Is a second dog twice as much work?

[WarningOfGails]

For some reason I’ve been thinking about having another dog… currently have a lab/pointer who is 5 years old.

I really didn’t enjoy having a puppy, I found it quite stressful, and I work more than I did when our current dog was a puppy… on the other hand the children are older. I guess the practical reason for another dog would be to keep current dog company. But am I being daft? Would it be twice as much work or does it just slot in? We look after friend’s dog sometimes & it makes no difference, just taking 2 dogs on a walk/letting them out for a goodnight wee instead of one…

Yeah he loves all other dogs and great with kids and adults just loves everyone does lie down when sees other dogs so they approach them to play. Only thing is he does sometimes find socks that my partner hasn't put in laundry and hides them in his bed. But he's a puppy that's all I can think or pulls when he sees water as wants to jump in but he's spaniel so it's expected.

Do want separate personalities hence different breed but I do want something that will help him when he will be left for a while as they help with companionship and way he doesn't mind other dogs over and looks out the window when there not coming back and I take him on all different walks but he always tries to take me to the dog park or will so stop so I have to tell him to come and we go there on the way back, that way he's not so much for them all as he gets really excited, with other dogs. Maybe cos he was a very large litter or the fact he's been socialised so much and all puppy classes.

Also a lot of people didn't want him as has one ball and didn't dock his tail. As a working spaniel it was a no so I got him when he was older at 14 weeks

We spoke about start to leave the dog and looking at decent breeders and ones that won't for a couple years and labs x or pointers and things and that are council certified thanks everyone for advice

Possibly rescues

I have collies, wcs and a labrador.

They are all extremely different dogs.

Our collies find the spaniels high energy, hard work and stressful. The collies much prefer to be walked without the spaniels. The spaniels exercise and think very differently from the collies.

The lab tends to work ok in either groups. Although he can not get over the collies fixation for staring at a ball and runs into retrieve it. The collies are flabbergasted that he picks it up when they just want it to move a bit to herd. They do then tend to politely herd the lab back to us.

Do not ever get a dog for company for another dog. If you want 2 dogs and all the hassle (and pleasure and guilt) that 2 brings go for it. But do not do it for your dog they would not choose it.

It would be cheaper to put your dog into day care the times you are out for 3 hours. Your dog gets company but can then come home and chill out and have 100% attention from you. They would prefer not to share you.

I have multiple dogs due to my work.

Squishy you might be better to start your own thread - the OP has lost a bit of focus here!

KeenOtter,read your post with interest..all my BC have loved balls,my 2 blues footballs..my youngest red/white will state at the ball, and often wait till you go to pick it up and whip off with it. She will nip round the back of our chairs when we're sitting, and she used to shove it under the coffee table and then come and stand by you, and practically say "well, come on then you get it". None of my collies have snapped at ankles,or rounded people up. DH grans jr used to bite ankles. My last 2 weren't reactive to anything. My older one,hates the wand vacuum,mower,shredder,used to be the hair dryer, she will now stay in the room. She doesn't mind the hand held Dyson. Red,will attack vacuum cleaner,mower shredder (is safely locked indoors, obviously) yet terrified of the Dyson. They were all around these sounds from day one. When we had had red a couple of days,I went to the toilet, open plan bungalow, I don't bother to close the door,I flushed the loo, she shot round the back of the sofa!

Our collies find the spaniels high energy, hard work and stressful. The collies much prefer to be walked without the spaniels. The spaniels exercise and think very differently from the collies.

This is my experience too. I work with several families who have both collies and spaniels and even though both are working breeds, they are very, very different. I also know a lot of border collies who can't stand the spaniels they meet on walks!

As well has having different ways of thinking, the collies are much more sensitive to sound and movement and don't really appreciate the craziness of the spaniels divebombing all over the place.

You absolutely need to be willing and able to exercise them separately - it's also worth thinking about what you'd do if you needed a dog walker or had to put them into kennels as they may not appreciate being confined together either.

Never put them in kennels, I've got family who have farms and would train them if didn't work out or have them as family pets, but I've just decided that a border collie isn't the best choice and looking at more suitable breeds such as setters and pointers, labs or cross breeds of collies such as bordernese so still have energy but may also have another breed characteristics and waiting till time is right giving him much more training and do appreciate the advice 😊

I'll stop posting now I understand and appreciate everything glad to get the advice I needed