Second dog- or not?

[BodgerBadgerMashup]

Can you tell me your good and bad stories of getting a second dog please? DH has been pushing for a second dog for a year or two but I'm still unsure. A local acquaintance is now having a litter in our "perfect breed " mix and current dog is 7 so it would look like the ideal time to do it and the perfect pup... but I'm still unsure.

Current pros and cons are:
Pros:
Company for current dog when left alone (not much as we both wfh but once or twice a week we go out for a few hours and she settles but can see on the camera she doesn't competely relax)
Company for current dog when in kennels (once or twice a year although most of our trips are dog friendly)
Playmate/ company for current dog on days out etc
Less risk of completely empty house if/when current dog dies (hopefully a long time away!)
Cons:
Risk they won't get on (current dog is very spoiled only dog, will she be sad?)
Puppy stage again
Extra cost (can afford but... mortgages going up in future etc...)
Extra space in car/ camper van
Extra dog on bed at night (I know! We have SK so there is space... just)
More barking at the postman??

Finding it difficult to weigh up, and not sure if there are some things I haven't considered. What are your experiences?

Thanks!

I wouldn’t get a dog if your primary reasons are company for your other dog. There’s no way of knowing if the old dog will get on with the new one, and the addition of a dog doesn’t necessarily solve any separation issues.
I’ve got two, and we got another because we wanted one and managed his introduction extremely carefully over many weeks. They are now friends and it’s lovely watching their relationship but I think first dog would be perfectly fine if second dog disappeared and vice versa.
Two is hard work in the beginning and you’ll need to walk them separately and give them both one on one time. It gets easier but walking two on the lead is a skill that takes time to get right and there’s double the expense, double the training and double the attention needed.
I have no regrets but I do think going from
one to two takes you further into ‘dog lady’ territory and two dogs in other peoples houses, if you want to go to the pub with them etc automatically makes it a bigger deal.

I bought an 8 week springer into the mix nearly 7 weeks ago - I have a 3 year old Sprocker who I also had as a pup.

If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have done it - but then I look at her and she is just so cute and lovely. But she doesn't sleep well at night, and I'm knackered!

She gets on well with the other dog, who has been really good with her, but I'd truly forgotten how hard puppies were. Things like, planning to go out, feeding times are different as pup on 4 meals a day, having to plan double walking as older dog needs more exercise than the pup, the teething (she's a proper land shark!), and definitely the sleeping!

Sleeping - If I'm lucky if she goes 10-4, then wees and poos, then back to sleep until about 6. If I'm not lucky, 2am, 4am, 6am. I know she's only 15 weeks, but it has been way harder than I remembered, and also it's just me and young adult kids who are rarely here.

I do wfh so that helps.

She is absolutely lovely, but it has been very hard. I know (hope) it will only get better as she gets older. Luckily for a springer she can be quite chilled too, as the sprocker is a total chiller, but equally they are absolutely manic between 7pm and 8pm at night when I want to sit down and relax! That hour nearly kills me....

@ScoobyDoesnt oh god I forgot to mention the twice daily face - bitey / wrestling zoomies that go on for ages…
good luck with the pup! You’re so right, puppies are insane amounts of work, even if older dog is fairly consistent.

I’d get a rescue dog, you can then have a few visits with your dog to see if they get on, you won’t need to go through the puppy stage either.

The only pros on your list seem to be based around the idea that this puppy will provide your older dog with company. There's nothing on there about you wanting a second dog and what it will bring to your life.

You also say that your first dog never fully relaxes when you leave - a second dog won't solve that. There's also the risk that the puppy also never relaxes when you leave and you'll just end up with two anxious dogs instead of one.

You also need to consider your current dogs' behaviour and personality and think about what you'd do if you ended up with two dogs who (for example) pulled on the lead or barked in the garden or jumped at visitors. One dog is much easier to control than two.

There's also no way you'll be able to work from home with a puppy in the house unless you have a job where you can step away from your desk with no notice to get the puppy out to the toilet, or where you can make up your hours later because the puppy is jumping/biting/chewing all day long.

I love my second dog but I do regret getting him quite often. My dogs merely tolerate each other so if that’s a factor then knock that off the yes pile - there’s no guarantee they’ll like each each other. People don’t want to dog sit two dogs for you so any favours will soon dry up. Taking them out and about is harder with two. They’re more expensive, more time consuming.

if you’re happy with how life is now then don’t rock the boat.

Only get one if you want one. Personally if it’s just so your current dog won’t be stressed alone I’d be concentrating on helping him be ok alone. Cheaper and far less hassle than a puppy!

You could end up with two dogs with SA. That’s quite common.

Re. WFH with a pup or young dog we did it (well my husband did) but it only worked as was 100% flexible with a very understanding employer who let him drop everything in a meeting to deal with her. He often got so little done he carried on working into the evening when I got home and took over. He had to work with her on his lap for the first few weeks and before I left for work I used to prepare multiple puzzle toys and games for him to deploy if she was being a puppy. We got through it but it wasn’t easy and didn’t improve until she was 6-8 months old.

Thanks everyone! I think it's because DH wants one but I'm not sure if it's because he wants a cute puppy or if he's really thinking about the reality of two dogs vs. One. Obviously puppies are cute and amazing but given I already have Ddog who I love very much I don't feel the need for another personally. Just trying to figure out if I will regret saying yes 😁

It doesn't always work out how you hope. My cocker spaniel came home as a puppy when retriever was 8. All was peaceful, though they never played together. Older dog died at 16. New retriever puppy when spaniel 8, all hell broke loose. I shall never have a second dog again. Things are quieter now but they don't play together, though the young dog would love to.

I think dogs can struggle with another dog once they’re passed the age of 2 if they’ve always been a singleton. We’ve done it but the older dog usually mostly just tolerates the younger dog. When we got a second dog when our eldest dog was a year old, they adored each other and slept in a ball with their heads resting on each other. Having said that I prefer having two dogs and we’ve just got a second when our eldest is 2 having initially decided to try having just one! Puppy stage feels easier as we’ve only just finished it with the older dog and the younger one hangs off the older dogs ears so we’re not chewed very much. Older dog does enjoy playing with younger dog but won’t tolerate sleeping together. It does change things like lead walks.

I often ask myself why we got a second pup and I really don't know the answer!! She is so different to our first dog and it's been really exhausting. I hope she settles and becomes more relaxed by the time she is 2. We're making the best of it and I try not to regret it, but if I had my time again I probably wouldn't. It's harder to get support looking after them, she barks more than first pup, she wakes up super early (barking) when we stay anywhere but at home, she eats her own poo, she's constantly roaming the house looking for things to steal and chew, it's more expensive, it's tricky walking them together on the leads by myself. Yes it is company for our older dog but I actually think she was fine by herself to be honest!!

If you make the mistake of getting a dog you then regret, it’s an expensive and long lasting one.

This is what we did. They love each other. We have a male and female , both labs. Male is the older. They get on really well, play together, are clearly happier when they are together, but have very different personalities ( within the Labrador spectrum of course).
They great upside is that DH and I have one each on the sofas; downside is £££, and as male gets older we have to do some walks separately.

I've give dogs and two bitches don't get on. It's stressful having to make sure they are not out at the same time. They got on fine for about 6 months then one day turned on each other. I'd stick with the one if I was you

The beginning of that was suppose to say I've got 5 dogs

Thank you for the advice everyone! We decided that is probably too late to add a new pup into the mix. I've seen them and they're very cute but have all now been snapped up and found homes, so thanks for the advice I think it was the right call in the end.