housing or just the mean stuff or is good with all. Male potties is more jealous over me, but female is more the one who starts the physical play with male.i actually see more signs with the auldualt sisters then potties. Prob they are only 4 months old tomorrow.
Hi Diane! Great question! Without knowing the dogs I am just offering an educated guess, but I would probably allow a lot of rough playing when in the yard. That being said, I would work on training them to the point that you can stop them immediately in a variety of ways. A rock solid recall or place command are a couple of options. This allows you to watch the play and then calm them down when you feel it has become too much.
Also, I must say, I dislike the term syndrome as I believe for humans and animals we make normal adaptive survival behaviours medically pathological. But yes, I respect the logic and the point of view. Thank you, I'm literally starting to separate them for their sunrise walk today. Gracias, Candy
I just recently heard about someone who had an issue with this with their two male Anatolian dogs. I got two female dogs a year ago but luckily did not have this issue. One bonded closer to my older dog while the other liked anything that wanted to play. They don't even sleep together. We had no issues with the two and have been able to train both easier than I did my second dog. They are fixed Australian Shepard lab mixes that live on a farm.
I am glad your dogs are doing well! How old were they when you got them?
Never heard of this term. My 2 puppies I got from the same litter right as of right now are obedient they listen together and apart I have not tried to crate them apart though but we do keep distances between walks so they cannot see each other and they don’t whine. We did have guest over one time but both pups were together but they seemed to be going to different people by themselves which hopefully is a good sign. So far I will change when they sleep together to different rooms so they are alone. I don’t know if I’m doing a good job of them and this problem won’t arise but I hope so🤞
I’m glad you found the video!!! How old are your puppies? The tricky thing with Littermate Syndrome is that since it is primarily a socialization/development issue, the problems often don’t show themselves until the dogs are a little bit older. Sometimes everything seems fine until they hit six months or so and then you start to see problems with them meeting new dogs and people.
I would recommend socializing like crazy and hopefully you never see any issues. The first 16 weeks of their life are definitely the most important!
Do you recommend working each dog separately then together as in the same day or solo for a few weeks and then together?
It depends on how the dogs are doing. If they listen well enough to train together when you first start then that is great! You could train them separately for a while each day and then do a joint session later in the day. If you need a few weeks to make progress before trying to train two dogs at once that is totally normal and not an issue at all!
Logistically speaking… we have 10 week old Australian Cattle Dogs. Brother and sister. The last 2 weeks, since we have had them they are in the same crate with the divider in. I listened to what you were saying about being separate. I am going to do that tomorrow. However, is there a difference in being in the same room vs. being in crates in separate parts of the room.
So at night they sleep in our room with a large crate with the divider.
In the day time if they are not being supervised they have the same set up in the living room.
Any advice would be appreciated thank you so much!
Great question! I would definitely recommend putting them in separate crates rather than just using a divider. Putting them in separate rooms is better than putting them in crates on different sides of the room, but it isn't a necessity.
It really depends on how hard you work on their separate training and socializing. If you take them out for separate walks and training on a daily basis, then having them crated in the same room probably won't be an issue.
If you are having trouble finding time to train them separately then having them in separate rooms would be more important to ensure they are getting time on their own.
I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any questions!
We're currently fostering a pair of two-year-old littermates who were abandoned when their owners divorced and moved abroad. They were turned into the same shelter they were adopted from in 2021 and we took them that afternoon, ten days ago. So far they have been fine. They only fight when off leash and outdoor (rarely if ever inside), and then its just running playfighting. At home they sleep in different areas of the house, but do get anxious when we try and walk them apart. They are also getting very attached to us after a first difficult night. These things may be LS or maybe just due to their recent trauma, I guess. They are generally very obedient, and will come quickly back to leash when called, even when super-excited after 30 seconds off leash. The only issue is barking at random strangers, especially after dark, but this seems to be easing off. They are fine with other dogs.
The larger of the two is a boy, who seems protective of his little sister and also seems kind of aware that she is much the cuter (he looks more like a black & tan shiba, she a black & white terrier, which I was surprised to learn can happen in mixed litters).
They are really delightful dogs, though, and as fosterers we hope to see them re-homed (our 13-yr-old JRT died three months ago so this is kind of for us and them right now) but we won't see them separated and will adopt if necessary.
Sorry to hear about your JRT. That is always tough 😔. Fostering a couple pups is a great way to help out and try and fill that void!
It sounds like the dogs are pretty good overall! I would definitely focus on separate walks for now since that seems to be a cause of anxiety for them. We have a new Litter Mate video coming out next week that should be very helpful. This video is mainly background information, while the new one shows a lot of training techniques you can use to get them perfect.
Let us know if you have any questions!
Thanks a lot for the reply, we'll look out for the new video and gradually try longer separate walks. It'll be easier when the trauma of losing their first home and family eases, I imagine. Anyway, it's a rewarding experience for us to see them getting happier daily and helps take our minds of Toby the JRT a little. @@SuburbanK9DogTraining
Currently going through this with my two female litter mates pomeranians which are 2 years old , one week ago they started fighting really bad I have been bitten 3 times (nothing serious thankfully) but I need to get the problem fixed so thanks for all the tips and I will definitely be trying them from today I just hope the problem can be fixed at the moment it seems like there will never be a good ending😭
Sorry to hear that! Definitely check out our other littermate video. It gives some more guidance on how to perform the various training sessions needed. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Are they fighting over resources or excitement? Those are the two main causes.
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thankyou so much I will check that out and try everything! No not resources like food etc as they get fed separately and the first fight that broke out was because of excitement I’m nearly sure as it was when I just got up and walked down stairs they were all excited then one just attacked the other , they have been separated since as when I try to introduce or even when they see each other they want to fight and it’s aggressive. One of them Is currently in season and I am waiting to get them spayed when I can😓
@@kerrilouise7177 Separating them in the short term is a smart decision, but I would find a way to do some safe reintroductions as soon as possible. One of our favorites is to go for long heel walks together. This teaches them to be calm and under control while around each other. If you let them interact with each other off property at the end of a long walk the odds of them doing well with each other is much higher. I would try and do this each day. I would definitely teach them the place command as well. That way if you see one dog starting to escalate you can issue the place command from a distance to hopefully defuse the situation. Here is a link to a video on the place command: th-cam.com/video/Xk4YI6AOPAw/w-d-xo.html
I have littermate GSD females, 4 months old. I never even heard of littermate syndrome until they started fighting. I have exactly what you described, one is more dominant and kind of a bully. They play fight constantly, they’ve had 3 more aggressive fights but the one just bullies for no reason, bites from behind, picks fights etc. I’m doing everything you suggest, separate crates in separate rooms, separate sleeping, separate training and together some, separate walks. Wondering if spaying sooner rather than later will help since I have 2 females ? I know 2 females is the worst of the scenarios usually too. I don’t want to let it get out of control, they’re very sweet and smart individual and I don’t want to rehome either one
Hi Sarah! This is a tough decision and I would definitely get your vets opinion too. Overall, we see a small decrease in female dog aggression when they are spayed, but it usually doesn't tend to be a major change. On the flip side, a lot of people believe in letting their females go through a full cycle before spaying for health reasons.
I would lean towards not spaying them yet, but in this case it is definitely a tough call.
It sounds like you are working hard which is great! Besides all the stuff you mentioned above, your main goal should be getting the more pushy/dominant dog to respond perfectly to your voice. I would consider teaching her the place command and make sure you can send her there even when she is riled up. I would also work on proofing the word "no" to make sure that every time you say it she immediately stops what she is doing.
We just finished a full length video on teaching the place command and will be posting it soon.
Where there any injuries in the fights?
We decided to take on two 6 week beagle pups unknowingly knowing about LMS. We already have 2 older dogs, who always got along except 1 time in the last 6 years. So I feel we can train these dogs well.
They are fine separately and can be completely alone. We have play pens next to each other and at times when they are both in the pen they will try to get to each other and then get bored and move on with playing and bc they are young will start back up.
I let them play sometimes individually with my older girls and they do very well with them. However the two pup’s together play rough with each other.
I assume it’s okay to let them play? Each of my kids have primary care of them so they have “their” person and sleep in their rooms in their crates.
I just want to avoid LMS as best as I can, but it’s hard to know at such a young age if the playing they are doing is causing more problems or me always separating them a problem.
Great question! Definitely let them play! Don't be too worried about growling or play biting, that is normal. We just posted a new Littermate video today and it has a lot of good content and training footage in it. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
It discusses different ways to calm them down during play. It is a lot more fun to watch than this video! Take a look and let me know what questions you have after you watch it!
My grand children went to a shelter to get a cat. When they got there, there were a pair of twin mixed breed labs. They are small. Help!
I would definitely watch our newer littermate syndrome video. It gives a lot of practical guidance. Here is the link:
th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
If you have questions after watching it let us know!
My wife and I are in the process of adopting an eleven week old golden doodle however, our puppy is presently being fostered with his litter sibling (opposite sex). We are feeling apprehensive as we will only get the puppy at around the 13 week mark. Currently the puppies are crated together, eat out of the same food bowl, and spend 80% of the day together. In your experience, do you think that the puppies will be okay separately once they've been adopted by their respective families? Do you think they've been fostered together for too long? Thank you!
Hi Don! I love that you are thinking about Littermate Syndrome even before getting a puppy! Although it is not ideal to have littermates together until 13 weeks, I think you will be fine if you work hard as soon as you get your puppy.
You will have a few weeks before their critical socialization window has closed and you can work wonders during this time. I would plan on socializing like crazy for 3 or 4 weeks! Definitely try and meet 100 people and 10 or 20 dogs during this time. After this period you can slow down and work on socializing a little less.
If you haven't watched our socialization video it would be worth watching. Making a full socialization plan will make this much easier. Here is a link to it: th-cam.com/video/HAkBcBfUEZI/w-d-xo.html
Good luck and feel free to reach out with questions!
I adopted 2 littermates male and female before knowing anything about this. I have had them for one month and they will be 4 months old next week. I have noticed some of the behaviors you mentioned in your video. I have an older dog 12 that just started playing with them. I am hopeful she will help with this process. I am not going to lie I have major anxiety after researching this syndrome. The rescue had a no crate clause so I bought corrals, is that good for “crate training”? I left them together because they seemed a little overwhelmed with the change in scenery they were at a rescue with 20 dogs and my house had one. But now after watching your video I would like to try separating them during the day while at work. Do you have an suggestions for making this a smoother process? I saw you said separate rooms but I keep them in my room with door closed since they have a tendency whine and cry when I leave. I don’t want them bothering the neighbor😢. I lost my 13 yo Chihuahua suddenly and these guys have helped me immensely. How can I help them best to transition being separated. Thank you!
I am sorry to hear about your Chihuahua 😔.
We prefer crates for safety, but pens should work as long as they are separated. I would suggest watching our newer Littermate Syndrome video. It goes much more into detail on various exercises and how to calm them when you separate them. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Let me know if you have any questions after watching it!
I have two female Rottweiler puppies that I would guess are around 3 months old or so and they play all the time but seems like they go back and forth with dominance, occasionally getting ruff with each other but it seems like they let up if one gets to ruff with the other. Is this okay?
I built one big dog house for them (6ft*3ft) and keep them outside in a fenced off area and plan on making them outdoor dogs. Would you recommend me making two dog houses for them instead of having just one?
As far as food goes I have basically been keeping dog food available to them all the time and they don’t seem to be guarding food from one another or over eating. What do you think about this?
Also I live in the country and previously never leashed the other dog(s) I had and when I take these two dogs for a walk I have a leash on them but don’t hold them and so far they have just been walking right behind me only occasionally getting distracted by sniffing something but they catch up to me as soon as I encourage them to.
Thoughts/suggestions?
Hi! It sounds like your pups are doing well so far! The issue with Littermate Syndrome is that it sneaks up on you. All seems well and then all of a sudden issues seem to appear out of nowhere.
The playing you mentioned sounds normal for the age and breed, I wouldn't worry. Growling and biting in play is fine as long as there is give and take.
As far as kennels or runs go, I would have separate spaces for now, but you don't need to do that forever. You could just split the dog house in two for now it that works space wise.
We generally recommend not to free feed because it can lead to issues. Often it doesn't, but our thought is that being risk averse is better here. I would measure out their food and give it twice a day and closely watch them as they eat. This gives you the chance to handle them while eating to help prevent food aggression in the future.
In regards to leash training, I would recommend doing some training outings where you take them in to town separately. This will help socialize them and limit the chances of Littermate Syndrome. Our 3 Pillars of Socialization are Animals, People and Environments. Try to expose them to as much variety as you can while they are still in their Critical Socialization Period for the next 4 weeks or so.
I hope this helps! Reach out with any questions!!!
We adopted two littermates and found out the day we brought them home about the potential for littermate syndrome.
We have had them for a week and we crate them separately, separate play and training times, couple little outings separately. So far they both seem happy and confident without the other.
My question is, how much time should I be allowing them to spend together? Especially play fighting together?
We are a family unit who want to spend time together so I don’t necessarily want to always have to be separating the two pups. But if that is what we need to do for their well-being we can try to make it work!
Great question Jessica! It sounds like you are doing a lot to make sure this goes well. Great job! If you continue to crate them separate and do separate training outings you can let them play together a lot during the day.
There really isn't any upper limit to the amount of time they can wrestle and play fight without causing issues. It that ends up being six or eight hours per day it won't cause any problems. The main goal is to ensure they can cope on their own and you are doing that!
Here is a newer littermate video we did if you are looking for more info. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Reach out with any questions!
I have 2 littermates. I raised Nova well and took in the other sister because she wasn't raised well. New one came in with resource guarding issues. Now Nova has resource guarding issues. I've already been bit protecting nova. Other than food, they get along great.
Hi Elaine! I'd love to give you some advice to get your pups on the right path. What age and breed are they?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining They are both Husky/Rott mix about 10 months. Both girls. They do good with crate time.
@@user-gd2kn9cs4b Thanks for the info! From what I hear, the fighting doesn't sound like it is necessarily caused by Littermate Syndrome. Are the dogs stressed when they are separated? Are they generally social with other people and dogs? If they are doing well overall it seems like you avoided Littermate Syndrome so that's good!
Resource guarding is very common and we see it all the time in Rottweilers and Huskies. Based upon our experience Rotts, Huskies and Hounds are three of the breeds that resource guard the most.
If they are guarding food from each other I would suggest creating a plan to train them around those resources daily. We start by making sure each dog can heel very well on leash because we use heel as a calming technique. We also practice taking the resource away ourselves to make sure they are good with us.
I would allow one dog to eat while heeling the other dog past them at a distance of around 6 feet. The goal here is to slowly get them closer together while eating over a period of weeks. If the dog eating the food becomes tense or aggressive I would have them heel away from the food and then heel until calm. This process works extremely well, but take involves a large number of baby steps over a period of weeks.
What you are working on can be challenging and dangerous. It is something that can be attempted on your own, but if you have a trainer in your area that you trust to handle aggression it would be wise to bring someone in to assist.
I hope this helps!!!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining They are social in the outdoors but not over social, we're still training reactivity but doing better). I feed the new girl in her crate/fence on the other side of the other dog and i monitor. Yes I love your suggestion! Thank you soo much for your help I appreciate you!! 🙏
@@user-gd2kn9cs4b No problem, happy to help! I love that you are already feeding them on opposite sides of a fence and monitoring the behavior. If either one of them shows signs of aggression that would be a great time to use the heel command to calm them down. One big mistake people make here is not working often enough. You need to try and do this at pretty much every meal. If you only find time on the weekends you may never make the progress you want because it was always feel like something weird/different to them. If you do this at every meal it will just feel like part of their life and they will advance much quicker.
We bought two chiweenies from Breeder boy and girl. I always hard LMS occurs with same sex litter mates. I had them in create together until female was fixed and at that time I removed her from crate because she would almost hyperventilate and pace the entire time. Sooo my sleeps with me and that stopped. The male sleeps in the crate at night and has a big stuffed dog that he loves having in crate with him. They bark a lot when my son comes in and out the door. This happens every time. So he’s convinced it’s LMS. I don’t agree. But will do a trial run this weekend and take the boy to pet store and see how he does. Neither dogs are nippy or bite at others. She is the dominant one always has been but now he acts as her protector if he thinks she hurt herself. I try to do things with them separately at least once or two times alone to give them a break. Next I’ll try the female timid one to the store.
Hey Jennifer! I love to hear that you do separate things with your dogs a few times a week! Most people don't start doing that until a trainer is called in. Good for you!!! How old are your dogs? That can make a huge difference in the training process.
Littermate Syndrome occurs in dogs regardless of the sex. That being said, it doesn't progress to aggression between the dogs (Sibling Rivalry Syndrome) nearly as often with opposite sex dogs. Generally when the puppies are opposite sex we just see issues with socialization and separation.
Barking at your son could be due to Littermate Syndrome, but it could also just be their general personality. If they like him and are barking due to excitement then simple calming techniques are all that is needed. If they don't trust him due to socialization issues then I would create a plan to teach them that he isn't scary and is their friend.
Let us know how old they are and I can give you some more advice/input.
How long do you have to do the intense training? Is there a point when they are on and you can just live life?
Absolutely Betty! We are the most worried until the dogs hit 16 weeks. Then we worry a little less but still keep working hard until the dogs hit maturity. Once they are close to a year you should pretty much home free.
So I currently have 2 litermate Doberman pincher sisters... Cocoa and Tequila who are 6 months old. They are the prime example of twin sisters who fight over everything but seem like they can't be away from each other. They are very good separately and don't have any stress factor issues when being apart. However, together they just constantly go back and fourth like playing tag all day especially inside. Is there a strategy to help maintain inside that won't result to constantly putting them in jail (aka their crate)?
Hi Samantha! When you say that your girls fight, do they actually fight or just play very rough? Have either of them been injured when playing or fighting?
If they aren't fighting, but are just playing too rough and crazy I would solve this by doing a few things. First, teach both a "place" command. This will allow you to separate them when needed and they will have to hold the position on their own (rather than being crated). This teaches them to be calm and will really pay off through time.
I would also consider instituting a no wrestling rule when inside. Through time they will become conditioned to be calm when in the house and then they can get wild and play when outside.
If you have trouble keeping them calm you could have them drag leashes through the house for a while and use the leash to gain control and calm them down when needed. You could pick up the leash and heel them, practice obedience commands or guide them to their "place". Make sure to closely supervise them though because the leashes could get caught on something.
I would also make sure they get a long morning walk every day in order to burn off some steam.
Let me know if you would like me to expand on any of these ideas!
I have the same issue like her, I don’t know what to do 😢 when I separate them they bite but not intencional so I’m scared that they hurt each other when they grow up 😢
@@steffyortizar Sorry to hear that you are dealing with that!
This may sound like a silly question, but are you sure they are fighting and not just playing too rough? Are they still pretty young? Often puppies just play really wild and bite and growl a lot in play. If you aren't sure, feel free to send us a quick video over and we can watch it and let you know our thoughts.
Let me know what you think and then we can get you some more detailed advice. If you are sure they are fighting let me know and we can dive deeper.
Talk soon!
Hi. Thanks for this video. I have two 3-month old male littermates and I they are inseperable. Although I notice the other one is more attached to the other, when i separate him for just 5 mins he starts to cry and looks for his brother, while the other is just chilling. I am thinking of having just one of them adopted because I’m also afraid of videos/stories that I hear that they may fight to death when grown ups. Is that inevitable? Or is neutering them will solve it? Also, if I have one of them adopted do you think they can still cope since they are i think already attached to each other. Thank you. 🙏
I would start by watching this video here: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
When they grow, fighting each other is usually not the biggest concern. Most often they develop socialization and separation issues. This often leads to issues with new dogs and people. That being said, many of our clients raise littermates and are able to have great lives with them without any aggression issues.
What breed are your pups?
Holy shit I’ve never heard of Littermates before. Now I know why my dogs never show sign of interest in playing with other dogs.
Let us know if there is any way we can help! Thanks for watching!
I have 3 American pit pups and 2 adult pits. The 2 older ones are trained decent. The 3 young ones so far have learned to sit and not to bite
Hey Christian! That's awesome that your older dogs are already well trained. That will make everything easier! I would definitely get out there and work extremely hard to socialize the young ones separately as much as possible. How old are the young ones?
Any insight on your litter mates tips/training for mates being brought into a home with other, established, dogs? Yes, we have made the decision to adopt a male and female from same litter. I appreciate your time
Are the other dogs friendly with new dogs? If so, I wouldn't worry too much. Littermates tend to bond to each other too tightly but that doesn't tend to occur with older dogs in the house. Have you seen our newer Littermate Syndrome video? Here is a link: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
So the father of my girlfriend's brother-in-law had puppies and my girlfriend took home two littermates, they are both female chihuahua, pug, and weenie mix, and i've been doing a fair share of research on LMS because i would hate to have to separate the two of them they do have a great bond but they are only six weeks and i'm not at all doubting my ability to do what's necessary to avoid seeing LMS arise but i am curious to see if anyone has been in a similar situation, i know they aren't supposed to be separated from their mother for at least 8 weeks but they're already weaned off of their mother and are doing really good in eating dampened kibble. We currently have a pretty big play pen for the two to roam freely and have gotten some toys to help with teething. I'm just curious as to when i should start separating the two, do i wait the two weeks to get to the 8 week mark or do i start now?
That is a great question! I would recommend starting all the separate training and socializing now, but I would let them stay in the same pen overnight for the next week or two. Practice putting them in separate crates in the same room over the next few weeks and once you ensure that isn't overly stressful you can move them to separate rooms.
I have great dane littermates. They are 13 weeks today. No issues except barking excessively when taking one outside and leaving the other one in the crate. What's the best way of easing that stress and stopping it all together? This video helped a lot! I just need a little help with the issues I mentioned! Thanks!
Hi Casey! Congrats on the new pups! I am glad that you are watching videos and reaching out right away. What you are describing is how Littermate Syndrome usually starts.
The main goal here is to teach each dog to feel calm when the other leaves. To do that, we generally start by using obedience training. When one dog leaves you should put the other on leash and train them in a calm manner. Practice any of your obedience commands, it doesn’t really matter which. The goal is that you have a routine that can make each dog calm when alone.
Once they know all their commands and can heel, sit, down and stay on leash when their sibling leaves you can then use long down stays as needed as a tool to condition calmness. If you use obedience to calm them each time their sibling leaves, through the process of classical conditioning they will soon start to feel calm on their own when their sibling leaves. It may feel overwhelming to start, but keep at it, it works!!!
Thanks for watching and please take the time to hit the “like” button if you enjoyed the video. This helps get the video on front of more people so we can help them!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you so much for the reply! So, my husband, or I, should take one of them outside or somewhere else and then my husband, or I, stay with the one left and work with him? We do give each time with both of us separately and swap as well as spend time with them together. There hasn't been any aggression, thankfully. We are taking all the advice and doing a lot of research to prevent this from developing.
@@caseybrown9506 Exactly right! Instead of leaving one in the crate, we work with them on leash while the other leaves. This takes two handlers, but it works well and will help solve the problem.
Seeing aggression at this point in time is very uncommon and most littermates don't ever show aggression towards each other. The most common issues are separation issues and socialization issues. The socialization issues most often lead to a fear of strangers or new situations. That is the main thing I would watch out for!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you! I truly appreciate your help!! They have been socializing VERY well with other people (size, gender, race, etc) as well as other animals (our cats and our friends' dogs). The only behavior we are trying to correct is the barking when separated! Thank you so so much!
@@caseybrown9506 Your welcome! We are here to help any time! I am so glad that socializing is going well!!!
We just recorded a new video on socializing puppies this week and it should be posted by early next week. If any questions come up definitely check it out!
I have littermates (husky pits) and their dad. Do you think having dad around will help? They are only two months old now so I am trying to do everything in my power to make sure they are both confident and happy pups.
What sex are the pups? If they are both males it will be a lot harder to prevent fights when they grow between them and the dad. Not impossible of course, just harder. Having the dad around won't really help with litter mate syndrome since it is mainly a socialization problem. That being said, it is awesome that you are thinking about this stuff now and being proactive!
The main goal is to ensure they get socialized properly with others. We have another littermate syndrome video that should help. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Let us know if you have any questions!
@@SuburbanK9DogTrainingthey are both male yes. I’m very nervous about it and want to ensure that all dogs are happy and thriving. Do you recommend neutering?
@@simplymanda523 I would definitely neuter the father fairly soon. I would make sure it is done well before the pups hit adolescence.
I would ask your vet about their opinion on when to neuter the pups, but I would lean towards around 8 months. If they were a huge breed I might wait until a little older but 8 months seems reasonable for them. It would be ideal to have them neutered before they hit the age that fighting becomes much more likely. I hope this helps!
I pick up an 8 week old German shepherd mix tomorrow. Thought about grabbing one of its siblings. But im not going to now. I do want another dog cause my current dog is pretty old and probably wont be around much longer. But he misses my German shepherd i got put down last month due to cancer. So Ill wait a few months to get another puppy after the one i get tomorrow i guess.
Sorry to hear you lost your older dog 😔 Getting one puppy now and then another in four months or so will make your life much easier!
I requested two black mouth curs that where dumped in the landfill. They are a year old now. And I have not any littermate syndrome, but that might be because I also have a 6 year old Great Dane and a 7 year old Pit bull. So they come into a house with other older dogs.
It sounds like your dogs were lucky to find a great home! I am glad you never experienced littermate syndrome with them. Having more dogs in the house can definitely help if the dogs spend a lot of time playing with a dog besides their littermate. Thanks for taking the time to drop a comment!
I have 2 German Shepherd litter mates. A male and a female, they are just about 16 weeks old. We have crated them separately and feed them separately but they have started fighting every time we are around them. The male is actually the more laid back, nervous dog but he gets the most aggressive during the fights. We have to give attention to each one separately or a fight will break out. He is even aggressive to our adult dog if she is around while we are playing with him or petting him. My husband and I have tried the separate walk routine but the boy puppy will try to attack his sister if she gets near him. He is a sweet dog to us and like I said very laid back until his sister or our older dog enter the area. The 2 siblings do okay together if no one is around, a fight or 2 may break out but it’s always a quick disagreement. I just really need some help. I’m concerned that the fights will continue to get worse.
Do you have any footage of any of the fights? Seeing what level of fighting it is would be helpful. You can email a video to training@suburban-k9.com and we will take a look and get back to you asap!
What do you do if you separate the two and they start stressing out and getting anxious
Hey Jaydess! If the are stressed when separated I would recommend using the Heel command as a calming tool. If they don't know Heel yet I would make it a priority.
The goal is that they learn to walk with you and focus on you in a calm manner. Once they have learned that you can put each dog on leash and Heel them until they are calm. This may sound overly simplistic but it works incredibly well!
The key is that your training is done in a calm manner. If you overly praise them and get them too excited during training it may be a lot of fun, but then your obedience won't be as effective as a calming tool.
How old are your dogs and what breed are they?
Have two westie pups age 4months sisters great at first all of a sudden they are trying to be dominant as in we have been bitten multiple times no hospital really vicious snarling and biting each other causing blleeding we had them in the same crate have put them in separate crates howl cry and bark now neighbours not happy tried taking the, out for walks keep snarling and trying to get at each other or another dog we need help or we are going to have to let them go separately please please help
I would start by watching our newer littermate syndrome video. It has some info in it that will be helpful. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
After watching that one I would suggest watching this one and getting them to walk perfectly on leash. th-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/w-d-xo.html It will make a world of difference. Let us know how this step goes and then we can discuss next steps.
I have two and the smaller one is growling at the larger one all the time now. When I corrected him he stopped but now he doesn't much care . I'm so stressed out because it has just gotten so bad and they have started to mark in the house as well. Should I re home one? Or is there hope for me?
Hey! It's hard to say without knowing more, but we would love to help! How old are they and what breed are they?
Also, when is the smaller one growling? Is it around resources, when he is resting, during play or sometime else?
I have two sisters that are now 3 1/2 years old. They recently had their 5th bad fight resulting in 5 staples and other injuries. They don't fight with other dogs and are great on their own or when separated from each other. I take them individually to Home Depot and walks. They even play frisbee and ball in the yard together. This last fight I was out of the country and it was unprovoked in the backyard while my roommate was scooping poop. I have never caged them and they sleep in my room with me, one on the bed and the other one the floor. Both switching so it's not just one or the other all the time. We have 2 other dogs in the house and they are all fine together. Mine never fight with the others, only each other. I know they don't fight when they are alone because I have cameras. I'm not sure what I can do at this point to try to curb the fighting, other than possibly rehoming one of them, which breaks my heart. But I don't want the next fight to cause even more severe injuries to either of them or me.
Sorry to hear about what you are going through Mary. What breed are your dogs?
If you are going to try and work through this the first step will be to figure out what the triggers are. Sometimes its food, sometimes its space, sometimes it is simply excitement that is the trigger. Do you have a guess of their triggers?
Once we know the triggers we practice a lot of calm training in those situations. Lots of down stays, lots of come commands etc. It is crucial that they are 100% reliable with both of these commands. Here is a link to a come video that should be helpful. th-cam.com/video/ehCNYQlVeLE/w-d-xo.html
Let me know their breed and if you have a guess of their triggers and I can give you some more advice!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining they are a mix of Border Collie, Kelpie and Catahoula. There have been multiple triggers, different for each fight. I have accidently dropped treats and they both went for it at the same time and started fighting. They are jealous of my space and attention and being around me. One fight happened when I was trying to remove the other from the space around me and the other attacked her. I have tried to be really observant of when one starts to show posturing or their body language and separate them to their different spots in the house to curb it, and for the most part it has worked. If one is on the bed the other with growl when she tries to approach and vise versa. It's like king of the hill, first one up is the champion. When this happens I kick them both off and out of my room immediately. They will sleep on the bed together, but at opposite ends and never touch or snuggle, any where, any time.
@@marylines4546 I love that you are looking at their body language and being so observant! That helps a lot in this process.
Kelpies and Border Collies are both breeds that tend to target with their eyes and get really zoned in. It can help to teach them to use their nose more which will decrease their fixation on things they see. We often use this trick for dogs that have leash aggression issues as well. Consider teach them some fun nose work games at home to give them a new outlet and through time you often will see that the dogs become a little "softer" and less intense. It doesn't fix problems, but it makes the problems easier to fix.
I would definitely teach the dogs a place command and have the beds at opposite sides of the room. The goal is to get them good enough that if you see something you don't like you can tell each dog "place" and have them walk away from each other.
For fighting issues around dropped food or treats we will usually set up leash training sessions to address it. First we work on claiming the food and make sure that they will leave it without being in a command. Here is a video showing the process: th-cam.com/video/F6nrUcedHsE/w-d-xo.html
Once you can do that with each dog on their own we will try it with both dogs on leash with two handlers. Eventually we work on that off leash as well. If your dogs understand the food belongs to you and not them the odds of them fighting over it are close to zero.
I hope this helps!!!
Hi i do have one more question, when they are getting better with each other can i put them together more or does this have to be a lifetime thing? I do have one very confident pup and one submissive pup and the confident one is just starting to get aggressive.
That's a great question!!! Once you have fixed all the issues you can definitely relax on the rules some and not worry so much. I wouldn't relax the rules until they are doing great and getting close to a year old.
If they stay in a crate when they are older I would definitely use separate crates, but long term they can be in the same room rather than crating them in two different rooms.
When they are older they can hang out together pretty much all the time, and I would just suggest doing a separate walk/outing once every couple of weeks just to make sure you don't see any signs of stress. You most likely won't if you keep this up but it is great for all dogs to practice being the only dog from time to time.
The socialization issues and fixes that I mentioned in the video are a short term thing. Once a dog is socialized properly, it is very easy to maintain it. I would work crazy hard while they are puppies and once the issues are fixed you just need to live an active life of getting them in public from time to time and you should be fine!
Does this answer your questions? Any additional questions I can answer for you?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining No that is all for now. Thank you so much!!!! I will gladly tell you if this works!
@@lets_be_real Best of luck with the pups! Reach out with questions anytime!
I have 2 female beagle mix littermates, named Lexi and Bitsy. I adopted lexi at 10 weeks old and Bitsy was adopted at the same time by a different family. 3 months later Bitsy was returned because the family's current dog was getting aggressive with her. We decided to adopt Bitsy, and hoped since they had 3 months apart we may have been able to avoid LS. The first 3 days were a tough adjustment because Lexi is high energy and wanted to play nonstop. Then things settled down and we had 2 great weeks. Then suddenly, Bitsy started to become very randomly aggressive toward Lexi. Once or twice a day, without warning, Bitsy will suddenly stare at Lexi, who becomes visibly scared. She then charges at her and starts a fight. The rest of the day they are great together. How can we stop this aggression and Lexi's fear? Is this LS even though they were apart for 3 months. They just turned 6 months old. Thanks!
Hi Melissa! I have a couple questions for you. If you reply back I can get you a more customized response.
Beagles are pretty notorious for resource guarding issues. Have you seen the fights be tied to a resource such as food, a bone, a toy or even a dog bed or special space? This can come up when Bitsy has something and Lexi walks by or even if Bitsy sees Lexi walk up to something Bitsy wants.
Have either of them had issues fighting with any other dogs that you know of?
Let me and I will give you some advice!
@SuburbanK9DogTraining yes, this has happened at the food bowl, so I am now feeding them separately in their crates. It also happened when they got new beds and I tried to put the old ones out in the living room. Bitsy wanted the old beds to herself. I never give them bones together because they just want each other's and that becomes nasty. Is there a way to stop the resource guarding? Do you think they have LS or could this just be a separate issue? Thanks for your reply!
@@BeagleMom92 This doesn't sound like Littermate Syndrome for a couple of reasons. One is that they were separate during their critical socialization window and had a lot of time apart to learn how to bond with others. The second is the type of issues you are seeing. The reason I asked about resource guarding in my first reply is because it is so common in Beagles and is not tied to Littermate Syndrome.
Resource guarding is fixable, but it does take a lot of work broken into manageable chunks. It sounds like you have already taken the first step which is to put up all the resources they guard so that you can prevent fights.
The next step is to start calm training sessions to teach them to coexist around these resources. I would teach each dog how to heel properly so that use can use it as a calming tool.
Then I would start feeding them in the same room on leash and if one dog acts up just use the leash to heel them until they are calm. The goal is that you establish ownership and control in that moment. I would do the same thing with the bones and any other toys.
Once they are doing well we practice having one dog approach the other while they are chewing a bone or toy. We do this on leash using two handlers. If either dog acts out you can give a quick leash correction and then heel them until calm.
This process takes time but resource guarding is fixable and does get better! Once you love their behavior on leash and fully trust them you can move to doing all of this off leash.
I hope this helps!!!
I have 2 pomeranian that ware born in my home and they get separated
They are 4 years now and they have alot of problems whit dogs and pepole
And i really don't know what to do.
Here is another video on Littermate Syndrome that has some more detailed instructions in it. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
How do they do on leash? We use the heel command as the start to our training process and use it as a calming technique.
I have 5 pitbulls from my 1st litter and they are great it's how you train em plain an sinple
Glad your dogs are doing well!!!
I got 2 dogs 4 months apart in time and in age. I believe they have some sort of littermate syndrome or sibling rivalry. They fight everyday, usually the bold one is after the timid one.
Do you have a video for when its too late to prevent littermate syndrome?
To add they crate in different rooms separately, walk separately, sleep separately etc.
The older/bossy of the 2 go neutered for medical reasons.
We know all the signs before an "attack" but it's passed the point of listening.
Sorry to hear you are going through this. We do have another Littermate video that is worth watching. It is much better than this one and has more training footage and guidance. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html. It still spends a lot of time discussing prevention, but there will be some helpful info in there.
I would also suggest teaching both dogs a rock solid "place" command immediately. We find this to be a good tool to defuse situations since you can send them separate directions with a single command. Here is a link to that one: th-cam.com/video/Xk4YI6AOPAw/w-d-xo.html
Fighting daily is a lot. Are they getting injured during the fights? Also, what breed are they?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you
I think my dogs might have that they’re both 7 months but just recently this week they’ve gotten into 2 horrible fight yesterday which was the second fight it was bad, one dog had my other dog by the neck I couldn’t separate them till my lil dog came to bite my other dog in the face and that’s how he only let him go, they have never been like this they usually get a long so well that they defend each other with other dogs, i really hope is not late I don’t want them to kill each other
I am so sorry to hear about that! I have a couple of questions that can help with the training process. First, what breed are they? Second, what caused the fight? Resources, excitement, fear?
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining German shepherd mixed Belgian malinois and it was a stick that my other dog was chewing
@@gissellecruz3412 Usually this is fixable, but it takes a ton of work. I would ensure that each dog has a perfect recall and also teach each of them the Place command. The goal is that you can either call them to you or send them to a different place immediately with one word. This is helpful for stopping fights in those crucial couple of seconds before they start.
Here is the Place video: th-cam.com/video/Xk4YI6AOPAw/w-d-xo.html
Here is a video on Come: th-cam.com/video/ehCNYQlVeLE/w-d-xo.html
I would also e collar train them. It isn't needed for every dog, but in a serious case like this it will make a world of difference. Here is a link to a video on the Dogtra Arc which is our favorite two dog system. th-cam.com/video/prSRtossyHI/w-d-xo.html
Once you have done these things there is a decent chance that the fighting will be fixed or controllable just due to the dogs learning to listen and feel calm around each other. If not, then the next step is to start training resources with them together but I would suggest not starting that until they are incredibly obedient.
If my family and I do not want to crate train can we just have them take turns sleeping in separate rooms?
We recommend crate training, but if you choose not to then having them sleep in separate rooms is a great idea!
I have two littermates (10 weeks) and it seems like every time they are together they want to fight and they always go to the face. I guess it’s play fighting but it looks a little intense to me. I’m just afraid one of them is going to get an eye. Should I stop them?
Hey! The play fighting is ok, but it can tend to escalate and lead to issues. Biting on the face is fairly normal. What breed are they? We just posted a new Littermate video today and it has a lot of good content and training footage in it. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
It discusses different ways to calm them down during play. It is a lot more fun to watch than this video! Take a look and let me know what questions you have after you watch it!
I have 2 littermates. I got them 5 days ago and are terrified of littermates syndrome. I wanna do everything to prevent it. Right now, they get let out on the grass alone with me and go on one or two walks a day with each other. I train them separately 15 mins each and then 15 mins together. They also sleep in different crates on my room besides each other. I am separating the crates more and more and want the crates out of my room. The biggest problem I have is when I feed the other. The other one doesn’t wanna play. The second problem I have is that they don’t like to play with toys and the third is that they start a fight all the time. I say. No. They stop. And then begin one minute later. What do I do? Any tips? What would be grate is a online littermate course🥰
Here is a link to our newer Littermate Syndrome video. It should help a lot! th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Regarding the fighting, are they just playing aggressively? If they stop on command it seems like that is the case.
What breed are they?
I have two corgis that I had since pups, from different litters that have developed litter are syndrome but their case seems to KNR very severe. They fight on contact and I have to keep them in separate rooms at all times. They’re both bossy and have strong personalities. Please help me fix this 😭
Sorry to hear you are going through that! When dogs are at the point of fighting constantly, we almost treat them more like dogs that don't know each other than littermates. Meaning we focus on healthy and safe introductions rather than working on make sure they are calm when separate.
Here is a link to our podcast on Spotify. We did an episode a few weeks back on dog introductions and dog fights. I think it will help you a lot! open.spotify.com/show/0u4lIDhvmK17EBbp7VfXZ5
I would start by teaching them a perfect heel command so that you can use it as a calming technique. That will make more sense after listening to the podcast. Here is a link to a video on teaching heel properly. th-cam.com/video/DdeHrc4pCmA/w-d-xo.html
Reach out with questions any time!
I got a female dog at six weeks old and seven months later the breeder asked if I would take her brother and I did. A year later and they are fighting like crazy over nothing that I can see. Is this sibling rivalry or something else?
Sorry to hear that! The most common reasons dogs fight in a household are guarding resources (food, toys, bed, you etc.), over excitement or control related issues where they are butting heads with each other and not backing down. Which of those sounds the most like your dogs?
Do I potty train them separately if so how?
I would potty train them together. Taking them outside together to potty and play is fine and won’t build an unhealthy relationship.
Have you watched our newer littermate syndrome video? If not, I would suggest watching it. There is some more practical information in there.
I have 4 puppies (corgi) they are starting fighting. I’ll do all of this if I can fix this behavior. I hate see them fighting they are almost 4 months 😢
Oh man, sorry to hear that you are dealing with that!
This may sound like a silly question, but are you sure they are fighting and not just playing too rough? Often puppies just play really wild and bite and growl a lot in play. If you aren't sure, feel free to send us a quick video over and we can watch it and let you know our thoughts.
Let me know what you think and then we can get you some more detailed advice.
Talk soon!
I have 4 litter pupies, first time owning pupies, i need advice
Morning! I would start by watching our other Littermate Syndrome video next. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
After that one I would check out our puppy play list and definitely watch the video titled "Avoid This Mistake When You Socialize Your Puppy". It goes in depth talking about their Critical Socialization Period and how to actually create a socialization plan.
After watching those let me know what questions you have. We would love to help!
We just got 2 litter mates, do they need to be in separate rooms or can they be in the same room but not in each other's view?
Separate rooms is a great idea if it works for your house/lifestyle. That being said, we have helped a lot of clients fix littermate issues even when separate rooms are not an option. If they are in the same room I would just make sure you are working hard at the separate training/socialization outings.
Here is a link to our newer littermate syndrome video. It is an improved/updated version of this one with some more practical advice in it. th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Let us know what additional questions you have!
@SuburbanK9DogTraining oh I saw that one first. I didn't even realize that it was your video as well. That's where I got the idea about the same room, but out of sight from each other. The room is large enough that they will not be able to see each other. My doesn't have the littermate pups yet, but if she goes back on one, you would lose the deposit, so we want to take whatever steps it takes before they are too attached. Thank you for the quick reply.
we have English Bulldog brothers. They are about 11 weeks old. They have been crate trained separately and are 95% potty trained. They are also fed separately. They don't seem to mind being separated. They do fight a lot when together. How do I know if it's just play or if it's a "trying to dominate" thing?
Hi Kelli! I am glad they are doing well when separate! Definitely keep up the hard work! As far as the playing/fighting when together goes, it depends on how they are doing it. It is super normal for puppies to growl at each other and constantly bite each other in play. Hopefully that is what you have going on.
How often do they get mad at each other? You should be able to tell by a change in their growl/bark/play. Does one get frustrated and tell the other one off?
Another thing to watch for is one getting nervous or scared during play. There should be a lot of give and take without one dog constantly bullying the other.
If you have questions on a specific thing they do feel free to take a short video of them and send it over. We can watch it and let you know what we think!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining they do look like they're playing. They stop when I make a loud noise or call one of the pups by name. I also notice they take turns being on the bottom of their wrestling. I do believe it's play. How long do I let them play outside together? They do play on their own as well when together outside. I know all that is good, but what do I need to watch for?
@@kelliungaro1504 Morning! From what you describe I would not worry about the play. If there is give and take and you can stop them verbally it sounds like their play is appropriate! Letting them play for long periods of time is absolutely fine.
Most littermates play fairly well together and the issues they have are based upon separation anxiety and improper socialization. I would spend a ton of time training them and socializing them separately and then let them have a lot of play time together in the house. Remember that due to their Critical Socialization Period the next 5 weeks or so are key!
I hope this helps!!!
@@SuburbanK9DogTraining thank you. I have tried training them separately. They are English Bulldogs, one is very attentive, the other is not so much lol. They know sit and stay, they do not have separation anxiety when away from each other. No problems with other people or dogs. What do I teach them next?
@@kelliungaro1504 Hi Kelli! Based upon their age and the fact that they are littermates the main thing I would still be focusing on is socialization. Often, socialization issues don't show up until the dogs get a little older and what you do over the next few months can prevent so many issues. You are currently laying the foundation for a long happy life with them.
I would definitely start teaching them the come command and the down command when you have time. Here is a link to a video to help with the come command. It can take a while to master it so I would start soon! th-cam.com/video/ehCNYQlVeLE/w-d-xo.html
Got a two 10 month old littermates boy and girl ..they are fine outside but in the house the girl has starting being really aggressive and she eyeballs him them goes at him 😢 I think she is guarding things at my wits end if I go out with one the other one gets stressed
We would love to help you get this sorted. What breed are the dogs?
The first thing I would do is make sure each dog has a rock solid Heel command. This video gives you a little more detail on why, but the main reason is that it is a great calming technique. th-cam.com/video/DYjNunleNrQ/w-d-xo.html
When you leave with one dog you will need a handler at home Heeling the other dog until they are calm. Once they are calm you can let the other dog do whatever they want until you get back.
My guess is that your male will be stressed by your female leaving and then be happy but overly excited when she gets back. When your female is home alone you may see that she is frustrated or even aggressive when the male returns. This often happens when the more dominant dog is left.
Fix this issue first before worrying about the resource guarding. The reason is that if you fix the main Litter Mate Syndrome issues, the resource guarding could go away on its own or at the very least become much easier to fix.
I would also practice all of their obedience commands in a calm manner. If they are already good at the basics consider a new command like Finish. th-cam.com/video/cToZ_W86CjU/w-d-xo.html
Let me know what breed your dogs are and I can give you some more insight!
Oh thanks so much for the reply ! I will watch the other videos..they are jack Russell x beagles 😳 and she is always the aggressor but ends up coming out worse ..they have literally just had another fight …I am having to keep them completely separated atm ..this all started after her first season she was fine before that ..she is due to be spayed at the end of march I was hoping that would help 🤷♀️
@@LgacLgac Jack Russells and Beagles are both fairly prone to resource guarding so that certainly tracks with what you are seeing. They are also breeds that require a huge amount of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy.
I would create a full exercise plan that leaves them tired at the end of each day. A combination of training, walking, and playing is ideal. It would be worth looking into some enrichment toys that one dog can have while the other is gone. One of my favorites is reviewed here. It is not expensive and will keep a dog busy for quite a while. th-cam.com/video/80IGg_JbV6g/w-d-xo.html
I would definitely get her spayed, but the behavior change is typically fairly mild so I wouldn't count on it helping a lot.
Since you are currently keeping them separated, you need a plan to reintroduce them. If you are able to walk them without fights I would walk them together a lot right now so they are able to be around each other in a calm state.
Also, watch your male closely. Sometimes a dog will get attacked enough times that they start to "see" aggressive behavior even when the other dog is acting normally. This can lead to a lot of fights that feel very unpredictable and without cause.
Let me know if you have any more questions! Also, if you haven't, please take the time to "like" the video. We are working hard to create some more content on Littermate Syndrome and each additional "like" helps us rank a little higher so that more people will see our content.
Thankyou so much have subscribed and liked ..will definitely be taking all this advice and hopefully things will improve
Also currently they are in separate crates next to each other, should I move one of them into different rooms so they have some more space from each other ??
Still 82
Hey Michael! Thanks for watching our video! I don't know exactly what your comment means. Are you pointing out a particular section of the video? Hope all is well!
I am getting two puppies this weekend and am worried about LMS. I'm outside of your training areas but hope you can provide some help.
In one of your videos, I believe it was said that you could provide an example of a schedule.
They will be 8 week cairn terrier, bichon, poodle mix male puppies. I plan to have them crated separately, crates will have covers, and they'll be in the same area but I'll have a divider up.
How often can I let them play with one another each day versus having them play on their own?
I am trying to find a trainer that I can have assist but I literally just learned about LMS, so it may take a little time.
Thank you for anything you can help with!
Shanon
Hi Shannon! If you haven't watched our newer Littermate Syndrome video I would suggest watching it. Here is a link: th-cam.com/video/z4ok69cdUA0/w-d-xo.html
Allowing them to play together a lot is not a problem and I would not place a limit on the amount of time per day they can play. The important parts are to crate separately and to go for a lot of separate socialization and training outings. If you do a great job with the separate outings you should be absolutely fine. Reach out with any additional questions!
@SuburbanK9DogTraining Thank you so much. I did watch the video and it was very helpful. I appreciate the additional information on the interaction they have together, it actually put my mind at ease.
You're help now, and possibly later, is invaluable.
Shanon
I hate that I found out about littermate syndrome AFTER we got 2 puppies. We thought it was such a cute idea…boy were we wrong. One dog honestly has been great, a little angel, but the other has become so aggressive! And he used to be the sweetest one when we brought him home!
Unfortunately this happens a lot. It would be ideal if breeders and rescues would always explain this to people!
Sometimes the sweet one becomes aggressive due to a lack of confidence. This is fairly common with Littermate Syndrome.
Who does your pup show aggression to? New people in the house or on a walk? Other dogs? Also, what breed are they?
I TOTALLY disagree...t'isnt three times the work but FOUR!!
😀😀😀