Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

Original poster

Going from one to two - advice

12 replies

TheShiningPup · 15/01/2023 20:21

We have a two year old lab and considering adding another. I veer between thinking it's a great idea and thinking I must be mad to want to go through the puppy stage again.

Has anyone really regretted adding a second? Or wishes they'd had a bigger age gap?

OP posts:

Monkeytapper · 15/01/2023 20:24

We have 2 now…5 year old and 2.5 year old…got them both as pups, ….initially I was worried my eldest wouldnt take to her, but after 24 hours he started to like accept her. They cuddle up together and I don’t feel bad leaving them for a few hours…toilet training was easier with the pup as she followed him out and copied him. Think we will always have 2 dogs now. Negatives, twice the cost for homeboarding when we go away and all the other stuff.

365names · 15/01/2023 20:25

I have father and son - black labs 4 year age gap.

double the cost but they have company all day and my god they love each other. They sleep with their paws wrapped around each other. So yes, go for it. I have two boys and daddy met his pups the day they were born and the one we have is the one who gravitated towards him the most.

Miracle29 · 16/01/2023 09:30

I also have 2. One is 2 years old and the other 6 months. My older dog is a lovely calm dog and I worried she wouldn't take to another dog being in her space but it seemed to work out well because the pup learnt boundaries from my older dog and Mt older dog has now come out of her shell a little and lives a good play. It's so lovely to see them snuggle up together. It did take a few weeks for the older dog to be warming towards pup but now they're inseperable.
Negative are as others said double the cost, walking 2 can be a nightmare especially with a bouncy pup so we do walk them separate for now and as mine are long haired...the malting, especially in summer but I wouldn't have it any other way.

EdithStourton · 16/01/2023 09:40

My main advice would be to make the first intro on neutral ground - a friend's garden or similar.

And honestly, be sure you've got the basics nailed with your older dog first - solid recall, loose lead walking - because (from experience) finding the time and energy to train two at once is pretty tricky. I've taught my older dog to walk on my right as well as on my left, so I can take one each side and they both know where they're supposed to be.

jevoudrais · 16/01/2023 09:43

Would you be open to an older one? Avoids the puppy stage.

I got an 18 month old lab when I had a 2.5 year old golden. In the end the lab stayed with my mum when I moved out and I've since had dogs about four years apart. A bit less upsetting when they get old and doddery as it's not quite at the same time then.

Going to two is a lot easier than going 0 to 1. Just make sure you give them one to one so they don't constantly depend on each other and can cope without the other one eg. If one suddenly has to spend time at the vets, the other one isn't in pieces type of a thing.

doodleygirl · 16/01/2023 09:45

Have you thought about adopting? Lots of dogs will only be rehomed if there is a resident dog. Take a look at Many Tears

MintyPrincess · 16/01/2023 10:02

I have two dogs but not labs.
Male is 6 yrs and female 15 months.
Hard at first as older one hated another in the house and obviously we went through the toilet training with the pup alongside that.

They muddle along although the male treats the female with contempt most of the time
I definitely don't regret getting another though it's made my male more affectionate.

Original poster

TheShiningPup · 16/01/2023 10:59

The current pup is pretty good. Often gets compliments out and about. We do gundog training with her so her recall, stop whistle, heel work are pretty good and if getting another pup we'd still have another few months to reinforce that as would look for a spring/summer born so she'd be close to 2.5 when a new pup arrives. If not this spring/summer I'd wait a full year.

I wouldn't be totally against adopting but young, healthy labs without issues are fairly thin on the ground. I'm keeping an eye on a few labrador rescues.

OP posts:

Funf · 16/01/2023 19:09

We have had two a few years ago and now again have two, neither have been best friends, lots of dogs are different in pairs, our second one is a rescue and to be honest in future I think we would just stick to one as I don't see much in the way of advantages

DforDogWoof · 20/01/2023 12:36

Pros and cons both ways really. I have always had 2 dogs. When one passes we adopt another. I like that they have a pal, someone to play with and run around with and me and my OH each have a dog to walk, lol. However, two dogs can also egg each other on, cause more mischief, gang up together when meeting other dogs and of course cost twice the amount... not just food and health care but if you need a kennel / sitter etc.. If I had to choose though, 2 dogs for me 😃

Eastereggsboxedupready · 20/01/2023 13:12

Beware op. It's a slippery slope..
I had 1 ddog..
Now have 4...
😮

Theladyinred · 20/01/2023 13:18

We have 2 cockerpoos same dad different Mums but only 2 weeks between and it's a NIGHTMARE !!! All they do is fight but they are soooo loyal. They are competitive with each other but its also cute to watch them together .

Please do not kid yourself it IS hard work and expensive everything is times 2 !!! But then they are company for each other and they will have a nice bond.

Flip