What's better than one new puppy or kitten? Two! If you're headed to the shelter to adopt a new family member, you might encounter dog siblings or cat siblings housed in a kennel together. The staff may offer the option to adopt two together. But should they be adopted as a team, or is it better to separate littermates? Let's take a closer look at this common pet adoption question.

Should I Adopt Littermates?

If you're in the market for multiple furry family members, you might wonder whether it's a good idea to select two pets from the same litter. Applied Animal Behaviorist Patricia McConnell, PhD explains that many potential pet parents don't want their new pet to be lonely, so they will often get two pets from the same litter. After all, they've socialized with one another from the start and likely already get along.

However, Dr. McConnnell says that littermates are often so engrossed in what their sibling is doing that it's harder to get them to focus on you — ultimately, making them more difficult to train. Sometimes as the pets grow and mature, they begin to bully one another to vie for human attention. And sibling bonding is a different connection than a long-term bonded pair of pets who have lived together for years. Those pairs absolutely need to stay together to avoid bouts of anxiety or depression.

Already have littermates in your home? One-on-one training sessions, making the siblings sleep in different areas and playing with each pet individually can help to reduce sibling rivalry. Also consider hiring a pet trainer or behaviorist to help provide guidance and training for this unique situation