This LW is unhinged.

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

In 2020, I, like many others, adopted my first dog, a golden retriever named Barley. It was love at first sight, and it’s been a joyful three years. However, three months ago, we learned that she has a twin sister, Millet, who lives about 50 miles away. Since then, Barley and Millet have met at a dog park five times. Each time, they both seem elated to be together and do not leave each other’s sides. Each time we leave, Barley whimpers for the rest of the day. Now I feel terrible that Barley and Millet were sold off to two different families. It seems inhumane.

I recently talked with Millet’s owners, and they have been looking for a second dog and are willing to adopt Barley. Is giving her up for adoption the morally correct thing to do? Please help.

—Questioning Dog Owner

STARMOON44

This is insane. If seeing this dog upsets your dog just stop it. I feel bad for this person about to break their own heart for no reason. 

banana468

Why would you do that?!?  

My son walks around the house on weekends asking for a play date but I'm not going to call his best friend's mom and ask if she wants to adopt him.  

short+sassy

It's interesting the two dogs seem to remember each other from their puppyhood.

I appreciate the LW is thinking about what might make their dog the happiest.  But their dog loves them also and, if you could ask it, would probably choose the LW over Millet.

It's shocking the LW is even considering it.  And their remark about how it's "inhumane" to split up litters is especially off the deep end. 

VarunaTT

Are we just calling all puppies twins now?

All I can think of is from the movie The Truth About Cats and Dogs where Janeane Garafalo's character says, "You should love your dog, but you shouldn't LUUUV your dog."

Get a grip, LW, stop taking your dog to see this other dog if its upsetting you so much.  Dogs love having playmates, that's why they're whimpering, get yourself a 2nd dog, but no, don't give up your dog.

ILoveBeachMusic

There is actually a school of thought that littermates shouldn't be adopted by the same family. I can't remember the term but there is one. Just stop seeing the other dog LW.

charlotte989875

Stop seeing the other dog, but I wonder if this is upsetting LW more than the dog. Maybe the dog is just bummed that dog park time is over? 

VarunaTT

ILoveBeachMusic said:

There is actually a school of thought that littermates shouldn't be adopted by the same family. I can't remember the term but there is one. Just stop seeing the other dog LW.

Littermate syndrome.  It's basically separation anxiety, but based on the other dog, not their humans.  Which it does sound like LW's dog has some separation anxiety, but you can work on that, not just give your dog up for adoption.  This is still such a leap I can't believe anyone is thinking it.

MyNameIsNot

This is way too much personification and the dog is feeding off LW's emotions. 

My sister and I adopted littermates in 2019. One of my friends adopted another of the litter. So when we get the dogs together I call them the twins or the triplets and act like one of those obnoxious moms. I even threw them a birthday party and got them matching hats and "cakes." But also, I'm a human and I know that the reason my dog gravitates toward her sister is because 1) there's familiarity and 2) they're the same age, have the same energy/playfulness/temperament. They do not remember nursing from the same teet and they aren't sad that they got adopted to different families.