Step away from the second puppy now! I have discouraged littermate ownership because as a dog owner and trainer I know how much work it is to socialize, housebreak, and train one puppy, let alone two.

Typically I get the frantic call after the fact from new owners “because”:

• They were the last two left and we couldn’t bear to separate them.
• We have two kids, so we got two.
• I just couldn’t leave one after I saw how cute they were.
• We eventually want two dogs- if I’m going to raise one puppy, I might as well get them both at the same time.
• We want them to keep each other company when we’re gone during the day.
• It was an impulse decision, we really didn’t plan on getting two.               
•  I liked one, (insert family member here) liked the other so we got them both.

Have you heard the term co-dependent? It generally refers to an unhealthy relationship dynamic. Co-dependent puppies mean they have devastating stress and can’t function without the other puppy. The owner needs to know that littermates can create an unbreakable bond with each other. The same is true if you even if you have two puppies from different litters but both under the age of six months.

But life happens. What if:

• One of the puppies needs to spend an extended visit at the vets.
• One puppy has to be on crate rest for 16 weeks.
• Tragedy happens and they need to be rehomed.
• One of the dogs gets along with the baby but the other one doesn’t.
• One puppy dies at an early age.

To help prevent codependent puppies, owners need to be diligent and teach their puppies how to:

• Sleep in separate crates and rooms, without the other puppy.  
• Go to the bathroom on a leash without the other puppy around.
• Train in a separate room.
• Play with the owners by themselves (instead of only playing with one another or playing together with the owner).
• Focus on people instead of one another.
• Rest and relax alone (without the owner and definitely without the other puppy).
• Ride in the car without their sibling.

• Eat without their littermate.
• Stay at home (crated) while the other puppy goes out for training (with owner).

When puppies grow up together and special attention isn’t paid to training them to lead independent lives, their lives can be unnecessarily stressful.