:) As most of you know, I have a little dog. I am considering getting a second for a few reasons, 1) to offer a home to another rescue dog. 2) to give Oz a dog companion.

However there are a few reasons why I don't think it would be right. Oz does need a lot of attention :rolleyes: to keep him happy which he gets but I think he might get jealous of another dog. He isn't the best with other dogs- at first, once he has accepted them he is fine and quite enjoys their company (typical terrier) so this would be an issue, also Oz does come most places with us, like parents, friends, work, the pub, the stables etc and is very well behaved most of the time. I can't imagine it being quite as easy with 2. Also with looking after is it much more hard work?
I just wanted peoples opinions really. Has anyone got 2 after having one? is it a lot more hassle, did your 1st dog get jealous? Do people who were fine with you having the one dog with you get problematic when you turned up with 2?

This is just something I have been considering, I kind of think in the back of my mind Oz deserves all our "dog" attention.

I would say having 2 is usually better, as their interaction and relationship is such fun - plus they entertain each other when alone and work an excellent tag team when out walking! I have also seen one of my dogs sink into depression when his friend was PTS after getting leukemia.
But then we have always had pairs that get on well and the dominant one is a good influence and made it easier to train the new arrivals! In terms of logistics and economics we haven't noticed a massive difference so I would say go for it, with the proviso that you have the time and the experience to integrate the newbie into your household in a positive way...

Thanks for that, I might have to start putting extra pressure on OH :hihi: he keeps saying the famous "I will think about it"

I would say go for it, in your heart you no u want to, i had one to start with, then decided on another, with no regrets, then got another puppy, still no regrets, plus looked after other peoples dogs when they go away. I think one is lonely, if u have 2, u don't feel as gulity when u are out shopping etc, u no they have each other. And if you are thinking of going to rescue's thats even better......go girl. Good luck and let us no.

We have only just got 2 lol, So will let you know in a couple of months.
I think my advice would be get a dog who will be suitable for your current dog. Ruby has come to stay with us and we are going to see how things go as our dog is alot older than her. She loves to play he doesn't, She is a little ball of energy and he is a lazy lurcher. I can hear you say why!! :o
I hope he will help her calm down and understand that not all dogs are for playing with. I hope in time that she will make him feel more energetic and a little more playful. I hope he will enjoy having her company even though her antics bore him lol. We have said from the beginning we will try but Albert has to be comfortable with her in our home. And she has the right to have the best possible life in the most suitable home.
We are looking at it like a foster as she had nowhere to go and we are prepared to try. If nothing else she will have had some more training and if necessary it will hopefully be easier to find her a home.
I think there are so many things to think about. We have friends that will have Albert for us but have said they will not have two dogs for us. So that puts us in a predicament when we go away etc. Dog sitters or dog daycare/boarding (not kennels) is expensive will cost as much for two dogs as it does for us to go on holiday e.g. £15 a day each.

I have always wanted two dogs though and love how they are both so different from each other.

Have you a friend who has a dog that you could say borrow for a week, or is someone going on holiday could you have their dog and give it a go and see what you think. You would also be able to see how oz feels about it.

I am sure someone on here will have some more advice and suggestion.
Good luck, oh and if you fancy a young female little terrier i mean terror lol then let me know :hihi:

I would love another dog but we think our drama-queen dobe would object. Obviously, it would have to be a dog cos 2 dobe bitches are not a good idea, so I am told.

We had a JRT and got a westie 12 months later

you never have the same bond with the second dog, as the first only has you to interact with, whereas the second gravitates towards the other dog. We always intended to have 2 beagles, but there are places we take Brude (showing off, walking off lead) that we couldn't manage 2 the same way

on the positive side, they entertain each other, keep each other company, and don't need as much input from a human

Brude didn't like having King here bullying him, but he was even more miffed when he left. He was starting to be bullied by Hunny as she was bigger than him, but they got along fine, and he missed her when she went. He asked me if we could bring Woody home from RainRescue after we walked him :rolleyes:

Only you can decide - and Oz of course ;)
try walking dogs for a rescue first and see how he gets on in an environment where he and the other dog can be focussed on something other than taking chunks of fur off each other, and see if you can progress from there :thumbsup:

I've been pondering hard whether to get a second dog.

I'd like to get one,

I'd like to have it for companionship for my 13 1/2 yr old terror terrier :lol:.

However, as he's been an "only dog" all his life, I am worried to death about jealousy, and fighting, I don't think a young dog's boisterousness would pose a problem for him, as he's still quite pup-ish and "bouncy" (you'd think he was 10 yrs younger than he actually is...he's so giddy)

I'd worry that his nose would be "out of joint" at some strange dog coming, encroaching on his territory, and getting fusses of "his" mummy the last thing I want is to take some other dog into my home, and to have my old dog growling at it, (or worse!)

I'm expecting (hoping, *crosses fingers very hard*) that my old poochy lad will last at least another 2 to 3 years (by which time he'll be pushing 17) and I am realistic that (*covers the dogs ears, urgently, and whispers*) he is going to be crossing the rainbow bridge before much longer.

He's been a grand little lad, and I don't know if I'll ever find another dog to compare with him. I dread the day coming, when I lose him. I am of the opinion that a house isn't a home without a dog.

We found whilst fostering that the best way to let the dogs find their level is to treat the new dog as an outsider. Brude gets fed first, fussed first, sits on the furniture etc, whilst both dogs realise this isn't a territory war

I know you want to offer the new dog as much love as your first, but if you look at things from a pack perspective, it's kinder to both to play by their rules, and modify as you go ;)

If you're finding that your first dog prefers to be the submissive of the two, then you can allow the newcomer through doors first etc, but also watch out for the one month point (which is when most rescue dogs become a handful). This is when they feel comfortable enough to begin making challenges for the pack leadership (which may include you), so a firm start will nip this in the bud (hopefully ;) )

First, I'd have to say NEVER 'go with your heart'...

Dogs deserve more than just what you want. Let your head rule, whether you 'want' another dog or not, it has to be the right situation and you obviously realise that or you wouldn't be asking.

Two dogs = 2x vet bills, 2x food bills, 2x flea treatment, 2x worming costs, 2x pulling on the lead (if relevant), if the walks don't go according to plan - 2x the walks, 2 dogs playing in the house when you could really do without it ;)

Two dogs = a companion for when you're not there, 2x the fun, 2x the trouble.

My two do act like naughty twins and spur each other on. If I take them separately, they're little angels on walks, take them together and they're nightmares!!

It is great having two, but there's also a lot of things to consider from the negative side of things.

They do make good companions for each other and you do feel less guilty leaving them if there's two of them, but in reality, they only sleep while you're out anyway so it makes no difference to them!

As far as him not being good with other dogs on first meetings - here's something to think about.
T has done Eddy the world of good, for a while he didn't like other dogs but got on great with Takara, now he's very good with all dogs because he's learnt 'doggy language' from Takara! (He always lived on a farm and didn't meet other dogs before we got him)

However, I have to take them out separately on a regular basis to make sure Takara get enough socialisation with other dogs without Eddy worrying her because he is very protective of her and shouts at other dogs that try to play with her.

Also remember that two dogs will usually get on better than a dog and human so you need to make much more of an effort to have a strong bond with each dog. Separate training classes and activities, a few separate walks, separate cuddles etc.

Also be prepared to feed the dogs in separate rooms (I don't need to with my two, but many do).

Hope that helps - I know it sounds negative but it is great having two really.

Also, on a slightly less pleasant note, if you get dogs of different ages, when it's time for one to go, it's a lot easier to get through it with the remaining one :)