We want to help you prevent and fix Littermate Syndrome! Are you raising and training littermate puppies? Do you have littermates that are fighting? Fixing littermate syndrome and stopping your dogs from fighting is possible, it just takes a good plan and a lot of effort. This podcast is meant to educate dog owners who currently have or are considering getting littermates. We recommend you avoid getting littermates, but if you already have them we are here to help!!!Not every time you raise littermates will lead to issues, but if Littermate Syndrome does arise it can be a huge problem. Our recommendation is to always assume that two littermates will develop Littermate Syndrome and take a series of steps to prevent it. If you have littermates remember that it is 3 times more work than raising one puppy! You need to do all of their training and socializing both together and separate. Generally littermate syndrome leads to socialization issues but it can also lead to fighting between the siblings. When littermate syndrome turns into fights between the dogs we call it Sibling Rivalry Syndrome. This usually occurs because one dog has become too pushy/dominant while the other dog has become too submissive. Your job when raising littermates is to make sure they are comfortable even when separate. This means you need to work on a lot of socializing and obedience training with your puppies while they are separated to ensure that they learn how to be happy on their own. If they are stressed during this process you need to use your obedience commands as a calming tool. They goal is to use Heel and other commands as a way to "reset" your dogs' brains and calm them down. We have hundreds of littermate syndrome success stories, and they are all due to having an action plan and then working hard. Make sure to crate your littermates separately, preferably in separate rooms. This helps them handle being alone and can prevent or help fix separation anxiety. If you have never done this you will need to start slowly to make sure the dogs are able to handle the process. Reach out with questions!

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