Second dog

[way2serious]

We currently have 1 miniature dachshund who is 3 years old and we are contemplating getting him a little brother (same breed). Just wondering what what the pros and cons might be of getting a second.

We got a second labrador. It's been the thing I've regretted most in my life.

I adore him but he is very intelligent and gets total top dog so I am too scared to ever let him off the lead. Not labrador nature at all, despite hours and hours of training sessions.

I couldn't ever rehome him but I wish I'd taken a friend's advice not to get a second dog.

Obviously he also costs more but that's fine.

We got a second dog when our dog was four years old and the new dog was one year younger. It worked really well for us and they were very good for each other. I think a lot of it is so dependent on the personalities of the dogs though.

Only get a second dog if you want one.

Your dog does not want a brother - I promise you.

Depending on the dog they may get on, they may tolerate each other, they may hate each other. It is hard to predict.

It may go well, it may completely upset the situation as it is at the minute.

You will need to put in a lot of effort to ensure the new dog bonds with you more than your existing dog or you will have two dogs totally oblivious to you.

They will teach each other things and this is usually unwanted behaviour rather than the good behaviour.

Be prepared to feel guilty constantly in that you are not giving enough individual attention to each dog.

They may be completely different temperaments and have totally different needs do you have the time to give them this?

I would think about it quite a lot

I am a multi dog owner.

I got a second dog when my first was two. It's been great. They are very different (though related breeds). And the older is top dog, very chilled guy. Younger is the most obedient thing ever but quite needy and stressy, though she does not get separation anxiety. They hang out together and look for each other on walks but they are certainly not soulmates like some pairs you see.
The older didn't teach the younger anything - she might just be dumb though!

I have two and I would never do it again. They are pretty good but it's very hard work. They are always up to mischief or play fighting or tearing round like lunatics.

I have two mini daxies and they get on great. They spend all day cuddled up sleeping together! We had a boy first and then a girl and the girl just loved him straight away, so he had no choice 😂

I have 2 - labs. Male & female ( no second male on advice of vet - ddog1 is very submissive) They adore each other. They have been really good company for each other, she has engaged with him at a stage where he could have become very lazy.
It is hard work as DDog1 is older now and can’t do as much, so there’s some separate walking these days, but I don’t regret it.
All that said, when DDog1 leaves us, DDog2 will be an only, as I don’t think she really wants a companion .

We've had either 2 or 3 dogs for the last 15+odd years. The current two are joined at the hip, but that's really luck of the draw. You do have to find the time to give the puppy plenty of 1:1 which can involve a lot of willpower on a cold wet winter afternoon, but I really enjoy having multiple dogs and our current youngster definitely benefitted from growing up with an older and very confident dog keeping an eye on her.

There's a lot to think about.

Is your current dog good with other dogs? Will he be tolerant of a tiny puppy in his home and space 24/7 for the next 10+ years? What will you do if they don't get along?

Does your current dog have any behavioural problems that will be made worse with the arrival of another dog? Could you cope if the new puppy picked up all his bad habits, for example?

Do you have the time to walk and train them separately for at least the first year? Do you have the space to keep them apart at home while the puppy is training and so your older dog can have some space?

Can you manage the expense of two dogs, especially when you think about the risk of back problems in dachshunds?

Do you go abroad? Do you have somewhere local who can care for two dogs and can you afford all the costs? Obviously this isn't an issue for everyone, but worth thinking about - many holiday homes in the UK also limit you to one dog.

We only have one dog but I dog-walk (and house-sit) for multiple families with multiple dogs and it honestly puts me right off getting another

We’ve recently got a second pup. It’s worked well for us. Puppy stage much easier with another dog already in the house. We did carefully match temperaments and energy levels of our dogs. Our older dog was spending their whole time sitting a the garden gate hoping for glimpse of the dog opposite so they’re very much a lover of other dogs.

I'm semi obsessed with getting a second dog so this thread is very interesting. Seems quite split between yes and no though! I mostly want a playmate for my pup (7 months) because she's dog obsessed, loves to play, but is part lurcher so plays in a manner that only some dogs appreciate. Cockerpoos do not like it and we're surrounded by them 🙈 cons are that she might grow out of needing a playmate and I'll have made life more difficult for no reason.

I've seen some lovely slightly older lurcher rescue dogs who have pulled on my heartstrings. Probably wouldn't get another puppy.

Our older dog is 2 and we've got a 15 week old pup. So far it's been easier than I ever imagined.

Still early days, but I honestly thought it might take a lot longer for our older one to come round to her sister.

@tizwozliz Gorgeous 😍

People always thing about the early days of getting a puppy/new dog, but it's worth giving some thought to the years to come. You will have one dog who might well slow down and need very different walks to the younger one. I know someone who has to go on one slow 45 minute walk, drop that dog home and then do another faster and more exciting trip with the younger dog.

Also, twice the cost of everything and I don't know if you've renewed your pet insurance lately but mine came up for renewal this week and it's almost doubled in price since last year.

I have always had multiple dogs. Up to 4 at once and I’ve never had any of the problems some people do. All of my dogs (a mix of male/female/entire and neutered of various ages) have got on well, no fights or drama or hassling eachother constantly.

I do train each one individually and walk separately if required. I currently only have two and it’s the easiest combination I’ve had. Company, someone to play with, someone to stay with when I’m busy or out but not so many dogs I’m outnumbered!

I've gone down to one through circumstance and I'm really noticing how happy the remaining one is

I was expecting him to be a bit lonely but actually he's settled and calm. He was top dog. It's made me realise some dogs really do prefer to be then only one.

I've had greyhounds who definitely prefer to be homed with other greys but that makes sense - it's all they've ever known.

Our life is SO different now only having one. I thought we'd get a second quickly (rescue again) but now reconsidering because of our current dog.

I guess the main issue with getting a second dog is that you never know how your existing dog will react until it's almost too late.

They could settle and be incredibly happy with a house mate, but equally they may turn into a nervous wreck - and then you're in the unenviable position of either having to re-home the youngest or spending the next decade separating the dogs 24-7.

We got a second dog when the first one was nearly 2. Really felt like he needed a friend because he loves other dogs. It's been great, they get along fine & keep each other company. I honestly don't think it's much extra work. Dogs are expensive though so that's always a consideration! I would always want 2 dogs now, I think they really benefit from each other but having read some of the other replies maybe we've just been lucky.

I had two dogs, lost one and the other was lost without him so we have a puppy, she is happy again with the company, but you have to put in the work of walking separately and together at times, they both are far more confident when walking together, but the puppy has given our old dog a new lease of life and she has found her inner puppy again, the odd couple eating rabbit ears 🤢

They're gorgeous and look like they were made to be together @Moanycowbag.

The vast majority are fine but only if it’s managed to the nth degree from day 1.

We’re a one dog (and cat) family. I’ve often wanted another but I also like being able put all my time and effort into one. I don’t generally choose easy dogs though 😂

I'm far too lazy to manage anything to the nth degree 😂

We do have multiple unrelated cats (newest arrival being 10 weeks old) and we've never had an issue with integration but my cats have always been super chilled out anyway. Our new boy was playing with the resident cats just 36 hours after we brought him home.

Until 2020 we had multiple cats, all different ages and sexes and all rescues and had no issues integrating them with each other or our older, more sensible terrier hound cross. Now we've just the one as the puppy still needs to sharpen up her 'the cat is not a toy' manners (she is getting there with quite a bit of help!) He's not bothered by her at all - in fact he often elicits her attention but then he's a bellend.

We may add another if she gets there if he's still in good health as he's very sociable and laid back but maybe not.

Integrating dogs can be IME a lot more tricky and limiting for things like walking and training, leaving pup alone (as in you can't really for ages) and stopping them bonding with each other too much rather than you so it's a lot bigger stakes I think.

I know quite a few bonded pairs that I meet on walks and I give them a wide berth as the owners have little or no control. Most of the situations I know that work well have been people who understand you don't just stick them together and 'let them sort it out' and that requires a lot of time and effort. I'm not sure I'd have that in me but then we tend to choose active and driven dogs who do need more input.

Integrating dogs can be IME a lot more tricky and limiting for things like walking and training, leaving pup alone (as in you can't really for ages) and stopping them bonding with each other too much rather than you so it's a lot bigger stakes I think.

Yeah, this is really what puts me off getting another dog. I can manage our existing dog just fine but having to fit a puppy around his needs would be a step too far I think