2nd dog?

[AwFeebs]

Me and DP have recently been musing over the idea of getting a second dog. I think our dog would love the companionship. And I'd love another.

Only thing is I now work part time (when we got ddog1 I was a SAHM so had the time to devote to her when she was a pup)

I will be out the house for 4 hours a day with work.

I'm worried about leaving a pup that long.

What does everyone do?

I have only ever separated dogs and puppies when unsupervised for any length of time, because puppies are really annoying and can try the patience of an older dog to the point where they may, literally, snap. Adult dogs who live together? No, never. I think the story by a pp of two dogs killing a third is very unusual, and the group dynamics would be totally different with three dogs anyway. I wonder what breed they were? All my life I can think back through dogs who live together and I have never known them be separated when alone, and I have never come across injuries either. I can't see the point in having more than one dog if you are going to shut them away apart from each other every time you go out - it kind of defeats the object of having dogs as companions for each other.

@Brownlongearedbat

I have only ever separated dogs and puppies when unsupervised for any length of time, because puppies are really annoying and can try the patience of an older dog to the point where they may, literally, snap. Adult dogs who live together? No, never. I think the story by a pp of two dogs killing a third is very unusual, and the group dynamics would be totally different with three dogs anyway. I wonder what breed they were? All my life I can think back through dogs who live together and I have never known them be separated when alone, and I have never come across injuries either. I can't see the point in having more than one dog if you are going to shut them away apart from each other every time you go out - it kind of defeats the object of having dogs as companions for each other.

I believe they were Boston Terriers.

Here is the thread I'm referring to:

My dog killed my other dog
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/3800478-My-dog-killed-my-other-dog

@Brownlongearedbat

I have only ever separated dogs and puppies when unsupervised for any length of time, because puppies are really annoying and can try the patience of an older dog to the point where they may, literally, snap. Adult dogs who live together? No, never. I think the story by a pp of two dogs killing a third is very unusual, and the group dynamics would be totally different with three dogs anyway. I wonder what breed they were? All my life I can think back through dogs who live together and I have never known them be separated when alone, and I have never come across injuries either. I can't see the point in having more than one dog if you are going to shut them away apart from each other every time you go out - it kind of defeats the object of having dogs as companions for each other.

I know multiple

3 bitches kept together lived happily for year, once day a fight broke out between two of them and one was nearly killed

Someone else I know recently 2 younger dogs - again females , spaniels a fight broke out and she was luckily in another room but believes had she not been and rushed through one could of killed .

I grew up in a home with 5 dogs and there were two JRTs bitches and they used to fight very nasty at times and then one day the two of them turned on our boxer bitch and seriously injured her when no one was home

Yes they can live along side each other perfectly find but also fights break out and dogs end up seriously injured

Why would you risk it.?

My experience, as a dog-owner of long standing who has had 2 or 3 dogs for most of that time, who had PILs who had multiple dogs for years, who has several sets of friends who have multiple dogs and who knows a lot of people who have multiple working dogs, is that it's incredibly unusual for a serious fight to break out between unsupervised dogs in the same household who are generally happy to be kept together. As I said upthread, I've known it to happen once, between two arsey intact male JRTS whose owner knew they were stroppy, but who didn't think they'd ever take their dislike of each any further than some posturing.

In general, dogs assert themselves through display rather than by actual fighting - fighting is not an evolutionarily sensible strategy as the participants risk injury whether they win or lose. We used to have a dog who would just loom to get his way. If that didn't work, he'd bark crossly a few times.

So, if you have multiple dogs, you have to assess their relationship (which can change) and, if it's a happy one, decide whether the tiny risk of a big bust-up in your absence is worth the cost of two doleful dogs unable to provide companionship to each other.

I grew up in a home with 5 dogs and there were two JRTs bitches and they used to fight very nasty at times and then one day the two of them turned on our boxer bitch and seriously injured her when no one was home
That's a situation where I'd have separated the JRT bitches if I went out.

I believe fights between bitches are worse than fights between dogs or dogs and bitches, though of course that's a generalisation.

I think one of the sayings is that dogs fight to end the fight (ie. to stop it) but that bitches will fight to kill.

@icedcoffees

I believe fights between bitches are worse than fights between dogs or dogs and bitches, though of course that's a generalisation.

I think one of the sayings is that dogs fight to end the fight (ie. to stop it) but that bitches will fight to kill.

Definitely, I wouldn't keep two botches together. If I did ever have dogs I would have a male and a female. I wouldn't leave them alone together though As someone said below it's always ok - till it's not ok

Not a risk I'd take.

Do people just have their dogs in different parts of the house then, or one/both crated? Often something I’ve wondered about in this situation!

If your dogs have issues between them, then it makes sense to separate them if you can't supervise them.

But the vast, vast majority of dogs are completely fine to be left alone together, and are usually happier that way. You have to evaluate the risk Vs what you would be losing.

IME, the risk is tiny and the benefits considerable.

@Flowersinglass

Do people just have their dogs in different parts of the house then, or one/both crated? Often something I’ve wondered about in this situation!

I only have one dog now because to be honest it's a pain to make sure they are separated

But I used to have 3 dogs and they would be in Separate rooms when I left them alone.