hello all we are getting two new little pups and though we see a lot of its a very bad idea to get litter mates we think that we have the drive and ambition to do things the right way. for starts really limiting their time together so as to make them bind to us more then each other and the red one is going to be mine and my resposibility and training and the black is going to be her's and was wondering for any additional advice. We do know that this to a lot of people can be a very bad idea but we do know that this is doable with the right method

Welcome! Just out of curiosity... why separate them? lol There are several people here that have littermates and never separated them. Interesting thinking. I'm pretty sure they will both bond to you without separating them. You want them to be bonded together, that's the beauty of getting littermates.

Kale and I say HELLOOO from California

well I've been reading a lot about the breed and pups I've only raised a German shepherd in the past and she was great but as I read about getting litter mates I see nothing but its a bad idea that they will end up not being able to cope with out eachother and not bond to the owners or being extreamly harder to deal with and that is some cases really bad personality dissorders but as I read more spacific to the breed that it can be done and isn't as hard. not to mention that I have heard that good breeders wont even sell you litter mates

I don't know where you are getting your information, but Sibes are extremely friendly dogs and bond with strangers faster than any breed that I know of lol Dogs are made aggressive and hard to handle by under-socialization and lack of training and structure, not by keeping littermates separate. But to each his own I guess lol

I'm not sure where you are reading that it's a bad idea either. If you have two huskies, whether litter mates or not, they is always the chance that they are going to bond themselves to each other more than their owners. Koda was with us for almost two years before Hailey came and they are still bonded to each other very closely.

What's most important is spending individual time with both of them as well as training, but not trying to separate them. You WANT them to bond together. If they aren't bonded, you'll have a very difficult situation on your hands.

I know plenty of people who have gotten littermates and are just fine.

http://www.caninedevelopment.com/Sibling.htm

this is one thing that I have read and that seems to be the same tone I find everywhere, but everything that I have found on this isn't really geared to huskies and what you guys are telling me is making me believe that we really aren't going to have much to worry about. and I dont't mean keeping them apart completely but just making sure that through their adolecent time that they be kept apart for their development and play time with each other is seporate from any training and other things like that. because I was reading a lot of they either become agressive to each other over time or they are so close to each other that they become aggresive to other dogs. Huskies are somewhat new to me and just want to make sure that we are doing all the right things to make sure that they will be well rounded members of our family, happy and live up to their full potential

I have never ever heard or read any such thing before.
Even tho my 2 dogs are not related they have their own personalities and we do everything together with them. One is a 2yr old German shepherd who barks a lots and is protective. One is a Husky also 2 yrs old who prances and talks does not bark and will leave with anybody that pets him...lol
We take them to the vet together they eat from each others bowls we walk them together and play with them together. We do everything together with them. They bonded with each other and they bonded with us. My GSD bonded more with my husband where as my Husky bonded more with me.

I love german shepherds the one I had was great I don't know if I just really did a great job or just got really lucky but she was amazing, I could trust her off the leash only at about 4 months even with destrAction being we lived on a dead end road packed with other dogs and kids and things, and as long as I made sure to stimulate and exercise her se was always on her best behavier, I think from 10 months on I really didn't even have any need to correct her at all. but due to joining the military and the ex wife leaving and then deploying to Iraq and what not I had to give her up, but I know she is happy on a huge plot of land in NC lol I am really looking foward to the new pups to our home and really am happy to hear that they will be just fine together given a good structure

What you're reading is actually very true, I see it happen all the time. It is VERY important to give them alone time from each other. Don't crate them together and don't always have them out together. There's nothing wrong with having them play or be with each other but they need to have time away both from each other and with you alone to develop their own personalities. I've seen very much so sibling dogs bond very closely with each other and leave the human to entertain themselves. While most of us have more than 1 dog and can attest they do bond with each other and also bond with us... raising puppies together puts an extra effort into compliance in the already very thick headed stubborn Siberian. They aren't dumb. And as such they realize very quickly it's more fun and more rewarding to pay attention to each other (since they're constantly together and constantly getting all this positive feedback) than pay attention to you. By separating them and giving them individual time and attention it helps. The article you linked may be taking it a tad far but the general concept of giving them time and space away from each other and time with you alone is a good thing to follow. You don't want them with each other 100% of the time, at least in the very beginning. You will be the 3rd wheel.

I think as long as you train them like you did your GSD you won't have any issues. Just remember Huskies are stubborn and will some times do things at their own pace. My GSD is way ahead of my Husky with it comes to doing things on command. Sometimes he will do it and other times he is like wait a min I am doing something...lol

Congrats!

My 2 arent siblings but are very very close. Zoey being the youngest gets very upset when Embry is taken away from her.

yeah thats what I hear is its very important to make sure that they get used to being seporate early on so its not an issue

Joe&Danni wrote:

yeah thats what I hear is its very important to make sure that they get used to being seporate early on so its not an issue

I very much trust Kristina's experience and judgement. Heed her advice well and I stand corrected

What is being talked about is referred to as Littermate syndrome - and it SUCKS.

We have two Maltese who while they're not actually littermates (born about the same time two different litters) have spent their ENTIRE lives together. We got them at a year old and had to buy BOTH of them because if they were separated they would in fact starve themselves I am absolutely not kidding about this.

These dogs are attached at their hips basically. They go potty together, they eat together. If one dog lays down the other is laying right next to it AT ALL TIMES. If one dog walks 5 steps 80% of the time the other dog walks 5 steps. These are actually how the dogs are. And this is what can happen if you let the dogs stay together basically all or most of the time.

It is not limited to just certain breeds and doesn't matter if the breed is the friendliest breed on the planet or the least.

Since you'll be getting sisters it is absolutely imperative that you have lots of individual time with each girl. That includes individual play and training sessions at least in the very beginning.

Joe&Danni wrote:

http://www.caninedevelopment.com/Sibling.htm

this is one thing that I have read and that seems to be the same tone I find everywhere, but everything that I have found on this isn't really geared to huskies and what you guys are telling me is making me believe that we really aren't going to have much to worry about. and I dont't mean keeping them apart completely but just making sure that through their adolecent time that they be kept apart for their development and play time with each other is seporate from any training and other things like that. because I was reading a lot of they either become agressive to each other over time or they are so close to each other that they become aggresive to other dogs. Huskies are somewhat new to me and just want to make sure that we are doing all the right things to make sure that they will be well rounded members of our family, happy and live up to their full potential

We read your first post and congratulations on your two furry siblings. We think you will do just fine, we got everything you posted the first time. What your planning will work! You will all be living in the same home, just not allowing the siblings to spend to much time together but the same time if you had other dogs with in your home and that you both will be good Fur Parents, you will be teaching hierarchy of the pack. Have fun and enjoy yourselves with the pups!

Husky Lovers in Vermont

Koda wrote:

I very much trust Kristina's experience and judgement. Heed her advice well and I stand corrected

Dawwww Thanks Tori

Welcome! I'm pretty sure there are a few others on the forum that have raised two pups at once, I'm sure they can provide you with lots of advice. You sound like you have educated yourselves well on the issues that can occur when you get two pups at once, which is way more than lots of people do when they end up with two pups at once. Way to go for being prepared!

I think the real critical periond before 16 weeks. You want to make sure you can separate them, like take one out for a car ride and then the other one later that day. In the book I'm reading now, I learned that like 80% of their brain has grown by 16 weeks! So it's in that time that you really need to socialize and get them used to things (like being left alone without one another). This looks like it has good info too.

http://www.ducatgoldens.com/new_page_11.htm

Welcome and congrats on your to girls! when will you be bring them home? you made a comment about good breeders not selling litter mates so does that mean you are getting them to from a back yard breeder? also as far as training goes don't expect them to be like your GDS and don't let them off leash. please make sure you get them chipped as well.

(Since the husband is at work I suppose I can answer)
We bring them home today. She is a back yard breeder who happened to be on the military post that he works at. She had both mom and dad and it was a weird situation on how the puppies came to be. But as always I asked a million questions while the husband was distracted by dakota about both mom and dad and got, parent and grand parent history. The dad was an Inch to tall to be AKC registered. We stumbled upon them by chance, and I've wanted Huskies since I was about 4 years old so this is my little dream come true. We both want to train them right so it is going to be a fun process! Thanks for everyones advice, I think the hubbs is going to have to train me as well, I am learning slowly but can't wait to get out little fur balls today!
My heart has been beating out of my chest with excitment! I'll be sure to be the mommy and take a picture every week to show their growth and when they loose teeth! Such an exciting time for us!

are they 8 weeks or older right now?

I believe they are 7 to 7 1/2 weeks I have to make sure the husband gets their exact birthday when he picks them up.

correction on the back yard breeding thing she wasn't a breeder at all it was an accodent when she took her brother-in-law's husky and he got to her the first day, so it was another reason that convinced me to get more then one haha

I dont know what this breeders telling you but theirheight has nothing to do with a dog gettimg registered...

Actually.... (Wife again)

Size, Proportion, Substance
Height--Dogs, 21 to 23½ inches at the withers. Bitches, 20 to 22 inches at the withers. Weight--Dogs, 45 to 60 pounds. Bitches, 35 to 50 pounds. Weight is in proportion to height. The measurements mentioned above represent the extreme height and weight limits with no preference given to either extreme. Any appearance of excessive bone or weight should be penalized. In profile, the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to the rear point of the croup is slightly longer than the height of the body from the ground to the top of the withers. Disqualification--Dogs over 23½ inches and bitches over 22 inches.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/siberian_husky/