Are two dogs better than one?

[Flum]

I love my dog, 2 year old potcake (mixed breed island dog), she brings so much to our family, I love walking her. I am home in the day time.. So I don't think is lonely
She sometimes seems a bit bored when the kids are out at school.

We are currently fostering another dog to try out havign another.... Trouble is I am not sure I want another. It will be harder when we go away which we do for at least a month each summer.

I think it very much depends on the dog. We got a second dog as ours was so desperate to play with other sighthounds, and it has made him much happier.
But ddog1 is very laid back, so another dog in the house wasn't an issue in terms of competing for food etc

Yes! Two dogs are great. They keep each other company, play, excercise each other, encourage each other and you get extra cuddles and more love. Ddog1 seems so much more content now, they really bonded, I hadn't realised before we got ddog2 ( surprise array that never left) that ddog1 must have wanted dog company. She's like a pup, so much life has come to her.

No! The fur/mess/smell triples with each additional dog and seems to be a never ending battle which I vaguely remember was manageable before ddog2. When one barks- the others set off- same with jumping and disobedience. I dread to think how hard it would have been if ddog2 was aggressive or they didn't get on. Or if one developed anxiety and the other followed suit. They cost more. Don't fit as easily into cars. Are harder to round up quickly when selfish bastards in scrambler bikes suddenly appear in the country side.

Stray not array

It really does depend on the dog - my greyhounds definitely needed each other and when my girl died my boy was lost and unhappy. I now have a staffie cross who is well socialised and although he likes other dogs he is happy if he has human company and does not need another dog companion. Some dogs are quite independent I find and so although I would quite like a second dog I wouldn't have one with my current dog - he is very human focused and is lucky as I am at home alot with him.

If you really, really aren't sure that you want two then don't do it. I'm down to one dog for the first time in many years and have decided to stay that way for the time being. As you say, holiday cover/costs, etc., are all to be taken into account. I'm amazed at how easy just having the one dog is tbh.

We got mdog a friend, to be honest I don't actually think they're were pals more that they tolerated each other. They never slept in the same room willingly and never played together.

Why will it be harder when you go away? They will never be without another pack member in kennels, so it would be easier for them..

But more than anything, if you're not sure that you want another dog then it's a no until you are sure.. How does it feel having another dog in foster? How is your dog reacting?

Thanks all. I think she does have to go. Although she is very pretty she is very shy and hides under the table all the time only coming out to chew up my shoes or poo on the floor. I miss my other dog who has moved to other end of the house.

This little pup is not much fun even the kids aren't fussed as she just runs away from them. I think she will probably get adopted as so beautiful, she woudl suit an older person I think. Arghhhh the guilt is setting in!

I have one at the moment but we have had two before and yes imo two are better!
Our two labs were best pals, slept together, ate together etc, sadly both are long gone.
When we got our new boy we tried to get two pups but could only get one. I think he would be happier with a wee pal but the thought of training another pup puts us off!

The more the merrier! We went from 4 to 3, and a long time ago from 1 to 2, then up to 3, then up to 4. It is a lot of work getting them all trained and behaving in some sort of acceptable way. Our house is hairy and muddy nearly all the time and I don't live at the end of the hoover. Once you have 2 dogs in hand you probably will never look back and you may well wonder how you survived with just one!

I do prefer two together - they get to play and do doggy things. But as pp have said, totally depends on the dog. My last girl wasn't bothered at all about other dogs and was much happier being our only dog. Perhaps as your other dog has moved to the other end of the house he is also a Greta.

My very insular border collie girl has blossomed since our spaniel came to live with us and he, in turn, absolutely dotes on her. I was nervous about going from one dog to two (we owned a Lab for 14 years before he died) and our collie was an only dog for a year but going to two has been easier than I thought. It was possibly made easier by the fact that the spaniel was around 8-12 months old when we adopted him.

As others have said, it depends on the dogs. A behaviourist friend recommended to have a bitch as companion to my dog, less problems with jealousy. Mind you when I collected the new puppy, senior dog wanted to murder her for a fortnight. My fault, I did not introduce them in advance.
Now they rely upon each other, when senior dog had bad colitis and had to be put on a drip in the vets he was distraught and I had to take him home overnight. At the vet's suggestion, I took him back with his companion, and he was calm and responded to the treatment. When the dogs go into kennels I always stipulate they should be housed together.