What made you get a 2nd dog.

[nuggetsandchips]

Those who have 2 dogs, what made you get the 2nd?

We have a lovely 1 year old Beagle, he did suffer from some separation anxiety but he seems fairly OK now, although he loves to chew things.

When we go out for walks he is friendly with the local dogs, he has his favourites and its lovely to see him with them, like last night he spotted his bestie before I did and sat and waited while she walked over bouncing around all happy to see him. I think he would like a friend. We've covered all the practical questions, like affordability, space, time etc.

What the deciding factor for you?

A moment of madness 😠

Needed them for work.

Get a second dog if you want one but dont do it for your dog. They may get on they may not get on. It may go smoothly, it could be a nightmare.

Playing with another dog in the park for a few minutes is very different for your dog having to live 24/7 with another dog. The new dog taking up your time, the other dog's spaces and bed etc.

You have to be prepared for both scenarios.

We couldn't get our first dog to sleep on her own. Tried every trick in the book to get her to settle downstairs at night to no avail. She cried and cried so none of us got any sleep unless we let her on our bed (big dog, we didn't want to sleep with her forever).

Then we baby-sat a friend's dog for the weekend, who was used to sleeping away from humans, and our dog happily slept through the night with him.

As soon as second dog arrived (carefully matched rescue), she was happy to sleep in the kitchen for the rest of her days.

My advice is never to get a second dog for your existing dog - only do it if you genuinely want all the work and rewards of owning two.

Getting along with dogs out of the house is very different to suddenly having to share your space with one 24/7, especially a puppy who will take up a lot of your time and efforts.

We always wanted two dogs, so it was always the plan to get two. You obviously never know how they'll get on and the guidance is never to get another dog for the first dogs company. But ours are the best of friends, they sleep together, play together - have completely different doggy personalities but they would undoubtedly be worse off without the other in their life

I busted wanted a second dog, and saw one online and went for it.

Dogs get on incredibly well and it’s the best decision I made.

Why? My DH was jealous that dog1 like to snuggle with me on the sofa and he had to sit alone. Plus he always wanted a bitch.

My lovely lab male is the most gregarious of boys; always looking for other dogs to walk with and play with, very happy to have canine house guests.

Vet asked if we were interested as a client needed to rehome her lab bitch. So we met the younger bitch, she spent a weekend with us, and we decided to keep her. But she was a fully adult dog so from day 1 she was able to join our long walks. She did have a few issues, and not sure the vet was aware, but she’s lovely now.

After I gave one rescue dog a home, I felt I had room, time, etc for another. I now have three - best thing ever (albeit I now have no time, money, etc to myself, lol)

Same here except I only have 2 rescue dogs. I adore them both and they adore each other. 🥰

We bought a 12 week old jack Russell and by the time he was 1 it was clear he needed a play mate to help 'play off' his excess of energy.

We adopted a 1 yr old setter from a dogs home and from the word go they were like brothers and still are (both 5 now). Best decision we ever made.

my family had always had 2 dogs so I decided I wanted another. My advice is only get one if YOU want one not because you think your existing dog would like it. My dogs don’t particularly like each other. There was a lot of play fighting when they first met and we had to physically separate them with a room divider for a couple of months when the second dog arrived. They tolerate each other now and if they do “play” together it’s not always particularly good natured and is usually a contest for whichever toy they decide they both want which means I spend a lot of time managing their behaviour.

not all dogs are going to get along, play joyously together and fall exhausted into the same bed for a nap. I love both my dogs but I often wish we had stopped at one.

Bringing home my second beagle was the best thing I did. They are just so happy to have another dog in their pack. And it made my life easier because they learn from and entertain each other.

I now have four. Don't do that. I mean, it's awesome, but it's chaos too.

A family member came to stay with me for a while and turned up with a 5 month old puppy.
My dog who prefers to keep to himself on walks and hates other dogs became the most playful and happy thing, and seemed to enjoy showing the doggy house guest how to dog.
The 2nd dog stayed with us for a few months before my relative found somewhere else to stay and my dog was so depressed being alone.
So I came home with a puppy, and that puppy is now 2.
It's hard work, and I'm constantly moaning about the dog hair, but it is so worth it.

Actually, mine was a totally selfish decision that I didn’t want to be “dogless” again. So I now have three 😬😬😬 they are 14, 8 and 1 years. I guess I have been fortunate that they all get along- the older two played together when the middle one was a puppy- and now my old girl just ignores the chaos around her whilst the middle and younger one play together.
BUT I was prepared that I might have to return said puppy to breeder if they didn’t get along. They are also the breeder of the middle dog so were understanding if that.

My other warning is, people will say that it is easier to train a puppy with an older dog present. That was sort of true the first time round- this time round, the puppy made the middle dog so excitable that he regressed into total pandemonium 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ so that was fun.
I also have the space, and funds for multiple dogs. You forget how expensive they are until another one is added!

A family member came to live with us, bringing a 6 month puppy. Family member moved out leaving the puppy with us as she was well settled here and both dogs get on so well.

Wow 4 of them!! I think ours is more of pack dog. We have spent the whole day with friends at their house and their dogs and its maybe the only time he wasn't glued to my side.

I've had multiple dogs and now just have one. I really don't think I could have more than one again, it's hard work and more expensive.

Things are just easier with one, we have a brilliant bond, she seems to know exactly what I want from her without me having to say anything, she's happy just pottering round the house with me or snuggling on the settee and she's fine left by herself for a few hours.

The only drawback to having one dog for me is that I'll never put her in the kennels like I did when I had multiple dogs. She wouldn't do well and I couldn't bear the thought of her being by herself not knowing whether I'm coming back 😭 so she will be coming on any holidays with me.

Mine was an impulse buy ( bought from a friend when he was the last of the litter left with no home to go to ! ) and I did regret it a bit for the first year until he clamed down. However he is now a lovely dog and I honestly think they would be lost without each other.

When we got her we had a fairly old dog already and we didn't expect him to interact with her but he was good. He then died. She became very flat and didn't seem to be enjoying anything and we felt that she maybe needed a companion. We waited a while but it didn't change so we got another dog.

It has worked well.

I got a second dog when my eldest pup was about a year old (absolutely bonkers jr) because I wanted a second one, but also felt the eldest needed a playmate. Whilst they got along ok, I think my eldest would’ve actually fared better as an only!

He died last year, so I’m back to one pooch who’s 13 this year. I’m considering a second one because my youngest one is obsessed with my ds, and my dd is desperately missing ‘her’ dog who died. He used to sleep in with her and matched the crazy that is dd, and it’s breaking my heart that she’s still desperate to have her dogalog back.

I'm not sure whether to wait until our current pup passes on and get two then, or whether we remain dog free at that point. It’s tough whichever way we decide, although we’re lucky that we’ve the time/money/space to consider this.

I prefer the relationship between me & my dog when there's only one. I prefer to feel like a team & have them with me more than I feel I can with 2 or more.

plenty of play dates & sleep overs for company.

i don't feel the same team when there are more dogs, i feel like I'm just feeding/cleaning up/walking.

🤷🏻‍♀️

What was your first dog like outside of sleeping? Was she clingy with you, had you ever seen her behave differently around other dogs, like on a walk for example?

I actually had 2 dogs before, but the circumstances were very different. Have you also had 2 dogs before? With our Beagle he is so sweet and cuddly, almost clingy and I do wonder whether we would lose something if we got another.

We wanted one.
That was it, really.

Ideally I'd like 4 but DH insists that even 3 is too many (we've had 3 at times, I think 3 is fine).

I have one but am constantly eyeing up other rescue dogs. I would in large part get another dog for my current girl as she's very dog obsessed friendly but for various reasons now rarely gets to play with other dogs. The replies saying don't rely on them getting on are worrying though. Most rescues will have the dogs spend time together first, and I've known of trials in the home, so hopefully I'd be able to say no if she seemed unhappy. I would hate to have two dogs if they didn't get on.