Getting a 2nd dog - is it the right thing?!

[cockermum01]

Good morning!

we have a lovely working cocker - coming up for 2 years old - so just about starting to calm down (as if WCS ever do😂)

a 2nd dog wasn’t on the radar (we have two young primary age kids) however we recently went on holiday, and when we were away our little dog stayed with our family member that has 2 labradors and a little terrier cross type companion dog.

he became especially bonded with the younger lab who is about the same age and they just played all day.

when we came home he was sad for a few days and now he is just so naughty! Boredom naughty, stealing food, shoes, toys. With that look that says come and chase me then 😁so we think he’s possibly missing the company of a similar natured dog.

would we be mad? Someone I know mentioned a cockerpoo (mostly spaniel about 3/4) they know whose owner has another dog that won’t take to him at all and so she sadly wants to rehome him. He is just under a year old, trained, so seemingly easier than getting a young pup.

please tell me your stories good and bad before we arrange to view and fall in love!

I have to say - our boy is now quite easy and settled, and the more I think about it the more I don’t want the added responsibility that a puppy/extra dog brings really.

I feel like we’ve done the hardest part with our dog now and should just get to enjoy him as the lovely, (mostly) well behaved boy he is 😍

We definitely have a ‘dog oriented life’ though. Which might not be for everyone. And the dogs are the most expensive thing I’ve ever owned. Insurance is phenomenal as one has developed health issues.

@WaitingForMojo thank you. What breeds are they?

It’s a real mixed bag in terms of advice. Some people say absolutely don’t (pup or rehome) and some say getting another was the best thing they ever did for their dog 😅

I have a border collie and two cavvies.

I've always had multiple dogs, be odd to have one.
Arrange a meet up with this other pup, on a walk not in either home, see how they get on.

The newcomer was a puppy. Did the right thing, introducing them on neutral ground, but the spaniel was evil! You can't tell - spaniel had loved playing with friends' dogs both here and in their gardens, and loved my previous Lab, but he was like a striking cobra with the youngster. It has settled down but it took ages.

We got a 2nd, then a third. All young rescues adopted separately from a charity. The 2nd was a perfect companion for our first. She came in at 4 months and took charge of our 11 month old. He adored her from the start and still does 4 years later.

For me, the third dog disrupted the initial 2, and there were many times I regretted giving in to my DH's wish for a third.

He was 18m when adopted, but had been very neglected - lived in a flat with no garden, never walked, mostly caged, underweight. He longs for attention and would bother the eldest dog constantly.

However, we more recently got a fourth, who is a very lively puppy (5 months at adoption). The third dog now has a puppy-sized shadow and a taste of his own medicine! They are always playing together like brothers and the older 2 can take things at their own pace, whilst teaching the little one.

So for us, 1 was lonely, 2 was a dream, 3 - not so great, 4 - balanced the pack. Absolutely no more though!

(Our youngest child was 9 or 10 when we were approved to adopt the first dog.)

@tizwozliz wow those are beautiful dogs. I can't believe they snuggled up like that and slept on the same bed on the day you brought the puppy home! Mine have still never done that, five years later😓They are currently lying together at my feet under my desk so it's not all doom and gloom, but it was a lot of work to get here.

If you introduce a 2nd dog then do it whilst the first dog is still young.
I have 3 dogs, first one from a pup followed by a rescue who was the same age a year later. They are soooo amazing together, best friends and brothers. A year after that I got a 3rd rescue, same age as the boys . They are an absolute delight.

However years ago I had a 9 yr old spaniel who I thought might be lonely. I rescued a female spaniel who was 7 to keep him
company and they bloody hated each other for the next 6 years.

It's interesting that the responses do seem to be at one extreme or the other - that the dogs mostly seem to have either loved or disliked (or hated, in my case!) each other on sight. My situation was a lot like @muddyford - friendly happy spaniel that turned into doggie evil with the puppy. At the time everything I read online said usually it settles within 2-3 weeks but it was probably closer to 6 months for us, certainly until I felt I could leave them in the same room safely. I bought a big metal pen and kept the puppy in that so that he could be in the living room with us, but as soon as I let him out dog 1 would snarl at him. And when I put him back into the pen she would wag her tail in delight. Bad dog!

It took six months here too. Had a puppy pen in the sitting room and he was crated at night and if I had to leave them for any length of time. But not an experience I'll be queuing up to repeat!

I kept them separate because of the risk of attacks/aggression - lots of stories on mumsnet about it, sadly. And having a puppy attacked in its new home by the older dog will just result in the puppy having serious reactivity issues or be very nervous - and fixing puppy nervousness is a nightmare when it’s been attacked in its own home!

Even the most placid dog can turn if a new dog is introduced badly so you have to be 100% prepared for worst case scenario.

I started by socialising with smells. Leaving the puppies blanket in the other dogs part of the house and visa versa. Having my mum walk the puppy whilst I walked the adults and having them ‘meet’ in the walk for a quick sniff. Extended it every try few days until within 2-3 months I could trust them 100% outside the home with puppy for about 30-45 minutes and all off-lead. Then I introduced them IN the house with a puppy gate between them. Fed them within sight of eat other but not close. Let them saw me interacting with the other dogs etc. Then, introduced them in the garden with adults on the lead and puppy off (you want to have control over the adult dog). Then took it from there.

It still might have gone badly. But rushing it is a sure fire way to guarantee it won’t go well!

Our 4 dogs were all young when introduced, and it wasn't complicated, thankfully. Despite not being by the book - separate walks/ food/ play pens, there were no disasters or fights at all.

Met at the sanctuary for a play and observation by staff, then came home a day or up to a week later - depending on if the sanctuary vet check had already occurred.

Further introductions once home were simple - in the garden initially. Immediately excited and played together. Then they explored the house together with frequent garden breaks encouraged, as more space to run around. We made sure they were supervised at all times on the first day, and checked on them frequently after that.

They have full access in the house and to the garden, so can easily find space from each other if required.

Our first dog indulges his beloved little sister, so always allowed her first pick of food, treats, etc. When the 2 youngest boys joined us, they tested boundaries but quickly realised that the small female dog was mostly in charge, so they've settled in to their positions. No fights, just warnings from her - her quiet low growl terrifies them!

Edited to add that they are all mixed breeds. 2 x male Cocker Spaniel/ Jack Russell. Female Yorkie/ Jack Russell. Male puppy is Dachshund/ Springer/ Terrier mix.

Don't ever get another dog for your dog. They may hate them. Do it if YOU want one and be prepared for a load of management for quite some time.

Morning!

just wanted to post an update.

we had already arranged to meet the dog at a neutral place, but the owner didn’t show, before I posted this just to see how they got on.

turns out the dog does have behaviour issues despite originally saying there were none! Resource guarding and aggression towards the older dog. In hindsight there were clear issues as they didn’t want to meet at their house, although I’d have liked to see the dog in their own environment.

anyway just a massive thanks for all the advice as it really made me think long and hard and ultimately felt relieved when the owner no showed (out of guilt I suppose for lying about the dog’s behaviour!)

we’ve decided against a second dog completely for now and just making sure our little WCS gets all the attention he needs ☺️

Sounds like a lucky escape, OP!

Maybe they managed to offload the dog onto someone else.
It also seems common for dogs that did get along to fall out when hit sexual maturity usually same sex entire pairs, but not always. Though a surprisingly a significant number of dog owners have little understanding of dog behaviour so don't manage situations when there's more subtle signs.

It's a big risk privately rehoming as then it's your dog and problem to solve if it doesn't work out or if they'd lied/minimised any health, behavioural or training issues. If the owner really cared about their dog they'd want to give you as much info as possible and keen to check your home is the most suitable for them.
I expect private rehomers can be more desperate now too as in the past rescues would usually be able to help but now there are huge numbers wanting to relinquish dogs/puppies to them and few available spaces as adoptions have slowed. Unsurprisingly this means theres also a increase of strays in pounds serving their 7 days who'll be euthanised if a rescue can't take when the kennels needed for new intake.

At least with a decent rescue centre (not all same standard) they'd be trying to match personalities, expect meetings between dogs and advise on home intros as would have vested interest in it being successful and will take back if not. Perhaps look into more short term tests such as holiday cover for friends dogs or fostering for rescue before making a permanent leap. You can always look to increase the time playing with dog friends in the meantime.