I am happy to know that you have each other. I have two 8-month-old Great Dane puppies from the same litter. There were times in the early days that I really questioned our sanity and the reasoning behind getting 2 at the same time. However, 5 months later and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
Yes, they have a strong bond with each other, but their bond with us is even stronger. Their playmates who are single puppies don't have that constant company and bond they have with each other and I know they never feel alone. Since they are giant breeds, their adolescent phase will last up to about 2 years, so I have a long way to go before they are fully mature. Believe me, an extended puppy phase, with 2 giant breed puppies should not be underestimated.
Facing two puppies from the same litter often results in what is known as littermate syndrome. The puppies will bond with each other and this will make them less likely to join you. Dogs may not hear you and it will be much more difficult to train them. They will depend on each other rather than on you for comfort and support, and this will lead to a variety of behavioral problems.
Professional trainers like me recommend not bringing home two puppies of the same age, let alone two from the same litter. While this sounds like a good plan in theory, in practice it often causes quite a bit of heartache and potentially some serious aggression problems. Littermate syndrome can affect dogs of any breed, and it can also affect unrelated puppies that are adopted at the same time and raised together. If you have misbehaved sibling puppies (or are thinking of training two puppies from the same litter together), keep reading to learn everything you need to know about littermate syndrome in dogs.
I was considering having 2 puppies and from the training aspect, I think 1 puppy at a time is much better. One of the main issues sibling puppy owners have to deal with is the disadvantage of puppies getting too close together. Upon returning to the breeder for her 10-in-1 injection, she had said that one of her littermates had been returned with a heart murmur. While most new puppy owners seem to recognize that a puppy is enough responsibility for them, a number fall prey to one of the few common arguments as to why two puppies might be better than one.
But for those of you who already have sibling puppies at home, we'll also talk about proactive ways to survive the growth and development of sibling puppies without sacrificing your sanity and puppy welfare. Professional trainers recommend not having two puppies six months apart, because the risks are too high. Puppies with littermate syndrome only interact with each other and become highly dependent on each other for a sense of security and normalcy. Willing households received not one, but two puppies to breed, thus doubling the number of puppies the guide dog organization could work with.
This doesn't even take into account the other practical considerations, such as the increased costs of veterinary care, food, supplies, and training; the extra work of training and caring for two dogs; or the time needs of two active puppies. Of course there are exceptions, but I would say that most shelters in the United States now have no problem placing most, if not all of the puppies they receive. Puppies are simply adorable, so there is always a temptation to take more than one from a litter.
