When I started learning about dogs, I read that it's bad to get two sibling puppies and raise them together. I was reminded of this again during a training session.
This big lug of a black lab I'll call Noir (his real name is almost that funny) came to the assistance dog organization I volunteer for as a two-year old dog. For some reason he was donated by his owners. I do know that he had been raised alongside his sibling (brother) and had never been away from him.
Upon evaluation the first day at our facility, he did great. He retrieved well, was focused on the trainer and seemed a happy, eager-to-please dog; destined to become a great service dog.
I worked him for the first time yesterday and again today and couldn't get this dog to look at me or wag his tail once. His eyes were trained on the door, presumably looking for the kennel manager -- the one who feeds him. She has become his new "sibling." I don't think this dog really knows how to interact with humans. It could be that he's still adjusting to his new environment, but many dogs do so much quicker and easier.
Back to my opening paragraph: If you raise two sibling puppies together, they tend to bond with each other instead of their human pack leader. Who needs a human if you have another dog to play with?
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