Please tell me the pros and cons of getting a 2nd dog.

[CanBeGrumpy]

We currently have a 3 year old miniature poodle. We are very happy with her, but for some reason I am drawn to the local poodle rescue website on a daily basis, and of course, the inevitable has happened--I've fallen in love with the photo of another mini poodle! So, before I take this huge leap of adopting another dog, I need everyone to tell me the pros and cons of having two dogs.

I already know it would affect the way we feed our current dog. Right now, we leave her bowl down and feed her twice a day. She eats whenever she feels like it, and the vet is always complimenting her on how she is maintaining her "figure"! With a second dog, I'm guessing we would have to have a set feeding time and put food out only at that time, so one dog isn't stealing all the food (if left down all day) and leaving the other dog hungry!

So, if you could please give me all your thoughts on having two dogs, I would appreciate it. Right now our dog is alone about 7 hours a day due to us working, so she might actually love having a companion. I'm just afraid of disrupting the great routine we currently have! (The other dog is a one-year-old male, ours is a 3-year-old female, if that makes any difference. Both dogs are fixed.)

Thank you guys in advance!!

 

[Pakey]

We had set feeding times with one so getting the second one didn't make any difference.

I did it so they would have company but they don't seem to care that much about each other. They don't fight, they just act as if the other one doesn't exist. One is my dog and the other is my husband's; the dogs did that, not us. When we get home from work, one is sitting in my husband's chair and the other is in mine. I don't think they "hang out" with one another.

The minor things about having two are that it's harder to walk two at once and it's definitely harder to drive with two in the car.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I took a stray home from work. I already had a Lab. The stray is a Shih Tzu mix. Hunter (the Lab) fell in love with Dudley from the start and they are the best of friends. It is so funny to watch them run thru the house chasing each other!

TC

 

[WDWBarb]

There is only one real "con" in my book - twice the vet bills. Heartguard is expensive!!

Adding a second dog to our home was a piece of cake. I didn't think my GS would like him, but she adores him. They love each other and keep each other company

I love dogs.

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

2 dogs are the best...we had our girl for quite a while before bringing home our little man....she was pissed for about 2 wks and pretended he didn't even exist...now they are inseparable...our vet says that in the long run their lives are extended because of the companionship...

The only negative like a PP said is the added expense.......

 

[GSDRescuer]

I loved having two dogs. They loved being together and were best friends. I had a split leash for walks and had no problem. They each had their own bowls and ate at the same time. The sad thing is that they died within seven months of each other and that left me devastated.
I now have only one dog. He is a rescue who has to be in a one dog family. He does not like other dogs. If not for that, I would again have two at a time.
My dogs have all been German Shepherd Dogs out of rescue.
Good luck with your new addition to your family . You know you want to......

 

[kacaju]

We currently have 3 dogs. Our first dog is an old man (10 1/2) so he is off by himself. We have a 3 year old Collie and a 4 month old Collie. Right now they are playing together. It is so nice to see them having fun together!!
Vet bills are a con. Two mini poodles should not be hard to walk together. Food bill with go up but then they don't eat as much as the Collies so you probably won't notice much of a difference!!

 

[sunnyday123]

Really the only con would be more expenses. More food, more vet bills, more toys.

Dogs are pack animals, and I'm sure you're dog would love the company. Just remember sometimes rescue dogs have issues that need to be worked out, so he may not be that perfect pet right away.

 

[pixiewings71]

Yup, the only con is our vet bill. We have a GS mix and a mini doxie, they are buddies, they hang out together all day, run and play, play inside....the doxie doesn't eat much so even food isn't that much more.

 

[Hercules10]

I have four large dogs (3-shepherds, 1-lab cross). Biggest pro is they have each other to play with. Like others say the biggest con is cost. If one gets fleas they all do. Vet trips are an experiance because I take two at a time and all 4 of them LOVE going to the vet.

 

[Green Tea]

I had a grazer with food too and did add a second dog. One that had been in a kennel situation where he had to fight for food. Initially he did steal all the food, but in time they worked it out among themselves. If the initial dog is hungry, she will eat right away. If she misses a meal, she gets it next time.

 

[NikiM20]

I have 6 dogs, 2 Great Danes, 1 shepherd mix, and 3 mini doxies. Our last add on was the second dane. One big jump was the price of food.I went from 2 bags a month to 3. Vet bills are a large expense, but our vet has a deal where if you bring the dogs in the same day you only pay for 1 office visit and 1/2 price shots for the dogs after the first. We have vet day!! I will bring 2 or 3 after they are done, I go home and get the rest. I do not treat my dogs for fleas, I treat the yard. I also buy the generic heartguard (iverheart I think?) online as needed. I go through it like crazy!!

Having said all that, I wouldnt trade them for the world!! I love them all.

 

[RangerPooh]

We have an old German Shepard (about 11 years old) who has been by himself since my parents dog died 3 years ago. My parents started looking after him when he returned to grad school and couldn't take him with us. Anyways he was somewhat lonely but did have iour kids ot play with. DH wanted to get a puppy so that he could "train" it to be a great dog like him. So in August we becmae the parents of a St. Bernard puppy. They get along great! Our older dog is more energetic and the puppy is learning his behaviors, in a good way. The downside is the fod bill! Big dogs are big eaters. Our old dog was a grazer and now is having to learn that he has to eat all at once or the "little" dog will eat it all. Another downside is the extra poop, but it has ot be cleaned regardless. Vet bills aren't cheap either, but having the two dogs does give us a piece of mind.

 

[omghidanielle]

I bought my husband 2 cats for his birthday last year so they'd have a companion. We intend on getting a dog sometime in the next couple of years, but what my husband doesn't realize is that I intend to have 2 for this same reason

 

[clutter]

I have two cockapoos. They are both grazers, so I leave food out and they eat when they feel like it, from either bowl. (Usually they like to eat when we do!) Pros: they are companionable. Cons: twice the vet and groomer bills!

 

[Tinijocaro]

We have a 4 year old Bichon. We both work so Ollie was alone from 8-4 every day and we felt so bad for him so last Easter we got him a little girlfriend-Lacey. She's been such a good friend to him-he truly loves her. They play together several times a day-racing around, playing tug of war, snuggling on the couch. It really warms my heart and I am so glad we got her. Ollie has changed a bit, seems a lot more mature-even reminds me of an old man some times but it may be because Lacey is a puppy and is soooo full of personality. Our kids love both dogs and love to see the interaction between them. They often comment about how glad they are that Ollie has Lacey now.

Downsides-a bit more poop, but not at all a big deal Other than that, it's all been wonderful. No guilt when we leave for work because they have each other. No feeding issues-they share the food, neither hogs it. When the bowl is empty, I refill it.

We currently have a 3 year old miniature poodle. We are very happy with her, but for some reason I am drawn to the local poodle rescue website on a daily basis, and of course, the inevitable has happened--I've fallen in love with the photo of another mini poodle! So, before I take this huge leap of adopting another dog, I need everyone to tell me the pros and cons of having two dogs.

I already know it would affect the way we feed our current dog. Right now, we leave her bowl down and feed her twice a day. She eats whenever she feels like it, and the vet is always complimenting her on how she is maintaining her "figure"! With a second dog, I'm guessing we would have to have a set feeding time and put food out only at that time, so one dog isn't stealing all the food (if left down all day) and leaving the other dog hungry!

So, if you could please give me all your thoughts on having two dogs, I would appreciate it. Right now our dog is alone about 7 hours a day due to us working, so she might actually love having a companion. I'm just afraid of disrupting the great routine we currently have! (The other dog is a one-year-old male, ours is a 3-year-old female, if that makes any difference. Both dogs are fixed.)

Thank you guys in advance!!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

One advantage is if one of them takes too long to pee (and your waiting on the deck in the freezing cold because your yard is a giant muddy swamp due to all the rain and it resembles a cow pasture more than a backyard..... whew...) The first (the fastest one) pees first, and the second one (that likes to take his time) may have more incentive to pee on top of where the first one peed,, thereby reducing your wait time.
On the downside, 2 large dogs can turn a BEAUTIFUL grassed fenced in half acre into a muddy, slippery, sliding, mushy, marsh in a matter of weeks.

So much for that beautiful yard.