Getting my boy's littermate?

[leothebully]

Hi

We had Leo now for two weeks and we love him so much. We are considering getting his sister from the same litter next month if she is not yet sold. We want for him (and her) as well for have playmates and keep each other company while we are at work. My fiance works in the morning and I work the later shift so Leo is not left alone for more than 4 hours a day. Whenever when one of us come home first we always find him sitting there waiting for us. Is it a bad idea getting littermates? Leo comes to us healthy and very playful. He is well socialized. The breeder really did a good job with him. We considered getting both of them at the same time but backed out because we've read bad things about raising littermates. What do you guys think about raising two littermates puppies at once? His sister is not as dominant as he is. He is definitely the alpha male in the group.

Thanks

[gravy]

We got him first at 8 months of age and her at about 16 months.
She was a little pushy at first, but we kept correcting her and
now they play together all the time. Just make sure to watch them
constantly the first few months or so and stop any overly aggressive play.
Also, never crate them together. I really enjoy having the two, but it is
a little more work, and twice as much food and vet expenses.
Hope this helps.
Greg, Franc, and Riesy

[French Queen]

Wait, a least till your boy is over a year old.
Then you will be able to put all your time & effort into a new puppy.

Generally dogs & bitches get on really well together, but two pups are totally
different. It's very easy to think at the beginning you will easily cope with the all
the upheaval & extra commitment that another pup brings, but nothing can prepare
you for it. It changes in the way you run your life.

Do you think having a littermate will make it easier for you. Think again

You have to treat them as individuals from day one, which means separate crates, feeding,
walking & training which takes a lot of extra time and energy. If you don't there's more
chance of them bonding with each other more than they bond with you.

Puppies that are not treated as individuals may be frightened or show aggression with
other dogs and people when they are separated from each other, the poor dog does not
no how to deal with the situation.

So please think very carefully before you make your decision

French Queen and the little clowns

[Mochi Man]

From what I have read and been told French Queen is correct. Someone in our puppy play group mentioned that he had littermates and he got 2 because he thought it would be better because they could keep each other company. They started to show signs of littermate syndrome soon after. Ended up that they have to be treated as individuals for the first 12 months. This means seperate crates, seperate, feedings, seperate walks. And they cannot be left together while you are out so doesn't seem like you will be accomplishing your main goal of having them keep each other company Google up littermate syndrome and you can read more..

[franp]

To add one more comment..Reputuable breeders (for the most part) do not sell two puppies at the same time.. be they littermates or not..for the reasons mentioned..
FrenchQueens words should be read, re read and read again...

Wait till your pup is at least a year old...then think long and hard.. having two dogs is more than just two dogs..it is way more than twice the work. Indeed , twice the Vet bills; food bills etc..

[French Queen]

The trouble is Fran, in the UK now Frenchies are being sold for vasts amounts of money.
So every Tom Dick or Harriett are jumping on the band wagon & breeding without any concern for the dogs. All they are interested in is your money, they will say anything as long
as they get a sale. God help you if you have a problem with your new puppy, because the
breeder wont.

Getting back to the littermate problem, purchasing two pups may cause no problems
early on but once they mature it can total change. Littermate's can be very similar
in temperament so if both dogs are dominant and either will not back down, you will have
major problems on your hands.

If these problems cannot be rectified, one dog will have to be re-homed.
The trouble is which one do you choose.

French Queen & the little clowns

[leothebully]

Thank you for all your advice. I think we are going to wait till he is older to get another puppy. He deserves all of our attention and care right now. Have a Happy New Year everyone..

[franp]

[QUOTE=French Queen;29534]The trouble is Fran, in the UK now Frenchies are being sold for vasts amounts of money.
So every Tom Dick or Harriett are jumping on the band wagon & breeding without any concern for the dogs. All they are interested in is your money, they will say anything as long
as they get a sale. God help you if you have a problem with your new puppy, because the
breeder wont.

No different here in North America...

[Hudson]

Thank you for all your advice. I think we are going to wait till he is older to get another puppy. He deserves all of our attention and care right now. Have a Happy New Year everyone..

Good for you. Tank was 2 years old before we got Roxie. That way Tank got to be 'an only puppy' for two years which was good for his personality. Roxie is much more gregarious and they have fit well together. Even though he is smaller, he is still the older dog who makes his position understood when he gets tired of her.

Don