getting that second dog.

I have been tossing this around for months. I am so afraid of this. Everything is going great with my one, We cuddle I have so much time for her. She is so well behaved and trained, Now if I get the second one will my relationship change with Lola? Is she going to change? How can I love two dogs as much as I love this one. I guess its the same with a second child. You just love them. Is it so much more work or just about the same? Just different? I am so up in the air about this. Any pro's or cons anyone can throw my way would be so much appreciated. TIA!!!

Re: getting that second dog.

We're thinking about getting a 2nd dog also.

We also rescued a cat this year (it wasn't planned).
Now we have a cat and a dog and we're thinking a little harder about another. The cat wasn't that hard to adjust to, but cat's are easy to take care of IMO.
There's much more that goes along with taking care of a dog.


Our pup gets jealous when we pet the cat. He will snuggle his way in and lick our hands until we pet him. I'm not sure if it will be the same with another dog.
I still think we're going to get another dog, just not as soon as we planned to. Maybe next year.

Re: getting that second dog.

DH and I have gone back and forth about this. We would like another dog, but there are so many issues.
Misty is the pampered pet...I don't know how she would handle not getting all the attention.
Plus we also have a cat and that would become an issue if we brought in another dog. It would have to be good with cats...which is hard to find.
Then there is the whole two dogs to feed, walk, board and vet visits. It can become quite expensive.
Right now, we are sticking with just Misty and Espresso, but since we keep talking about it, things could change.

Re: getting that second dog.

I say yes yes yes, go for it!

Message edited 6/1/2008 7:59:50 AM.

Re: getting that second dog.

Fascinus was a spoiled only dog for years. I worked nights so DH was home with him when I was at work. He had constant attention. He led the posh life.

We decided to get Loki after we were married & when Fascinus was about 3. We were both working days (well I was in school days & DH was at work), and I felt Fascinus needed a friend. So we got Loki and I was very worried at first. And to be honest it took Fascinus a good month or so to get used to Loki being around, and another few months before they were friends. Now they are the best of friends, and act like "parents" to the smaller dogs.

I think the best advice is what Goobster offered. Bring the dog to meet on neutral territory first, and then give equal attention to the dogs once they are both home. It asserts you as Alpha (b/c dogs are pack animals by nature) and lets your current dog know that the new dog is here to stay

Good Luck!

Re: getting that second dog.

I think it depends on your dog's temperment. When we got Denver, he had horrendous separation anxiety. We could hear him howling and crying as we left and as we came home. Even if we left him in a room alone, he would cry and bark. Since we work, we thought a friend would help -- and it certainly has. He and Holden adore each other and are so cute together. Like PP said, you have to introduce them on neutral ground. They did fight a lot the first few days to establish themselves (and they were both puppies) but it calmed down quickly.

Re: getting that second dog.

I was worried about the same thing.

Message edited 6/1/2008 8:00:12 AM.

Re: getting that second dog.

Thanks for all of these replies!!! Now the only problem I see is that I carry my dog around alot, She is constantly on my lap and we follow each other all over the house. How can I hold one baby without holding the other?? Also I am afraid She will pick up any bad habbits the new one will have. I plan on rescuing this time. I didn't even know what a puppy mill was until I became a member of this forum. I was so unaware. But thank God I know this now and I have educated myself so much better. I would rescue a puppy though. Only because I worked so hard on disciplining and training Lola and I would give the 2nd baby the same training. But I would do one 6mos-9mos. and I was also looking into a Havanese, They are a very similar breed. I am so on the fence. BUT I THINK ABOUT THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. And Goobster I do not leave her alone either. 4-5 hours tops or she gets dog sat by my mother. I cant even think straight when I am out. I have the seperation anxiety not her.

Re: getting that second dog.

I see you learned how to post pics. Your girl is sweet and gorgeous! I love her!!!

Message edited 6/1/2008 8:00:44 AM.

Re: getting that second dog.

honestly, from what you wrote, i think the answer lies there. maybe getting another dog isn't the best for you. you're dog loves being spoiled as u say and is joined at the hip with you, getting another dog will make her devastated. she'll probably feel jealous and remorse towards the new dog. sometimes i feel i made a mistake by getting another dog when i see o'malley looking at the other dogs but i know he's happy with them as well. i try to spend extra time with him at night to make him feel loved. but if you don't think you can get past that, don't do it. it might end up stressing you out more than making you happy

Re: getting that second dog.

Re: getting that second dog.

Posted by Goobster

Posted by dilb712

Thanks for all of these replies!!! Now the only problem I see is that I carry my dog around alot, She is constantly on my lap and we follow each other all over the house. How can I hold one baby without holding the other?? Also I am afraid She will pick up any bad habbits the new one will have. I plan on rescuing this time. I didn't even know what a puppy mill was until I became a member of this forum. I was so unaware. But thank God I know this now and I have educated myself so much better. I would rescue a puppy though. Only because I worked so hard on disciplining and training Lola and I would give the 2nd baby the same training. But I would do one 6mos-9mos. and I was also looking into a Havanese, They are a very similar breed. I am so on the fence. BUT I THINK ABOUT THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. And Goobster I do not leave her alone either. 4-5 hours tops or she gets dog sat by my mother. I cant even think straight when I am out. I have the seperation anxiety not her.

:) Ok, I can answer the rest from experience as well!

My boy dog follows me around, is very needy. That was why I thought he might not like another dog coming into the home. Well, my girl dog could care less unless she is in a cuddly mood but that isn't often. So don't assume #2 will even want as much attention as #1. And my boy dog has never been jealous in anyway when we give her love and kisses.

Yes, they WILL pick up bad habits from each other, no doubt. Mine have, that does stink. My boy dog got very bad b/c of my girl dog, when seeing other dogs on the street. He picked up a bad habit from my girl dog of yelping and squeeling like a pig when they see another dog even blocks away. Pretty embarrassing and they both do it now. Ugh. My boy dog howls when he hears sirens, now my girl dog does it too. So yes, you can count on bad habits being picked up. But they do pick up good things too!

I know what you mean. I did not know about mills either, when I went to my breeder. But DH has bad allergies so we wanted to go a breeder for many reasons. Next time around, or if I get a 3rd dog (which we would love), we will go to rescue.

And us too, when we are going to be gone more than 5ish hrs, our dogs get "babysat" by my mom. She loves them and they love her, so it's a win win. I too feel badly when I leave them alone. We even arrange our day around our dogs needing attention (when we can!). We try to tire them out before we go out to dinner, etc.

It sounds like we really think alike.

ETA -BTW, I see you learned how to post pics. Your girl is sweet and gorgeous! I love her!!!

Re: getting that second dog.

My husband and I got our first dog, Mercedes, when we were 19. She was/is our world-when we got our own home she was 5 and left alone all day-so we decided to get her a playmate-this is the best decision we ever made, they get along great and the 2nd one, Blue, was easier to train because she learned by the example of Mercedes. Since the two of them got along so well, we figured we would get a third for 2 reasons, the first is that now our Mercedes is 7, she was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphnodes is Jan 2007-she was in ICU for 14 days and Blue was devestated, she would cry and had no idea what to do without Mercedes. She literally didnt know when to eat, I would feed her and she would just look at me and she would walk around the house just randomly barking because she didnt know when sshe was suppossed to. Once Mercedes was brought home, we had a year of chemo to go through-the very beginging was hard and Blue refused to leave her side, now that Mercedes is in full remission, we got Trinity (in November 2007). The 3 of them are the best of friends, Blue and Trinity are inseperable, they all know Mercedes is the boss, and they play with her with alot of respect, they dont play as rough and one good growl from Mercedes and they both back down. We have never had a problem with any of them fighting-we feed them next to each other and leave them out, un-crated, whenever we go out. To avoid fighting and "bad attitudes" we give treats by order of seniority, Mercedes gets everything first, then Blue, then Trinity. Mercedes is aloud to sleep on the bed all night and the other 2 must stay on the floor. They can come on the bed to cuddle, but not to sleep. We do special things with each of them that the other cant normally do and they are fine with it-it is only as good as you allow it to be.
For your dogs benefit, I would recommend getting another, when you and your husband dont have as much time as you would like, your dog will always have another option.
Best of luck!

Re: getting that second dog.

Re: getting that second dog.

I would really think about this...
I regret getting a second dog. Don't get me wrong.. I love the puppy so much and love having her around but, it's twice EVERYTHING - twice the vet bills, twice the pet insurance, twice the food - you get the idea. Also, my 3 year old dog, still can not stand the 5 month old dog. He does not want anything to do with her still. I have had the puppy since she was 9 weeks old.

Message edited 4/13/2008 8:43:18 PM.