What to expect going from one dog to two?

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Our female collie is almost 2 1/2 and we have the opportunity to rescue another collie pup- male or female. We're sorely tempted but have only ever had only dogs. Apart from the financial aspect- practically- what do we need to consider?

The thing I've always found hardest is finding time and opportunity to train them separately until I can trust each one to sit to the side and wait their turn. Heelwork is harder with two, as they get competitive about who is inching in front, or sulk a bit if they can't be the one next to my leg.

I've only ever added a puppy, and I do the first introduction on neutral ground, away from the house (in the garden of a dog-less friend, for example). It has worked very well (the current two are best buddies). We've had four dogs over the years, and they've all lived with two other dogs at various points in their lives, and we have never had major issues with aggression between them or anything like that - just the odd telling off.

If they get on really well, you might need to teach them how to break off play and lunacy when you want or need them to. I tell them to knock it off and a dog who ignores it twice is either put at heel for a little while if we're out, or sent to bed for a few minutes if we're home - nothing angry, just, 'That's enough, heel/bed', and led there if necessary. They learn very quickly that being a lunatic trip hazard => boredom.

I really enjoy having 2+ dogs.

Perfect gap - due to training really.

spending time one on one, having other exercise needs (short term) is hard but t it is what it is.
I have always had two - would not change this - company for each other!

I would also get a dog if you have a bitch now

Barking! Our older dog was never a barker until the puppy came, but now they just set each other off, particularly when excited. Before going for a walk, they both seem to shout to each other and run in circles and it is hard to calm either down, a bit like children.

The younger one also copies the older one, so if he sees the older one barking at the door then he just runs behind and does the same.. even though he has no idea what he is actually barking at 😂 If one goes out into the garden then it sits and does a particular call to get the other one to join it.

Cuddling two at once is trickier too. Again, they are like children as they barge each other out of the way to try and climb on laps at the same time.

Oh, they also do a joint howl at times, if they hear particular songs or hear an alarm going off. So, overall it’s noisier!

That if they don’t get on, you might spend years - potentially a decade - with two dogs who can’t even be in the same room without a vicious fight. You need to think about what that means for;

• kids
• socialising (having people over, can’t have one dog excluded)
• holidays (can’t have them share a kennel if you don’t take them and likewise you can’t shove them in the same room on holiday if you can’t at home)
• walking them separately
• ensuring you are able to give both equal amounts of attention/stimulation

Etc etc.

Sometimes it goes well. But I’ve known the introduction of new puppies to an existing dog family go horribly wrong (particularly when the idiot owners claim their dog loves other dogs, including when other dogs visit their home, and ignores all the good advice offered) resulting in children being severely bitten and the existing dog being PTS.

It’s great when it works. But it doesn’t always. And you need to be prepared for that.

I know someone with two Bernese. They have to do everything separately. It’s not an exaggeration to say the two dogs have ruined her life.

I got a second dog when my older dog was 8. All went smoothly. Older dog died and I got another dog (younger dog was now 8) and it was a nightmare. Never again. Things did settle down, thankfully, but it took months.

It's more than twice the work too, as in addition to managing two dogs you are managing the relationship between them.

When my older boy dies I will stay with one dog. It's not worth the risk.

My dogs don’t really like each other that much - they don’t fight but they’d each be happier as only dogs. We had to seperate them for the first 6 weeks or so and introduce them very very gradually.

get a second dog because you really really want one, not because you think it would be nice for your existing dog

In agreement with comments above.

Having two dogs can be amazing, but don't presume your existing dog will readily accept a newcomer or that she can be trusted around a puppy.
We introduced a female puppy to our 4 year old male with no problems whatsoever, he was gentle and tolerant and they got along well. We stupidly assumed that introducing a male puppy to an older bitch some years later would be just as easy...it wasn't. She hated him and we had to keep them in separate rooms for months until she eventually accepted his presence.

So, take it very slowly; it might be easy or it might not, there is no way to predict it. When it works, it's brilliant because puppy does learn from watching older dog, but if there's friction it makes life complicated. You do need to weigh this up beforehand.

I'm not being a naysayer, I love having two (or three) together. We currently have a 9 month old bitch and I'm trying to persuade my husband that we should get a male puppy before she turns two.

I think the main things to consider are:

What will you do if they don't get along?
Is there anything about your current dog that you struggle with - and if so, what will you do if the puppy picks up on that habit?
Do you have time, at least initially, to do separate walks, training etc?

I know loads of households with two dogs and most of them work wonderfully most of the time - but there are times where they fight, or wind each other up and need separating!

Thanks for all the advice. I can understand the separate training, but why are separate walks recommended initially?

For me it's the below:

1. Your existing dog should still have time alone with you to do all the things it did before. The puppy should not just become a 'permanent feature' in every aspect of it's life. It needs it's own space in the house to relax (a room away from puppy), it's own space to eat, attention without the puppy being there and walks without the puppy.
2. Puppies can't walk for anywhere near as long as an adult dog - so you're either going to not give your existing dog enough exercise, or over-exercise the puppy leading to joint issues. Particularly important to consider this given your existing dog is a Collie so should be getting an awful lot of exercise.
3. Lots of adult dogs do not like puppies and puppies do not have social skills when they are young (which is why you should never leave a puppy alone with an adult dog) and have no understanding of boundaries (not biting, not tugging, not getting in another dogs face etc. This means you need to have 100% of your attention on your puppy as it interacts with new dogs - and in dong so, you will have 0% of your attention in your adult dog. And that's just a bad idea.
4. First walks (i.e. first few months) for a puppy are very exciting. They get incredibly over-stimulated, and fussed by strangers (even when you say no) and that winds up puppies which can then cause the adult dog to react negatively, even if they would not normally.
5. Dogs should be introduced really slowly - over weeks to build up tolerance, not hours or days - and with that in mind, you shouldn't be forcing them to both spend time together on a leash.

See if you can get a second hand copy of Feeling Outnumbered by Patricia McConnell, it's got everything you need to know about how to manage multiple dogs and is very clear about exactly what to do (and what not to do). https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/feeling-outnumbered-book-karen-b-london-9781891767067?sku=GOR012644990&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvbm7BhC5ARIsAFjwNHvlyzZyfCJjOUDxOJ62J3TUvAYglDM8e6GDiIgw5PCFzTZohkSPRukaAiicEALw_wcB

@LandSharksAnonymous that's really good advice, thanks. Lots to think about.

It was easy, but my older dog was pretty chill. He was neutered male, new dog female. I crate trained her.
They are completely different temperaments, one is a mini Australian Labradoodle and the other was supposed to be a F2 labradoodle (pup from labradoodle bred back to poodle), but she looks like a terrier'(and is a good ratter). She is quite stressy for some reason but totally obedient. She learned nothing from the older dog! She's not a playful dog once she grew out of puppy dom. Older dog playful, confident and cheeky.

@LandSharksAnonymous summed it up really well, but I’d also add that as well as the older dog needing their old routine, the puppy also needs some time on walks where they have your undivided attention so you can focus on training, monitoring behaviour and socialisation.

As an example, does your adult dog do anything that you don’t want your puppy to pick up on? Such as barking, herding, reacting to other dogs or cars? If you always take them out together, puppy could easily develop the same “bad” habits whereas if they’re out alone, working on problematic behaviour can be much easier.

There’s also the separate walks in the last few years of your older dog’s life, when he/she is no longer as vigorous as the younger dog. It can be tricky balancing their needs at that stage.