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The doghouse

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Original poster

How to know you're ready for 2!

22 replies

squiddylama · 12/09/2021 18:48

Hi all,
We currently are a busy household which includes a cat, a toddler and a dog.
Ddog has just turned 4 and suffers terribly from separation anxiety.
Since before DS was born the plan had always been to get a second dog, we have always had our heart set on a Labrador and it was always the plan to get one as soon as we got our own place. This has been and gone and we've had our own home for 2 years now.
The topic of conversation of getting a lab has come up again, price isn't an issue for us, but how do you know you're ready for number 2?
We all love Ddog but the separation anxiety drives me nuts and means that we can't actually ever leave her even to pop to the shops which is to put it lightly a pain!
We've always talked about a second, ddog is perfect in every other way so how do you know? Am I making the worse decision?
To add we understand what we need to look out for and this is not a split second decision!

OP posts:

Joystir59 · 12/09/2021 18:50

A second dog won't cure the first dog's seperation anxiety. You might up with two dogs with seperation anxiety.

Original poster

squiddylama · 12/09/2021 18:52

@Joystir59 we are not expecting it to cure it, I hope it may ease it somewhat as in the presence of other dogs she is so much better!

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 12/09/2021 18:54

As PP said my understanding is that another dog might not be company for your first dog as some pine for human company.

Can you cope with a second dog which may have different issues as well as not curing the SA of your first dog?

Original poster

squiddylama · 12/09/2021 18:57

@BiteyShark someone is at home during the day all the time during the week and when we can't we have family members and a doggy daycare place etc.

As I said money is not an issue for us and after Ddog having lots of issues as a puppy we are prepared for it to happen again

OP posts:

MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 12/09/2021 18:58

I had a 2nd dog to help my first dog's separation anxiety. Let's just say I probably should have worked with a behaviourist on the SA.....

It's a bit like having another baby to fix behaviour in the 1st child. A gamble that it will work and the 2nd has issues of its own.

You also have less time, energy and flexibility ibility to deal with the 1st...

QuornStarMartini · 12/09/2021 19:02

We have dogs. None like being left alone but one in particular suffers from awful separation anxiety, even if left for 5 minutes. The other dogs do not ease it, if we leave them she just ignores them and shakes and cries on her own. When we are there, she is the most playful of all our dogs do she loves other dogs but she needs humans. She also seems to have rubbed off on our other dogs, her anxiety seems to make them more anxious. 😔 Don’t get another dog thinking it’ll help with separation anxiety.
Luckily, we rarely have any time when someone is not in the house now.

MakeMeCleanTheHouse · 12/09/2021 19:02

Focusing less on your comment about SA and more about when you are ready: you are ready when you have enough resources whether time, energy or finance to deal well with another dog. If you feel at all stretched in these another dog will make it worse.

FreshFreesias · 12/09/2021 19:23

I always have 2 or 3 dogs as they don’t suffer anxiety when they are in a bit of a pack.
Honestly it’s so much easier.
Also, it’s fairer to have 2 as they are pack animals and generally enjoy the company of their own species.

PollyRoullson · 12/09/2021 19:39

It will not help in anyway with your existing dogs separation anxiety. Your new dog may also have "issues" which will also need extra time. Are you up for 2 dogs and the possibility of two different situations that need training?

Personally I do not recommend multi dogs if you already have a dog needing special care. Everyone suffers.

Sort out Dog No1 issues before considering Dog 2

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 12/09/2021 19:43

@FreshFreesias

I always have 2 or 3 dogs as they don’t suffer anxiety when they are in a bit of a pack. Honestly it’s so much easier. Also, it’s fairer to have 2 as they are pack animals and generally enjoy the company of their own species.

Domestic dogs are social animals. They aren't necessarily pack animals though.

icedcoffees · 12/09/2021 19:49

I used to look after a household of three dogs. Two didn't have separation anxiety but one did - even though she lived with other dogs. The other dogs' presence didn't stop her being destructive, barking and toileting when her owners were out of the house.

I would address your current dogs' issues before trying to bring another dog into the home. What happens if you end up with two anxious dogs who are twice as destructive and anxious as your current one? It could be an absolute nightmare.

There are lots of things to try that can help separation anxiety - medication, special music or TV channels, leaving them with chews/treats, crating (and using covers), plug-ins for the home and even getting a behaviourist in to assist you. Have you really exhausted all those options?

I know it can be tempting to think "two dogs = company" but it really doesn't always work like that. Most anxious dogs want the company of humans, not other dogs.

icedcoffees · 12/09/2021 19:51

I always have 2 or 3 dogs as they don’t suffer anxiety when they are in a bit of a pack.

This really isn't always the case.

It's very common for one dog to have anxiety where others really aren't bothered about being alone. Many anxious dogs are anxious because they want to be around people, not other dogs.

I've got first-hand experience of it as a dog walker/sitter. In the best case, the other dogs can calm the anxious dog slightly. In the worst case, they all become anxious and you end up with double or triple the destruction and mess and noise.

Indoctro · 13/09/2021 19:10

You should really keep dogs separated if left alone as if a fight breaks out there is no one around to separate them

My dogs who lived happily together for 5 years nearly killed each other when left alone, I've no idea why or what started it.

Learn from my mistake never leave dogs alone together in the house.

Since it happened to me and I speak about it I've come across a number of people the same thing has happened to.

icedcoffees · 13/09/2021 21:18

@Indoctro

You should really keep dogs separated if left alone as if a fight breaks out there is no one around to separate them

My dogs who lived happily together for 5 years nearly killed each other when left alone, I've no idea why or what started it.

Learn from my mistake never leave dogs alone together in the house.

Since it happened to me and I speak about it I've come across a number of people the same thing has happened to.

There was a lady on here not so long ago who came home from the shops to find one of her dogs had been killed by the other

Leaving dogs loose together can be really risky.

Medievalist · 13/09/2021 21:27

We have a 5 year old with serious separation anxiety. We also have a 2 year old. They get on wonderfully well but in no way at all does the younger dog alleviate the older dog's separation anxiety. If anything the older dog passes on some of her anxiety to the younger dog.

Wolfiefan · 13/09/2021 21:30

I wouldn’t recommend getting a second until you’ve sorted the separation anxiety. What are you doing to cure that?
Dog training advice and support on FB give great advice. It turned my older dog from a youngster who would eat through a wall to try and get to me if I left her for seconds, into an adult who sighs if I wake her as I come back in.

Indoctro · 13/09/2021 22:25

@icedcoffees unfortunately it seems it happens more often than you think

Dogs living together seriously injured or killed because owners leave them together

They must be in separate rooms when left alone.

Original poster

squiddylama · 14/09/2021 11:46

@Wolfiefan

I wouldn’t recommend getting a second until you’ve sorted the separation anxiety. What are you doing to cure that? Dog training advice and support on FB give great advice. It turned my older dog from a youngster who would eat through a wall to try and get to me if I left her for seconds, into an adult who sighs if I wake her as I come back in.

We've been seeing a behaviourist for it. She's not destructive just noisy, it seems that when she has company she is better and instead of howling and barking she may do a few wimpers! Our behaviourist has basically said there isn't a lot more we can do other than sedatives but did mute the idea of a second dog

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 14/09/2021 11:48

The only way to cure separation anxiety is never to leave the dog for longer than it is happy with. That may mean not at all. If the behaviourist isn’t telling you that then they aren’t great!
Check out the resources on that FB group.
A second dog could make things worse.

Hekatestorch · 14/09/2021 12:09

You don't know you are ready.

Its like kids. Do it when you have lots and lots of free time.

We introduced our second and even after very slow introductions, keeping them separate at meals times, ensuring the younger didn't other the older etc. The older one took months to accept the new one and about a year to actually want to play or interact in a meaningful way.

Giving 2 dogs seperate attention, separating for treats or chews. Separating for walks etc all took alot of time up.

We never saw it coming as the older one adores other dogs, especiallywhen they visit. They just didn't like another dog in their house that never went home.

So that would be my suggestion. When you have time to do that.

But also, regarding the SA. There is a chance that as a puppy, the new dog will pick up on the older anxiety and just make this a double problem. And then in could increase in both dogs.

tabulahrasa · 14/09/2021 12:11

A second dog would mean more time alone for the first dog though... because they need one on one training and walks at least some of the time.

MeredithMae · 18/09/2021 21:34

We've had it so easy with getting our second dog, they're 12 months apart in age and from day one have been obsessed with each other.

Dog 1 has horrific SA and that was the main driver behind getting Pup. However, she's got the same SA (suspect it's a breed thing) so our plan to help Dog has failed and now we have 2 we're struggling to teach to be left alone!

However, no regrets. They love each other and we love them!

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