I'm sure littermates can be managed - it's just not easy, not as easy as one. With respect, Polly's two aren't a year old, and Roz's two are 10 wks old....... I'm talking about problems that happen in adolescence and maturity - clashes of personality etc.

My mum had littermates many years ago, two Cavalier bitches, everything went swimmingly. So of course I know it can be done, I saw it with my own eyes she did already have two other adult dogs though. And they were Cavs, not springers

I am sure everyone on ST will give you lots of help - did you say these are your first dogs ?

These are our first Springers, currently we have no other dogs but both my grlfirnd and I have grown up with loads of dogs.
Our erighbour is also a close friend of ours and has three dogs (2 springers mother and daughter and a pointer), he is also helping to take care, give advice, socialise the new puppies etc.
I must confess I now have great worries about this, but I have spoken to the local dog training school and they have said if both puppies are given time apart playing, training etc then this should be markedly reduced.
I am confident we will be able to get on top of any problems that arise, I am glad we know about this though so we can start putting mechanisms in place at an early age to combat this.
As i said I am glad I know about this but it has caused me a great deal of worry lol

Polly
Did you seperate yours at night or anything special to avoid this two puppy at the same time problem?
Do they still get on as they are a year old?
Do you have trouble with your bond towards them?

i had plenty of sleepless nights, worrying about the responsiblity too. My OH has owned a springer when he was a teenager, but I had never had a dog, and wouldn't have considered myself a 'doggy' person. My son had been asking for a dog, on a regular basis for 16 years (since he was two) - and I just began to see more positives than negatives, and once the family spotted a chink in my armour i was done for!

My youngest is 13, then I have a 15 year old and my son is nearly 19 - technically Rufus belongs to Charlie, and Rufus knows this too... Stell is definitely a mummy's girl! So we were in the lucky situation of having five adults to share the care and training. My son is fantastic with them though, he just seems to have a natural affinity with dogs, they hang on his every word and love him to bits. Having said that, they are both asleep on my feet as i sit here typing, so they must love me too

I'm hoping that having a firm grip (so to speak) on them as puppies, will stand us in good stead for dealing with any challenging behaviour in the future - but its great to know, that people with advice and experience are on here too, to lend a hand when needed.

When they were very little, we had a kitchen cupboard with a dodgy catch... one day i came home to find they had emptied a large tub of tandoori spice mix all over themselves and the kitchen (Rufus was then known as Bombay Bad Boy! ) and another time, they recreated christmas with a packet of icing sugar. What kept me sane, and kept my sense of humour, was the thought that i could tell folks on here - and even share the pictures of the devastation!

- Enjoy your puppies, don't stress over everything - but do keep in mind an idea of how you want them to be as adult dogs, and be consistent in working towards that goal.

Have fun! and photos photos photos photos....

Thanks Polly,

I have been reseraching this thoroughly and I think as long as the owners are prepared, and will be strict in the training problems can be reduced.
The puppies are arriving anyway and what can we do now but try our very best for them.
I can understand how people who are not commited to the work involved or aware of the situation may fall down and get themsleves into a pickl, but with careful planning, support and adive I am confident our enw additions will be happy and well adjusted.
I have also just spoekn to a neighbour who has bred dogs for years and has kept mother iwth daughter and another sbling, the dogs are now getting on a bit and everything seems fine, like evrything I think it will be an individual case for every individual.
I have had enough worry, I now need to concentrate on positive things and enjoy this day as I should do.

Harry

There are a few members with older littermates, Kaz40 and Fuddles off top of my head. I think Penel is a wise warning voice, she has a lot of experience with most situations, but I'm sure you're approaching it all the right way from what I can see, really wish you good luck

no, they sleep together at night in the kitchen, but if the door is left open, Ruf prefers the sofa, and Stellar the bottom of my bed. Charlie my son, often takes them out individually for a short walk and has done since we got them, he has also does individual training with them regularly - just short bursts 10mins or so. I have to say that other than heel work, training them together has been productive too.
They are still best friends, they play fight lots, as they did when they were pups - (I call it 'crocodiles' they kind of snap their teeth at each other while making chewbakka noises!) Occasionally Stel gets a bit grumpy and collects all the toys in a heap and won't share - but i just put all the toys away and find a game for them to do (garden sausage hunt is a good one)

And we don't have any problems with them not listening to us - Stellar responds instantly... Rufus sometimes has a 'kevin and perry' moment... it's not fair, do i have to? but ultimately does as he's told But, fingers crossed, at the moment, they are in no doubt that the humans are in charge

Hi Roz and Polly,
Thanks for the email - we have been soooo busy I have hardly had time to think lol. I have also enetred into a sprial of dispair about Same Litter Syndrome, that I wanted to keep off the fourm for a while as it was really affecting my enjoyment of the dog - I found mysefl watching every play fight and trembling with fear - so the warnings people have given have really made me worry a lot!!!
But I am over that now and am just trying my best - since being on here I have spoken to about 6 people who have sisters and have been fine with them so all we can do is try (so please no more worries for me everyone or I will end up bald!! I have enough to worry about without horror stories coming form every angle!)
The puppies are doing really well, later today when Jen gets home we will upload some pictures.
Millie and Belle, so far have been really good, we have taught them to come to their names, sit and LEAVE the goats and chickens so all is going well. Toilet training also going well, with all number twos outside and most number ones, as soon as the injections kick in we will start socialising them with otehr dogs.
We have also had a programme of different poeple visting - children, men in hats, fat people, thin peope, couples, older people all sorts and they have been really good with everyone so so far so good. (Im sure someone can now post some horrible fact that will make me worry, if you are going to please just keep it to yourself, we will discover problems in our own time and deal with them as they arise thank you very much).
How are you getting on?
We have also insured them with Petplan, but it was rather expensive, know any chepaer ones?
Harry, Jen, Millie and Belle, plus all the other animals.
I think Jen will be putting some pics on our website http://www.homefarmburrow.co.uk
so you might catch some there, or atleast you can see our other animals lol.

Thats great, glad they are settling in well. i had loads of horror stories when i said i was getting just the one springer! but he is the best dog in the world. and springers are the best breed too.xxxxxx

just thought you might like to see how my two behaved on their first few days with us...

puppy movie

If it runs slowly, you may need to download it first




Oh and apologies for the cheesy music!

It's just really hard work, think hard work then quadrouple it and just when you think you have cracked it, they hit the teenage times ! But as long as you are prepared for that, I wasn't soon learnt then chill with them and enjoy.

Just remeber you are the centre of their world, not each other Jack and Tobes are 4 in October, yes they think the world of each other and now Sam the pup but they know the buck stops with me or Nick.

Both were lead trained separatly and had one on ones separatly neither have any hang ups, with other dogs or each other.

And having said all that, no I wouldn't recommend two pups/littermates together because I know the time and effort you have to put in to get it right but thats why we are here on ST, to learn and get it right for all our dogs.

When can I start coughing for piccies

Hi, great to hear from you and that Millie and Belle are settling in ok.
Loved the pics on your web site, you have quite a brood there lol
The coughing has started so don't leave it too long before you post those pics
I can sympathise with how you felt about the dreaded littermate warnings, it put the fear of whatsit into us too, all I can say is thank goodness for the internet and the good support from this site.
Just enjoy the fun to come, all the hard work is so worth it when they cuddle up to you and give those doggy kisses even if they are at 5 in the morning! lol
Keep in touch.
Roz x

I'm sorry if you didn't want to hear about the "dreaded littermate warnings" . Seems like no one wants to discuss the problems that can occur
But surely it's better to know these things and be prepared, than stick your head in the sand and pretend it's all going to be hunky dory - and that having two puppies is just as easy as having one.

Sounds like you are giving it your best, and I'm sure with tons of hard work, both your pups will grow up to be well adjusted individual canine citizens.

Penel, I think it's because your posts didn't come over as being supportive advice - rather chastising warnings of doom and gloom. Yes it may be twice the 'work' to train two puppies (never had just one so no idea how much more) but the other way to look at it is that it can be twice the fun, twice the achievement - i consider training and caring for mine recreation, not work

you commented on someone's post about puppy biting how 'wise' they were just to get one - well i'm sorry but that was definitely a dig at us 'twin' owners wasn't it? Ironically, my littermates didn't terrorise any humans with their tiny teeth - they tried them out on each other instead - so there was one problem we didn't have to deal with, which meant that time could be spent teaching other things.

- also, i understand that you have seen some littermates dumped in rescues - and it is very sad; but what you have no way of quantifying, is how many littermates are living happily, in loving homes with responsible owners - as you only see the failures. Dogs are dumped for many reasons surely? Divorce, Marriage, Children, Emigration, Redundancy, Ill health... the list must be endless -

- Now i'm not saying that there aren't problems that can occurr - this forum is full of those occurring problems isn't it? But, the problems befall those with just one dog as well those with littermates, or those that have several dogs of different ages.

Just felt the need to redress the balance a little - I'd hate to think of any one not asking for help (myself included) because of the fear of a 'told you so'

Pol

It's not a "told you so" at all, it's a "please heed my warnings and realise you have to do more work than someone with one puppy". Lots of people don't say what they are thinking because they are worried about causing offence - obviously they are more polite than me . I'd rather cause offence by saying what I think and see someone succeed with two puppies, than not say anything and see them fail. Only last week, cocker rescue have had a working cocker in rescue because they bought littermates and are now finding it too hard to have two. If you know the pitfalls, hopefully you can avoid them.

And I would far rather someone ask for advice than not. I'm not horrid y'know not all the time