littermates

[Lynn Stoops]

Hello

 

Has anyone raised littermates?  I have a good friend that has one goldendoodle (7 months old) and the breeder called and offered her a littermate to her puppy ~ they still have 4 puppies looking for homes from the litter.  She has read all about the horror stories on raising littermates dealing with littermate syndrome - bonding with each other vs. the family...etc.

 

She got Lucy in November do you think that is adequate time for Lucy to have  bonded (she is very calm and sweet)  with the family?  This new puppy would be a male.

 

Thoughts???

[Debbie Penny]

Lynn, I have litter mates, 1 year apart.  Charlie 2 yrs (male) and Teddi 1 yrs (female) come from the same parents, different litters.  They are completely in love with each other, and in love with every member of the family.  It is has been very positive and it pleases me that when family members are not around, they have each other.  I support litter mates, maybe not the same baby pups all at once, but if your training is down fairly solid, I'd say go...  Charlie was 10 months old when Teddi was added to our family and it worked wonderfully!  We also had a 10 year old maltese then, who was the ol mother hen.  We miss her these days.  All the best with your decision.  

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

I have sisters.... same litter. They were sperated for about a month and a half before I got them and I got them about 2 weeks apart. They are quite dependent on each other and I attribute this to my not having seperated them more. I feel the amount of time they spend alone together is what creates that bond. The more opportunity you create leaving one home while taking the other goes a long way to solving that issue.

That's my two cents worth.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Well, I am raising 5 puppies right now, and although they are only 6 weeks old, they just love me--they like each other too I am sure, but they come to members of the family very easily and willingly--but that is all the experience I have.

[Pat McShane]

I spent a considerable amount of time researching this when we were adopting Finn and the general consensus is to not do this.  And after having a pup for the past few months I am so glad that we took the conventional wisdom. 

 

We spent three days working with a great trainer in Vancouver BC and asked when for a second pup and his thoughts were that you get a second pup when you feel confident in your training of the first.  I anticipate this point will be closer to a year and a half to two years.  

 

 

[Lynn Stoops]

Hello

 

My friend Kim went to visit the breeder and puppies yesterday and she is torn ~ her girl is super sweet and tender and the remaining pups are getting a bit wild and crazy.  They are outside in the "dog house" a.k.a. a kennel they are not spayed or neutered, no rabies shots or training - socialization, leash training, house manners...etc.  No heartworm or flea prevention.

 

I think at this moment is  leaning toward passing up on the puppy she does not want to "rock the boat" at her house with her 2 goldendoodles.  But I think she feels guilty leaving the puppy in that environment.

 

Thanks for all your replies!

Lynn

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Lucy and Sophie are littermates, here is a link to her profile, I am sure she has some input she wouldn't mind sharing, in case she misses your post

 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profile/LucyandSophiesMom?xg_source=pro...

 

 

 

 

[Beverley S. LaLonde]

I have four Goldendoodles, one is 6 yr., 2 yr., 1 yr. & 4 mths. They play a lot but are very entertaining. Of course you have to be alpha to restore order if it gets to crazy! Two males and two females. And yes they do have a good time together. And enjoy each others company.

[BarB HART]

I have littermate Labradoodles. I got Karley in August of 2004 and her brother in January 2006. They have done fine. I also have four other dogs.I

[Adina P]

Given that the 7 month old has already had 5 months to bond with the current family, it may not be quite the littermate syndrome that others warn about.  At the same time, this is the age that puppies start to act like crazy teenagers and test the waters a ton!  So it may end up being a major challenge to get both pups trained to a reasonable level.  It just depends on what she wants.  If she likes having well behaved dogs that obey reliably...it may be a little too soon to add another dog when dog #1 is not anywhere near done training.  But if she doesn't mind some chaos and unruliness then it might go just fine.