Second Dog

by **jamjars** » Fri Apr 20, 2022 12:46 pm

So my husband and I are half thinking of getting a second dog but there's a few things that are making me a little hesitant!

Firstly about our Girl:
She's a 6 month old golden retriever who we absolutely adore. DH is completely devoted to her (I worry a little about how much!!) and spends all his spare time making her happy!!
She's incredibly well behaved and already very well trained and we feel so lucky to have such a sweet natured and docile dog (esp as DH's sister has her very very unruly brother!) She's home in the (very big) garden during the day, DH currently comes back for his lunch although now that we're reducing her to two feeds a day he is looking at cutting this out.
She have no behavioural issues and once she's been told "no" once, won't go back to something again. She's in the house in the evenings and is in&out at the weekend.

When we were looking at getting a pup we were half thinking of getting two but then talking to a few people we decided to hold off for a while. We really would love to have a second dog but would also love for her to have the company, she adores other dogs and loves visiting her brother. I know people say that two dogs rarely play together when humans aren't around so maybe it's just that they're energetic pups but they literally don't stop from morning to night!

So the issues;
Is she too young (no matter how well behaved) to bring a second dog home?
Or is it better that she's younger? Would she get used to it quicker? Honestly I don't think jealousy is going to be an issue, we've had SIL's dog stay and she's always delighted to have him, but is it something to consider? Should we not even consider a second puppy? Is a fully grown dog the best option? If so, then we would prob go for a rescue dog (~2 years).

Obviously any of the above could just be solved by waiting a little longer but the other issue is; holidays.
At the moment we've only been away from her for one night, and she went to the SIL's house. This was to be the plan going forward although this year we decided to staycation and take her with us. If however we get a second dog asking SIL to mind two just isn't an option... which means in the future we would have to look at kennels which was something I was hoping we wouldn't have to do! It was so great to know she was happy with her brother while we were away and I'm worried we'd be sacrificing this by getting a second dog!!

I really am so torn by it and if it wasn't for the second reason I wouldn't even be thinking twice about it!!

Help me!! :o0

eefc · by **eefc** » Fri Apr 20, 2022 1:18 pm

We were in the same predicament too. When we got Buster we were concerned that he was on his own all day. He is outside all day but my heart was broken as I felt he was lonely. I used to go home for my lunch and if I couldn't I would get FFIL to pop over and check on him.

We discussed getting new puppy the time wasn't right for work etc to be looking after and training new puppy as well as current puppy. So we waited for 11 months. We got Bandit in November- as he was so much smaller and the awful breeder that sold him to us told us he was 8 weeks when he actually was only about 6- far too soon. So we spent a little extra time with him to make sure he was ok and supervised Buster with him for a while as Buster had never really been around such small puppies.

After a few weeks they settled in well with each other and now they are the best of pals and do and go everywhere together!!

I will note that our doggies are small so it was probably a little easier than lets say lab sizes so not sure if it will be harder as they are bigger.

HTH
:wv

morningsun · by **morningsun** » Fri Apr 20, 2022 1:37 pm

I am torn on this one myself. I really wanted another dog when my own was around 6months old but couldn’t for a few reasons. Now I amn’t sure what I want. Our dog is really well behaved and very manageable, we have a great system going where I can leave her with my mam when we go away for weekends and holidays (which is actually quite a bit) and this wouldn’t be an option with two. We have also brought her with us to friends’ houses for the weekend which we couldn’t do with two. My friends have two and 1 said she would never have a dog on its own again (two small ones) and another says don’t get two (a big dog and small one).

As I am thinking this through, in your case I think I would be inclined to wait until she is a year. At that stage she will be almost full size so you can see if you can manage walking two on your own etc. Regarding holidays when my mam can’t mind her I wouldn’t put her in kennels I use a home boarding service where she goes and stays with a lady in her home so it’s great alternative to a normal kennel situation.

My heart was saying get another dog when our dog was 6months and if wasn’t for my OH I definitely would have but he was right not to. I am glad now we only have herself for the time being. Maybe this time next year. Sorry no help to ya!

Littlebo · by **Littlebo** » Sat Apr 21, 2022 2:03 am

Get another Dog and the sooner the better, really.

Reading all you posts is so lovely to read and how much you love your Dogs and also reminds me of me when we got our first, Bo. We adore ours and the BEST thing I ever did was go behind my Oh's back and drive 150K and collect my lovely Gunner to become part of our family.Bo was so lonely when we weren't around (and we organise rosters around them even now), but the fullfillment and enjoyment that they get from each other is formidable and lovely to watch. For a couple of days we thought Bo was actually going to kill the new puppy but within a very short period of time they adjusted and now are inseperable. They love each other and spend all their time together and watch out for each other. One gives out to the other on a regular basis and if I give out to one the other one then protects them. Very cute but so endearing to watch.

Honestly, you may as well have two as one and their is so little to do extra with a second. They both have the same routines, albeit, with different personalities. When they are alone they have each other and Gunner keeps Bo warm and Bo keeps Gunner entertained and exercised so it works perfectly. The expense of an extra Dog is minimunal, extra food and shots but that's it but the happiness for both of them and us is Priceless.

Btw the way My Mother said she could only ever take care of one of them when we went away for a night, UNTIL, she met Gunner and now he is chief in my Parents House.

SorrentoWife · by **SorrentoWife** » Mon Apr 23, 2022 6:02 pm

I'd love a 2nd dog but not allowed!! Apparently we have enough trouble with the one we have! :o0

Its def something we'll look into in the near future. Buddy loves company and the lady who minds him has said several times how good it would be for him.
Not sure how he'd take to a puppy though. He might think its a cat - he hates cats. One just ran along back wall and he's sitting at the back door now waiting to be let out to bark at it.

I'd love a black female cocker. We were out in Punchestown yesterday (theres a day called Walking Sunday each year before the festival starts and people walk the course, theres a dog show with prize for waggiest tail etc) and we were strolling around the stand area and met a couple with a black female cocker and he loved her. He also loved the retrievers as well, seemed to want to go over to any one of those we passed.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do. If your own dog is well behaved and well socialised etc then go for it!

cupcakebabe · by **cupcakebabe** » Tue Apr 24, 2022 11:49 am

Yeah id say go for it. Our retrievers are best friends with just under a year between them in age difference. They are great company for each other and play together all the time. Like another poster said there is not much extra work involved as they both have the same routine, the only extra cost is food and vets (we have been lucky enough on that so far). We have a male and female.

Ours stay in home boarding also and i feel better about it than kennels.

by **jamjars** » Wed Apr 25, 2022 7:39 am

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all the advice, I think we are actually going to go for it!!

I think Home Boarding could be the way to go for us so definitely going to look into that!

A few people have said that we should be looking at getting a puppy instead of a grown dog as it'd be easier to introduce in to the household, does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Our staycation summer plans actually just fell through so if we did get a puppy, being at home for the first 3 weeks is definitely an option!

Also, does it matter what sex we get? Or should we just pick by the dog and not the gender?

Thanks :wv

MinnietheMinx · by **MinnietheMinx** » Wed Apr 25, 2022 8:14 am

I've heard that if you have two b!tches who don't get along they will actually fight to the death which a boy and girl or two boys won't do.

Not sure how true it is but we got a boy and girl (just in case!)

cupcakebabe · by **cupcakebabe** » Wed Apr 25, 2022 8:22 am

Yeah I heard its best to go for a boy and a girl.

keepitsimple · by **keepitsimple** » Thu Apr 26, 2022 2:42 pm

our boy was about 8 months when we got our girl (also a beautiful golden retriever) and the minute we brought her into the house at 8 weeks old my boy just fell in love with her :lvs

The day we brought her home he very gently lay beside her in her new bed and licked and tugged at her! He wasn't great with other dogs which is why we got a puppy hoping he would be better with her and also the oposite sex as that is supposed to be better aswell and luckily it worked for us! Getting a second dog was the best thing we did both for us and for our other dog! I'm sure you'll work something out with regards the holidays! It's hard to leave them but they will still love you when you come home and at least they will have each others company when you are away!! I'd say go for it, I always say 'it's not the dog it's the owner' so your dog being such a good girl is because of you guys so I'm sure another lucky doggie will be just as good!

by **farawaybide** » Fri Apr 27, 2022 11:09 am

Getting a 2nd dog was the best thing we did. We have a male lab whom we adore, my working hours changed and it meant that he was going to be left on his own weekdays while we were both at work. I wasn't too keen on a 2nd dog (as the lab take up so much of our time) and felt that it would be double trouble, also our lab is the best obedient dog ever and we didn't want to rock the boat with a 2nd dog.
My hubby pushed for a 2nd and we got a rescue bunny spaniel (she's older than the lab), she just walked into out house and acted like she had always belonged there, she took to our lab straight away, he was a bit put out for a few days-only because he was centre of attention and now another dog was getting some of his attention. They get on brilliantly, they lie down together, have a chase together, play fight together and most importantly keep each other company while we are away at work.

My opinion-go for it!! 2 dogs are the same time and energy spent as 1 dog.

by **Sassy1** » Thu May 10, 2022 10:45 am

Just in relation to the comment about if you have 2 female dogs they will fight to the end - this is so NOT true.

I have 4 dogs and guess what they are ALL female - various ages - 2 terriers, 1 rottweiler and 1 rottieX pup.

Issues can arise and it will have nothing to do with the sex of the dogs - I know people who have a male and a female and they don't get on - it all comes down to the personalities of the dogs.

When we only had 1 dog (hard to believe) we actually brought her with us when we went looking for a second dog - we looked at a few males but they all went for her after 5/10 minutes and she is very bouncy and loving (still is 7 years later) - we ended up bringing her to another rescue and she instantly took to this little female and they have been the best of friends every since. They are about the same age.

We then added a rottie 4 years ago and in January this year got a rottieX pup - house is mental but they all get on great and snuggle together now if we could just teach the pup that the cats are NOT for sitting on we will be on to a winner :yelrotflmaosmilie:

Just to add its not that we have some odd house - most of my friends have at least 2 females and they all get on great - think it comes down to the household and the personalities in the dogs.

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