Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
In my experience working at a shelter/rescue, littermates or 2 unrelated pups adopted at the same time have a higher incidence of being returned. The reason is often stated that the dogs are "out of control" or "have not bonded to the people in the house." In my opinion, these are people that got two puppies in order to reduce or replace the human's need to exercise the pups. This reduces the human/canine interaction time and the pups naturally depended on one another for exercise and companionship. By the time the pups are 1 - 1 1/2 years old, the adopters often get frustrated and return the dogs to the shelter. The dogs are then difficult to adopt out because of their age and lack of manners. Separating them is often necessary because most people do not want to adopt two unsocialised, unmannered dogs. Needless to say, these are adopters who would probably never watch your channel or any dog trainers channel.
I am the happy lucky owner of a pair of 4 year old Labrador brothers and one of your videos saved me! One of them was planned, chosen, and the second one, runt of the litter, was an accident as he had been abandoned by “his” family. When I got them, everyone told me I was an idiot, I was going to ruin their life, they were going to kill each other. I came across one of your old videos and you gave me hope and inspiration! My boys, Bill&Bob, from a good, calm, levelheaded, working bloodline, are the most loving, well behaved, and well adjusted dogs ever. And I have you to thank for making me believe in myself and them. Thank you ❤
@@silasmarner7586You're not proving either manliness, or strength, or mastery or maturity by this statement. You just come across as a yippy little runt. While you probably meant to appear as a scary, fighting Malinois.
i got 2 litter mates (almost 4 years old now) not because I had planned so, but because i found them thrown away in a bag at birth; after having bottle fed them i was too attached to get rid of 1. Education was definitely a challenge and much harder, than if there would have been only one. (and they are of a temperamental , life stock guardian breed ) However on the flip side : these brothers have such a great connection (and playmate in each other) and still established the strongest bond to me and my husband i ever seen in a dog . Concerning contact with other dogs they are complete opposites, despite having the same socialization.
Just like anything else, I think some people could make it work. But the majority couldn't. Or shouldn't. I could probably do it, but I have no interest in it. I want to train one dog at a time. I'm not against having two dogs, I do have two dogs. But when was trained before I got another one. That's the key in my opinion.
Ye, I completly agree. Why go through this hassle. With the way you described the trained dog even helps raise and train the younger/new dog by being a good example.
I got two cattle dog sisters two years ago. I had no idea what littermate syndrome was until I saw your video after purchasing my dogs. Your video saved me! Now my dogs are two years old and they have a great relationship with each other. I’ll occasionally have to break up a fight (they’re intact) but all in all, I never have to worry about them being alone together. When people ask how I do it, I tell them that I treat my relationship with the dogs the same way as my two young daughters: one on one time, group time, and I don’t play favorites. The first 18 months was ssooo hard, but totally worth it. I love my dogs so much!
Thank you so much for doing this video. I was told a million times not to keep littermates that it would be horrible. I have found it a delight and I get compliments every time on how well behaved they are. I am so glad I never listened to people. I have labs and I am basically a stay at home dog mom...so I have the time and energy to work with them all the time. As a life long dog lover this has been the greatest gift of joy to see the pups growing up.
The ability of the man ability to speak succinctly on applied and theoretical dog behavior during a training session is remarkable and fun to listen to. Hopefully we get a class on gun report acclimation.
Uncle Stonnie, the timing is uncanny! I emailed you six weeks ago about online training for a new lab mix puppy. Life happened and I also wound up with a golden retriever puppy, so it disrupted all my plans for training the first. As always, your videos are so helpful. Thank you for all that you give to the dog community! As an aside…I have the same colours as these guys here. A black and a blondie. Perfect timing!
Have 2 puppies same age but from different litters same farm Cross Kangal & Sarplaninac. I love it but I am odd lifestyle, single 66 years old live with them 24/7 only away from them when running an errand. I do take them in stores when possible to socialize with people & children never a problem, everyone loves them. We are out in the fields & forest all the time travel in expedition vehicle up in Western Canada. Their big job besides companions is letting me know (barking) when wild critters are near by (bad humans too) I am right there though to referee everything (tons of wrestling) I am as happy as can be with this lifestyle & first watched your channel because you were somewhat positive towards littermates when everyone else on internet were totally negative. I then started watching all your videos & have been luck to find a goldmine. Can’t Thank you enough!!!
Hey Stonnie - not only are your videos great dog training advice, but they’re also great advice for parenting and educating human puppies as well generalizable to maintaining mental health. Thanks!
I’ve always had littermates. All male, all female & both. Never had issues. We have structure and routines in place. I also tend to walk them or take them on adventures individually and socialize them with different dogs. I enjoy spending lots of time with them though so it doesn’t feel like a chore or hard work to me.
I adopted two dogs that looked quite different but were in the same cage at the rescue. It wasn't until I splurged and did their DNA that I discovered they are sisters! They squabble and posture pretty often but also love each other dearly. One is bonded to the entire family and the other is bonded only to me (and my husband if he has treats). They were already about 1yr. when I adopted them. We adopted an elderly dog after them and they were polite to him.
I did it years ago with two littermate dual purpose male black Labs and personally would never do it again. Both dogs were good as individuals but I always struggled to get them to focus on me during training and instruction because they always prioritised what each other were doing or about to do. I tried to train them together and then seperately but felt although being good dogs & great friends, they never achieved their full potential. In truth and with hindsight, it was probably as much to do with my methodology lacking in some way when at the time I had a very busy life. So.... I re-evaluated my expectations and enjoyed them both immensley on a more ralaxed basis and am still enjoying one of them today as a sweet old fella of fourteen. Interestingly, since we lost his brother to illness approximately four years ago, we feel we've bonded closer and he pays more attention than he ever has (when he can hear us cos he's now pretty deaf 😄), He's even learned to follow hand signals at his ripe old age .
Can I ask what you fed your pups on a daily basis? I feel like that has to contribute to how old your dog has gotten 😊 my childhood dog passed away at almost 8 years old he was a black lab. Now I have 2 littermate lab/german shepherd mix and want to try and feed them whatever everyone else feeds their dog to help them live the longest they can. Thank you!
We had two female Lab litter mates. They were always friendly with any dog that came to visit. One thing I really liked about them was that they had zero separation anxiety when we left them home alone. Having each other kept them calm. It was also interesting to see their different personalities in spite of being litter mates.
I'm raising 4 mixed breed siblings - it's an adventure and definitely needs a more thoughtful approach, but they are becoming lovely adapted dogs, they are 6 months and love working with me. Thank you!
Like others I bought one GSD and ended up taking 2 home! They played well together without me and leaned together with me. Very different personalities but both responsive, true to breed, and perfect. No regrets
I was the lucky and extremely happy owner of 3 dogs. Sadly, i lost one recently. Your videos make me happy for a short while, and i thank you for that.
I have been lucky to have had 5 wonderful labs in my life including a set of brother and sister littermates. No problems at all raising them and they gave us joy, fun, love and laughter for 14 years. They died within 10 days of each other which broke my heart. Currently have an 11 year old terrific black lab. Will have 2 lab littermates again in the future.
The problem I've seen is that people get two puppies because they think it will be "easier". They think if a puppy has to be alone for 8 to 10 hours while the owner is at work 2 puppies won't get lonely. Then when the owner gets home from work and he's too tired to work with the puppies they just get left in the backyard together. The pups spend more time with each other than with the owner but the owner doesn't feel guilty because the puppies have each other.
Hi Stonnie. Your videos are gold to me. The most important thing that you state often is "What is the dog's breed characteristics?" I needed to know this to properly approach training a 13-week-old pitty mix puppy. DNA revealed he was not a BC mix but 70% APT, 11% GSD, 10% Brittany Spaniel, and 9% Chow. He is only 40#s as a 5-year-old adult now. He was neutered before I received him off of a transport truck from TN, adding some sensory quirks into the training soup. His instinct is to see and chase rodents. An auditory cue discourages that when necessary. He loves kids and other dogs and is also great with cats. He has never been food motivated but responds to verbal/social praise and a ball. It comes together if you pay attention to the characteristics and behavior of your dog, as you share in this video. Thanks!
I have two Border Collies (sisters) they are 8 months old and their training is going awesome. I have a great bond with both of them. I train them separate and together. No problems here!
The main issue I have with litter mates is their life span. Both dogs may pass in a short period of time. I have always had two dogs but they would be three years apart in age.
@@ChristopherMosley-dj3kt This is just based on their average life expectancy of that breed. I don't mean that if one died due to an accident that the other would die soon after.
…I agree, as long as the 2 puppies have good genetics, and a person has a daily work ethic, rain or shine, then raising 2 puppies is twice the fun. My Uncle had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Gunner, who lived to be 21 years old. I love that name. 😁🐶🐾🖤🐕🦺🦮
Look at all them GOOD dogs! Siblings hanging out together (sitting and watching) is just such a perfect photo-op/portrait. Adaptability seems to be key, whether a single dog, pairs, litter mates breed traits, and good ol' common sense on the part of the one needing to put on a pair of pants when out in public.
Thank you for adressing this subject I have 2 sisters and 1 brother here they where born here, mom dad and aunty also live here😅 1 brother and 1 sister left the home to live 1 with my son and his wife and 1 with my daughter and her husband. They are boerboel (mom)mixed with berner senner malamute mix (dad). We raised them with bottles from 8 days old because mom was not able to feed them . This littermate syndrom got me kinda spooked but I think they will be fine we just have to put in the work to raise them to good dogs😊
My adult daughter who lives a couple hours away has my dogs brother. They have always played together and sleep together when we visit. I work part time from home so I have a lot of time to train my dog. He goes everywhere with me. She works full time away from home. So, I train my dog then he teaches hers. It's interesting to watch a retriever herd. Mine has a near perfect recall to a whistle. First time off leash with the two of them he let his brother know that means you too buddy let's go! So my opinion at this time, for me is to get a puppy when this one is a little older . He can help train the new dog . And most importantly chances are they won't die at the same time. For me nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a dog ( a child of course would be, but fortunately I have not experienced that)
My brother had two dogs from the same litter. They were joined at the hip, playing and sleeping together every day of their lives. There was little to no competitive jealously, no behavioral issues, whatever mischief they got into, they got into together. Strangest thing, when the one dog died, there was no visible reaction from the other dog. He never sought out the scent, never whined, never seemed to search for his brother. Life went on as normal. We always thought that was strange. What is normal Stonnie?
Yes! I have hears alot of this was a bad idea. I have been told to get rid of one one them. I was training them from the start on my own but I was married. My husband was not on board with the training work. I am now widowed and I am still trying to train them to behave well overall. I work from home and they have been around me from 2 months old. They are now almost 2yrs old and they still have a problem getting along and not aggressively barking.
We adopted two bernadoodles from the rescue so they came together. We are definitely working hard and making good strides. It’s definitely busy and we sometimes second guess as they are just 5 mos. But we know the puppy years will pass and it will be worth it. They are sweethearts and very nice. We have been working hard to give them puppy sized adventures 😊 Love your videos. I want a puppy playground in the backyard now lol
We have brother and sister GSD. Rescues that came intolerance our lives at around 3 months old. We have two well adjusted dogs that have a high tolerance for yappy little dogs and good focus on us at home and when out and about. They have turned out great!
So a Great Pyrenees is going to be more like your Kangal…. The GP I’m fostering is an independent thinker genetically. Correct? Love those pups. Great job with them as always. 😊
Thank you , I have 2 ausidoodle littermates. They have taken a lot of work but the revelation for me was that only had to train the more laid back puppy and the type a sister just couldn’t wait to show she could do it too. They are great dogs , high energy but I am retired now and I can’t spend quite a bit of time with them.
I think many times, the problem is that the average pet owner that chooses a pair of littermates is doing it for the wrong reasons. They think the puppies will exercise and socialize each other and that’ll be less work for the owners. When in fact it can be more than twice the work depending on the temperament & breed of the dogs, as well as the aptitude for training the owners have.
"There are no absolute rules," you are undoubtedly correct. What's your opinion about "isolating" the dogs from each other to strengthen the bond between the handler and the dog, preventing the bonds between dogs, which are obviously more robust than the bonds between human beings and dogs?
Jack Russells, males litter, mates unaltered. I hunt my bird coops every single night with them and my malinois Daisy. My wife and I are very good with dogs, but its no different than hunting with unrelated dogs.
I think it’s definitely possible with the right dogs and the right person. I have a 1 year old lab rn and I can’t imagine having to deal with two in adolescence, she is already giving me a run for my money. I think the problem is that your average joe, like myself, is going to find a hard time doing individual training with both puppies based off their individual needs. I think group training is great since they are going to work together but individual is needed so they don’t start getting too attached to each other and develop littermate syndrome. I also think that’s why the dog world is filled with absolutes because it prevents average people from thinking they are the type of person who can do this management and have it fail and deal with two problematic dogs.
Hi Stonnie, great video, good information. I have two littermate Siberian huskies 8 months old that are driving me nuts. I try to spend time with them as much as I can yet it's not easy. I have had a personal dog trainer come over that was a waste of time and money. I think that I will follow you and use your techniques for my pups. Thanks again and any advice would be appreciated.
My mom came home with two Shih zhu puppies a week ago they are adorable but I want to make sure they aren’t super dependent on each other. We are working on it quickly.
Great informative video. I definitely learned something today it makes total sense. Again it comes down to what you always say research the breed and know what they were bred for.
I have always avoided keeping littermates of the same sex. Dominance issues have complicated working pairs of several breeds I have worked. I have kept pick male and female out of enough litters to believe that works.
I agree 100% that type of dog is important but sometimes your heart over rules your brain 😍 . The second most important thing is being willing to train and realizing that everything can be an opportunity to train and bond. While out walking, while playing, while cuddling on the couch. With my 2 sibling pups I spend time training together and I spend time taking each one out on it's own. My boy is more like a lab in focus, but his sister is more like a husky 🤣so she really needed that extra time where I could limit her distractions. My 3 biggest issues have been (a) jumping up. As soon as one pup thinks the other was going to jump up they would jump up, the next thing was 2 pups jumping up😒. We decided to focus on our boy not jumping because he had the best focus then we worked on his sister. (b) Rwby the girl is really good at socializing but Gideon is way more nervous about dogs and strangers and this was our second problem. So we use her great skills to help him process encounters. But one thing we haven't been able to get past yet is his dislike of male dogs. And our 3rd problem is (c) Rwby's delight in biting her brother on the butt when he get's excited. I am able to get her to stop on command but it makes me crazy 🤪 This summer I plan on making a course like Stonnies in my yard 👍👍 I'm pretty excited 🥳
Great video! We currently have a 4 year old great pyrenese/large collie male. The neighbor dog wandered over in heat. Shes been over many times her owners were away and they made babies. Shes a big red lab mixed with sheppard. We are going to adopt two male litter mates. I've grown up with dogs my whole life. Any tips on raising two male litter mates would be greatly appreciated. Im specifically interested in feeding and avoiding resource gaurding. Our boy now eats whenever he wants and has prepared food twice a day with a bowl of dry if he wants it. Thank you for the awesome content. Very helpful.
In 1987 I adopted two male Old English sheepdog (OES) littermates. They had similar yet different personalities. It was a good experience possibly due to the OES puppies having a similar temperament of a lab. I wouldn't do the same with two females.
I am by no means a dog trainer, but I love having dogs as part of the family and household. Also, I have never had litter mates; not by choice - just how the situations happened. I am in my late 40s, and I do not have any children of my own. I only mention these things to kind of respond to one of your questions about training/raising pups like children. We currently have 3 GSPs - 1 goofy male and 2 females - as part of our household. We don't hunt, nor have they been formally trained in any way. I have always just talked to them, pointed at things, repeated things just going through daily life, like getting laundry out of the washer to put in the dryer and the little fellas have followed me into the room with toys but would not pick them up when I went to leave, and I would just tell them, hey guys, pick up your toys or your gonna be really unhappy when I close this door and you and it are on opposite sides. That's just a for instance based on real life, but it's how I've always "trained" them. Or if they messed up something like a pair of flip flops I always just kind of let them know exactly that, wow you really messed up buddy and now I'm really sad you chewed up those shoes. One of the females will be 3 and the other two will be 4, and they have been really good dogs. I definitely do not attribute this completely to me talking to them like they are perpetual toddlers on inadvertent suicide watch as the breed is very easy to want to please, but I do believe it had something to do with it. Long story short, yes, even though I do not have any kids myself, they are like raising kids.
I have 3 yr old sister ACD’s/ Blue Heelers I got when they were 15 wks old. They were born in the shelter and have never been apart for any significant amount of time, emergency vet ex. They have their individual personalities are extremely obedient and do not have separation anxiety in any way. I do make special efforts to take them out individually at least once a week on walks, outings, in stores etc. and they definitely exhibit more confidence together but when they are on their own with me they are more focused on me. There’s a bit of jealousy but I don’t allow for any kind of disrespect towards each other. They work it out, take turns and respect me. It can be done and you need to think about it like kids fairness and equality and treating them as individuals with their own skills, likes and dislikes.
Yes, we had 2 Beagles for 14 years. . . They NEVER had issues with one another. Ya have to talk to them, and when seperated, i could talk to the other, cuddle, and tell her her sister would be home sòon . . . .
Love your training style. Question, we have had Golden Retrievers for years, last one just passed. I am adopting two Goldens 10y and 6yr old raised together, they have to be flown out to me. Any suggestions for helping older dogs easily come into our family and property of 10 acres and then introduce to toddler grandchildren?
I have a staffordshire bull terrier.... that is super good, he has been through puppy kindergarten, gymboree and basic manners and he was top of the class. but now he is starting to get humpy and needs full recall he is 80 percent off leash unless their is a dog that he really likes. what to do? he is 9 months. besides neutering.
I embraced the caos and brought two sisters, because that way I wouldn’t worry about the older dog not accepting the new puppy and because the puppy caos would begin and end just once.
I think the temperament, knowledge, and skills of the people raising the puppies. And the resources of the humans including time and energy may affect things. unless they luck out and receive two fail proof puppies. What are the odds of two perfect puppies from the same litter. As there is no such guarantee two perfect parents produce a litter of all perfect puppies? Knowing and wanting to do the extra work of two puppies at once should be seriously considered. Can I do this? Is everyone in the household on board with this?
Stonnie, we have litter mate labs. Chocolate labs so a little crazy..lol. we were always told they'll be hard to look after. But never have a issue with them.. Well only that they still pull when on a lead. Any ideas how to help stop this ? They are 4 year old brothers
Do you ever do videos with dogs that came from a shelter, your dogs always look like they came from breeders. I just got a golden retriever from the pound and he is a big puppy, but so fearful. How do I help him get more confidence. Do your techniques work with dogs that had a difficult start in life.
Hi uncle Stonnie. I am a full time dog handler at a daycare and boarding facility. In an year, I want to fully venture into dog training in a remote area. What tools do you find a must have for beginner trainers and for professional trainers in long term? Thank you
In 2019 our two adult cocker spaniels passed away within 60 days of each other, totally unexpected. We were devastated obviously. We waited about 3 months and couldn't stand it anymore and went out and got two 8 week old puppies....a Golden Retriever and a Springer Spaniel. 4 years later we love them dearly but....NEVER AGAIN lol. Huge mistake getting two puppies, training was AWFUL!!
We have litter mates. Labradoodles. They are fine and have fun with our sons two labs and daughter’s Cavalier when they visit. The Cavalier is the boss. 😉
Hey Stonnie, great points as always. Is there a reason you rarely have Dobermanns at your kennel? Is it your choice or are there just not many around to come to you?
Stonie, why do you say that lab color is associate with aptitude, when you get multiple colors in the same litter and I would assume that blood line is what influences aptitude?
@@StonnieDennis I am referring to a previous video you made describing what traits are associated with each color lab. I just asked in the commets of this video because these two different color littermates caused me to think about it.
I think that due to genetic issues associated with inbreeding, nature itself builds in mechanisms for dispersion. My sister, without fail, has only raised littermates. Her dogs have displayed issues with separation anxiety and minor competitive behaviors. I can't automatically assign these issues with having been littermates, but it could just be the habituation and close proximity. Regardless, those issues have been an issue in her household. A health issue surfaced between one pair and doubled their expenses when dealing with the problem. More about your resources, but still a problem in my book. I had a couple who raised littermates as the wife was responsible for the female puppy and the husband, the male puppy. I ended up witnessing these dogs over a period of time as I would sit the dogs. The male dog became extremely overbearing to his female littermate. To the point that the female dog had a very poor quality of life. As I tried to broach the subject with the owners, they became defensive as each human had a sense of competition and ego attachment with their respective charges. Another reason I recommend against the practice.
I'm not a fan. Sure, it can be done. But I think the average family will have their hands full doing proper training, socialization and giving each puppy what it needs to thrive, time apart, and individual focus. One young puppy at a time is more doable.
It's doable for experienced dog owner who spend hours everyday to train their puppies. My dog is so lonely at home but I just cannot get another dog for him because I cannot give more time and energy 😢
@@carolshang Oh, we have 3 dogs. And it works out great. I'm talking puppies SIMULTANEOUSLY. I'd recommend at least a year between dogs if not 18 months.
I have a beautiful lab, his name is Gunner like the one in your video. He is 9 years old and was diagnosed with late stage cancer 2 weeks ago. Is it normal for purebreed labs to get cancer? What causes it? I feed my dogs grain free, and cook plain meat and mix it in their food, and give them Canine Red Cell vitamins.
Thank you, he is such a good dog and so athletic. He could swim halfawy across the lake. I am going to take him in the morning back to the lake. I wont let him swim out, will just do retrieving. It may be his last swim bc on our walk yesterday he became very exhausted. I am letting him rest today. But he lives for those swims so I know he wants to go again.
Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour.
Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com
Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
In my experience working at a shelter/rescue, littermates or 2 unrelated pups adopted at the same time have a higher incidence of being returned. The reason is often stated that the dogs are "out of control" or "have not bonded to the people in the house." In my opinion, these are people that got two puppies in order to reduce or replace the human's need to exercise the pups. This reduces the human/canine interaction time and the pups naturally depended on one another for exercise and companionship. By the time the pups are 1 - 1 1/2 years old, the adopters often get frustrated and return the dogs to the shelter. The dogs are then difficult to adopt out because of their age and lack of manners. Separating them is often necessary because most people do not want to adopt two unsocialised, unmannered dogs. Needless to say, these are adopters who would probably never watch your channel or any dog trainers channel.
Stonnie, when are you gonna say: "Such a fine animal" again? I need that in my life.
I am the happy lucky owner of a pair of 4 year old Labrador brothers and one of your videos saved me! One of them was planned, chosen, and the second one, runt of the litter, was an accident as he had been abandoned by “his” family. When I got them, everyone told me I was an idiot, I was going to ruin their life, they were going to kill each other. I came across one of your old videos and you gave me hope and inspiration! My boys, Bill&Bob, from a good, calm, levelheaded, working bloodline, are the most loving, well behaved, and well adjusted dogs ever. And I have you to thank for making me believe in myself and them. Thank you ❤
If someone told me I was an idiot, they'd get an immediate knuckle sandwich. Young, old, male female. FAFO Thank you ❤
@@silasmarner7586Hope u r kidding. That solves nothing.
@@silasmarner7586You're not proving either manliness, or strength, or mastery or maturity by this statement.
You just come across as a yippy little runt.
While you probably meant to appear as a scary, fighting Malinois.
@louisetingstrom4669You couldn’t direct me to that video by chance? 🙏🙂
It solved an awful lot for me last time i dished out a knuckle sandwich @@doghairdontcarelindaniel7531
i got 2 litter mates (almost 4 years old now) not because I had planned so, but because i found them thrown away in a bag at birth; after having bottle fed them i was too attached to get rid of 1. Education was definitely a challenge and much harder, than if there would have been only one. (and they are of a temperamental , life stock guardian breed ) However on the flip side : these brothers have such a great connection (and playmate in each other) and still established the strongest bond to me and my husband i ever seen in a dog . Concerning contact with other dogs they are complete opposites, despite having the same socialization.
Just like anything else, I think some people could make it work. But the majority couldn't. Or shouldn't. I could probably do it, but I have no interest in it. I want to train one dog at a time. I'm not against having two dogs, I do have two dogs. But when was trained before I got another one. That's the key in my opinion.
Ye, I completly agree. Why go through this hassle. With the way you described the trained dog even helps raise and train the younger/new dog by being a good example.
@@Return989I was advised to wait until first dog was about 3 years old before getting a second. Worked for me but I bow to Stonnie’s expertise 👍
I got two cattle dog sisters two years ago. I had no idea what littermate syndrome was until I saw your video after purchasing my dogs. Your video saved me!
Now my dogs are two years old and they have a great relationship with each other. I’ll occasionally have to break up a fight (they’re intact) but all in all, I never have to worry about them being alone together.
When people ask how I do it, I tell them that I treat my relationship with the dogs the same way as my two young daughters: one on one time, group time, and I don’t play favorites. The first 18 months was ssooo hard, but totally worth it. I love my dogs so much!
Thank you so much for doing this video. I was told a million times not to keep littermates that it would be horrible. I have found it a delight and I get compliments every time on how well behaved they are. I am so glad I never listened to people. I have labs and I am basically a stay at home dog mom...so I have the time and energy to work with them all the time. As a life long dog lover this has been the greatest gift of joy to see the pups growing up.
The ability of the man ability to speak succinctly on applied and theoretical dog behavior during a training session is remarkable and fun to listen to. Hopefully we get a class on gun report acclimation.
It's humbling actually
Succinctly? You are wierd
Uncle Stonnie, the timing is uncanny! I emailed you six weeks ago about online training for a new lab mix puppy. Life happened and I also wound up with a golden retriever puppy, so it disrupted all my plans for training the first. As always, your videos are so helpful. Thank you for all that you give to the dog community! As an aside…I have the same colours as these guys here. A black and a blondie. Perfect timing!
Have 2 puppies same age but from different litters same farm Cross Kangal & Sarplaninac. I love it but I am odd lifestyle, single 66 years old live with them 24/7 only away from them when running an errand. I do take them in stores when possible to socialize with people & children never a problem, everyone loves them. We are out in the fields & forest all the time travel in expedition vehicle up in Western Canada. Their big job besides companions is letting me know (barking) when wild critters are near by (bad humans too) I am right there though to referee everything (tons of wrestling) I am as happy as can be with this lifestyle & first watched your channel because you were somewhat positive towards littermates when everyone else on internet were totally negative. I then started watching all your videos & have been luck to find a goldmine. Can’t Thank you enough!!!
Hey Stonnie - not only are your videos great dog training advice, but they’re also great advice for parenting and educating human puppies as well generalizable to maintaining mental health. Thanks!
I’ve always had littermates. All male, all female & both. Never had issues. We have structure and routines in place. I also tend to walk them or take them on adventures individually and socialize them with different dogs. I enjoy spending lots of time with them though so it doesn’t feel like a chore or hard work to me.
I adopted two dogs that looked quite different but were in the same cage at the rescue. It wasn't until I splurged and did their DNA that I discovered they are sisters! They squabble and posture pretty often but also love each other dearly. One is bonded to the entire family and the other is bonded only to me (and my husband if he has treats). They were already about 1yr. when I adopted them. We adopted an elderly dog after them and they were polite to him.
Ive had amazing experience with my two white German shepherd littermates.
I did it years ago with two littermate dual purpose male black Labs and personally would never do it again. Both dogs were good as individuals but I always struggled to get them to focus on me during training and instruction because they always prioritised what each other were doing or about to do. I tried to train them together and then seperately but felt although being good dogs & great friends, they never achieved their full potential. In truth and with hindsight, it was probably as much to do with my methodology lacking in some way when at the time I had a very busy life. So.... I re-evaluated my expectations and enjoyed them both immensley on a more ralaxed basis and am still enjoying one of them today as a sweet old fella of fourteen. Interestingly, since we lost his brother to illness approximately four years ago, we feel we've bonded closer and he pays more attention than he ever has (when he can hear us cos he's now pretty deaf 😄), He's even learned to follow hand signals at his ripe old age .
Can I ask what you fed your pups on a daily basis? I feel like that has to contribute to how old your dog has gotten 😊 my childhood dog passed away at almost 8 years old he was a black lab. Now I have 2 littermate lab/german shepherd mix and want to try and feed them whatever everyone else feeds their dog to help them live the longest they can. Thank you!
@@lilianavillanueva4140 Just a high quality kibble and water and no human food . It's mostly down to this, good genes and good excercise.
We had two female Lab litter mates. They were always friendly with any dog that came to visit. One thing I really liked about them was that they had zero separation anxiety when we left them home alone. Having each other kept them calm. It was also interesting to see their different personalities in spite of being litter mates.
Those two Labrador retriever puppies are so adorable. Those faces just melts my heart. 🥰🐾
I'm raising 4 mixed breed siblings - it's an adventure and definitely needs a more thoughtful approach, but they are becoming lovely adapted dogs, they are 6 months and love working with me.
Thank you!
We adopted 2 husky mix littermates, they are 15 weeks old. Patient and work, they are adjusting nicely.
They have their moments
Like others I bought one GSD and ended up taking 2 home! They played well together without me and leaned together with me. Very different personalities but both responsive, true to breed, and perfect. No regrets
I was the lucky and extremely happy owner of 3 dogs. Sadly, i lost one recently. Your videos make me happy for a short while, and i thank you for that.
I have been lucky to have had 5 wonderful labs in my life including a set of brother and sister littermates. No problems at all raising them and they gave us joy, fun, love and laughter for 14 years. They died within 10 days of each other which broke my heart. Currently have an 11 year old terrific black lab. Will have 2 lab littermates again in the future.
The problem I've seen is that people get two puppies because they think it will be "easier". They think if a puppy has to be alone for 8 to 10 hours while the owner is at work 2 puppies won't get lonely. Then when the owner gets home from work and he's too tired to work with the puppies they just get left in the backyard together. The pups spend more time with each other than with the owner but the owner doesn't feel guilty because the puppies have each other.
That makes a ton of sense
Exactly. They bond with the thing that they spend the most amount of time with. It's not rocket science. 😂
Have GSP litter mates (male and a female). Best decision I ever made. Nothing wears out a puppy like another puppy.😁
Totally agree.
Never heard so much good sense from anyone about anything!
Hi Stonnie. Your videos are gold to me. The most important thing that you state often is "What is the dog's breed characteristics?" I needed to know this to properly approach training a 13-week-old pitty mix puppy. DNA revealed he was not a BC mix but 70% APT, 11% GSD, 10% Brittany Spaniel, and 9% Chow. He is only 40#s as a 5-year-old adult now. He was neutered before I received him off of a transport truck from TN, adding some sensory quirks into the training soup. His instinct is to see and chase rodents. An auditory cue discourages that when necessary. He loves kids and other dogs and is also great with cats. He has never been food motivated but responds to verbal/social praise and a ball. It comes together if you pay attention to the characteristics and behavior of your dog, as you share in this video. Thanks!
I have two Border Collies (sisters) they are 8 months old and their training is going awesome. I have a great bond with both of them. I train them separate and together. No problems here!
The main issue I have with litter mates is their life span. Both dogs may pass in a short period of time. I have always had two dogs but they would be three years apart in age.
What are the causes of this?
@@ChristopherMosley-dj3kt This is just based on their average life expectancy of that breed. I don't mean that if one died due to an accident that the other would die soon after.
Good pups. Was also nice to see Hank the other day. He seems to be there for you and taking care of all that's going on.
…I agree, as long as the 2 puppies have good genetics, and a person has a daily work ethic, rain or shine, then raising 2 puppies is twice the fun. My Uncle had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Gunner, who lived to be 21 years old. I love that name. 😁🐶🐾🖤🐕🦺🦮
Look at all them GOOD dogs! Siblings hanging out together (sitting and watching) is just such a perfect photo-op/portrait. Adaptability seems to be key, whether a single dog, pairs, litter mates breed traits, and good ol' common sense on the part of the one needing to put on a pair of pants when out in public.
Thank you for adressing this subject I have 2 sisters and 1 brother here they where born here, mom dad and aunty also live here😅 1 brother and 1 sister left the home to live 1 with my son and his wife and 1 with my daughter and her husband. They are boerboel (mom)mixed with berner senner malamute mix (dad). We raised them with bottles from 8 days old because mom was not able to feed them . This littermate syndrom got me kinda spooked but I think they will be fine we just have to put in the work to raise them to good dogs😊
My adult daughter who lives a couple hours away has my dogs brother. They have always played together and sleep together when we visit.
I work part time from home so I have a lot of time to train my dog. He goes everywhere with me. She works full time away from home. So, I train my dog then he teaches hers.
It's interesting to watch a retriever herd. Mine has a near perfect recall to a whistle. First time off leash with the two of them he let his brother know that means you too buddy let's go! So my opinion at this time, for me is to get a puppy when this one is a little older . He can help train the new dog .
And most importantly chances are they won't die at the same time. For me nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a dog ( a child of course would be, but fortunately I have not experienced that)
Dude you’re killin’ it! Love your videos. Thank you to you, and your crew. Appreciate it.
Thank you for watching!
My brother had two dogs from the same litter. They were joined at the hip, playing and sleeping together every day of their lives. There was little to no competitive jealously, no behavioral issues, whatever mischief they got into, they got into together. Strangest thing, when the one dog died, there was no visible reaction from the other dog. He never sought out the scent, never whined, never seemed to search for his brother. Life went on as normal. We always thought that was strange. What is normal Stonnie?
Yes! I have hears alot of this was a bad idea. I have been told to get rid of one one them. I was training them from the start on my own but I was married. My husband was not on board with the training work. I am now widowed and I am still trying to train them to behave well overall. I work from home and they have been around me from 2 months old. They are now almost 2yrs old and they still have a problem getting along and not aggressively barking.
We adopted two bernadoodles from the rescue so they came together. We are definitely working hard and making good strides. It’s definitely busy and we sometimes second guess as they are just 5 mos. But we know the puppy years will pass and it will be worth it. They are sweethearts and very nice. We have been working hard to give them puppy sized adventures 😊 Love your videos. I want a puppy playground in the backyard now lol
We have brother and sister GSD.
Rescues that came intolerance our lives at around 3 months old.
We have two well adjusted dogs that have a high tolerance for yappy little dogs and good focus on us at home and when out and about.
They have turned out great!
Got two brothers Malinois, and recently two sisters Malinois. They're all wonderful, fun, and cray. :)
So a Great Pyrenees is going to be more like your Kangal…. The GP I’m fostering is an independent thinker genetically. Correct? Love those pups. Great job with them as always. 😊
Thank you , I have 2 ausidoodle littermates. They have taken a lot of work but the revelation for me was that only had to train the more laid back puppy and the type a sister just couldn’t wait to show she could do it too. They are great dogs , high energy but I am retired now and I can’t spend quite a bit of time with them.
I have 4 litter mates! They were rescued by me at 3 weeks. Lots of training they are all very good dogs!
Undoubtedly the best dog trainer in the world. Incred8bly pragmatic balanced and effective
I think many times, the problem is that the average pet owner that chooses a pair of littermates is doing it for the wrong reasons. They think the puppies will exercise and socialize each other and that’ll be less work for the owners. When in fact it can be more than twice the work depending on the temperament & breed of the dogs, as well as the aptitude for training the owners have.
Good point!
"There are no absolute rules," you are undoubtedly correct.
What's your opinion about "isolating" the dogs from each other to strengthen the bond between the handler and the dog, preventing the bonds between dogs, which are obviously more robust than the bonds between human beings and dogs?
Jack Russells, males litter, mates unaltered. I hunt my bird coops every single night with them and my malinois Daisy. My wife and I are very good with dogs, but its no different than hunting with unrelated dogs.
I think it’s definitely possible with the right dogs and the right person. I have a 1 year old lab rn and I can’t imagine having to deal with two in adolescence, she is already giving me a run for my money. I think the problem is that your average joe, like myself, is going to find a hard time doing individual training with both puppies based off their individual needs. I think group training is great since they are going to work together but individual is needed so they don’t start getting too attached to each other and develop littermate syndrome. I also think that’s why the dog world is filled with absolutes because it prevents average people from thinking they are the type of person who can do this management and have it fail and deal with two problematic dogs.
Hi Stonnie, great video, good information. I have two littermate Siberian huskies 8 months old that are driving me nuts. I try to spend time with them as much as I can yet it's not easy. I have had a personal dog trainer come over that was a waste of time and money. I think that I will follow you and use your techniques for my pups. Thanks again and any advice would be appreciated.
My mom came home with two Shih zhu puppies a week ago they are adorable but I want to make sure they aren’t super dependent on each other. We are working on it quickly.
My brother has a pair of littermates, some sort of cross with Black Mouth Cur, and they have turned out fine.
Random question, what is a black mouth cur? Is it a pure breed or a mix of specific breeds? Thanks!
@@dana7340 It's a non AKC breed found mainly in the South, and are used for hunting.
@@nealesmith1873 thank you 😊
Great informative video. I definitely learned something today it makes total sense. Again it comes down to what you always say research the breed and know what they were bred for.
I have always avoided keeping littermates of the same sex. Dominance issues have complicated working pairs of several breeds I have worked. I have kept pick male and female out of enough litters to believe that works.
ive got brothers from different litters ....i do belive deepends on the person if u can haddle it go for it ....all dogs an people are different .....
I'm so glad that I came across your channel. Your videos are very interesting and informative. And I love your tone, if that makes sense. Thank you!
I agree 100% that type of dog is important but sometimes your heart over rules your brain 😍 . The second most important thing is being willing to train and realizing that everything can be an opportunity to train and bond. While out walking, while playing, while cuddling on the couch. With my 2 sibling pups I spend time training together and I spend time taking each one out on it's own. My boy is more like a lab in focus, but his sister is more like a husky 🤣so she really needed that extra time where I could limit her distractions. My 3 biggest issues have been (a) jumping up. As soon as one pup thinks the other was going to jump up they would jump up, the next thing was 2 pups jumping up😒. We decided to focus on our boy not jumping because he had the best focus then we worked on his sister. (b) Rwby the girl is really good at socializing but Gideon is way more nervous about dogs and strangers and this was our second problem. So we use her great skills to help him process encounters. But one thing we haven't been able to get past yet is his dislike of male dogs. And our 3rd problem is (c) Rwby's delight in biting her brother on the butt when he get's excited. I am able to get her to stop on command but it makes me crazy 🤪
This summer I plan on making a course like Stonnies in my yard 👍👍 I'm pretty excited 🥳
How refreshing glad I found you x
Great video! We currently have a 4 year old great pyrenese/large collie male. The neighbor dog wandered over in heat. Shes been over many times her owners were away and they made babies. Shes a big red lab mixed with sheppard.
We are going to adopt two male litter mates. I've grown up with dogs my whole life. Any tips on raising two male litter mates would be greatly appreciated. Im specifically interested in feeding and avoiding resource gaurding. Our boy now eats whenever he wants and has prepared food twice a day with a bowl of dry if he wants it.
Thank you for the awesome content. Very helpful.
Great explanation! Thank you for sharing your experience 😊
Dad had an English Springer Spaniel! It was a perfect dog for for him but for me I'll stick with the labs and goldens lol
In 1987 I adopted two male Old English sheepdog (OES) littermates. They had similar yet different personalities. It was a good experience possibly due to the OES puppies having a similar temperament of a lab. I wouldn't do the same with two females.
love your work mate. Keep the videos coming
Another great video! Thanks Stonnie.
I am by no means a dog trainer, but I love having dogs as part of the family and household. Also, I have never had litter mates; not by choice - just how the situations happened.
I am in my late 40s, and I do not have any children of my own. I only mention these things to kind of respond to one of your questions about training/raising pups like children.
We currently have 3 GSPs - 1 goofy male and 2 females - as part of our household. We don't hunt, nor have they been formally trained in any way. I have always just talked to them, pointed at things, repeated things just going through daily life, like getting laundry out of the washer to put in the dryer and the little fellas have followed me into the room with toys but would not pick them up when I went to leave, and I would just tell them, hey guys, pick up your toys or your gonna be really unhappy when I close this door and you and it are on opposite sides. That's just a for instance based on real life, but it's how I've always "trained" them. Or if they messed up something like a pair of flip flops I always just kind of let them know exactly that, wow you really messed up buddy and now I'm really sad you chewed up those shoes.
One of the females will be 3 and the other two will be 4, and they have been really good dogs. I definitely do not attribute this completely to me talking to them like they are perpetual toddlers on inadvertent suicide watch as the breed is very easy to want to please, but I do believe it had something to do with it. Long story short, yes, even though I do not have any kids myself, they are like raising kids.
Good one. Lovely pups. Plainly good temperaments.
What a video! Thank you, Stonnie! ❤
Hey Stonnie, I’d love to see a video on owning an Australian shepherd!
Does the camera man enjoy being called that? lol. I'd be like, cone on man, I have a name. 😂😂😂
I suspect the cameraman is Mrs. Stonnie.
I have 3 yr old sister ACD’s/ Blue Heelers I got when they were 15 wks old. They were born in the shelter and have never been apart for any significant amount of time, emergency vet ex. They have their individual personalities are extremely obedient and do not have separation anxiety in any way. I do make special efforts to take them out individually at least once a week on walks, outings, in stores etc. and they definitely exhibit more confidence together but when they are on their own with me they are more focused on me. There’s a bit of jealousy but I don’t allow for any kind of disrespect towards each other. They work it out, take turns and respect me. It can be done and you need to think about it like kids fairness and equality and treating them as individuals with their own skills, likes and dislikes.
Two female Heelers.. nice job
Glorious dogs. Great video.
Love your common sense training methods!
This makes a lot of sense!
Yes, we had 2 Beagles for 14 years. . . They NEVER had issues with one another. Ya have to talk to them, and when seperated, i could talk to the other, cuddle, and tell her her sister would be home sòon . . . .
Love your training style. Question, we have had Golden Retrievers for years, last one just passed. I am adopting two Goldens 10y and 6yr old raised together, they have to be flown out to me. Any suggestions for helping older dogs easily come into our family and property of 10 acres and then introduce to toddler grandchildren?
I have a staffordshire bull terrier.... that is super good, he has been through puppy kindergarten, gymboree and basic manners and he was top of the class. but now he is starting to get humpy and needs full recall he is 80 percent off leash unless their is a dog that he really likes. what to do? he is 9 months. besides neutering.
I embraced the caos and brought two sisters, because that way I wouldn’t worry about the older dog not accepting the new puppy and because the puppy caos would begin and end just once.
Those puppies are beautiful!
Love the yellow lab. ❤
I think the temperament, knowledge, and skills of the people raising the puppies. And the resources of the humans including time and energy may affect things. unless they luck out and receive two fail proof puppies. What are the odds of two perfect puppies from the same litter. As there is no such guarantee two perfect parents produce a litter of all perfect puppies? Knowing and wanting to do the extra work of two puppies at once should be seriously considered. Can I do this? Is everyone in the household on board with this?
Stonnie, we have litter mate labs. Chocolate labs so a little crazy..lol. we were always told they'll be hard to look after. But never have a issue with them..
Well only that they still pull when on a lead. Any ideas how to help stop this ? They are 4 year old brothers
How does LS apply to working/farm/LSG dogs?
Do you ever do videos with dogs that came from a shelter, your dogs always look like they came from breeders. I just got a golden retriever from the pound and he is a big puppy, but so fearful. How do I help him get more confidence. Do your techniques work with dogs that had a difficult start in life.
Hi uncle Stonnie. I am a full time dog handler at a daycare and boarding facility. In an year, I want to fully venture into dog training in a remote area. What tools do you find a must have for beginner trainers and for professional trainers in long term? Thank you
What slip leash do you use . the one i have is to stiff
In 2019 our two adult cocker spaniels passed away within 60 days of each other, totally unexpected. We were devastated obviously. We waited about 3 months and couldn't stand it anymore and went out and got two 8 week old puppies....a Golden Retriever and a Springer Spaniel. 4 years later we love them dearly but....NEVER AGAIN lol. Huge mistake getting two puppies, training was AWFUL!!
We have litter mates. Labradoodles. They are fine and have fun with our sons two labs and daughter’s Cavalier when they visit. The Cavalier is the boss. 😉
Hey Stonnie, great points as always. Is there a reason you rarely have Dobermanns at your kennel? Is it your choice or are there just not many around to come to you?
Tough dogs to keep in an environment like ours; always getting hurt, typically have trouble adjusting, etc…
Omigosh, I do love labs !
You make sense to me😊
Hey Stonnie. Are you willing to tell me who the breeder is for these littermates?
Don't LGDs work in packs? I'm not sure how much contact they have with their owners while they're at work.
Those dogs are so cute. I love dogs. I have a rescue
Stonie, why do you say that lab color is associate with aptitude, when you get multiple colors in the same litter and I would assume that blood line is what influences aptitude?
Think through that comment and then compare it closely to what I said.
@@StonnieDennis I am referring to a previous video you made describing what traits are associated with each color lab. I just asked in the commets of this video because these two different color littermates caused me to think about it.
I think that due to genetic issues associated with inbreeding, nature itself builds in mechanisms for dispersion.
My sister, without fail, has only raised littermates. Her dogs have displayed issues with separation anxiety and minor competitive behaviors. I can't automatically assign these issues with having been littermates, but it could just be the habituation and close proximity. Regardless, those issues have been an issue in her household. A health issue surfaced between one pair and doubled their expenses when dealing with the problem. More about your resources, but still a problem in my book.
I had a couple who raised littermates as the wife was responsible for the female puppy and the husband, the male puppy. I ended up witnessing these dogs over a period of time as I would sit the dogs. The male dog became extremely overbearing to his female littermate. To the point that the female dog had a very poor quality of life. As I tried to broach the subject with the owners, they became defensive as each human had a sense of competition and ego attachment with their respective charges. Another reason I recommend against the practice.
I'm not a fan. Sure, it can be done. But I think the average family will have their hands full doing proper training, socialization and giving each puppy what it needs to thrive, time apart, and individual focus. One young puppy at a time is more doable.
It's doable for experienced dog owner who spend hours everyday to train their puppies. My dog is so lonely at home but I just cannot get another dog for him because I cannot give more time and energy 😢
@@carolshang Oh, we have 3 dogs. And it works out great. I'm talking puppies SIMULTANEOUSLY. I'd recommend at least a year between dogs if not 18 months.
@UltimoDogLover good for you. I probably will get a puppy when my dog grows old. Now I'm overwhelmed 😔
@@carolshang Awe, hang in there!
Uncle Stonnie, where are all the black Labs?
They won’t hardly show up on a dark day like today…
@@StonnieDennis Good thinking.
Jack Russell, best bad dog I ever had! Never get a dog smarter than you! Lol
Stonnie, what are you're thoughts on hugging and kissing on you're dogs? Do you do it?
Love stronger than obedience, imho
I have a beautiful lab, his name is Gunner like the one in your video. He is 9 years old and was diagnosed with late stage cancer 2 weeks ago. Is it normal for purebreed labs to get cancer? What causes it? I feed my dogs grain free, and cook plain meat and mix it in their food, and give them Canine Red Cell vitamins.
I’m so sorry. I have also lost many a good dog to cancer. I wish I knew why…
Thank you, he is such a good dog and so athletic. He could swim halfawy across the lake. I am going to take him in the morning back to the lake. I wont let him swim out, will just do retrieving. It may be his last swim bc on our walk yesterday he became very exhausted. I am letting him rest today. But he lives for those swims so I know he wants to go again.
Stonnie I need help to measure my progress with my kangal.
I very much want to rescue a kangal--any advice?
@HotVoodooWitch find a female Kangal and my male could make babies.