Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Going from one dog to two...

17 replies

Totototoro · 27/08/2019 22:51

Is it a huge difference?

TotoDog is 6 months and he's an angel. Love him to bits and he lives other dogs so much.

I saw an advert for a 6 year old dog who needs rehoming locally and we have arranged to have a park meet up to see how they get along.

Would I be mad to have 2 dogs?

OP posts:
Original poster
Totototoro · 27/08/2019 22:52

I am a SAHM and time is not an issue. My dog is very rarely, if ever, left alone.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 27/08/2019 22:53

Far too soon. At six months your pup isn’t trained and has yet to go through the hooligan adolescent stage. Best to wait at least 18 months before considering a second.

ILoveJoeBrown · 27/08/2019 22:56

Be very careful. Our first dog loves other dogs and is very friendly, but does back off if the other dog 'tells him off'.

We have had 2 dogs and no.2 dog was very possessive of no.1 dog and would savage him if he ever went near another . We had to have no.2 dog rehomed. Heartbreaking at the time, but as soon as she'd gone, no.1 dog visibly relaxed and became his old self again.

You can be lucky - a friend has 3 dogs, all introduced at different times / ages and they all get on very well. It is however, all down to luck as they had no idea if the 3 dogs would get along.

aliasjoey · 27/08/2019 23:14

Had to reply because our FirstDog is called Toto!

I think as both dogs are quite young, you should be okay. Our mistake was waiting until Toto was 9 years old ~ he got on well with other dogs, and we thought he would enjoy the company. Huge mistake: we got a livewire pup who has no sense of boundaries.

We also made the mistake of not being more assertive with them (we wrongly assumed that FirstDog would put New Pup in his place) Toto ended up quite stressed, and although they get on okay now it has cost a lot in vets bills, behaviourist etc. So my advice would be to let them both know that YOU are on charge, and you won't tolerate bad behaviour from either of them. Just be watchful of any dominance issues, either from the older dog or the boisterous young one. 6 months is still young - you've got the fun of adolescence to get through Grin

And of course it depends if the rescue has any problems, and their personalities generally. Has the rescue dog lived with other dogs before? (Living with another dog is not the same as being friendly at the park)

hittheroadjack1 · 27/08/2019 23:18

Don't do it until pup is much older and has passed the asshole stage (between 10 months - 2 years dependant on breed)

Wolfiefan · 27/08/2019 23:19

@aliasjoey dominance theory has been debunked.

aliasjoey · 28/08/2019 00:02

wolfie I didn't specifically mean the whole alpha thing, I just meant to be careful that one dog doesn't overwhelm the other. I'm probably thinking too much about our own issues because it is something that never occurred to us until it was too late. I believe we should have been much more on top of the situation... I feel guilty that we may have made FirstDogs last years miserable.

I agree with PP that 6 months is too early to take on another dog, but on the other hand I wouldn't leave it too late so that the first dog gets used to being an only.

Original poster
Totototoro · 28/08/2019 00:14

Rescue dog lived with 2 other dogs his whole life and it's currently in Foster with 8 dogs with zero issue.

Foster says hes super laid back, clean indoors, playful and loving.

He's also missing a leg.

I guess meeting him and seeing what happens can't do any harm.

I'll think on.

OP posts:
missbattenburg · 28/08/2019 07:03

Do it only if you want two dogs barking at everything...

It's much harder to train out bad habits when you've got two dogs doing them, instead of one.

joystir59 · 28/08/2019 07:06

Two dogs equals double the work, not less. An adult dog is quite likely to hate the puppy. Do not assume they will get on or play together.

BiteyShark · 28/08/2019 07:19

If it was me I would have to give careful consideration to:-

Your current dog might be an angel but at 6 months of age lots of dogs have yet to hit the adolescent phase which can last months and is very challenging as they stick two fingers up to you and you wonder where all the training went.

The new dog will undoubtably have their own issues which often become apparent after they have settled with you.

Don't expect both will be buddies. It's great if they are but lots of threads on here show that their current dog didn't want another dog as a pal.

Can you give individual attention and training to each on a regular basis?

Can you afford double costs like insurance etc.

missbattenburg · 28/08/2019 08:40

But I don't think the original dog is an angel? I think it barks at everything and is driving the OP mad with it as I answered another of the OPs posts on the issue. Two dogs barking is much harder to stop than one...

raspberryk · 28/08/2019 08:54

Nooo I'd wait til first dog is 2 or 3.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 28/08/2019 08:56

I thought this thread would be 'my dog is six,would I be mad to get a puppy?' But six months? Nope, I wouldn't get another dog yet, not a puppy and not a rescue who may or may not turn out to have issues. It could all work well, but I'd want to get my puppy thoroughly trained first.

BiteyShark · 28/08/2019 08:58

missbatternburg I must have missed that other thread. In which case I am surprised OP described dog as an angel Confused

Yes two dogs barking would be a bloody pain for everyone including the neighbours.

Original poster
Totototoro · 28/08/2019 13:08

The barking isn't an issue. It scares the shit out of me at 2am 😂 but I don't see it as an issue.

In all other respects he is perfect and yes he is an angel x

OP posts:
Original poster
Totototoro · 28/08/2019 13:09

And tbh I'm used to it.

I had a pug previously who was a barky nutter.

I have no neighbours so not an issue to anyone else.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread