Why We Do Not Allow Double Puppy Adoptions: Understanding Littermate Syndrome

At The Dogslanding House, we are passionate about setting dogs and their families up for long-term success. One of the most important policies we uphold in our rescue is not allowing two puppies to be adopted together—whether they are from the same litter or even two different litters.

While the idea of raising “sibling puppies” might sound adorable and practical, the reality is that it often sets both dogs (and their humans) up for serious behavioral and emotional challenges. This is called Littermate Syndrome, and it’s very real.

What Is Littermate Syndrome?

Littermate Syndrome is a behavioral condition that can occur when two puppies are raised together in the same household. Because puppies are in critical stages of learning and social development, they can become overly bonded to each other. Instead of learning to build independence and healthy relationships with humans, the puppies may lean on one another in ways that delay or prevent important growth.

Why People Want Two Puppies — And Why It Backfires

One of the most common reasons people ask to adopt two puppies together is because they think the dogs will entertain each other. At first glance, this might sound convenient. Two puppies can wrestle, play, and burn energy together without needing as much human attention, right?

Unfortunately, this mindset is irresponsible and harmful in the long run.

• You Become Secondary. If the puppies are primarily keeping each other busy, they aren’t learning that humans are the source of structure, fun, and guidance.

• Bad Habits Spread. Puppies learn best through guidance, not from another untrained puppy. Left together, they reinforce each other’s unwanted behaviors like barking, chewing, and pulling.

• Independence Never Forms. Instead of becoming confident, stable individuals, the puppies become dependent on each other. When separated, panic and anxiety set in.

Dogs don’t need “puppy playmates” to thrive—they need humans who are committed to training, structure, and one-on-one bonding.

The Problem Of Survivor‘s Bias:

You may have heard people say: “Well, I raised two puppies together and mine turned out just fine!” This is where survivor bias comes into play.

Just because a few people claim success doesn’t mean it’s the norm. What often gets overlooked is the bigger picture:

• Many dogs who appear “fine” are actually struggling with issues like reactivity, poor socialization, or constant reliance on each other.

• As trainers, we see it all the time—dogs adopted as puppies together who now fight each other, cling obsessively, or cannot function independently. These are all classic signs of littermate syndrome.

• Families don’t always connect the dots that their dogs’ issues stem from being raised as a pair without proper separation. But that’s exactly the root cause: the dogs were never fulfilled or socialized as individuals, so they developed an unhealthy relationship instead.

The truth is, for every story of “my two puppies did great,” there are far more cases where the dogs struggle—and those are the cases that fill training programs and rescues later down the road.

Why We Require Puppies to Be Adopted Separately

We’ve seen firsthand how devastating littermate syndrome can be—for the dogs and the families who love them. By requiring puppies to be adopted one at a time, we give each dog the best chance to:

• Build a strong, healthy bond with their adopter.

• Develop confidence as an individual.

• Receive the focused training and structure they need.

• Learn independence, preventing future separation anxiety.

This doesn’t mean you can’t ever add a second dog! In fact, adopting a second dog later on can be wonderful. But timing matters. We recommend allowing your first dog to mature and complete foundational training before adding a second dog. This ensures both dogs thrive instead of holding each other back.

Final Thoughts

We know how tempting it is to adopt two puppies at once—double the cuteness, double the fun. But in practice, it often leads to double the problems. Our policy against double puppy adoptions is rooted in science, training experience, and a deep commitment to the wellbeing of our rescue dogs and their future families.

If you’re considering adopting a puppy, we encourage you to take the time to invest in one at a time. You’ll be giving them the greatest gift: the chance to grow into a confident, well-rounded adult dog.

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👉 Want to learn more about responsible dog ownership, training, and rescue work? Support our mission on Patreon or check out our adoption and training resources at www.dogslandingco.com.