The problem of sibling puppies fighting is a serious one and it goes beyond simple squabbles among two puppies. When two puppies of the same age are adopted, this can lead to several issues which occur as a result of the excess bonding and developmental deficits that takes place inevitably if no steps are taken. This leads to significant problems later on, as the pups reach maturity. For a good reason, reputable breeders categorically refuse giving away two puppies at once to the same owner, and many shelters adopt the same guideliness because they know it can lead to many troubles along the road.
What Triggers Sibling Puppies Fighting?
Among children, sibling rivalry has been known for quite some time. It takes place when children of the same age are competing on figuring out who they are as individuals as they each pursue on developing their own talents, interests and activities for the purpose of distinguishing themsleves from one another.
The children may compete over their parent’s attention or may fight over who gets to do something first or gains access first to something appealing. Pediatricians suggest that parents must ensure each child has enough time and space of their own and they should encourage cooperation rather than competition. In puppies, similar dynamics take place although the issues may be more challenging to overcome.
Littermate puppies or puppies too close in age sharing the same household may have squabbles over resources (food, treats, attention from the owner, toys, resting areas) or when exposed to particularly exciting situations (owner coming home from work, going out in the yard through a tight passageway, barking at outdoor stimuli, children running in play).
Sibling puppies may also be prone to picking up fights when they are bored or tired. Sometimes fights may also be inadvertently evoked by the owners (stastics show most dog fights occur in presence of the owners!) when they interfere with the social structure that has formed between the pups.
Regardless of the underlying cause of such squabbles, sibling rivalry among puppies is something that needs not to be underestimated. As the puppies reach maturity, things may start to get worse if some precautions are not taken. On top of sibling puppies fighting, there are certain dynamics taking place when adopting two littermate puppies or pups of similar age which are worthy of considering.
Puppies Bonding Too Much
When two littermate puppies or puppies close in age are put together, they are prone to forming a super bond. This hyperattachment often leads to the pups depending strongly on each other and, if no early intervention takes place, problems when they are separated.
T make problems worse, because the pups bond so much to each other, owners often slack off when it comes to socializing the pups with other dogs and people. This often leads to problems down the road, paving the path to the onset of fearful behavior towards strangers, other dogs and inadequate social skills.
One Pup Bullying the Other
When watching the interactions among sibling puppies, chances are they may seem like engaging in innocent play, (albeit of the boisterous type) but often there’s more going on. At a closer glance, there is often one puppy jumping on and nipping in an attempt to push the other pup out of the way when the owners provides attention.
At other times, one puppy may start a squabble becomes he has become upset because the other puppy was being trained or walked. As mentioned above, there are also often discussions over access to toys, food bowls and resting spots.
Half -Puppy Syndrome
When one puppy is constantly bullying the other, theses dynamics may lead to what is known as “half-puppy syndrome.” In other words, one puppy becomes confident and bullies the other, while the other puppy becomes more and more insecure, leading to a failure to bloom. However, separate Mr. Confidence from his sibling, and he may end up becoming shy and insecure. This my happen because the two puppies rely on each other for their wellbeing.
Owners Taking a Secondary Role
When two puppies bond so strongly to each other, it’s easy for dog owners to take a secondary role in their lives. It often happens that the pups are so intently playing and interacting with each other, that an owner is incapable of redirecting the puppies and all the attempts go in one ear and out the other. Owners soon become quite insignificant or “party poopers” who interrupt all the fun.
Sibling Puppies Fighting: Is it Inevitable?
Now, a premise is worth bringing up here: sibling rivarly is not something that is expected to occur in all pairs of littermates adopted in the same home. I know of several well-respected dog owners who (bless their hearst!) have successfully raised two pups at the same time with good success. I even know some who have put some remarkable obedience titles on their dogs.
One thing worth of noticing is that most owners who were successful in bringing up pairs of littermates successfully (by successfully, I mean owning two well-adjusted dogs) is lots ot time, patience and determination. Most of them were housewives or people who spent most of their time at home. Following are some times for sibline puppies fighting.
On top of time and dedication, there are also breed variances, gender and genetics to keep into consideration. Owning a male and female combination apparently heightens the chances for success. Some dog breed may also be less inclined to developing sibling rivalry or the effects may have less of an impact.
However, despite several forunate cases, sibling rivarly happens often enough to cause major concerns turning on alarm bells any time behaviorists, dog trainers, and rescue professionals hear about dog owners raising two puppies at once or considering it.
So the next question is what to do in the case of sibling puppies fighting? Is it too late to intervene? What things can be done to up the chances for success? We will see some options in the next article with tips on how to manage and treat sibling puppies fighting.