I’ve heard that raising two puppies together can lead to issues if they become overly dependent on each other, known as littermate syndrome. Does a similar situation ever occur when raising a puppy with an adult or adolescent dog? This question is purely out of curiosity, as I have a 2-year-old dog and currently no plans to add another pet to the family.
As someone who has researched extensively on Littermate Syndrome, I can confidently say that it is not as common or likely to occur when a puppy is raised with an older dog. While Littermate Syndrome is typically associated with raising two puppies from the same litter together, it can also occur when two puppies from different litters are raised together. However, when a puppy is raised with an older dog, the risk of Littermate Syndrome is significantly lower. This is because the older dog can provide a more stable and balanced influence on the puppy, helping to prevent the puppy from becoming overly dependent on its sibling. Additionally, the older dog can also help the puppy develop better social skills and learn to interact with other dogs and humans more effectively. While it is still possible for Littermate Syndrome to occur in some cases, the risk is much lower when a puppy is raised with an older dog.
While an older dog can mitigate some risks of Littermate Syndrome, any pairing of young dogs can still pose challenges. Individual temperament and training methods play significant roles in fostering healthy relationships between dogs, regardless of age differences.
Littermate Syndrome is unlikely to occur with a puppy and an older dog due to their age difference. It’s often exaggerated as a risk in dog ownership. Proper care and the environment can mitigate any potential issues. Behavioral variations in dogs are largely influenced by their upbringing and environment, areas where our understanding still lacks clear information.