To get another dog?

[FlapsTie]

DDog is a year and a half old. She is a jack Russell x chihuahua (more chi than jack, she's tiny) and she's an absolute delight. I'm a SAHM so she's with me pretty much all day.

Over the last few weeks I've been increasingly dog broody. I'd like a larger dog as a second dog, I think. It would be company for DDog when I do leave her (she's a terrible yapper) and I think it would make walks more fun for both of us.

I know nothing about having two dogs. Would it be better for DDog to get a puppy or an adult dog as company? Would they sleep in the same bed/area? What about food? DDog has dry food and grazes throughout the day, how would I stop dog2 from eating her food?

I'm not at all sure it's even going to happen, but what's it like having two dogs rather than one? Is it easier or harder and are there any pitfalls I might not have thought of yet?

[OrcinusOrca]

Realistically dogs shouldn't graze, so I would be inclined to get current dog used to eating set meals. If it's not been eaten after 15 mins take it up etc. Lots of dogs are very good oriented so may squabble over it if left down.

I have two golden retrievers and a little cross breed. I love having more than one. They're great pals, had both big ones since puppies. Big dogs are quite different to little dogs though, have you experience of a big dog to know you'd be happy with one? I quite like cocker spaniels who aren't too big but much bigger than you have now.

Also re your current dog being yappy. Beware she might actually teach your next dog to yap! I had a golden, then got little dog then another golden. Little dog sets them all off. If she goes to stay with my mum for a few days the house is silent, but little dog literally sets everyone else off, very frustrating.

My first dog is like the model dog, he's perfect. Luckily my newest hasn't started to copy little dog quite yet re barking but she's a bit of a noisy diva anyway!! Mine are all very good at sharing and respecting each other's space. I find little dogs more lap doggy than big ones so just remember you'd need to be consistent rule wise really.

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Are you a professional Orcinus? Thats pretty much what I was going to say.

Yapping when left is either boredom or separation anxiety - this won't be fixed by the presence of another dog and may well result in TWO yapping dogs (or worse!)

Definitely stop hte grazing - not natural and can cause a lot of issues (dogs are 'binge/starve' eaters. Designed to scoff a load and take it home and spew it up to share with the youngsters, or cache what they cant eat. The constant presence of food that can never be fully cached, eaten or protected can cause a LOT of stress and that brings behavioural problems).

I would wait another 12 months and get a puppy, personally, unless you know a good, reputable rescue and can get an adult of 2 or 3 years old that gets on well with your current dog (but in a steady, mature way, not a giddy silly playing constantly way, because that WILL get irritating very quickly indeed).

With two, its really three times the work in soem respects - they need training separately, to spend time with you one to one separately AND then together as well - failure to do this ends up with dogs who are needy and dependent on one another, and often, don't listen to you when they are together.

I have five dogs and they are a full time job in many ways (fortunately, that is my job!) - we have a good age gap of at least 2 years between each one which really helps and they all have different characters so they arent directly competing with each other for exactly the same things.

[FlapsTie]

She simply won't eat it all in one go. She takes individual pieces of kibble at a time and eats them in her bed. She won't eat wet food. She's very fussy.