So, what IS this thing called Littermate or Sibling Syndrome?
Simply; it’s taking more than one young animal from a single litter when you decide to get your young critter, either dogs or cats.
BUT, in our current society, and our propensity to go the “rescue animal” route, it can also mean adopting two young animals together from a single shelter that may not necessarily be siblings, but due to circumstance have been together in the shelter from a very young age and through at least one of the critical development phases of their young lives.
“So what?” I hear you ask.
“So what, indeed!” is my reply.
What Littermate Syndrome means to me, as a behaviourist and animal lover, is that along the time line of life with the closely related animals, there will be more challenges than are strictly necessary and than would occur if each young animal were brought into the home separately.
I’ve encountered Littermate Syndrome in a few recent consults, and the cases got me thinking about the phenomenon.
· In the first case, it was a question of two 3 year old dog sisters, who had bonded so well with each other that it was impossible to get either one to operate independently of the other. I was called in because one needs to get medical treatment, but puts up such a fight (as does her sister) at being separated that she damages both herself and her environment.
· In the second case, a pair of brothers, well socialized, happy to be around humans and animals but OH MY WORD!!! What naughty reprobates these two boys are. Double Trouble in truth. Fortunately, neither cat shows aggressive tendencies, however, they’re boys who will grow a lot bigger and the mischief now being shown (they’re 8 months old) suggests they’ll become a pair of handfulls later on, especially when you watch how they tag-team each other into all sorts of chaos! I was called in because the humans recognize the need to establish some form of manners & basic obedience / discipline before things get too out of hand.
· In the final case I want to mention, brother and sister dogs, just on a year and a half old, and I was called in because ‘suddenly’ they began fighting very intensely and terrifyingly. I was asked to come in and try and help resolve the situation. Sadly, for this case, the only viable solution for this home is to rehome one of the two dogs.
And yet, I’ve been chatting with many of my friends and colleagues who report successful littermate pairings, from puppy- and kitten- dom right the way through to geriatric state.
Now, there is very little reliable science available in terms of formal studies and research into the whole business, but one can draw certain conclusions, if you have a logical and rational mind.
One is that while you may feel sad to leave one puppy or kitten behind as you walk away with your chosen pet, its really not that bad a thing, and will probably save you a whole heap of heartache later on.
Second is that if you can’t walk away, and do end up having two siblings, your work is going to be SIGNIFICANTLY more to raise these young things into well mannered, well socialized and balanced adults.
Thirdly, while it isn’t the case for every sibling pairing, it happens more than not that the initial cute & happy puppy / kitten morphs into something much less cute, so why would you want to do that to yourself?
If you are lucky enough to have a successful sibling pair, I’d love to hear from you!
And if you’re one of those folks battling now with a less successful set of littermates, I’d also love to hear from you.
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