Would you have another dog - do you have more than one?

[sparklins]

We have one large breed dog.
She's wonderful, smart and very well behaved and fits into our family brilliantly - I am aware we are quite lucky in some aspects such as there being no behavioral challenges and no destructiveness to tackle even from pup.

Obviously as any dog owners we need to account for vet fees, grooming, food and any potential costs such as dog sitting when we are away and so on.

Taking all the above into consideration would you take on another large breed?
They might not be guaranteed to be as placid and well behaved as our current golden child ...dog.
They are a similar breed and our dog is very well socialized so not concerned about them getting along.

The dog has been offered to DH who knows a very reputable breeder who has kept this pup (9mo) as his own but unfortunately due to recent health issues that will not be resolved anytime soon cannot look after it well enough as he already has two other senior dogs.
He knows we have a similar breed and would be really happy for it to go to us.

However I am not sure how to feel and what to expect having more than one dog.

WWYD? Does anyone have multiple dogs? How much different is it?
What do you do when you go away?

We have two and feel like it was a good decision - they are 7 (years) and 10 months - both quite big (golden retriever and lab). They get on really well - our older dog helped to train the puppy.

We have two wolfhounds. I waited until the first was three and trained and settled before taking on a pup.
How will your first dog feel about sharing you and your home?
Love having two. Company for each other and help tire each other out!

We have a big dog (hound) and until last year a small dog (terrier) too. I found I could walk them both reasonably well - it was a bit like flying a big kite and a small kite at the same time. Small dog was much more reactive and prone to barking, whereas big dog is pretty passive but if they both lunged in opposite directions it was like being pulled in half, in manner of medieval torture device. Two of the same size might actually be easier to balance?

I assumed big dog would prefer to be the solo centre of attention but I think she's been lonely without him, and I've spent the last year trying to find the right friend for her. We've saved a bit on kennel fees and dog food, but I've probably spent the difference on enriching dog toys.

@sparklins I am swimming against the tide. I prefer having one.

it's hard to describe why, but I like her being my girl. We're a team. When we had more than one it felt like 'the kids' with just one it feels like a partner.

she's great with other dogs & loves meet ups to play, will happily share beds:toys/cuddles with visitors, I don't know how she'd feel if I got another dog permanently 💁🏻‍♀️

but I love it being 'us', not me & them.

@sparklins I'd be wary of the 'excuse' for rehoming a 9month old puppy from
a breeder. Unless you know them personally, the whole thing could be rubbish & the puppy a returned one, you could be taking on all kinds of issues and it could turn your Angel into a nightmare too.

unless you really really wanted a second dog anyway...

2 is the best number of dogs imo.

I now have two and they are great mates, one is a v large breed and the other is the smallest breed I've ever had . Imo if you have one dog then two three fit in very easily . As long as you can afford . I used to have three but sadly that little posse have all passed away now .

I've always had multiple dogs since my first dog was 18 months old, over 23 years ago! We're down to 3 at the moment having lost our lovely lurcher a few weeks ago and have (albeit temporarily for a few months) had as many as 9!

Training - takes three times as long as you teach each dog something, then work on it together.

Visiting places/other people - can be harder with two big dogs rather than one, but probably not significantly.

Otherwise its all the stuff you've already thought of, cost, space etc and whether they get on, there are no guarantees there.

9 months is start of adolescence for large/giant breeds and as you hopefully know, adolescence lasts probably 12 months, possibly a bit more depending on which large/giant breed.

This is a common time for people to realise 'actually, I can't do this' which is why so many adolescents end up in rescue (And why breeders may run a dog on to see how they develop for show ring/breeding prospects and then suddenly realise 'damn I am too old for this actually...' ) - its also a tricky time to intro a new dog.

It can be done though - first impressions count, and second, third and fourth ones - try to set things up so theres no opportunity for misunderstandings, argument or competition. It all needs to be light, easy, fun, calm... so probably separate them a fair bit, have one dog per person for a while and ensure they spend more time with a person than they do either alone, or with one another (separation anxiety issues are also rife during adolescence and particularly when a dog changes home!)...

If they see one another for training and relaxed calm cuddle time and for walks (that again are calm, involve lots of sniffing, some training etc, not wild whacky full on wrestling zooming walks, avoid those for now!), then you build a strong association with one another, and generally being calm, listening to the humans etc.

I love having multiple dogs, but it does take some management!

Ours are small breeds but have found 2 far easier than 1. They keep each other company when we have to go out, 2 can, in most places, share a kennel when boarding. Could you maybe take pup for a short time and see how you get on and then make it permanent if it seems to be working?

We got a second dog to keep #1 company. They are not compatible at all. We live dog #2 but they aren't friends. They barely engage with each other, never at all in the house. The behaviourist we had in a while ago likened it to housemates in a shared house with nothing else in common except where they live. We have no fights or spats, but no fun either.

We won't do this again. One dog or bust!

I think two is the best number. I do have friendly socialble dogs who want to be together though. Two are of a similar age and are the very best of friends, sleep, play and eat together.

There are negatives but overall it’s been hugely positive for mine to have a friend.

3 is a nightmare though!!

I've got three.

It can be full on but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'd have another if I could talk DH into it.

But my life is very much built around my dogs - I don't go on holiday abroad, and I WFH full time (and have done for years) so I don't need doggy day care etc.

We have one lurcher and are considering another just because he’s the perfect dog and two has to be twice as good as one, right?

And Lurchers fold up small Flaunch... You will hardly notice an extra one..

I have two.

Same breed, one is three years old than his mate. Different breeders, so no relations. They are great together.

I wouldn't have more than two though.

We have one dog. And as much as I'd love more we have decided to stick with one for the foreseeable future for a few reasons...

1. Currently if we need parents to look after Ddog for us they are happy to on the odd occasion so we avoid needing to pay for dog walkers/kennels. If we had one than one, I'm not sure they would be so keen.

1. Financial aspect of keeping another dog. Big consideration with current climate.

1. Feel getting a second would trap us into always having two as when older dog passed away I would feel the younger one would need another companion as it would be all its known to have company all the time. Whereas with one, when we lose them I would only want to get another when time is right and it may be that depending on what life throws at us, being without a dog for a while would be the right decision.

I don't see us having more than one Ddog at a time until we are retired with hopefully more time and money to use!

Thank you for all the input!
Our current dog is 18 months old, she has always been great but has really calmed down over the past 3-4 months she's practically horizontal unless she sees her tug toy or wants attention/sees her lead!
She's not any type of domineering breed or anything like that but I am also aware that it would certainly be a change to have a permanent ''friend''.

I think the one thing I'm slightly concerned with is the change of dynamic and what it would actually change to.
Love the idea of her having a playmate and a friend whilst we are out of the house, we also have a garden large enough for them to run around in.

We have always half toyed with the idea of getting her a friend but I always thought that maybe a slightly smaller one than her (She's 35kgs).

We have DHs van if we ever needed to transport both of them.

This is similar to me. I've 3, a bit of a motley crew of breeds/sizes, 2 i've had from pups, 1 a rescue. Also have children & I'm the only adult in the house.

I never go on holiday (dcs go every year with their Dad) so kennels aren't necessary. Insurance, food, vets etc all obviously need to be taken into account but we generally live very simply so it's managable. I've a close friend who's able to come over and look after them on the very odd ocassion i'm not here.

The dogs bring so much life and joy into the household (along with the occassional swear when one disembowels a brand new bed <glares at spaniel>) I wouldn't be without them. And it's lovely watching them play together, in a way i wouldn't (i've no desire to play chase in all the mud and oomska when it's raining!)

I have ten. It does mean no holidays and plenty of cleaning but brings life, exercise and company into the house. It's a very good idea to look at all the pros and cons of multiple dog ownership and it seems you're being quite sensible in your approach.

We have 2 Lhasa Apso from same litter, they are good company for each other and very bonded. 2 dogs not any more work than one as walked together, fed together etc. They go on holiday with us, DH loves them so much he never wants to leave them home.

I have 1 dog and wouldn’t have 2, no. I pay for walks when I’m in work and so with insurance, expensive food (health issues) I couldn’t justify £300 plus per dog!

Not sure I’d want a 9 month all, I prefer very young puppies. I have 3, two year old puppies and a 12 year old. When we lost the 12 year old’s brother, he was pampered. He still is, not as much, obviously and I feel very guilty that because he’s very compliant, he’s taken a back seat to some extent. Puppies need far more attention so it’s easy to rely on the older dog to self entertain.

I have 4... all the same breed ranging in age from 1-6, they great fun to own. However, they are my dogs and can be a handful if DH has to take cate of them.
The added costs is definitely something to consider. Mine have high grooming needs, and will go to the groomer every 8-10 weeks. In between, I 'll bath and groom them myself - but it's time consuming. The breed I have can be prone to allergies so they need good quality food, again not cheap.
But I love my hooligans and couldn't love without them!

This is what's happened since we got a second dog too. Puppy unfortunately has taken the top dog spot (despite us trying to train otherwise) and our other dog doesn't seem quite as happy as he was. Not quite sure how to fix it.

I got a second dog last year and although she is great little dog and been easy to train our older dog is very much the submissive type (collie) and the pup (border terrier) has quite a dominant personality, which is to be expected with a terrier really.

There have been a couple of snaps when the younger one put the older dog in her place but the older dog will back down immediately so there’s never been any fighting. They do play together often but don’t sleep together or seem to be particularly fond of each other. And now I feel guilty for the older dog now as she never seems entirely at ease with the younger dog around, I think she would rather we hadn’t got her!