Owning two dogs

[ProfessorPickles]

How did you find it when you got your second dog?

I've only just got my first after years of waiting!!
And while I've grown up with dogs, we've always had one at a time.

What has it been like going from one to two? And do you find it easier or harder

IMO, as long as you have enough of a gap in age between them, two is easier than one as they do amuse each other and the first teaches the second what to do.

We have two dogs and i feel its better as they have the other to relate to. They have company and a play mate. There can be dominance moments depending on the sex etc but its definately nice having 2 different personalities

There is only a year between my two but they totally adore each other. The younger one has never been an only dog so is probably a bit more needy even though I do take them training separately and they are often separated at doggy day care ( it’s a huge one with over 50 dogs a day).
The pros out way the cons for us. The cons include the costs but also they do take more time but that is probably because I am training them both for competition so they need twice the time training.

Well based on these responses it looks like I have no choice but to get another
I think I'll wait until she's about 18 months or 2 to get another. There's only me and DS at home, so getting a dog has been great. She's made our home feel more homely and I'd love another to add again to our family!

two is easier than one as they do amuse each other and the first teaches the second what to do.

Not always.
My second dog taught the first to join him in barking at the postman, kids on scooters, pigeons, etc, So now I've got 2 barky dogs instead of one silent labrador.
The first taught the second to eat fox poo.

I wouldn't want a second dog because I like to devote myself to one dog at a time and would need a second pair of eyes in the back of my head on walks. However, if I did feel tempted, I just have to remind myself that TWO LOTS OF INSURANCE would be a bit of a strain on my income.

It has been a bit of a nightmare for us to be honest, but I do think we have too big an age gap. We have an almost 7 year old cockapoo bitch and last year got a male cocker spaniel who is now 10 months. I feel it has been the biggest mistake and really wish I hadn't made what was quite an impulsive decision.

A lot of the time they don't get on well, I'm still doing separate walks which is time consuming. Puppy won't leave older dog alone and she snarls at him and seems unhappy. The situation seems to have taken over our whole life and is making me quite unhappy if I'm honest. I love the puppy dearly but he is extremely high maintainance and I can't help but wish I could turn the clock back ! I have spend the whole evening separating them because the elder dog has been to the groomers so smells different, puppy has ben constantly bothering her / sniffing her / won't leave her alone, and getting snarly with him.

Here are some other downsides (two cockers, one sadly no longer with us). Bought second when oldest was about 7. Second cocker has always had appalling separation anxiety which was not helped in any way by presence of dog companion (see separate thread!) but the impact of a second cocker spaniel on our first (lovely, calm, cuddly) cocker was not good:-

• significant weight gain - from being able to pick and choose whether and when to eat her food, she transformed into a dog that rushed to her food and scoffed it all very quickly, anxious that it would be eaten by her new friend, and her whole attitude to food changed - she became very compulsive and beggy whenever food was around;

Walking - as older dog became older, it became impossible to walk both on lead fairly, as old dog wanted to amble, while young dog wanted to rush ahead. Not relaxing at all;

Noise - Second dog is very noisy, so if we stepped out even for a minute, our house transformed into a scene from 'midnight barking' (and some) from the 101 Dalmatians, leading to neighbour problems and a spiralling situation until either at least one dog had to be sent to a crèche if we were going out, or one person had to stay in at all times.

I would never have two dogs again!

Also, IMHO, established dogs do not 'need' a canine friend. You are their friend!

We had two dogs until recently. We waited until our first dog was two. This was on the advice of our dog trainer and our vet, apparently two is one of the ages at which a lot of people give up their dogs so I think it's assumed if you get to two and you're still keen then you're likely to be responsible. Don't know if that's the case or not.

We had to introduce them slowly. We used a baby gate to separate them when we were out, or when the older dog tired of the puppy and supervised play. The puppy irritated the two-year old as continually trying to climb on him.

When the puppy was older and had had some training, we started to walk them together and their bond developed. After a while we could have them together quite easily although we still separated them if we were out of the house. They were both fed separately as the older dog started to resource guard and it was the only time they quarrelled. Also each dog formed a primary bond with a different person, my older dog followed me around and my younger dog my dh. But both would put up with either of us if one wasn't around.

We crated our first dog for a while but he didn't really like it, so we didn't crate the second at all, but had no problems just a bit more cleaning up. But the first few months of having a puppy and a young dog were pretty full-on.

We loved having two dogs and after we've gotten over losing our older dog would like another, but will depend on finding a rescue my remaining dog is comfortable with.

We went from one to two when our girl was a year old. Puppy training was harder second time around as he was more interested in his canine big sister than us! Fortunately she was well trained and helped show him the ropes!

They are very loving towards each other and play beautifully but are not reliant or dependant on one another. Absolutely no issues around space, food or toys but the older girl became very protective and reactive when we're out walking and still is.

Dont make the mistake ofcthinking it's ok to leave two dogs longer as they have each other. You're their favourite thing in the world and instead of one lonely dog you'd have two lonely dogs.

The second dog was the best present I could ever give the first though. Six years on, two dogs works well for us.

I love having 2! I have a 5.5yo lab x and a teeny fluffy white thing of 6 months. It's great!

We had one. .
Then got another..
And another.
And another.
Never ever thought we would be a bloody 4 ddog household!

I have two dogs with a nice age gap (14months - original was 16.5 months old when new pup came). Both are spaniels but different types.

There have been a mixture of positives and negatives.

Positives - they get on lovely and make a wonderful pair. Original dog has helped teach new dog things.

Negatives (none of which I had really expected prior to getting second) -
Original dog wouldn't walk with puppy for months. Puppy was as good as gold but original dog turned into a pulling nightmare and did not listen to me at all, he also lost all recall (even though puppy was on short lead). I had thought it would require separate walks sometimes to get puppy walking nicely on lead and make sure the dogs knew it was ok to go out alone too but I really did not expect my original dog to turn into a total prat on walks, with puppy. It's taken months of hard work and mostly walking separate with smaller training walks together for original dog to learn to behave with puppy on a walk too.

• New dog barks more, which sets original off and has been difficult to stop.

• they have to be fed in separate rooms as puppy gulps his food down and original chews very thoroughly, so pup will steal originals food.

We waited until our first dog was two. This was on the advice of our dog trainer and our vet, apparently two is one of the ages at which a lot of people give up their dogs so I think it's assumed if you get to two and you're still keen then you're likely to be responsible. Don't know if that's the case or not.

I'd always heard 18months-2yrs old as the optimum time. I thought it was because the original should be mature enough not to teach bad habits to the younger one, yet young enough to cope with the bouncy excited ball of fur that a new puppy is. However I think yes if you've survived the first pup to two years old without giving up, then you're right, you are probably responsible enough to handle a second pup.

Our first ddog was 4 when we got 2 more just a month apart. She was an anti social ratbag tbh but she loved them instantly!!
Then due to circumstances ended up with another.. All get on exceedingly well!
Don't get another thinking your ddog will necessarily thank you for it . As a teen we go a second dog and they had no love for each other. Ever.

Five lots of insurance 😂

But five is much better than one. In fact, we never had one. We bought two puppies from breeders (as UK rescues wouldn't let us adopt because we had young children), then we adopted one from Spain, quickly followed by another that couldn't be placed (she's an ex feral fruitloop). Then the cat rescue I'm involved with ended up with a dog and asked if I could help with him, and he's still here 😂
Having a 'pack' does restrict holidays, but I also have 15 cats and several other pets so it's not like we're likely to go on holiday anytime soon.

Second dog led to third and fourth dog. This is from a no dog growing up person. . No issues with second here, other than her leading to all the others. They are all super close. It warms my heart when I see them piled in together, not able to tell which leg belongs to which dog.

I suppose the only downside is if one barks, she absolutely gets everybody barking. I know who starts it, I'm looking at you dog 2.

One thing I would add about spacing them out is now that our older dog has died, our younger dog is a great comfort. If they'd been closer together we might have been facing a second loss not long after the first. I think there would have been nothing worse than coming home to a house without a dog.

It's lovely having two if they get on well. It's fascinating seeing them interact with each other, negotiate over toys, etc, and they can keep each other company when you're not there.

Do consider whether you'll be able to walk them together, as it gets tedious having to do separate walks all the time. I had this with a previous pair who were a bit reactive and 'fed off' each other's energy, and there was no way I could hold them if they both lunged at another dog at the same time. Maybe less of a problem if you have small breeds, of course!

That's interesting blackbetha. I have two dogs, both absolutely fine out on their own. Our youngest can be a bit reactive but only if a dog really forces a meeting, she's perfectly happy to walk past minding her own business. First dog is everybody's friend. Would say hello to any dog he sees and is as close to 100% trustworthy on his own. Put them together however!! Again they're ok walking past but if any dog shows interest they go crazy. It's so frustrating!

Thank you for the responses!!

Fortunately her being left long periods isn't the motivation behind this as she's only left for short periods
I just can imagine us having two, great to hear of stories where they've got on and equally as good to hear it from the opposite end too.

I think I want two to have more family members IYSWIM?
I'm a single parent to a 5yo boy, and getting our first dog has made the house feel more homely and more like a family. Having her has made such a difference and I was just wondering whether adding to the family could be a possibility in the future!

I wouldn’t. I often look after DM’s dog, as well as my own, and it’s knackering as both dogs have different needs.

I love them both, but one’s reactive and one requires ball throwing. They play in different ways and get jealous of each other.

It’s also the amount of space taken up. Extra dog bed plus both following me around.

I couldn’t afford two lots of insurance and vet trips, either.

We have two Labradors. Ddog 1 was almost 11 when we got ddog 2. It wasn't love at first bite sight, far from it. Ddog 1 likes almost every dog he meets but he clearly detested the puppy and I have to say there were times when I wished we hadn't got him. However the pup is now a year and they get on fine.

I walk them together whereas dh usually takes one at a time. I do think ddog 1 has really aged in the last year but I don't know how much of that is due to ddog 2.

I never thought I would love another dog as much as ddog 1 but ddog 2 has wormed his way into my heart with his little puppy ways and I adore him

We have far too many dogs.

I love it.

The only thing I'd say watch is jealousy. They all need one on one time with their person.