Going from 1 dog to 2

[Sloegin2]

We have a lovely 8 month old pup.
She's our first and has just fitted in to our family so well, we all adore her.
The breeder has mentioned she may have another litter in another 8-12 months time.
I'm very tempted to get a second. What is the reality like going from 1 to 2 dogs? We have the space and the time (husband at home all day).

It's not double the work it's triple, but wouldn't change our addition for the world. Make sure current pup is reliably trained and settled before comitting. I had terrible guilt about having to share my love at the beginning and felt it was a mistake adding another. We have a good routine now but definite teething issues. I struggle when my OH is away with things like vet visits etc. Basically it is hard work, but your set up maybe more conducive to it being a bit easier!

We have recently done this. Our older dog is 15 months old and the puppy is 12 weeks old. It is going really well. It is more work obviously and the main thing that drives me a bit mad is when they rough play it can go on for ages and then when one calms down the other winds her up again. Also training the pup is harder as the older one always wants to get in the way. I also felt guilty and still do at times as I am spending more attention on the pup at times but then I figure that is what happens with a new baby. Then when the baby is older things settle down.

It is so lovely to see them play together though and pup follow the older one everywhere. And when the older dog poos outside it sets the younger one off but she often watches older dog and learns from her and I am hoping she will learn bite inhibition better from another dog. It really is wonderful having two and I am most looking forward to puppy getting older so I can relax with both a bit more. As toilet training is going well I am not finding it much harder than having one at the moment. Obviously insurance and vet bills have to be considered too beforehand.

I had read lots before we decided about how dogs need to be around other dogs and although it won't suit every family I am glad we made that decision.