becoming a 2 dog family?

[jakoky]

hi there, we currently have a beautiful lab/collie cross dog that we adopted last year from the spca at 6 yrs old...we are really thinking of adding in another dog to the family, a puppy that is english shepherd/collie cross...Just wondering how many on here have a 2 dog family and what they can tell me about it, all the pros and cons...Would love to hear any stories of words of advice...thanks so much

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I love having 2 dogs. Our oldest...a female...is very laid back and not much into playing with the kids. She's a great snuggler. The male is a ball of energy and always up to play with the kids. They're exact opposites but the same breed. They really compliment each other and they hate to be apart.

The one thing I wish I had thought over before we got the second was the financial aspect. I don't mean food and all because they're shih tzus and don't eat much but double the vet expense and grooming etc.

Also, we're going to Disney in a few weeks and I'm having to deal with what to do with our dogs. Asking a friend to dog sit 1 pet isn't that bad but it can be very hard to find someone to watch 2. Around here, boarding is $20 per night per dog.....that's alot to add to a vacation budget. My sister actually purchased a camper so that her 2 golden retrievers could go on family vacations!

Just something to think about.

 

[jakoky]

Hi there, thanks for the quick reply...

Cost was something i have definately thought about for sure....Two going to the vet! As the types of dog we have and are thinking of getting...the grooming is free because it is up to us to do, so that in itself is big...i know that grooming is very expensive! We buy the kirkland dog food for our older dog and it lasts a long time...the puppy wont be able to have it for the first year as they dont make a puppy food that i can find!

We are also lucky, my parents look after our dog when we are away, but i think if we get a second, my mom will choose to come here, lol....I also have a niece that always asks when she can look after sadie!

Thanks so much, i love hearing that people do love having two dogs...I am pretty sure we are going to go for it, so love hearing opinions!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

We became a 2 dog family over the summer, so I thought I may try to answer some of your questions. One thing that is nice is that our "old" dog really helps to show the puppy how to behave. I let them both out to use the bathroom together and the old dog is trained to come right back in so the puppy follows right along beside him. If let out alone, the puppy tends to want to play and wander so it is much easier with the two. The older dog (an 11 yo lab mix) also seems to have perked up a bit since the puppy came along and she seems to enjoy having his company.

Unfortunately, our puppy has not been easy to potty train and we are seeing lots of accidents. You get used to how easy your big dog is, so there is definitely an adjustment to having a puppy who has accidents and chews up everything in sight. It can be really aggravating at times!!

I have to feed two seperate foods to them due to their ages, which is a little more time consuming. I feed them in seperate area, because our big dog eats everything in sight and would eat the puppy's food. (Our food and vet bills have doubled).

Both dogs are very well socialized, so there was essentially no adjustment needed when we first introduced them. They both tend to be submissive, but the puppy has been very content to let the older/bigger dog be a little more dominent when they play. However, the older dog is very laid back and I have seen the puppy grab her bone and take over her bed with no problems.

I think the most important thing to take into consideration is the temperament of the existing dog and the one that you are getting. Both dogs should have experience with being around other dogs with no issues. If it is possible, I would even try to arrange a "play" date between the two dogs to make sure that they will get along well.

 

[LynnTH]

We have 2 dogs. They are both getting up there now. We got the Pekingese First (He is 14 now) and a year later we got a Golden Retreiver (he is 13). So, we have an 8 pound and an 80 pound dog. They both get along great. When they were younger the little dog would certainly show the bigger dog who was boss and he won. I think the best thing is that when we are not home or at work they have each other to keep company (even though they sleep most of the day). So, in that respect I think we will always have 2 dogs.

 

[bettymae1121]

It really depends on your current dog and how he/she reacts to other dogs.

My dog is VERY picky. She only likes other boy dogs that are about her size or bigger. Any dog smaller than her, and any female at all, she either ignores or out-and-out hates. So she's an "only" dog, and we won't consider another fur baby until she passes on.

 

[jakoky]

Thanks guys! I love the replies...

Our older dog is so easy and laid back...more of a people dog than a dogs dog...but that said, she is very tolerant of my parents puppy (she just stayed there for 8 days while we were away)...she pretty much will ignore another dog when she just isnt in the playing mood, turns her head and acts like they are not there...We got her at 6 from the spca and she is pretty much a perfect dog, we know we lucked out...the puppy we are thinking of getting will be 8 weeks when we bring her home, so i think he/she will adjust to our older dog just fine!!

I definately think about the amount of training a puppy takes, they are more work than kids i think...lol...

Thanks again for the great replies...

 

[dhuba]

We became a two dog family a few weeks ago when my compassionate humane society volunteering daughter brought home a long term on the list to be destroyed 7 month old puppy. It hasn't been easy on us. My 8 year old shiba inu and him fight like small children over toys my dog hasn't touched in years. I usually just let them work it out themselves though. That seems to work, and it hasn't escalated. I think they need to work out their own issues. They actually share the self feeder dog bowl that we've always used. My only issues are that he has chewed the leg of my beautiful carved dining room table leg and the skirt off of my new couch. I have been in tears many days because she is away at college 4 days a week and I am left to take care of him. He is so attached to her and won't let my husband or teenage son get him on the leash to take him out so I feel stranded at home. He is crated when I go out and he doesn't like that either and it is hard to get him in. When I had my second child I realized one was easy and having two was like having 10 and that seems to be the same with the dogs. That's just my opinion, but I am sort of a neat freak.

 

[sydneysmom]

we have 3 dogs....2 basset hounds and 1 dachsund. I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. The 2 bassets were mine and the dachsund was my husband's, so when we got married, we became the Doggie Brady Bunch. They're so awesome though.

The one thing to consider is vet care and properly taking care of more than one dog. You want to be sure that additional food, vet care, heartworm pills, flea and tick isn't going to bankrupt you. We give our pups all the same food...Science Diet light, so that's a plus.

The fun thing about having more than one dog....they keep each other active. My basset was 4 when I got my second one. She's now 9 and you'd never know she's 9. She's acts like a puppy. It's fantastic. And all 3 of them just love each other and play tug of war together. I truly think it helped my basset from becoming lethargic. My younger basset (who looks more like a beagle) is a bundle of energy...she's just a silly girl. They make our home filled with sunshine and love.

I think if you have the means to give both a good life, go for it. It will enrich your life more than you can imagine. They're the loves of my life.

 

[Jaime4004]

We have had 2 dogs for about 9 years now, they have a 2 month age difference. When we got them, my husband and I both worked full-time so I thought just one would be lonely... They can be double trouble when they want. If one starts barking at nothing, the other will start. If they both escape the house, they'll take a joy run around town. If one escapes, he'll stay in the yard. They are very attached to each other. Get very disturbed if they are separated (like one has to go to the vet).
I think the dog boarding is the biggest expense. Wish my parents would take them when we go, but they are not dog people. The real problem is that I have a vacation addiction!!

 

[ceecee]

Introduce them and see how they react. Away from your house if possible. We got a second lab (1 year old and timid from being abused) and already had our oldest lab who was 3, both girls....probably should have gotten a boy, since she doesn't act so dominate w/males. Our oldest is mean to the younger dog and always has to be in control, she can sense if you pet the younger one from upstairs and will come running down. VERY jealous! The younger one submits to her and she still has to remind her she's the boss several times a day. We have had both together for 3 years and nothings changed. She eats her poop too so we have to pick up immediately! We have had two trainers as well.........we need Cesar!!!
The younger dog never barks, she lets the older one guard! When she does barks she scares herself. Double food, toy and vet bills! Luckily our kennel does the 2nd dog at half price.

 

[StephMK]

We have 2 dogs & I love it! We are on our 2nd set of 2 dogs and have always gotten rescue dogs. We adopted our 1st second dog & they pretty much ignored each other but got along fine. When our 1st dog died, it was just too quiet with 1 dog now.

Our older dog (9) is like another posters -very particular about who she likes in other dogs. We went through a rescue that let us walk her & 4 other dogs that were possibilities. We chose the one male that was most interested in her. 2 yrs old & potty trained so we never dealt with the full puppy stage.

He's 3 now & no longer uses the crate, he never liked it. We used it til he learned to quit chewing stuff and waking up the kids at night to sleep with them. Now he just sleeps downstairs while she goes up and sleeps w/one of the kids.

They are much closer than she was w/our 1st dog and interact a lot. He keeps her young & she lets him know when he's being too forward. It's really cute, if the kids walk them one at a time, the other will whine & look all over for them to come back. He will sleep next to her when she lets him. She's a snuggler & he's the one who loves to play. The kids adore both of them.

When we go away, our kennel allows us to board them together in a run. The expense is the hardest part of 2 dogs but worth it to me. Good luck, having 2 is a lot of fun!

 

[butiflfeet]

We have 3 dogs and will probably always have at least 2. Our first furbaby is now a 7 year old female chocolate lab. When she was 2, we adopted a female shepherd mix who's about the same age. About 2 years ago we adopted a male beagle as a puppy.

The added cost is a major thing to consider. Food adds up, vet bills, vaccinations, etc. It also is more difficult to find someone willing to dog sit when we go on vacation

One thing to consider with going from 1 to 2 dogs is that its probably best if you have one male and one female or 2 males together. 2 females are more likely to not get along and fight. That doesn't mean that 2 females together will always fight, its just more likely to happen

 

[abmitch01]

I'm a dog person and will probably always have at least one. Right now I have a mini-dachshund and a medium sized mutt. The dachshund's mom was hit by a car when he was in utero and he's not quite right, lots of accidents still. He's very cute and I adore him but I think we may be a one dog fam after he passes. The years of dealing with accidents have taken its toll on me. Barring that issue, two don't seem like a lot more work than 1.

However, my kids have started volunteering at a shelter so I suspect we may end up a 3 dog family, lol

 

[kdfogliano]

We have 2 pugs and 2 kids...

had the dogs for 6 years before we had out first child. We live in NYC and it is very hard with 2 dogs and 2 kids. I never have the time to walk them so need a dog walker and they should really be able to run more.

If i had a house with a yard i think it may be easier

SOmeone mentioned getting someone to watch 2 dogs, we have that prob too. It is hard to get "free" dogsitting with 2 dogs, no one really wants to take on the comittment!

So if we go for a week we have to budget an extra $500 for dog boarding!!

So my answer is look at your lifestyle. Ours isnt condusive now like it used to be, but I love my dogs so we make it work!

 

[abmitch01]

yeah, boarding is expensive. sometimes it costs more for the 2 dogs than what our hotel costs per night