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Getting another dog...

19 replies

BobLoblaw · 25/02/2010 09:57

We got a wonderful collieXkelpie rescue in September, she's around one year old now we're not sure exactly. The rescue centre we got Penny from rang earlier to say they have a 5 month old collie bitch and they thought of us.

Is there a good or bad gap in ages to have? Would two bitches get on ok? Am I crazy for thinking about this?

Thanks

OP posts:
justallovertheplace · 25/02/2010 09:58

No idea, but I just had to say, respect for your name. I'm a big fan

Bella32 · 25/02/2010 10:34

Personally I wouldn't - I am sure I will be shot down in flames but I wouldn't get 2 bitches so close in ages and also both collies.

BobLoblaw · 25/02/2010 12:30

justallovertheplace - best tv comedy ever...in my humble opinion

Bella32 - No, thank you, I had wondered if that may be the case, I've never had a dog before and OH only had one. She's scrummy though www.gablesfarm.org.uk/dogalogue.html "Hayley" I hate to think of dogs being at the home for long.

OP posts:
Disenchanted3 · 25/02/2010 12:45

I can't advise as I have 3 pups under one

but she is beautiful

midori1999 · 25/02/2010 12:51

Having more than one puppy is extremely hard work, and to be honest, not something I would wish upon my worst enemy...

It is also easier to have one bitch and one dog if you want two dogs. Dogs of the same sex are more inclined to fight and with bitches, unlike dogs, if they do start to fight, they will bear a grudge that they will not give up and it can result in the eventual death of one of them. It's really not something I would suggest to any but the most experienced owner. If they did decide to fight (and I mean proper fight, not just a disagreement) the chances of you being able to seperate them are virtually nil.

MrsL123 · 25/02/2010 13:22

I wouldn't recommend it either, sorry! Ours have 2 years between them, and I don't think it would have worked if the older dog hadn't already got well over the puppy phase - it's hard enough work with one, without having them bouncing naughty ideas off each other! The 'puppy' is almost 10 months now (and bigger than the other dog - so not such a puppy anymore!) and she's going through the teenage phase at the moment. She's also coming into season and she's on minimal exercise because she's still getting over an operation - so she's a nightmare at the moment! I can't imagine how hard it would be if the older dog wasn't so well behaved and sane calm - so two young dogs must be very hard work (especially as collies, although lovely, are known to be a bit highly strung).

ohfuschia · 25/02/2010 15:56

I have 3 rescue collies, they have great fun together, and there is only roughly a year between each of them. I did leave at least a year and half between getting each one though, as I wanted time to spend getting to know them. I have 2 dogs and a bitch so no direct experience of the two bitch thing, though obviously have heard that problems between bitches can be more intractable. Having said that, the collie rescue I am involved with place great store on the personality of the individual and how they gel with the other dog on meeting so sex/age issues aren't entirely paramount.

I can see why you're tempted by Hayley, she's just my kind of collie (come to think of it that's all of them really though), what I would consider is whether your current dog is pretty much where you want her training-wise or if you feel you need more time with her. It's a compliment that the rescue contacted you, but only you can know what you can handle. A five month old collie could need a lot of input depending on her background.

I'm not saying you have to be totally sure, because in my experience with dogs it's a continual learning process, but just that you have to be sure enough to take the plunge and consider all angles.

Having said all that, with myself and a lot of people I know, it's come down to gut instinct and a feeling of 'this dog is for me'. With my second dog, I kept looking at him and ended up making him my screensaver so eventually DP said 'Hasn't that dog got a home yet? S'pose he'd better come here then' - 460 mile round trip later...

All the best with your decision.

And off topic but your name again...love love love Arrested Development, 'Afternoon Delight' came on the radio earlier and it always make me chuckle - have to be careful if there's others around, I guess they could think it's for some other reason

BobLoblaw · 25/02/2010 16:55

Thanks for all the replies

I still keep going back to look at her picture but I think Penny might be a little too young really, she's been remarkably easy and settled in like a dream but maybe having a puppy in her home could un-settle her a bit. Bit nervous of the two bitch thing aswell which I didn't know was an issue. I would love to find another dog to walk her with, she loves racing around with mils puppies.

Thank you for the advice, I was listening to my heart rather than my head

ohfuscia- Afternoon Delight is one of my favourite episodes, I chuckle thinking about it

OP posts:
Bella32 · 25/02/2010 17:04

2 bitches together can be very bad news.

tbh it's a little irresponsible of the rescue to contact you about this pup.

Get a lovely boy in a year or so if you want another

minimu · 25/02/2010 17:48

For a first dog you have your hand full with a collie kelpie X lovely lovely lovely dogs but very full on. How are you finding it? Do you ever get the time to chill out or is she keeping you on the go all the time. Being an Aussie I have a very soft spot for Kelpies!

thehillsarealive · 25/02/2010 19:17

i love kelpies and crossed with a collie will be a very smart, agile dog. Do make sure that she gets plenty of mental stimulation as well as exercise - they need it! Have you thought about flyball or agility for her?

I wouldnt get another puppy at the moment and mine is almost a year (GSD) a few (2/3) years difference is a good idea.

Not heard of 2 bitches being bad news before, only 2 males, but an ideal scenario is 1 of each.

hth

CountryGirl2007 · 26/02/2010 01:56

If you don't find it much hard work having one dog, then you should be OK with two. It may help to wear a collie out if she has extra time racing around with another dog as well. I have a bitch who gets along with other dogs and bitches, so I wouldn't rule out a bitch/bitch combo, personally. I think it depends on the individuals really. (I have know it to go horribly wrong though from a combination of two bitches from the same litter and an inexperienced owner though!)

Mummy2LZ · 26/02/2010 02:54

I have grown up in a multidog household and all three of them were bitches with no probs whatsoever!They all used to sleep together eat together,sit in back of car together etc etc, I wouldnt have any concerns about doing this again.
It can be hard work but if you are going out excercising one dog anyway taking another along (as long as they are both trained and walk well on the lead) wont make much difference.
I imagine they are both speyed as they are from a rescue centre and the centre would also be able to advise you on how to introduce them to see if they would get on before you made any decisions.
The question is did you want two dogs or has this situation arisen due to the rescue centre calling you?
Another point to remember is 2 dogs twice the expense.
Good Luck with your decision.

BobLoblaw · 26/02/2010 05:22

minimu-It's fine, actually much easier than I'd anticipated, we're lucky that within 2 minutes walk we have a big dog park, and some woods, 5 minutes drive from the beach and that always tires her out. Also my OH works outside so she goes with him 4 or 5 days a week and comes home shattered.

thehillsarealive-We go to some quite informal obedience classes and they have little fences/gates that she enjoys jumping, and she's getting good at stay, fetch and loves finding her favourite toys in the garden.

I've just googled flyball and she would love that, we're an hour drive from the nearest place according to the website, would be doable in the summer though.

Mummy2LZ-We definitely wanted another at some point but not yet, the more I think sbout it, she's not as trained yet as I want her to be, she still pulls on the lead a lot.

I've put a picture on my profile, I think. Thanks again for the replies

OP posts:
midori1999 · 26/02/2010 11:09

Mummy2LZ a lot of the time there will be no problem. I keep three entire bitches here, soon to be four, with no real problems. However, when a problem does occur, bitches (unlike dogs) will just not let up. I know breeders who have had to keep certain bitches apart for their entire lives, due to one 'spat' which they would just never let go. A breeder friend of mine even tried to re-introduce two bitches years later, having kept them seperate all thast time, and all hell broke loose immediately.

Bitches realy do hold grudges and problems are much less likely to occur if someone has one of each sex rather than two of the same, especially if they are both bitches.

Mummy2LZ · 26/02/2010 13:38

I was talking from my experience and just wanted to show the other side!
I also said dogs should be introduced first and to get advice from Rescue centre on how to do this without upsetting balance before deciding.
Op already knows poss pobs with having two bitches and is sensible enough for me not to have repeated what everyone else had said.

I have one speyed bitch now and would def get another bitch pup if I decided to have another as I prefer them to dogs.
Just my choice I guess not saying it is for everyone.

ohfuschia · 27/02/2010 21:35

BobLoblaw - think you've made the right decision at this time, hopefully a great friend will be available for Penny when you're all ready. So many lovely dogs at that rescue - you've given me another website to gawp over and wait on tenterhooks for them to find homes. But with 3 collies and a six month old baby I'm fairly confident I've got as much as I can handle (for now ).

I'd second the recommendation for flyball or agility - I do agility with mine, and I tried flyball with my ball obsessed collie though it turned out that when it came to flyball he wouldn't retrieve unless I ran alongside -kind of missing the point! All good fun though.

Unfortunately can't see the picture of Penny, nothing happens when I click on your profile, shame as she sounds gorgeous

BobLoblaw · 27/02/2010 23:50

I think you should be able to see the picture now.

We saw Hayley today and the little poppet has a bad leg, it was broken when she was little and she was never taken to the vet so it hasn't healed properly, she can weight bear but briefly. As much as I would love to take her home, I don't think it's the right time yet. Oh and while we were there a family with older children reserved her, so hopefully she won't be at the home for long.

We're definitely going to look at some proper agility clubs, I'm sure she'd love it, she enjoys what we do now.

Thanks for replying

OP posts:
ohfuschia · 28/02/2010 00:09

Oh what a cracker Penny is, gorgeous.

And poor Hayley - one of mine had an untreated break when she was rescued, it has strengthened amazingly from what it was though will never be fully 'good', we have to calm her down if she does too much crazy chasing with the others because of the weakness. Great news that Hayley hopefully has a new family, I can stop thinking about her .

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