Why We Don’t Adopt Out Two Puppies Together:

Let’s Talk About Littermate Syndrome

You’ve probably seen it—two adorable puppies snuggled together, and the idea of adopting them both seems irresistible. But did you know raising two puppies together, especially under 6 months old, can actually drastically harm their development? This is called Littermate Syndrome, and it’s more serious than most people realize.

What is Littermate Syndrome?

Littermate Syndrome refers to a set of behavioral and psychological issues that develop when two young puppies, generally under 6 months old, are raised together. These problems aren’t about bad temperaments or bad luck—they’re directly caused by the puppies being raised together during critical developmental stages.

Symptoms can include:

• Extreme separation anxiety from each other

• Constant whining, barking, or howling

• Intense, nonstop “play” that turns into aggression and fighting by adolescence

• Chronic anxiety, aggression, or fear when separated

• Reactivity or aggression toward strangers and other dogs

• One puppy becoming withdrawn or fearful, while the other becomes aggressive or overly dominant

• Serious fights, sometimes resulting in injury or worse in adolescence OR adulthood

Even the most loving, responsible homes rarely have the environment or time to successfully raise sibling puppies. The emotional codependence they develop often prevents them from bonding with you, their human.

The safest, kindest thing you can do is adopt one puppy at a time—and give them the individual attention they need to grow into confident, balanced dogs.

That’s why at Ace’s Place, we do not allow the adoption of two puppies under 6 months into the same home. We have had the experience of rehabilitating many dogs who have suffered due to LMS, and it is not an easy process. It has taken us 6mo-2years with an expert foster to be able to safely place dogs with Littermate Syndrome and these dogs will always live with the consequences. It’s not about being strict—it’s about protecting the dogs!