• Two or more dogs from the same litter
  • Not much research into LS
  • LS – development of undesirable behaviours in a household where 2 or more puppies of a similar age are present, regardless of whether the puppies are related (similar age = same age to 1 year difference)
  • Symptoms
    • aggression
      • people
      • other dogs
      • each other
    • lack of owner-based focus
      • dependent on breed
      • not dependent on other pup
    • hyper focussed on other pup
      • can happen in any multi dog household
    • SA from the other pup
      • can happen in any multi dog household
  • Syndrome = a combination of medical problems that shows the existence of a particular disease or mental condition/a type of negative behaviour or mental state that is typical of a person in a particular situation – neither apply as the dogs are not ill and are happy
  • Does littermate syndrome exist, or are they simply multi dog household problems?
  • How to treat
    • Like any other multi dog household
    • Full behavioural history, inc opinion of everyone in the household on each dog
    • Management – ensure safety
    • Discuss realistic expectations
    • Refer to someone more experienced if necessary
  • Management
    • Separate daily even if no issues (give each dog their own room)
    • Crate trained
    • Vet visit first
    • Boundary training
    • Recall
    • Muzzle training
    • Down stay
    • Confidence building games (one dog is normally more confident)
    • Walk separately
  • Training for owner
    • Body language
    • How to track training progress – diary – figures
    • How to describe events to you in non-emotive language
    • How to improve relationship with the dog that they don’t like
  • Behaviour modification
    • Aggression
    • Resource guarding
    • SA
    • Arousal control
    • Behavioural medication
  • When to recommend rehoming
    • When safety cannot be guaranteed
    • When safety will rely heavily on management
    • Where undesirable behaviour is increasing in intensity of frequency despite management
    • Where injuries are occurring
    • Where dog’s needs cannot be met by family
    • Where carrying out the programme is causing distress
  • Who to rehome
    • Harder dog
    • Easier dog
      • will be easier to rehome
  • General recommendations
    • walk separately for first 2 years
    • train separately daily
    • attend different training classes
    • enforce separate sleeping (different rooms)
    • daily separation sessions
    • each owner to do something fun with each dog at least once a week
    • ideally 2 years of ownership before getting next dog
  • Should owners get littermates
    • Ideally not
    • Advise that owner take objective person with them to see the pups
    • Good breeder wouldn’t allow
  • Cons
    • puppies are hard
    • 2x the cost
    • 2x puppy classes
    • 2x walks
    • 2x training
    • 2x husbandry
    • 2x risk of behavioural problems
    • adds up to 10x the work of one pup