Why you shouldn't get two puppies at once! | Boxer puppies

[@chlnaturester]

I wonder what the owners of the puppies think about being called out for getting both of them on a popular KZbin channel

[@GirlWithTheDogs]

I discussed my idea for the video the day she brought the pups. She's a friend of mine, she has Boxer experience, and she was aware of the risks. 🙂 She understood why it was important to get the massage out there!

[@jessy307]

Working at an animal shelter we see this often and it’s heartbreaking . Such an important message you are getting out there. Thank you!

[@prtsonga2011]

I think it's about the message. Which is important

[@PoM-MoM]

@@GirlWithTheDogs When they have to be kept in a staffed extended care kennel would it help to socialize them better if they each stayed at different facilities?

[@parryyotter]

I don’t think there’s a video Vanessa puts out that the owners don’t sign off on first. Come on. She wouldn’t still have a business otherwise.

[@TeelSiren]

I adopted a puppy from a litter of 6 and after 2 months there was only one puppy left who had zero applications, so I went back and adopted her too. Best decision I ever made. Fortunately, I think they were separated long enough to not have this issue. They definitely remember each other, but they both value their alone time.

[@ckarnik]

Similar situation. We rescued one puppy and her littermate was returned by their owner and we adopted her as well. We like to say the first one is our dog and the second one is the first one's dog! =)

[@feraldog5590]

This issue is not that common among littermates I've had 2 pairs and I can tell you training went easier with them and they listened better. Far from being a distraction you can use it to your advantage just like human siblings they get jealous it's easy to use that when one is doing something other just follows and does it too when they see other get treats. I can see how it might be an issue for some but that would be lazy owners who don't train their dogs anyway

[@LeeBv9983]

Yep, did the same.

[@TeelSiren]

@@feraldog5590 I think all dogs need to know how to settle themselves alone, littermates shouldn't be an exception. I think the way I did it, getting one then the other later, has been a little challenging for training since one if further ahead the second gets frustrated because she doesn't understand. But we just do one on one training. Good for everyone, puppy #1 gets alone time, puppy #2 gets personalized training, and I get one on one bonding with them separately.

[@PoM-MoM]

That was very thoughtful of you and I am sure they both will bring you much happiness. What kind of puppies are they? Take care.

[@ashstubbings2603]

There is only one thing more adorable than a Boxer puppy and that's TWO Boxer puppies! But thank you for pointing out the pitfalls.

[@Jadriam]

Grooming is clearly harder than it looks.. but you have to admit some moments like this are priceless. I mean lookit the puppies' faces they're so so impossibly cute

[@MireVale]

It is exhausting, and it’s warm and humid in the bathing area. 🥵

[@heidibower2538]

I agree. This is why we have cats because of their low maintenance. We like dogs but cats are easier to take care of. Those puppies in the video are very loveable but I'm sure they are a handful.

[@bethdavis7812]

@@heidibower2538 Carts are easier? Wow, need to tell my cats that. Clean a stinky litter box daily, cannot have any house plants, keep a spray bottle handy for when they get on counters and tabletops, endless shredding of bedspreads, curtains, rugs even with multiple scratching posts and cat trees. A dozen other things but I love them. Have had dogs all my life and they are ten times easier.

[@sujonsaidul7894]

@@MireVale one) o

[@bodaciousqueen]

I feel sorry for our dog groomer when she has to cut nails. I have to help her cause you would think she is being murdered. She is a rescue all they told was that she came from abusive home. I’ve tried to get her use to touching her a lot which she fine but the second the file comes out different story. I’ve tried literally holding the file for a second and taking straight away but no luck. I appreciate how hard of a job can be now lol

[@allinsonsherratt418]

My sister got 2 puppies born on the same day. A boxer & a great Dane. The difference in their growth rates was hysterical & frightening, when you first met them again after a break 😁 They are best buddies, but the Dane is the "needier" of the 2 & sleeps a lot just like a cat. They live with 5 cats who keep them in line....

[@kelkabot]

This sounds like the most adorable household ever.

[@sapphiresquire]

My parents adopted two lab mix pups and they were very purposeful with training and having one pup go with dad to do something while the other went with mom for something else, and giving them each individual time to learn new commands. My sister and I are twins so my parents had 28 years of experience with the importance of making everybody feel like an individual instead of part of a set. 😆

[@antler9927]

Just happened to our litter we were trying to rehome. Someone came and took 2, saying they were so happy to, then having to return one. I see now why somebody would have to in this case.

[@jillcampbell8019]

I have a brother and twin sisters, all younger than me. I couldn’t have said it better.

[@RLS-bu4bj]

We got 2 boxer mix puppies. I will try to remember this for them.

[@mrcblaser]

We got two 8 week lab littermates at the same time. We did the exact same thing as you. We worked very hard to make sure they knew the pack was the 4 of us, not the two of them. It was hard work in the beginning but totally worth it. They were well adjusted dogs and would alternate their affection between us not just each other.

[@daCubanaqt]

We adopted two lab mixes and did the same. Without even knowing what littermate syndrome was, we did do things separately with them including taking them on individual walks and trained separately. They of course miss each other when one is gone, but I think we did ok by them 😊

[@trainer1158]

We had a boxer named Silky in the late '50s/early '60s and she had a litter from which we kept the best one, a pup named Sox. My older sister was devoted to those dogs. In 1961, when my sister was 12 (I was 3), she came home from school to discover the dogs had been given away in preparation for our parents splitting up. No explanation ahead of time or chance to say goodbye to them. Since then, she's had more boxers than I can count, often 2-3 at a time, and has never been happy with any other breed (she's tried). More than 60 years later, talking about losing Silky and Soxy still makes her sob. Boxers are amazing dogs.

[@kelkabot]

I don't think parents (or people generally) back then had the same awareness of the role a dog plays in a child's life. When I was a kid, we had a dog who got into the neighbor's chickens, and my dad promptly shot him in the head. Imagine our trauma when we got off the school bus and learned all this. I'm so sorry about Silky and Soxy. I get it.

[@KudukUngol]

@@kelkabot Shot in the head! Wow, that punishment seems a bit extreme. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

[@toolatetothestory]

​@@kelkabot Not true. People back in Ancient China, like 4000 years ago, already cared well for their pets and knew how to raise them properly. Your dad was just an asshole who blamed his failings to properly raise the dog on it instead of himself. There have always been people who abused animals for the hell of it and normal people who cared well for them

[@brgorham68]

Silky is a great name for a boxer. Just like their coats 😀

[@gloriaalex11]

@@kelkabot & @B N Sorry to both of you. My dad would routinely give away / sell our dogs and replace them with different dogs, for various (usually stupid) reasons. I was attached to every single one of them. Constant anxiety, insecurity, and trauma, on top of my otherwise traumatic childhood. Some parents have no clue or just don't care how easy it is to damage a kid for life.

[@sswwooppee]

Excellent message, and spot on information. I’d add something from a trainers perspective: Most people fail to adequately train one dog. Taking on the challenge of two at the same time most often results in two improperly trained dogs, aggravating everything mentioned in the video.

[@denisekoltys3019]

I adopted 2 English mastiffs born 6 weeks apart. Individually the most “wild” I’d ever attempted and together? Let’s just say the only ones I prayed and cried over lol. They surely were possessed by demons lol. They were always together but I always managed to pull them out of their depressions. And there was depression. The last one lived 2 yrs after the first one but she did manage to be happy with other dogs who I’d picked up - the worst was when she left. The entire pack was in a depression and had to get on top of my food game to keep them all eating. But we went back to basics training and a strict routine. At the time I think it was as much for me as for them. We were all so heartbroken.

[@motherofthreeb6337]

I train my puppies as I feed them. They are two months apart from two different litters. They both went to puppy class. Now, older one went through intensive 5 day (not in a row) training with two year follow up group training (1-3 times per week). My second on will be followed in the first pups training soon. It can be done, you just have to be realistic with what it takes to raise a puppy, let alone two.

[@sswwooppee]

@@motherofthreeb6337 if things are working out for you and your dogs, I think that’s great. Your personal anecdote doesn’t match the scenario posed in the video though. The fact of the matter is: It’s plain *a bad idea to adopt out litter mates to the same household.* It’s such a bad idea most reputable breeders won’t do it and some will consider the request disqualification for even one of the puppies. By most, I mean every reputable breeder I’ve ever had contact with.

[@meowmeowkittymeow]

Yes! unfortunately a lot of people think getting another dog will "help" tire out the other dog. Sorry folks it doesn't work like that, now you'll just have two untrained, bored dogs chewing up your stuff and getting into mischief together.

[@sswwooppee]

@@meowmeowkittymeow I agree completely. The very notion of get-a-dog-to-exercise-a-dog is rooted in a misunderstanding of what dog ownership should be. I tell people who express such thoughts to me that if they don’t want to exercise their dogs (hopefully by taking the time to train them each and every day) they should reconsider adopting one.

[@maureenseel118]

Lolol my boxer LOVES the blow dryer. I say "warm butts!" And she comes running/wiggling.

[@nataliephillips1965]

A popular insta influencer adopted two pups from the same litter and she talked about how important it is to try to prevent litter syndrome. Her partner and her lived apart, separating the pups for a little while so they can get used to being on their own. I had no idea about this prior and it's good to know the best interest of all the pups! :)

[@lilholdin]

My husband and I already had two adult dogs and we just adopted two boxer-husky puppies. We have teamed up an adult dog with a puppy each and I have been sleeping downstairs with two and he's been upstairs. They do get playtime together a lot, but we keep them separated enough where it doesn't seem like it's going to be an issue.

[@RunKnitCoffee]

I wish more education on this issue was available. My parents were not just encouraged, but outright *pushed* to adopt two littermate puppies from a local humane society because they were trying to offload dogs due to overcrowding. They gave the dogs the best home they could for 15 years, but the entire time my parents and everyone else who visited were miserable because the dogs were so protective of one another and could not be well socialized to people or other pets. They died within days of one another, one from kidney failure, the other from depression.

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hello 👋 how are you?

[@HippyMetalhead]

Aww. I'm glad they could spend their life together in a good home. Made their lives much better

[@cpete1459]

I feel you. Except ours weren't aggressive, but the younger one was actually more protective of the other one. They both had separation anxiety, if I just wanted to be in my room alone, one would scratch on the door until someone would open my door to let her in. She'd just jump on my back with no reservation so she would know I wouldn't be going anywhere without her 🤣 , and then shortly after her sister would jump up and sit riiiiight on my legs. I had one on my back and the other on my legs 😂😂 my body literally adapted to them because they were medium size dogs lol.

[@gillsejusbates6938]

lmao

[@beearthur0634]

@@HippyMetalhead lol so screw the owners, who cares if they were miserable lol

[@icucingme]

Puppies crying, I can't. I have so much respect for trainers. How they look at those eyes and be stern and loving at the same time.

[@heidikatzer9363]

This is important information to know! How adorable the puppies are!

[@ThatPianoNoob]

Most people already knew that puppies were adorable but I dont mind getting that information repeated to me every day!

[@tredjesongen]

Well,I have 4 littermates😱. Thankfully,no problem with that syndrome" . Every single one are so happy to have alone time with trainer or me,but also on walks together. Side note: the boxers are SO much more elegante with tails not chopped off,just like dobermans and rottweilers. Then they dont look like somethings missing.

[@snakelace]

The woman in this video is misinformed!! Littermate syndrome does not exist. It is just an excuse for poorly trained dogs. Read The Dodo's article about it if you'd like more information. I'm pretty sure this is a more recent scientific development so I wouldn't blame anyone for having the wrong facts.

[@feraldog5590]

It's not that common an issue probably less than 5% of littermates have all these issues. Mine didn't like being apart at all but that's it and only happened for vet other than that no reason to separate them. Just socialize them like with any dog with other dogs and people.

[@mavel2038]

@@feraldog5590 "mine didn't like being apart," that's unhealthy attachment and part of it so no, not fine.

[@abitoffcenter383]

My Gunner boy looked like Diggs. It's been roughly 8 years since he has passed. I miss him everyday, still. He was an OUTSTANDING ambassador of his breed!! But more importantly he was my buddy, amazing with the kids, and very protective of his family. Everything you'd want in a dog imho. I feel blessed to have been a part of his life. I miss ya boy and always will!! Love Ya Gunner

[@rjchavers9267]

I met a pair of boxers about 27 years ago named Buster and Homer. I had to share this video with my bestie that introduced me to those awesome dogs. They are greatly missed and still loved. 💛

[@Abcity92]

Aww if only those pups were still around today. Sweet babies!

[@alyssalouisee]

As a fellow groomer, thank you SO much for educating the general public about this. A lot of people dont realize how severe LS can be and that is doesnt have to just be littermates but dogs adopted young close in age.

[@fireshadowed]

Interesting to hear this about dogs, because for cats I always see it recommended that people get two kittens so they can learn how to interact from each other.

[@suzy1750]

That's true. I wonder if it has something to do with dogs being natural pack animals while cats are not? I used to volunteer at a shelter where we would sometimes have a bonded pair of cats that had to be homed together. Their bond didn't seem to have any negative consequences - they would sleep together, eat together and play together yet, if they were friendly cats, they still loved attention from and were very affectionate towards people...

[@tinngglyone]

Kittens have sharps on all corners and are free with them. Better to let them learn manners from each other or a playful adult cat than you. They can bond, but it varies with individuals. I inadvertently separated a pair but I suspect the bond only went one way - the one I got was unbothered. His buddy was utterly lost.

[@signespencer6887]

I had a pair of kittens from the same litter- no real problem. One was shy and aloof until her brother passed and then she became much more affectionate. i see people who always have two dogs of the same breed- but usually one is a couple of years older than the other. When one passes on they get a new puppy.

[@ARH611]

I think it’s because cats can be much more independent then dogs. They might like other cats around but they value alone time and space

[@BassKittehz]

@@ARH611 Not accurate. :) Has been debunked a while ago - cats are highly sociable and with few exceptions NEED another cat to thrive. They're not more independent.

[@fenixje2000]

I'd never even heard of littermate syndrome, or that there's downsides to adopting two puppies at the same time! Thank you for sharing ♥

[@Trami-]

That litter mate syndrome explains alot, I rescued 2 chiwawa/miniture pincher boys at like 7weeks old. They are inseparable. You can't take one without the other freaking out or crying and when one barks it'll set the other one off. I often worry about one passing because one has heart issues and the other is in perfect health. I will say this, I love the idea of keeping the family together but it has made training a challenge. Even to this day one still pees in the house while the other is fine. Nice information, thank you

[@denisekoltys3019]

A friend got 2 doxies at 5 weeks. One appeared fine but the other although no health issues we could find was just not okay. I inherited them at about 18 mo. And I started training them separately except for walks. Or group pack training where everyone lined up lol. Mostly for my entertainment lol. The one that was kinda different passed at about 4 yo. His brother didn’t miss a beat. It was almost as if he could finally be himself. He enjoyed group training more but never really was housebroken. But had to mop daily anyway cause of the tumblefur lol

[@quaver1239]

Boxers are wonderful animals. Faithful, quiet and affectionate. These two siblings are so beautiful they take my breath away.

[@jutjet4011]

I had a white one , I can't believe how funny he was , I got cured of depression x😊

[@DiamondLil]

A neighbor of mine had a boxer named Lucky. The first time he saw me standing outside talking to his "mom," he decided to protect her and he charged me, expecting me to panic. It was so funny to watch his confusion when I just stood there and let him run at me. He didn't have mean bone in his body, he just thought his bluff would run off the "threat." We both laughed, and I said, "you didn't have plan B did you?" He was a sweetheart to me after that.

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Kathy how are you doing today

[@davidvogel6359]

He realized you were not a threat to her and were not taking his bate. Boxers are wonderful dogs, they just are not long lived.

[@MountainGirl420]

I rescued twin Akitas who’d been abandoned. Mine never had any issues because I extensively trained/socialized them. My baby girl was hospitalized at UGA Veterinary Medical Center extensively for severe H. Pylori (she was the worst they’d seen & wrote a paper on her). She outlived my male! Male died at tender age of 9 from lung cancer, but his Sis is 15 and still doing well despite Doggy Dementia.

[@thewolfofthestars1847]

Another thing that can happen with littermate syndrome is paradoxical aggression--though the dogs are extremely attached to each other, they are also very aggressive towards each other and constantly fight. This can make things even harder, as the dogs need to be separated for their own safety, but also become very anxious when separated. It's important to take steps to mitigate littermate syndrome whenever possible, or avoid it altogether by not adopting two puppies at once.

[@First._.Last.]

Woah, talk about a catch-22..

[@patricesteiner1168]

My aunt had two standard poodles that were sisters, and while they weren’t aggressive toward each other, they were each constantly trying to establish dominance and also very jealous of my aunt’s attention. She thought it would be easier to have litter mates, but it turned out to be a lot harder!

[@mecmaneen]

I have 2 sisters. We recently discovered that having them sleep separately (2 crates, but within sight of each other) has helped immensely. They still play, but it doesn't get so aggressive and they are better. They've both been heavily socialized and have lots of doggie friends. They get walked separately often, as well.

[@Mokiefraggle]

@@patricesteiner1168 Sounds a lot like my mum's two labs. They're a brother and sister from the same litter, and the sister is a little drama queen who's always trying to be the dominant dog in the pack, stealing her brother's toys, starting all the scuffles, shoving him away if anyone dares to give him attention without her. The hilarious thing is, he's like 25 lbs heavier and is a _lot_ bigger, while she's this dainty little thing. He _could_ just end the whole thing if he actually decided to stop taking her attitude, but he hasn't apparently figured out that he could just sit on her and win. And so, the mayhem continues.

[@joelsdogbehavior]

This is bs. Those are just 2 dogs with aggression issues and anxiety disorders. Not littermate syndrom. Littermate syndrom has become this catch all for people to justify bad behaviors under one umbrella for their own soothing. It's why so many trainer don't recognize it at all anymore and just use double seperation anxiety diagnosis.

[@cynthiagilman8157]

So glad she did a video about this! Years ago I adopted a puppy and then a few weeks later got saddled with his sister, she was showing signs of aggression and dominance... I worked with her for 6 weeks and was able to get her aggression under control. But handed her off to a more qualified trainer to deal with the dominance, I knew if it wasn't dealt with the aggression could potentially come back. When I rehomed her I was concerned my puppy would show signs of depression, but it turns out he was glad to be rid of her. We got home from dropping her off He plopped down on the floor, let out the biggest sigh I'd ever heard a dog do in my life and took a 4 hour nap. He was very well socialized, loved other dogs and all people. Thankfully his story worked out but not all situations turn out as good.

[@LivetolearnMama]

Our boxer passed away in January at 12 years old. He was an amazing doggy. He was much smarter than he let on, but I'm not sure I've ever known a more stubborn human or animal. These puppies brought up so many warm memories. 🥰

[@madeleinevincensini1736]

🥰 what’s our boxer’s name by the way ?😇

[@LivetolearnMama]

@@madeleinevincensini1736 His name was Achilles. ❤️

[@soyburglar77]

I’ve had the fortune of knowing several boxers in my lifetime and they are, by far, the most emotive dogs I’ve encountered. And they always seem to be very “concerned” with the well-being of their person. A very neat breed, for sure. I attempted to buy one from a newspaper ad back in the late ‘90s. I paid $400 for a puppy who LOOKED Boxer-ish, but as she grew, it became apparent that she was more yellow lab than anything lol. Still a very sweet dog.

[@USMarshmallow]

This is so important to know. Thank you for bringing us so much knowledge. I've learned more from your channel than working at a pet supply shop for 2.5 years!

[@Sniperboy5551]

It’s very true, my boxer-pit just died a month or two ago and she was the most unique and loving yet protective dog you could imagine. Once she got used to someone, she’d let them pet and love her and she’d just sit there with this cute smile on her face. These cute little puppies remind me of her so much, this video actually brought a tear to my eye. They’re the best dogs, she had such a unique personality like you wouldn’t even believe. The house always felt safe with her there, she would’ve given her life to protect us.

[@wilsonserv]

As someone who grew up with many boxers, they have two problems: the drool thing and they leave us way too soon. Besides that, they are perfect.

[@magidog8582]

Magi,my Boxer, never did drool,guess I got lucky.

[@bronwynsearle2117]

Yep 👍 bang on ❤️

[@EchoSigma6]

Heartbreak breed.

[@Derek_Keenan]

i have 3 boxers, the two boys drool a lot but the girl almost never does, really only when i'm getting her food ready or when she isn't feeling well

[@MrRyan-fd9rd]

I guess Emmit, my 3rd boxer traded his drool problem for a farting problem, lol. He could constantly clear a room every 30 minutes on a bad day. Sadly I had to put him down a couple weeks ago, 2 months before his 14th birthday.

[@taigamachuca2977]

This sounds like the situation with our old family dogs, two boxer/lab puppies from the same litter adopted together. Could never ever be apart, even in kennels placed right next to each other they would cry and cry and cry until one would break into the others kennel (we eventually just told them to house them together if we ever needed to use one). His brother passed away before he did and he didn't stop crying for a month. After that month he was the saddest animal ive ever seen and nothing we did ever seemed to help his mood for more than an hour or two. He eventually joined his brother about 6 months later when he just kind of gave up.

[@dangus6934]

Reminds me of the story 'Where the red fern grows'. When the male died from a cougar attack, the sister stopped eating and laid by his grave until she passed. It's so sad to lose one of a pair. I'm sorry for the loss.

[@grandma460]

Gosh that’s the saddest ever. So much love in those pups.

[@kokocute123]

Naw, I had no idea about "Littermate Syndrome"! Thank you for the great information. And those boxer puppers are adorable.

[@ryans.8294]

We're on our 2nd Boxer. She's less than a year older than our 6 year old daughter and she is absolutely wonderful with her and other children. I'm hooked for life.

[@lynboxer2920]

You are so WONDERFUL !!! I have had eleven Boxers since I was two years old. I once got two from the same litter. They were great with me and other dogs and any child! They were completely bonded, but I and others from the Dog Park were included in our family. It was a boy and girl, she was almost three minutes older, even though he was twenty pounds bigger. She, when she needed to, put him in line with a single look. He adored her, and she him. At the Dog Park if any dog even thought of being tough with her, he wouldn't fight, but be next to her with his BIG BOY LOOK!!! SO HAPPY YOU LIKE THE BREED ♥♥♥

[@michelleadamchak1330]

Can confirm. Our next door neighbors always had boxers, and they're the biggest, goofiest marshmallow of a dog anywhere. These two were so good for their groom!! So cute!!

[@jimothyj2638]

Mine has a crazy prey drive and will get aggressive to any other dogs who don't instantly submit to her. These are a guard dog after all

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Michelle how are you doing today

[@frenchpotato2852]

“I just wanna squish you.” As a boxer owner those words have left my mouth more than once.

[@something3540]

OMG these boxer puppies are just the cutest and i loved their reactions

[@ThatPianoNoob]

I just wish she would turn up the heat those poor guys are freezing! Or they are super adorably shy and scared.

[@koda_dawgg]

@@ThatPianoNoob i'd say they're shaking because they're nervous. it's a new experience for a puppy to be at the groomer so they might be nervous.

[@something3540]

Omg tysm for the likes people

[@jesuschristpose896]

Once you get past the "teenage" years, they are amazingly brilliant dogs, have lived and owned over 6 Boxers and if I was in a situation to have a dog, it would most definitely be a Boxer.

[@benfrese3573]

"over six"? Seven? Or do you not remember how many dogs you had? I am confused.

[@WilliamsPinch]

In High School, my best friend’s 3yr old Boxer realized the electric fence wasn’t on and bolted out of the yard. We looked for him for 2hrs before we heard the screams of children, and found him at the neighborhood park chasing kids up and down the slide. 😂😂 they were terrified but he was having a ball!

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Ashley how are you doing today

[@camron927]

“The screams of children”😂🤣

[@stevenhenry4127]

@@camron927 Hello Camomron how are you doing today

[@alienvomitsex]

@@stevenhenry4127 he's doing well

[@bandana.7077]

umm.. ur dog didn't bite any kid right?💀

[@AdorkableArtist92]

My aunt and uncle had a boxer that I absolutely adored! I met him while staying with them during Hurricane Ida. He was a gentle giant. He was very skittish about my wheelchair, but he would force himself to be brave and come by me if I was anxious or crying, like when the news was on and discussing the hurricane. He would come up to me from the side, eyeing the wheels very suspiciously, and then let me pet him for a while. I actually discovered this youtube channel during he same evacuation! It brought me a lot of laughter and comfort during a really rough time.

[@bully6652]

Thank you!!! This almost became an issue when I got my second American Bully. My first one was about 14 months old, and then I got a 9 week old female. They got close very fast, but I continued their socialization separately, vet appointments separately, and crate time was two different kennels in different locations. The female was showing signs of Littermate Syndrome around 5-6 months old. She was very reactive when my older male would bark at something or try to rough house with our other dog. It got to a point where she refused to play with my mom's puppy, whom was the same age as her, and she lashed out when my male would try to play with that puppy. We started having completely different play times/groups, walks, training time, etc. and now she doesn't have any meltdowns when my male isn't giving her 100% of his space and attention. A hard lesson is NOT letting them sleep in the same bed together. Practicing the same routines is great, but you still need them to understand their routines and tasks are a bit different from each other so they're not doing literally everything together. I know at the salon I worked at, people would always hit me with "they do better together" actually no. This makes our job even harder, especially when we can't accomodate dogs like this. I had two GSDs that were "inseparable". The older one was much more calm, less barking, and cooperative when the younger one was no present. The younger one was also more calm BUT if he heard his brother he would freak out and start screaming. I went with what the owners suggested, keeping them together, and recorded it. Then we tried it my way and had a much better experience. I know it might be hard and you think "oh it would be so cute for them to grow up together" but dogs just don't think this way. You just make it harder for them to accept their new home/family and bond appropriately. Sympathy sickness can also be an issue in situations like this. I've had two dogs that faked the others' injury to receive the same treatment. Sorry for the long story but thanks if you read it!

[@eveenala]

Thank YOU for sharing. Learned a lot from your post 😁

[@fionaroberts1585]

Bully, no, thank you for taking the time to help and educate everyone 😊👍

[@K3153YKane]

We rescued a 1 yr old boxer (f) when I was 6. The best damn dog anyone ever met. Aside from not liking other dogs ( a learned behavior from her previous owner) she was sweet and protective. She loved to give hugs and snuggles. She lived to be 14. I would love to have another boxer.

[@kristinreynolds577]

They’re precious!!! My dogs were 6 months apart, and when we lost one, the other one followed 10 days later. I always knew it’d be that way, but it was still devastating when it did happen. Our puppy now has decided that she is the main character. She loves other dogs, just not to stay. Lol

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Kristin how are you doing today

[@NinaBug36]

Grew up with boxers. They are one of the best dogs ever. Gorgeous, loving, gentle, great with kids. Can’t wait to get another one.

[@FireCracker3240]

I'm so glad you shed some light on Littermate Syndrome! I know a woman who had two adult dogs who had 4 puppies, and she kept them all for a total of 6 dogs! The 4 puppies grew up to very aggressive (generally a mild tempered breed), growling and barking at each other all the time. They also fight constantly with the other dogs. She never understood why they were the way they were when both the parents were not that way. I did some research and discovered Littermate Syndrome. Sadly, it was too late to do anything about her dogs, but I educate everyone I know and most have never heard of it.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

I don’t understand, why? They were all kept together. I thought the issue came from being separated from the litter and dog parents. Why do dogs get this syndrome then?

[@FireCracker3240]

@@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr Because they bond so much with each other, they don't properly socialize to learn to bond with other dogs and humans. They don't go through their normal development process which causes separation anxiety (being away from each other) and fear of people and dogs other than the one they're bonded to. It's a bit similar to when a kitten is taken away from its mother too early. They depend on mama to learn how to act and behave as a cat (grooming, litterbox usage, etc) and when they don't develop properly, it affects them for their lifetime.

[@ferninthehouse]

@@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr another form of littermate syndrome is constant aggression towards each other, since they are struggling for dominance over their territory. littermate syndrome is extremely common for dogs that are kept together, and even puppies raised together that arent from the same litter. they bond together, and often will not cope with being separated. they also tend to be more disobedient for numerous reasons. dogs should be separated from their family soon after reaching 8 weeks. staying with parents or siblings too long can result in them not gaining their own independence and being dependent on other dogs.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

@@FireCracker3240 Doesn't that also happen to dogs who were never socialized? Even single dog homes who may have the dog socialized to humans, but not other dogs. That sounds like it's on the owners or breeders for not socializing the dogs with others.

[@FireCracker3240]

@@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr Not quite, because if the dog is brought into a home by itself and only socialized to be around humans, it would have trouble being around any other dogs and is not bonded to another dog. That's why every puppy owner should work to socialize their dog when they're still young (7-8 weeks is the ideal age to start) by introducing them to other dogs (while out walking, in a dog park, etc) and species of animals, or take them to obedience school where they are trained how to interact with others.

[@Anon_E_Muss]

The forehead wrinkles of concern kill me 💙

[@ferretyluv]

My sister must have been so lucky when she got two mutts from the streets of Tel Aviv. They’re the sweetest dogs ever, perfectly trained (in both Hebrew and English) and perfectly well socialized.

[@Emi_nc]

I had a boxer growing up, we were always the same age until she passed, at age 11. She was truly my best friend and I miss her so much, she looked just like the firts puppy, so adorable!!! Love the video

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Emilia how are you doing today

[@Derek_Keenan]

sorry to hear that 😢 but i'm happy you were lucky enough to have 11 great years with her! i have 3 and am going to be a wreck when that time comes

[@tanyabanik9875]

I had a boxer named coco and it's true what you say, once you experience their love, there's no going back! Such adorable babies❤️

[@lexisl3231]

Boxers will ALWAYS have my heart. My neighbor just lost her eight year old Boxer to stomach cancer. 💜 I love the boxer hugs. My Maltese were half brothers and boy when Hoppi died, Max was like “Please don’t leave me alone!” It’s a true thing.

[@zoeykralovetz1744]

This is something we were worried about with our puppies. Here's some tips I've learned to keep these from being a problem. always make sure you train them separately and make it part of their routine to be a part from each other. And the things they need to do separately are: potty breaks, training sessions, separate crates to sleep in, walks, play sessions, ect. You can slowly introduce doing some of these things together once they become a pro at it by themselves, but for maybe the first year, it's best to keep them doing things alone so they learn independence. It's been 6 months with our litter mates and the hard work of training them and it's paying off. It sounds like a lot of work, and that's because it is but it's worth it. Be careful and take a step back if you are seeing an issue with your puppies anywhere in the process.😊 Edit: also I have no idea if this helps anyone but we did bring home one puppy 6 weeks before the other, which made their learning independently easier from the beginning. Also I'm not a professional, I've just found that this has really helped with my puppies and keeping them from litter mate syndrome.

[@mo2743]

Very helpful, I never thought of this

[@amyoung101]

I had no idea about the challenges/emotional danger getting two puppies at once could bring. Thanks for the education! 🥰

[@carriesmith8600]

Such an adorable pair of boys. I loved watching them both being bathed and also hearing about what challenges might be in store in the future. Such a wonderful video.

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Carrie how are you doing today

[@LauraTuller]

I love how you share all your dog knowledge and we learn a thing or two while watching these fun videos. 😊

[@stevenhenry4127]

How Laura how are you doing today

[@haleymarschke838]

Just lost my 11 year old white boxer back in September. Thanks for posting this, it reminded me of the good times during his "puppyhood".. 🥰

[@kelkabot]

Hugs.

[@TheLionPear]

We must have lucked out. We got my dog and my brother’s dog from the same litter. They spent every day together until about six months old when I moved out. Now they are 8 and my brother’s dog visits from time to time and it’s so sweet to see how they will inevitably be found lying close to each other every opportunity. But neither of them seem stressed when parted again, thankfully. They just share a very close bond when they are together.

[@JD-rf1xc]

For 7 seven years my soul mate was a boxer/French mix, and the connection we had was insane, i would swear we could read each others mind.such a lovely and loyal dog, i miss him every day.

[@Passion84GodAlways]

OMGosh! I had no idea Littermate Syndrome existed! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your channel!🙏🏾 You are a WEALTH of knowledge!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@sierratreasure7812]

It explains some thing that happened when we tried to raise female lab puppies from a litter. I wish I had the knowledge back then.

[@erinjoy5625]

Yes, I had no idea either great to knw

[@sswwooppee]

@@sierratreasure7812 Your breeder should have known better.

[@anonview]

What an interesting fact about litter mates! In cats, it's almost always recommended to adopt two kittens together because it helps them socialize, get exercise, and their scratching/biting strength.

[@_Y.Not_]

Please take these "facts" with a grain of salt.

[@TiaKatt]

@@_Y.Not_ No, it really *is* the recommendation that kittens ideally be adopted in pairs.

[@getitaliancitizenshipinc.3576]

@@_Y.Not_ No. It's well known that one should not adopt two puppies from the same litter at the same time. For cats it's totally different. It is always recommended to adopt littermates if you can (cats).

[@MesoJoe]

A decent thing we've done with getting two puppies at once and mitigating issues is having an older and trained dog who helped raise the two and provided a strong example, along with practice walking the puppies one at a time. Helped minimize issues a lot

[@stevegraham5494]

This. 10,000 times. This is absolutely accurate. We got Lab littermates and they bonded to each other far more than they ever bonded to us. They are great dogs but they will always listen to each other more than they will ever listen to us. They can never be separate for long. Just like you said, we are fearful of what will happen some day when one passes away. Listen to Vanessa.

[@orgasmicbreathpractitioner6207]

buddy system works well. if you have other people in the household, take one with one person and the other with another. this should help things a ton

[@williammatthews2948]

Our family had a white Boxer named Spot when I was a kid in the early 70's, (I'm a little biased.) I remember him being a fierce protector, and a gentle giant. When my wife, daughter, and I bought our first house, we bred, raised, and trained Boxers for 10 years. They are amazing dogs, and the only breed of dog I would leave alone with a young child. Thanks for sharing, and bringing back those pleasant memories. Have a great week.

[@magidog8582]

they are wonderful with children.

[@tytipton6346]

Aww I like boxers. When I was in college, my neighbors had an old boxer that occasionally slept on their porch. He would occasionally come over to our place and hop on the couch, watch tv, get some pets, and then go back next door. What a great dog

[@user-tc2ng4zm4c]

They are the best, had two for 15 years until they passed in 2020 then 2021. Miss them dearly but I'm glad they had a long full life full of adventures with us.

[@parryyotter]

This video made me miss my boxer so much. We got him as a puppy and he was just so sweet and docile. You could do anything to him, and he’d just go with it, and he carried that trait his entire life. Whereas our other dogs had a threshold for annoyance that was probably about average, it was as if absolutely nothing could faze or annoy this dog. He was the calmest dog I’ve ever owned. He also loved pillows and blankets, and he always wanted to be in your lap. Boxers are hilarious. Aside from their hopping, they only listen when they want, otherwise they go into what I call “statue mode” and act like they don’t even see you. I miss him terribly.

[@cw4608]

Oh his little legs just shaking. I got littermates and sadly Koda passed at five years from epilepsy. His very sensitive sister Karma was very depressed for almost a year afterwards but came out of it and welcomed Boris into her life.

[@jac8313]

There was a litter of 3 puppies that different family members of mine adopted from a shelter. The pups get to see each other once or twice a week which gives them their own independence but still joy when they see each other.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Had this happen years ago before I knew what the term was. We had a dog who had an accidental litter of puppies (before I had all the knowledge I have now about dogs). One of the puppies seemed a bit...mentally challenged, perhaps. She learned to walk last and never really seemed to fully grasp how to play with her siblings. She would gallop towards them, but then sit down and look back at us like she was asking, "Is this how it's done?" Her ability to learn things was very different from any puppy I'd seen and for this reason, I wanted to keep her with us, because she seemed special needs. I named her Nea, short for neapolitan, like the ice cream. Her nose was a bright pink when she was born and had white on her face and paws. She was actually mostly black, not brown, but I liked the concept too much to find a different name (also, looking up how to spell "neapolitan" helped me rediscover a cute song called Neapolitan Dreams, which plays in the first LittleBig Planet game, lol. I never knew the name of that song). Nea took the shape and personality of her mother...but dialed up to level 11. The other puppy we kept was a mottled gray and black one who looked like the father...and she acted exactly like him, too. Very brave and adventurous, like our Tigger, whereas Carmel (the mother) and Nea were much more reserved. The other puppy we named Hammie, because we just needed a placeholder until she was adopted. She...never was. At least, not until we took her and her sister to the shelter (at least, I hope they were adopted...). But that's later. These two personalities made for terrible ownership. Nea was absolutely glued to Hammie. They always ate out the same bowls and if I put them across the room from each other, they'd still need to see what their sibling was doing and then they'd eat out the same bowl anyways. I tried feeding just one at a time, starting with Nea. She wouldn't eat, which was when the alarm bells began to ring that her dependency on Hammie was going to be a major issue. Hammie though had no problem eating without her sister. Hammie then began breaking out of the back yard, a trait I'm certain that, like her mother, Nea wouldn't have developed on her own. So, she followed her sister's bad example and we often had to try to find them and spent countless hours trying to dog-proof the fence, but it was a rental and we weren't doing the greatest financially. The straw that finally broke the camel's back was Nea's odd habit of not using the bathroom outside. She would instead always pee in front of my bedroom door. She could be outside all day, and that's with us out there with her and praising Hammie when she peed as encouragement to Nea. It didn't matter. She would always come back in and pee in front of my door. And getting the scent out to where the dog isn't able to smell it anymore was pretty much impossible. Unable to train her and too poor to afford the help Nea seriously needed, we decided to surrender all of the dogs. After I came back home, I bawled my eyes out, ashamed at how I'd failed them. I've not owned a pet since and maybe never will. But all of this is to say, please take littermate syndrome seriously, it is extremely difficult to overcome. AND SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!! All of this could've been avoided with just doing that.

[@Simon_V_RDJ]

Boxer's are very loving, gentle....and as bonkers a breed as you could ever think to meet. Daft as anything but so loveable!

[@boxerblvd3514]

My first boxer was in 1985 .still have boxers to this day.they just fit me and never stop making me laugh.

[@michaelradzichovsky9366]

I love the playing in the backyard ending shots. Glad you’re bringing it back.

[@SteveG123]

As usual, very good advice about littermates to accompany the grooming skills. I can imagine lots of folks taking two puppies home without that important understanding.

[@MandyJane123700]

Watching your channel has really helped me with my dog. I got her this summer, and she really hates baths. She scratches, howls, and tries to climb out. The last two times I bathed her, I tried copying your tone of voice, and it worked! She is still scared of the bath, but instead of climbing on me, she mostly stands there and lets me get it done.

[@glowworm2]

Homer has such a unique coloration! Diggs' little whimpers melted my heart. Lost it at his ears almost not fitting into the happy hoodie.

[@Not-thatKaren]

I love Boxers! They are a forever puppy. My son and DIL had one and then got a second one a couple of years later. The second one had terrible separation anxiety.

[@TheAuthenticIsOutThere]

Why did both the pups look like 2 grandparents with that ear guard on? 🤣 The Brown pup looked like an old man going to go play chess at the park and the white one looked like an old Nanna going to play bingo or head to the market.🤣 Both were adorable!🤣 💕

[@PC-Phobic-Jean-Rene]

How sweet are the tender-young, both human and animal. ~ Naturally bursting with energy, innocent-happy and delightfully-playful. 🐕

[@C4TC4T]

Pearl, our boxer, is the sweetest thing ever, and she has enough energy to power the town

[@joro8604]

Good info. Makes me so sad that i adopted a 1 year old dog and sometimes was not sensitive that she got ripped away from her family. Great dog and we have a great bond. Best friend ever.

[@cosimiadailey9875]

We just had to put down our 12 and a half year old boxer, and this felt so bittersweet yet comforting to watch 🥲

[@em945]

Loooooved the Beagle at the end😊adorable! Thank you!

[@timebong8366]

Lol. I had two dogs once one was the father and the other the daughter. Funny my male doggo taught his daughter to lift her leg while peeing 🤣

[@samanthaabreu782]

Oh my dog used to do that, I had a male before her and she spent her whole life peeing as a male ahahaha

[@Violetlais]

Where as my boy never really learned how to pee like a boy 😂... although sometimes if he's trying to out-pee another dog he will try to cock his leg... but he has never really figured it out so it just looks very unco and hilarious

[@kaerligheden]

Really???? I din't know that could happent!!! So hilarious!!!!!

[@ThatPianoNoob]

@@Violetlais oh no.. does that result in problems with his fur?

[@timebong8366]

@@samanthaabreu782 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@oracleofdelphiii]

Boxers are insane in the best way. There's one in my neighbourhood that I always see walking around with his owner; every time I say the dog's name, he LEAPS up and freaks out, his tail turns into a whip, and he just wants all the headpats in the world.

[@Derek_Keenan]

boxers are ADHD personified 😊

[@erichudiburg3136]

That’s my Boo Rad. Really made our night to see him up there. Love the channel ❤️ keep it up

[@marybillups8901]

You just had to make me want a boxer pup! 😍🥰 Yes, I have to blame you, because you do such a wonderful job with getting hearts pitter pattering!❤

[@stevenhenry4127]

Hello Mary how are you doing today

[@TheGreatoutdoorsAndGourmetVic]

That was just too MUCH cuteness!

[@I_am_Allan]

Littermate Syndrome. Fascinating. In cats, it's just called "bonding" and the adoption agency (in my case, Action Volunteers for Animals - Toronto) had my two boys as a pair, I *had* to adopt together.

[@parryyotter]

Bonding is different. Our dogs were bonded but they did not refuse to eat and die as a result of the elder ones passing away.

[@I_am_Allan]

@@parryyotter my friend had sister/brother cats. Brother died. Sister died about 3 months later.

[@libbyjensen1858]

Aside from a video with two ADORABLE boxer puppies, this was very interesting. I've often heard the advise not to get two puppies at once but this is the best explanation as to why it's not a good idea that I've ever heard. Thank you for the teaching!

[@MrJagger112]

It's the innocent joy where everything is just a absolute party that makes puppies so damn cute for me. The bounce in their little hops and the wag of their tiny tails is just icing on the cake.

[@susanw5655]

We got two boxer puppies from the same litter. Almost 11 months old now.. They are doing great, and don't have any issues being separated or any other litter mate syndrome behaviors. I think it helps we also have another dog, a cat and a kid they play with too.

[@2011Ohmygoodness]

This is one of the reasons I love your channel. I did not know litterbox syndrome existed. I learn so much from you. Thank you for this and all you do. Edit: litter mate syndrome

[@parryyotter]

Litter mate. Not box 😆

[@katelynwilliams7147]

This was probably the work of autocorrect. Or a typo. But I got a giggle.

[@2011Ohmygoodness]

🤣🤣🤣 I have to admit it was the work of typing too fast and not paying attention. Thanks.

[@traekas7481]

Girl with the Dogs! I gotta say that yours is, so far, my very best, fave channel for dog groomers. Thank you so much! So fun, watching these two pups get groomed + playing outside. Thx, again!

[@normavoyton3208]

Diggs with his ears flipped inside out the whole time they were in the yard is the best thing I've seen today 😊

[@sezzysays4351]

I’ve always grown up with purebred boxers, so when I had my own family - we got a boxer of our own! She was always perfect with my young babies, and such a good girl! She lived for 15yo before passing of old age - such a good girl.

[@Bkj2022]

The first dogs my parents owned after they were married were two boxers that looked nearly identical to these two- especially the white one, right down to the brown patch over the eye and on the back. By the time I was 3, it was only the white one- Buddy. One of my earliest memories was tossing a toy down the hallway and watching Buddy skid across the floor to catch it. He died shortly after, but there are many pictures of 3-year-old me playing with him. They truly are incredible with children. Brought a couple tears to my eyes seeing this video.

[@Derek_Keenan]

boxers are the best, i love all 3 of mine so much! and they are just the cutest funniest puppies

[@Astrohhh]

I learn something new every time I watch your videos!

[@keriannekerr1876]

This is so shocking to me but absolutely necessary for me to learn. All my life I thought it was cruel to separate litter mates and wanted to only get pets in pairs and arrange regular "family reunions" like how adults arrange play dates with their and their friends' children. I now realize how wrong I was and will rethink how to approach pet ownership. Thank you so much for this info

[@bubbly990]

Oh my gosh this just made my whole entire day. Education and the sweetest faces ever! What cuties!

[@julykis91]

Aaaaah, the littermate syndrome! That's what my same-litter sister dogs have... It actually has a name. Good to know! In reality, after living with and training multiple dogs of my own (including two dogs in the household at a time), I can't stop marveling at how attached my two current dogs are. I try to do my best to give them individual time with me and make them enjoy it. Honestly, I enjoy it much better myself, because they tend to have group think a lot, and individually they are much more focused on me, as well as much friendlier around other dogs. That said, they are both very well behaved and sweet dogs now, after I spent a lot of effort to get them out of their little bubble and taught them to listen to me. But it does stand out to me that wherever one of them goes, the second one must be there too. Mine are also brown and white :)

[@Mickmickster]

It’s going to be awesome when you hit 2 million subscribers. You deserve it.

[@dangus6934]

Boxers are an awesome breed for both family and single people! They are excellent especially with small children if they are accustomed. Sadly, Boxers also have a very high risk of cancer among breeds. Get them screened early if you have one.