Can I afford another dog?

[Tordub]

Hi,

I’m looking for advice from people who’ve got multiple dogs. We have a female staffie already and recently came across a beautiful male dog from a Greek shelter who we would love to adopt. Not sure of the breed but looks like a husky/ collie cross or even a husky/ st Bernard cross (I’ll post a picture).

Thing is, I’ve never owned multiple dogs and I’ve got no idea how my current dog will react, she’s also a rescue and is quite dominant and house guards, she can play quite roughly but I am strict with her.
Does anyone have experience of introducing new dogs? Assuming it’s best for them to meet in a neutral setting first?

Realistically how much extra will food cost? he’s apparently 40kg. I’m guessing about £50-70 month total for two dogs

Also I’d need to get insurance, we currently spend £30 per month, does anyone know of cheap insurance for multiple dogs?

I guess dog walking and dog sitting will also be more expensive when we need it so am factoring that in. I normally work from home but there will be times I’ll need to go into the office, can you leave two dogs alone together or is it best to have them in separate rooms? I’d be worried that they’d end up fighting if unsupervised.

[quote Tordub]@covidcloser you clearly have some processing issues, I’ve not actually said I’m willing to take the dog just yet and I’m clearly thinking about my decision carefully hence posting here for advice. You haven’t helped or offered any constructive advice on this thread.

Please go and find a friend or a hobby[/quote]

Oooo.

I don't approve of adopting dogs from abroad. We have got more than enough dogs in the country already. There should be legislation to put a stop to it. .

Just remember, the more digs the more your house will smell of them.

I think if you want a second dog you should adopt one that you can actually visit with your existing dog as lots of staffies prefer to live in single dog households and from your description of your dog I think you may have more difficulty finding a dog she gels with . As for the money side only you know what you can afford , do you have a fair amount of money left over every month ?

Don't be so bloody rude OP. @covidcloser was asking perfectly valid questions. You're asking if you can afford another dog but don't seem to have taken into account transport costs to get it over here which by the way will not be cheap!

Two dogs are fine but consider carefully an overseas rescue dog. Many have multiple and complex problems. An acquaintance has just returned her Romanian rescue to the rescue organisation because she could not manage him - not something I would do and I do judge her, but dh says I'm unkind, meh

My own Rommie is fear aggressive and lunges and barks at other dogs. She has to be permanently walked on the lead because of her prey drive and will never have recall, irrespective of how much training is put in. She is also an adept escapologist and has escaped from our fully fenced property to chase deer on three occasions - each time leading to several hours of searching before she was recovered. I have to pay over £1k to make changes to the fence around the paddock to contain her. Finally, she has bilateral elbow dysplasia which will become more expensive to manage as she grows older (possibly from over exercising and running loads as a very young street dog). I would never give up on her, but doubt I would get another overseas rescue in the future. I've done my bit.

However I disagree with the tedious and uninformed moralists who suggest that overseas rescues should be banned. These dogs are in hideous, unregulated shelters and on death row (14 days maximum before pts). There is no equivalent in the UK. I could link to a news article about an overseas dog pound where the dogs cannabalised each other - but I don't think anyone would thank me for it

"Please go and find a friend or a hobby"

This cracks me up, I am going to remember that line and use it in future

Agria is cheap but good insurance btw

There is not a chance I would pay to import a foreign rescue dog without knowing if it will get on with my existing dog. You can’t tell how “docile” it is from a picture. Plus the rescue are likely not to have fully evaluated it carefully in a home prior to advertising it. I would run a mile from a set up like this.

I should answer some of your other questions

I have 4 dogs. I didn't bother with introducing them on neutral territory - just bought the new dog home and watch them all like a hawk. When a new dog was introduced I did not leave them alone unsupervised together for the first couple of weeks. After a couple of weeks of observing how they got along with each other (and no issues) I have left them together with no qualms or compunction.

In the majority of cases having more than one dog is very enriching for the dogs. Mine play together happily a great deal - tug of war and 'bitey face' (mock fighting where they pretend to bite each other but its all very stylised and theatrical - more like wrestling) - they get an awful lot out of having other dogs in the household

Wolfiefan - I cant speak for all overseas rescue charities, but the one I used for one of my dogs (the other three are UK, one a UK rescue and two are flatcoated retrievers) does not bring dogs over for direct adoption. They bring the dogs over and put them in foster homes whilst inviting applications from interested potential owners. Consequently before the dog goes to a new permanent home, the fosterer is able to brief all concerned regarding any issues

@StarryStarrySocks, the questions @covidcloser asked weren’t actual questions and they certainly weren’t valid. She kept going on about adopting a dog from the UK instead of abroad, this is not what I was asking advice on. She kept responding although I didn’t respond to any of her posts so I finally answered in a way I felt fit. Not that it’s anyone’s business but my first dog is from the UK and the rescue were hopeless. I’d never go with them again. Most UK rescues don’t have the type of dog I want and don’t rehome dogs when other dogs are already in the home.

Thank you for this @LimitIsUp, these are all things I’m worried about and am trying to find out as much about the dog as possible. I personally love the challenge of a rescue but I don’t fancy some of those behaviours you’ve mentioned. It would be rare for me to rehome a dog/ it would have to be completely unmanageable for me to do that. Money wise, I’m thinking it will be quite a bit extra but worth it I’m sure.

@LimitIsUp ah this is good to know that you even left your rescue dogs alone together after awhile. I think my dog would definitely benefit from having a friend to play with as I can never seem to entertain her as much I’d like. An hour with a dog would stimulate her more than a whole day with me(despite my best efforts to stimulate her). Thanks for the insurance advice also. And with four dogs, do you ever get to go on holiday? 😅

Also bear in mind that as dogs get older, the insurance costs a lot more - can get to double or more.

the questions @covidcloser asked weren’t actual questions and they certainly weren’t valid. She kept going on about adopting a dog from the UK instead of abroad, this is not what I was asking advice on. She kept responding although I didn’t respond to any of her posts so I finally answered in a way I felt fit.

Animal welfare is always valid. Choosing a dog from a Greek rescue for its temperament is ridiculous. There are thousands of dogs in the UK that would suit your needs.

I'd be a little bit nervous about whether they will get on OK if your girl is dominant and a bit guardy. Have you had other dogs round yours before and have they got on OK?

My eldest has a bit of an attitude and I would never adopt another male dog because it would have the potential to put his nose out of joint or upset him a bit. Nothing disastrous would happen, but it wouldn't be fair to him. I've got three dogs in total, him and two bitches. He has lived with another male dog before and they got on well but he was quite a submissive dog and mine was a lot younger then.

I think you are best looking for a dog over a bitch, generally dog and bitch is the best combo, followed by dog dog, with bitch bitch last. I knew two Golden retrievers who are sisters and absolutely hated each other. Lived pretty much separately despite being owned by the same family.

Just remember, the more digs the more your house will smell of them.

Yes it's absolutely great - my favourite smell! You should smell my house!!

Please make sure they test for leishmania before leaving Greece.

It is very prevalent there, will probably be excluded from your insurance and is expensive to treat.

Do you know the dog's current circumstances? I read a lot about overseas rescues escaping and running away because they're used to living outside.

From experience Staffies do not always do well with other dogs. They are Ppl dogs. I'd proceed with the utmost caution if it all goes wrong with your current dog it ends up in rescue again!

@user848272 the dog is male so it will be bitch/ dig combo. She definitely would be better with a male than a female.

@itwa I’ve never heard about leishmania, I will research that and ask them, thank you.