| Re: Raising Littermates
I agree with Judi W.
I have 15 wk littermates (M & F) nott-weilers (LabxAussie) - I think you need to let them interact and play together - and with you/the household together. I think they need alone time with the household members/training persons, but also together time. For example, we train one in a bedroom, the other in the living room - and then switch dogs. Potty walks - generally 1 person 2 puppies on lead. Around the complex sniffing walks - both one at a time and together. Loose-leash walking practice - separately. It's tough giving each alone time and together time, but I think you have to do both.
My pups are now almost trustworthy alone together to be in a carefully pup-proofed room while I make meals or quickly answer emails or use the bathroom. (that is, if they are both *empty* they cane be trusted for 10-15 mins to not destroy the room). I still crate them (separate crates, same room) even to take a shower though.
However, I'm as new to this littermate business as you are - so take my experiences only for what they are - 1 family's experiences - I'm taking what precautions I can to make sure they bond to the humans in the family and not just to each other - but I think they have to live together too.  |