one-puppy "litters": are they any different?

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Eleore

Forums Regular
As I mentioned in other threads, my Lucien was an "only child", meaning he had no litter mates. I was wondering, then, if I should expect his behaviour to be different from puppies that do have siblings.

For the time being, I noticed that he is a slow eater, even after a week at home (probably because he never had to fight for food?). He also gets really whiny when he does not get his way, but this might not be strange hahaha.
 
I think it totally depends. My boy was a singleton and I have found that he has less bite inhibition than most dogs. He's now pretty careful, but if he gets too excited he uses his little shark teeth without thinking. I think that comes from not having littermates to put him in his place.
 
Beckon was a single puppy, but there were plenty of other Shelties of varying ages around him. He's pretty normal -- for a ginormous Sheltie! :winkgrin:
 
Eleore said:
As I mentioned in other threads, my Lucien was an "only child", meaning he had no litter mates. I was wondering, then, if I should expect his behaviour to be different from puppies that do have siblings.
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What a great question!

My Sheltie growing up was an only pup. She was always a little "weird." She just didn't know how to socially interact with other dogs outside of our house. My best guess is if you get a puppy that is a singleton....it may be beneficial to take them to a puppy playgroup, or to a puppy daycare so that they get the socialization around other pups and learn to know doggy boundaries and proper "doggy" talk.
 
Yay, lots of singletons! :D

Well, you already know a lot about Lucien's (lack of) bite inhibition haha. I guess I'm his substitute litter mate when it comes to that.

About socializing, I sadly don't have those options, as I think we don't have such things in Argentina :(. Since playing with Matt, who is about 70cm (to the shoulder? We say "a la cruz" in Spanish), is out of the question, I'm thinking of introducing him to my neighbour's poodle after his shots are done.

...I hope he is a little less eager about biting by them :P
 
Precious is also the only child, and yes, definitely tons of playful bites and crazy playtime with her. Hate it love it, your pick.
 
Socialize, socialize, socialize - as much as possible, and as early as possible. The key period for socializing is between 8 - 13 weeks.
 
I have a singleton puppy here.
The only thing I can say is that she doesn't know how to play with other dogs at all. She only knows how to run and play catch me if you can!
Once the dog gets her, nips her, and throws her onto the ground, she is all submissive and EEEK, what do I do next!?!

She INHALES her food, even though there is no one there to snatch it from her.

But yes, SOCIALIZE! That is soo important.

They are individual, they are TOUGH. Singletons rule :)
 
Emma was a singleton but had lots of contact with varying ages at the breeders. She ate her food slowly when I got her up until I got Liam. She loves to play. She was not around a lot of dogs, but it doesn't phase her when she sees one.

She did a lot of nipping as a puppy, but I was able to stop her of that.

One would never know she had been an only pup.
 
Well Mr D came well balanced and had no problems socialising with other dogs as a pup. It didnt seem to make an ounce of difference. Tully came from a litter of 5 and was always timid of other dogs and was a nipper so go figure.

Mr D spent all day with the breeder at her workplace (he was hand reared) rather than with other dogs, including his mum. So it did mean he came very attached to humans, men and trucks (the breeder worked in a trucking company) and it took a long time to teach him not to toilet on concrete. It made little difference as a pup as he had a lot of dog friends, but as an adult he rarely plays with other dogs but will cuddle up to every person he meets.
 
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