[Zephyrdog]

So it definitely wont be happening for another year or so, but I am thinking of getting a second dog eventually. I have been researching breeds, and I am currently leaning toward a Bernese Mountain Dog. I have emailled a couple of breeders already and have set up a time to go and meet her dogs, to see if the breed is right for me.

Anyway, I am curious about whether or not littermate syndrome can eventuate if only one of the dogs is a puppy? So if in a year or so I got a puppy, and it spent more one on one time with my current dog than with me, would it be likely to bond with my current dog more, and potentially damage my relationship with the pup? Or because my current dog is already heavily bonded with me, would it be less likely to happen?

Of course when the dog is a very small pup I will keep them seperated when unsupervised, but when the pup is a bit older, I would likely keep them out together.

 

[mathilda]

yes, if the dog spends too much time with another dog and to little time with the human this can happen with a puppy even if the other dog is already older.
it is totally okay to let them be together though, in my opinion, as long as you spend enough time bonding and training with the puppy alone without the other dog.
For example walk the puppy and the other dog separated from each other every day...big breed puppies need a longer time to grow up than smaller breeds and so they shouldn't have too long walk until they're an adult.
your adult probably profits from a longer walk though.
the Puppy also needs more attention for leash training than an adult dog, so this is also a reason to separate them for walks.

 

[Carl484a]

If you can spend time with them, then they will bond to you (you have all of the cool things like treats, toys, and belly rubs). If you don't spend time with them, they will bond with each other. But it is all in degrees. Probably no major worry even if you are often gone.

 

[Russian4]

I think you will be okay if like @mathilda said you take one on one time with each. I know people who got two dogs from the same litter and they don't bond with anyone but each other. So as long as you don't get two puppies from the same litter you should be okay.

I have two dogs and they both interact play but when i need one to do some thing they can still manage without be right by each others sides. I hope that makes sense.

I hope this helps

 

[Zephyrdog]

Thanks for all your replies! I would definitely be walking and training them separately, especially while the pup is young and still learning.

My current dog is relatively well behaved, but I would like her to have a bit more impulse control before I got a new dog. She is pretty good until she is on lead and there is a person walking by almost within patting distance - because then they might want to pat her, and the best way to get pats is to pull on the lead to smooch up to people and show them your butt - right? And if I get another large dog - that could end up being two strong dogs pulling on a lead - which could create some problems....

But I dont plan on getting a pup for at least another year, so we have plenty of time to practice!

 

[kelly528]

Berns are awesome, fabulous dogs. So long as you be sure to spend one-on-one time training and socializing and he should be great at coping without the presence of your adult dog.

 

[mathilda]

With such a big dog, youv'e gotta be diligent with leash-training thougfh.
a pulling dog in that size is no fun. XD