A Couple Of "household With Two Dogs" Questions ..

[Guest belgian.blue]

I'm now set on adopting a male for companionship for Ivy. I was going to get a Lappie, then another Belgian but there are so many lost souls out there and I'm not ready to go through toilet training in a rental!

So we're adopting an older male short hair.

Wondering if having the two dogs [after they are happy to live together ofcourse] does it allow you as a human to have more of your own life? Meaning can you go out of an evening and not worry about the dogs home together? Or spend a weekend away, with a close friend coming/live in to feed the dogs?

I adore Ivy's company, she's amazing but I think she'd really appreciate having another dog around.

Edited March 4, 2010 by belgian.blue

[OMD²]

We actually spent more time at home with 2 dogs than we ever did with just Oscar.

I would never go away for a weekend only having someone to pop over and feed them.. It just isn't my thing... my dog's need interaction, attention and love. We have only gone away 2 times since having 2 dogs and both times my friend has lived in our home while we were away.

Also you have to think... how will she get along with this dog? She has had only you for so long will she still only look to you for interaction? Oscar does!! He still only comes to us to play ball or walkies etc etc. Dude has learned to play with Oscar as his play mate.. But in all honesty Oscar would do well without Dude.. in fact he would prefer it...

[Bjelkier]

I'm now set on adopting a male for companionship for Ivy. I was going to get a Lappie, then another Belgian but there are so many lost souls out there and I'm not ready to go through toilet training in a rental!

So we're adopting an older male short hair.

Wondering if having the two dogs [after they are happy to live together ofcourse] does it allow you as a human to have more of your own life? Meaning can you go out of an evening and not worry about the dogs home together? Or spend a weekend away, with a close friend coming/live in to feed the dogs?

I adore Ivy's company, she's amazing but I think she'd really appreciate having another dog around.

Well no not really

In our house more dogs means less time doing other things.

Dont regret it at all though,I love having a multi dog house.

[RubyStar]

Depending on age/breed/temperament/yada yada, 2 dogs can actually cause more worry leaving them alone than leaving just one alone. Sure they've got companionship, but they've also got a partner in crime. I find my two egg each other on, when just having Ruby she'd just sleep all day! But then again, yes I do own 2 Labs (and wouldn't have it any other way!)

[megan_]

Mine get their own walk every day, in addition to a walk together, so it means more time. I think it is important for them to bond with you and also spend time apart from each other to avoid them getting too dependent. And it seems like 100x the training!

[Erny]

Mine get their own walk every day, in addition to a walk together, so it means more time. I think it is important for them to bond with you and also spend time apart from each other to avoid them getting too dependent. And it seems like 100x the training!

LOL ..... with 100x the reward :D .

OT : Gotta say, Megan .... you put in a good deal of effort, which would be why you are achieving so much

[OSoSwift]

I probably do more with my dogs than I did before. But that is the life I choose, I a home body. I don't just go away for the weekend, having two young kids it's all too hard. They spend as much time inside as one, they get trained seperately and walked together and seperately.

I also have less room on the lounge - now I have two dogs trying to get inside my skin instead of one. As much as Rommi enjoys Lewis's company and companionship I think she still gets jealous of him and would sometimes wish he would go back to were he came from.

Edited March 4, 2010 by Rommi n Lewis

[dogslife]

I go away for work all the time and I have three large dogs.

And my dogs adore each other. But I let my first dog choose the others.

I am always happy when I am away cause I know my three have each other.

[Tilly]

I probably spend more time with the dogs when I have 2 then when I have one.

I find that I am giving them individual time and group time ... eg 1 hour for one dog, another hour for the other dog and then another hour together ... so basically gone from 1 hour to 3 hours!!!! :D

And we will not even mention the mischief they get up together ... much worse then what they get up to individually .... and that is bad enough. ;)

Some days I wonder why I have 2 dogs ... particularly when I go outside and find they have broken their concrete laundry tub that I use as a water bowl (WTF!!!!) just before I have to go away for 5 days ... but they love you so unconditionally that they can be forgiven ... eventually!!!

[kelpiekaye]

I think it takes more time having two dogs unless your partner gives the second dog its one on one. We have two dogs, I have Ruby who I spend a lot of individual time and OH has Aussie who he spends time with. They play with each other a lot too. I found it better when I recently left them at kennels as they kept each other company, But they can also be partners in crime if left to their own devices. It depends what you want from your dogs. I beleive to reach their full potential they need one on one time and to look at you as leader.

[RallyValley]

b.b do you want to borrow Toby for a weekend and have a trial ?

The whole family (4 of us) have not yet gone away without taking the dogs. One person ususally stays to look after them. WIth our dogs if we have to go out we do, the boys are in the run outside and the old lady gets to stay in the house, if we had problems with the boys then we would have Toby inside with Lilly.

I think more dogs = more time especially if you intend to get into dog sports and have to train both dogs in different things several times a day.

[kiwioz]

In some ways its easier, some harder. I feel much better leaving them alone as they do have each other, especially in kennels. But it is more work as well.

[Dame Aussie]

It is comforting to know they have each other, but as others said that can mean they have a partner in crime! It can mean they are a bit more hectic, one is always stirring the other up :D

We probably spend more time with ours now we have two, double everything. Not to mention double the vet bills

Having said that though I love both my dogs and wouldn't go back to having just one.

[poodle proud]

I think it's helpful if you can have a trial with the new dog to see how compatible they are.

After some teething issues our 2 now get on like a house on fire. We have had a few incidents and some resource guarding but thanks to good dol advice and hard work we feel like they have been overcome.

They are more work in some ways but just the other day I sat back and watched them play with each other for an hour before bed so that was nice. I certainly feel better knowing they have each other.

it's twice the food, preventatives and pet insurance but I think they are worth it.

[OSoSwift]

it's twice the food, preventatives and pet insurance but I think they are worth it.

That is the main consideration for me, the cost.

Can I afford to have another dog and get all the things I need to keep them in the fashion I want to. Can I afford extra vets fees? I would have more dogs tomorrow, but the costs of adding another dog is always analysed, over analysed and then gone over again.

[gillybob]

I have three dogs I walk them together.

They each get time with me because Im home all but one day a week.

I would never leave them home over the weekend.

Id worry too uch about them.

If I have to go away, two go to the kennels and one to my friends.

[becandcharch]

I definately feel better if we go out of a night now that we have 2 of them.

I used to get the guilts if we did and sometimes would decline if it meant 2 nights in a row that Charche would be on his own.

The things we do for them huh?

If we went to friends houses for dinner Charch was always invited along but as most live in apartments I wouldnt take 2 of them now. Although they are both invited I think they would enjoy playing at home rather than having to sit on their beds all night.

[manlynau]

I have three dogs, one old boy who we have had since he was young and two rescues that i got as adults (foxy and tib spaniel mix). I walk the two small ones together and the old boy has short walks when he feels up to it.

I like that they have each other for company and do seem to enjoy themselves together, but given the choice they would all prefer to be with us humans than the dogs. What i do notice is it does take more time, more food and more worry when i want to go away. Forget having a nice backyard, more paws to dig and more poos to clean up.

I love that they have different personalities and wouldn't change anything. They all sleep inside at night and have the run of the backyard and big deck during the day ... but sometimes when i have nice backyard envy i wonder if i only had one would it be easier? then i look at those 6 sets of eyes and don't care.

If we have a weekend away i pay a local dog sitter to visit twice a day to let them in or out of the house, feed and walk them. If its a longer holiday the small ones go into kennels and the old boy stays with family. So i need to budget for not only our accommodation but theirs..

[KnucklesDutchnUs]

We are happy to leave the dogs at home together during the day because they have each other.

Knuckles was desperately lonely when we were at work, until with got Dutch. But it's VERY true what other people have said: They egg each other on!

If Dutch is digging up the garden Knuckles pushes him out of the way and digs, because she's the boss and vice verso.

Going out at night is fine because they have each other, but going away is not easy anymore.

We have to have them boarded, which means no more cheap weekend breaks or take them with us.

Also we needed (and are still getting) personal dog training to sort out any conflicts between the dogs and any jealously. I recommend this, don't just rely on advice from a website to get them settled into your house.

[skip]

When I got my rescue dog they said it was conditional on me having 2 dogs. Not a problem as I was having 2 anyway. But in saying that this rescue dog with seperation anxiety could not care less at that time if he had none,one or 10 dogs.

But I like having 2 dogs. Much like I never kept my horse by himself. I know we are the part of our dogs pack too but I think we cannot replace canine pack members. I have 2 small easy to feed and care for dogs and when they are a bit older I will be getting another.

Maybe budget for twice the vet bills but I find if you have one you may as well have 2 (or 3!). Much as my dogs hate me to leave them at least I know that they have each other and they should get over the fact that I am going out! I find when I have 2 that I go to work etc and don't worry about them at all ( too much anyway). Of course they get my attention when I am home thou.

And the one time I put them in a kennel I am reassured as at least they are together. I found a kennel where they had ajoining kennel pens , seperated only to feed and to sleep.

And more importantly I feel I picked dogs that were well suited to each other and get on so well. Finding the 3rd dog will be harder as trying to get one more suited to agility but not having too high an energy level? I have read that the energy levels of dogs should be even in order for the dogs to get on? I can imagine my dogs being annoyed if I brought a full on young large dog home next.

Good luck with your choice.