Tell me all the bad things about getting a second dog...

[ozzia]

...as I REALLY want one.

Ddog is nearly 3, a labrador and the most chilled thing in the world. Try to walk him more than he fancies and he will just sit down. I work, 2 days from home but the rest I come home at lunch to let him out and stay about 30 mins and he has a dog walker in the morning those days too. The days I'm at home he is happy chilling out on his own, he will pop in to check on my about 2 times but the rest of the time he's relaxing

I know the chances of getting another such laid back dog is tiny. He's amazing with kids and everyone, doesn't jump up ever. But I desperately want him to have a little friend.

So please tell me all the bad things about having a second dog so I can talk myself out of this craving

I probably should have said that I would always prefer at least two dogs, I've had as many as six at a time before but for us, three seems to be the perfect number.

I've had up to 4, currently have 2, and wouldn't have an only dog as I don't think it's fair, but we're an animal centred house, no children, and I'm at home all the time, so our situation is different to most people

They wait till you're on the phone or otherwise distracted and suddenly start wrestling all over your house...then look at you like, but you were right there and you didn't say no!!! When you stop them.

Yep - that sounds familiar.

We have two, I always had two, but when my last one went I said
'no more dogs'.

I cracked after a fortnight and along came ddog1. Laid back black lab.

Then I said 'no more dogs'.

When he was 9 months old, he went to a dog sitter when we went on holiday and had a week with a flat coat retriever. She sent me photographs every day, showing me how much fun he was having and when he came home, he seemed depressed....

So, along came ddog 2. A puppy, a girl puppy - first cross between a goldie and a lab. Laid back she is not! She is too clever for her own good, runs rings around ddog1 and is a live wire.

I would not be without them - together they are fab!

I work from home, but going out occasionally to meetings is much easier now - they have each other for company.

It is a bit like having a seven year old and a toddler - they do bring out the best and worse in each other, but in the evenings, when they are curled up together, resting heads on each others backs, it was soooo worth it!

Ddog loooooves other dogs being around and does sulk after. I just worry about being so lucky second time around and getting such an awesome chilled out dude who hates rain

I think I'd look at rehoming an older dog maybe.

It's just difficult as although he'd love it whether I can cope with the extra mess and when we go away it's much harder. Ddog is not tough enough for kennels (he's just too soppy) so they have to go to someone

i know loads of people with two dogs and have never heard of any regrets. As with two children they amuse each other, play and sleep together, keep each other company when left alone. The second dog learns quickly from the older one. Two are no more work than one.
The only downside is double the expense so make sure you can afford that.

We went from one dog to 2, then 2 to 3 then 3 to 4. Now we are down to 3. It makes going away more difficult and you have to consider how you are going to get around. The insurance can crank up. You may have forgotten just how long it took to train your already dog to be this icon of hairy perfection, and unless you enjoy spending your life attached to a vacuum cleaner, your house will be hairier and muddier. Our house is very hairy and muddy and for now, the floor is covered by the contents of a duvet. Thanks puppy.

2 dogs are more than twice as much work as one dog. Plus twice the cost with food, insurance, kennels, vet bills, etc.

With large breed dogs if they are not really well trained it can be impossible to walk both dogs at the same time because there is not enough control. Doing separate walks for both dog doubles the amount of effort - fine on a lovely summer evening but horrible after a long day at work in the middle of December in the pitch black and pouring rain!

Even with the most laid back dog there are no guarantees they will not react if you bring a second dog into the house. Our two don't really play together and pretty much ignore each other except when the older dog1 goes a bit mental and decides to tell off dog2, or starts guarding toys or food.

Neither dog really barks when alone but put them together than they start barking every few minutes in the summer when the doors and windows are open.

With hindsight getting a second dog was not a great idea but I wouldn't get rid now.

We got a puppy to be a friend to our 2.5 year old reactive bitch. She was very laid back at home but out is totally wired, we didn't know if she would accept the puppy (boy). They get on like a house on fire but with 3 DC's the house just constantly feels like something out of a cartoon!! The dogs just do not stop, playing, chasing, competing for attention, our calm reactive bitch loves it but it is hard work, expensive and peace and quiet is rare!

I regret it. My second dog has separation anxiety. He sets the first one off howling, who was previously fine. Now they can't be left for any length of time. I didn't realise this until the neighbours complained bitterly.

1st dog won't let 2nd dog cuddle up to him and 2nd dog is desperate to do it. It's a nightmare.