If you have a working cocker spaniel...

[m0therofdragons]

Would you recommend having 1 or 2? I have one and love him so so much (only 4.5 months but feels like we’ve had him forever) but now I’m wondering if we should get a second in a couple of years?

If you want one get one but dont get it for your existing dog. Your dog is happy to have you all to himself. They probably would get on but you would then have to divide your love between 2. Dogs are very happy being loan dogs in a household equally some are also happy in multi house so it needs to be the right decision for you.

I think the time scale you are discussing is good.

I can barely talk though as I am a multi dog household. However there are times when I would like to give more time to each dog though.

I would wait until you have been through the teenage phase

Recall with a working cocker can be a nightmare as they will go hunting. I have to engage mine on walks otherwise he will do his own hunting.

When I take mine to daycare (home setting), if there is another WCS he comes home very tired as they just play together and don't stop.

I have seen others on here with multiple but personally one is enough for me

I had two at one point. It was a lot of work and everything seemed to revolve around the pair of them. We're down to one now and things are much calmer. Also, our older dog found the new puppy a complete pain in the arse (which he was!) - she really hated him and it wasn't until he was quite a lot older that she didn't want to be as far away from him as possible.

DH wants to have two again, but I won't be agreeing to that until he retires. Bear in mind that the training period for a second dog is time consuming as you'll have to do separate walking of the dogs for quite a while.

My neighbours have two and they say it’s easier than one as they keep each other company and the younger one learned from the older one. They hunt with them though so they have a job to do. My wcs would only be able to have a female puppy if at all; he’s a real grump with male puppies now - never was when he was younger but when he got to be a year old he started growling at male puppies. I would keep an eye on how your dog gets on with other dogs and if it shows any signs of jealousy. Try to figure out what personality to go for too - one very soft gentle loving dog I know was bullied relentlessly by the family’s second dog, who was dominant, bouncy and independent, and never bonded with her. He loves most dogs but not the one he lives with!

My WCS is nearly one and he is just not interested in other dogs, just likes doing his own thing. As a result I would not get a second as I think he'd hate having to share us!

If he were a sociable dog I would consider it as then they'd enjoy having a friend to play with.

He’s very social but early days. We went for a walk with his mum and 2 older sisters (from previous litter) and he had the best time. But maybe play dates are a better way forward. These responses make me laugh - lots of work, all attention on them, but entertain each other so in some ways easier - you’ve all just described my twin daughters
I do wonder if I’ve not found the puppy stage hideous as I’ve got 3 dc including twins. Within two weeks he was happily sleeping 10.30pm to 7.15am which makes such a difference. Thanks everyone.

I was talking to someone the other day who has eleven! She is a gamekeeper though and apparently works all of them.