|
Post by FlatCoatedLover on Jan 27, 2005 20:18:46 GMT -5
My father trained GSD for the police department for most of my childhood. We always had several dogs from each litter in the house. I remember the work it was to keep these dog seperate and to train seperate so they could bond with a handler instead of just bonding with their litter mates. I have seen several friends (even after warning from me) adopt or buy littermates or two dogs of similar age at the same time and then complain about them ignoring them and playing with each other. Makeing it very difficult to train them. This poor training resulting in ill behaved dogs who were either left outside all the time, rehomes or surrendered to shelters/rescue.
I would assume that the people that run and operate shelters and rescues have knowledge of this as well. As much as I would like to believe this is true, the ads I constantly see on Petfinder prove me wrong. Over and over again I see 2 dogs listed together (puppy or otherwise) saying they must stay together b/c they get along so well. While it is great that the dogs get along adopting them together will make it more difficult to train them and have them bond with you. I am sure they would be much more likely to find and stay in a 'forever home" without this additional adversity. It seems like a horrible disservice to these dogs to limit there adoptability in this way.
Sorry just had to vent about this as it was bugging me as I was surfing petfinder and wishing.
|
|
BeTrue
Trained
Banned
Posts: 217
|
Post by BeTrue on Jan 28, 2005 13:47:52 GMT -5
I see where your coming from, however, I have personally met dogs who go crazy when separated from their littermates or 'doggy friends'. When the dogs are young, I believe they can be separated, and learn to bond properly with their owners with maybe a little difficulty, but still possible. When the dogs are older though, say a 5 or 6 year old, it becomes harder, and they become extremely bonded. With the proper owner, these dogs perhaps could be separated and bond closely to their owners, but with no easy work.
I think in some cases, the dogs shouldn't be separated. It would be like breaking a grown foal away from his mother after they had been together for years. What it would cause is depression. Things were already ruined when they weren't separated early enough, and I see nothing wrong with keeping them together for the rest of their life. It was the original owner's stupidity that caused the problem.
Anyways, thats my .02. ;D
|
|
|
Post by kastelling on Jan 28, 2005 15:50:01 GMT -5
I think you've both got it- good idea to seperate puppies- bad idea to seperate bonded older dogs!
When I worked at a vet clinic- we would have one dog come to stay for treatment, and the healthy sibling would have to come board, just so it wouuldn't freak out at home without its buddy........
|
|
|
Post by ladyarya on Feb 12, 2005 8:03:38 GMT -5
I think any dogs that live together form a bond of some sort, littermates or not. My old boss had two dogs... a boykin spaniel and a terrier of some kind (cant remember what kind). She had gotten them a few years apart so they weren't littermates or bonded puppies or anything. About two years ago, due to a vet's error ( ) the boykin spaniel died... and I remember she said the terrier spent quite a while moping around the house trying to find his spaniel buddy.
|
|
|
Post by Aussienot on Feb 12, 2005 17:31:05 GMT -5
As long as the person who neededlessly created this obsession can provide a home for both dogs for the rest of their lives. But when they dump these pairs into rescue, it becomes everyone else's problem.
Natural grief at losing a long time companion is normal. Creating animals that are unable to be separated at any time is wrong. Be True got it right, humans ruined these dogs.
|
|
|
Post by kaos on Aug 7, 2006 15:33:52 GMT -5
The sad thing is that I don't believe enough people know that it is a generally a bad idea to take on two puppies from the same litter. Some breeders will even encourage it, telling owners one will be lonely on their own.
|
|