What's it like going from one dog to two?

allIcouldwishfor

DH is making noises about getting a companion for our 3year old Springer furbaby, Jasper. I can see the reasoning behind it, they'll keep each other company, play with each other, etc. but I can also see some drawbacks - twice as much fur to vacuum up, twice the barking at the postman, twice the cost!

So to those of you out there who've been in the same situation, what did you do and how has it worked for you?

Thanks guys!

UKTigerlily

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

DH is making noises about getting a companion for our 3year old Springer furbaby, Jasper. I can see the reasoning behind it, they'll keep each other company, play with each other, etc. but I can also see some drawbacks - twice as much fur to vacuum up, twice the barking at the postman, twice the cost!

So to those of you out there who've been in the same situation, what did you do and how has it worked for you?

Thanks guys!

I personally haven't been in the same situation & I can't remember what happened when those I used to live with got additional Dogs, but i'd say if you have the time/space & money & your Dog is well trained why not? I say well trained because if he's not, you could end up with really serious issues. Is he good with other Dogs & have you tried bringing another into his home/territory?

They may get on great, but they may not, people say to get a second Dog of the opposite gender & a different age & size/breed to the first for the easiest pairings, but i'm sure many keep the same gender/breed/age together with no issues. Someone who knows wiill come along tho!

allIcouldwishfor

Thanks Tigerlily - Jasper is a model dog, if a bit bouncy at the prospect of a walk! He's well socialised, we do have other dogs over to the house as some of our friends have dogs and if they're coming here for dinner I don't like to think of their dog sitting home alone!

Francesanne

Would give it a lot of thought and consideration before making a rush choices. Jasper's probably loved every minute of being top dog and would he be happy sharing your attention with another? We've always had 2 dogs together until my lovely old girl passed away a couple of years ago and now my old chap is on his own with us and he couldn't be happier. They had great fun together when Lily was younger but she found him a bit tiring when she started to get old. I would love another dog but he couldn't cope with a young & boistrous dog so don't it'll happen. Plus I'm already paying £22.00 a month for insurance and that increases each birthday.

suki1964

It can be a walk in the park - or it can be a complete nightmare.

Only you know your dog and know how well it gets on with other dogs. You need to decide on if a b!tch or a dog would be best, ot if a assertive or submissive dog, older or younger. Its a lot to think about. And a pup can be a lot more of a problem as they tend to have a puppy licience for the first few months so any problems may not show for some time - well after you have become devoted to the new member of the family. Its a minefield but many many households cope really well with two or more dogs

My own dog is a solo dog. I know no way would he tolerate another male dog and although I think he may just about tolerate a b1tch, I would have to choose really carefully. If there was any power shift he would be a nightmare. So one dog household we are

getcarter

Hard work!

Barneysmom

It's ace, go for it!
Your life will never be your own, 2 lots of dog food to carry home, 2 lots of insurance etc etc...

But so worth it, twice as much love! :cool: :cool: :cool:

YorkiePud_3

This is the first time I have only ever had one dog .... and to be honest, I think having two dogs together is the way to go IF finances and your time allows.

Totally valid point about one dog having been with you first perhaps resenting the other, but if you spoil them equally and treat them equally (ie both foodbowls being put down at the same time) then I haven't had any problems.

I have had most of my second dogs when my others have been old .. and I mean 10yrs plus, so of course, my initial worry was that the puppy would run the oldie ragged, but that has never been the case.
It's been nice for them to have each other for company when I have been busy and not been able to give them attention (say, when I've been doing the housework, or had friends over) ... they've had each other and not been on their own.

Of course, you watch them like a hawk though and if the puppy gets too boisterous and your oldie has had enough, you either calm down the puppy or make sure there is a place for the oldie to go lay quietly to escape ... but hand on heart, in every case where I have brought a new puppy in, it has given the original oldie a new lease of life and it's been wonderful to see!! Plus, my dogs have always been well trained and the pups have really looked to the older dog and "copied" ....

Obviously, your dog isn't an oldie by any means, so they would be near in age and could "grow up" together ... you quote twice as much vacuuming, twice as much barking, but hey, don't forget ... twice as much fun!!!

IsoChick

We've got 2 Boxers (both castrated males). Max was 18 months old when we got Murphy.

It was hard work when Murphy was little, as he couldn't go on the same walks as Max, couldn't be trusted in the same way as Max could; and the whole toilet training thing as well.

However, Murphy was much easier to train, as he started copying Max from the start. We already had a set of commands and hand signals, and he picked up on them from the word go. His toilet training was much shorter than Max's, as he just copied his big brother in the garden.

Once Murphy could go for walks, it was better, and as he has got older, he can keep up with us and I don't need to worry about his joints anymore.

I buy food in bulk anyway (50kg at a time) and also treats and stuff are bought in bulk (e.g. whole boxes of pigs ears or dentasticks etc). Both can be walked on a lead at the same time, despite there being 10 stone of dog altogether; and I love to watch them playing together.

The only drawback is that there is less sofa for me...

jasper12

Love the piccie Isochick..that is so much like my house apart from the fact that our cocker, molly, likes to lie along the back of the sofa

We got Molly (now 9mths) when Alfie (springer) was 4 and it has been great..she is the best interactive toy ...EVER!!! They are either curled up next to each other sleeping or are play wrestling all over the house...saves him sitting in front of us at night, with toy in mouth, begging for us to play all the time. Also is great on walks as they chase each other ...no more picking up sloppy muddy tennis balls.

We had no problems with behaviour. Alfie is quite submissive and Molly is dominant so they swapped roles pretty early on, she is now top dog for most things, apart from toys :rolleyes: As others have said, we found she copied him in a lot of ways, training wise, although also the bad habits (the counter surfing comes to mind )

Would recommend it, so long as you can give both the same love and attention so there is no jealousy issues.

ali-t

It is a nightmare. I have a 5 year old staffy and a 4 month old rottie. They are usually kept seperate or the pup is on the lead in the house as he is too much for the older one.

I have to walk them seperately most of the time as the pup is only to get short walks (10 minutes or so) and the staffy needs an hour or so. That would be fine but in order to socialise the pup he needs to go to the same/similar places so by the time I have driven to the park/woods/beach and then walked one or both dogs it feels like my whole life is taken up with dog walking.

Double the hugs is great, double the fun is great but the not so great doubles include vet bills, insurance, food, toys, dog walker etc.

If you have the patience of a saint go for it otherwise think long and hard. I totally forgot how easy my girl is now she is grown up and it is hard to go back to basics.