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

[Skruffy n Flea]

ya know, i started reading all the replies in this thread and then i thought, no, just reply cuz then its gunna be an honest reply as to my circumstances without any influences...

so here goes

bella, at just over 12 mths old and i knew we couldn't give her what another dog could ... i searched for a rescue and found him, my baby bear byron

they're not famous mates but they are good mates ;)

since then, i've not been away for even a weekend but i have overnight and although i had pangs, it was more that i missed them than i had worries...

i hate being away from my dogs ... yes, having two is harder for the reasons i'm sure others have told you about but for me, it was the best decision ever and we've never looked back!

they have each other now and even if they sleep all day, they still have the others company ... my neighbours assure me they are very well behaved when we're not home

getting a bud for your lone dog not only does wonders for your dog, but for your psyche...

good luck with your decision

ETA clarity!

Edited March 5, 2010 by Skruffy n Flea

[fainty_girl]

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.

I suppose you have to think about what you would do if Ivy didn't appreciate having another dog around. I also don't think that it would allow you to have more of your own life...quite the opposite actually.

When I was waiting to hear whether I would be able to adopt my second dog, I remember someone at the dog park telling me that 2 dogs really are twice the work, and I think it is true. There is twice the mess with dog hair and them getting up to mischief. Taking them out together can also be more complicated.

My two get along much better than they used to in the beginning though...when they go out together now they play a little bit, when they used to pretty much ignore each other before then at the park. It has taken them about a year to get along better.