For those who have multiple dogs...

emily445455

My husband and I may want to get another lab sometime in the future. It's still pretty tentative.

I was wondering if it's a good or a bad idea to have more than one dog. What are the pros, cons, comments? Also, if we do get one...when should we get one? It won't be before she is 2 for financial reasons. Should we wait until she's older, or is it better for her to be younger? Any advice or comments would be appreciated, since you all know what it's like.

Thanks yall.

RBark

Get the dog after you've gotten a good bond, achieved all or most of your training goals, are financially able to afford it, and have the time to give both the attention and training they need.

Two years old is perfect, but if you need to work on something major that involves a lot of 1 on 1 training, I'd get that done first.

As for whether you should or should not? Nobody can answer that for you. It's been a joy to have two here. Aside from finances, I saw no cons.

But a lot of other people have had issues. So it's not always roses.

emily445455

Thanks RBark for your reply!! Will we be able to establish a good bond with the 2nd dog since we will also have the 1st one? Did you get yours at different times? If so, are you closer to your 1st dog?

All comments are greatly appreciated!

RBark

Close would be a very complex answer. I have a bond with both my dogs, but they are two different kinds of bonds. My two dogs also have a bond with each other, which is different from mine to them.

Ollie acts very much the same, except he also spends a lot of time with my second dog as well. I got them about 9 months apart (adopted Ollie at 2.5 years, Kobe at 2.5 years as well so Ollie's 3.5 years and Kobe's 2.5.)

My bond with Kobe, too, is very complex. I can't really give you advice here, as my breed of choice is generally independent unlike labs. An ordinary person would see our day to day lives and wonder if we even care about each other. But I do have a strong bond with Kobe as well.

Taking the dogs out for one on one time often is a good way to build and maintain a bond.

Laurelin

I find I have a different bond with each dog. I can't say closer to one or another.... It's hard to explain. They also have lots of bonds between them that are all very different.

I absolutely love having a bunch. It's so much fun, but it's more work. We have a variety of ages and genders here with no problems. How it works out really depends on the individual dogs.

Time and money willing in the future I can't see myself only having one or two dogs for very long.

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digits mama

I have always had multiple dogs. I find that my dogs are happier when they have someone to play with. I now have Dozer who is 7 and have a 10 month old and a 5 month old.

I agree to develop strong bonds with your current dog. It is hard to train 2 pups at the same time but, as stated above, one on one does help.

If you plan on a pup. 2 years old is perfect. It would be much nicer for your current pup to stil have the vitality to keep up with a young one. Yet, She will be set with her manners and be able to help teach the new one. I do find they learn from each other. Good Luck

Dana1384

I think I will aways have at least 2 dogs. It good for the dogs to have someone to play with and have someone to be with when the humans are gone.

I have a few jealousy issue here in and there, but we try to make sure the attention is even. At the moment I have an 8 1/2 year old Golden, a mini doxie who is just just over 5 months and we are planning on getting a Mini Bull Terrier in about a year and half.

I think 2 years old is good age too because your dog will be mature, and you will have a bond and should have all your trainning done.

harrise

Like RBark said, don't neglect alone time after getting another. I technically have four, but it's more like five with Ridik here everyday. They were all gathered up within 14 months from the first one. With more resources this place would basically be a rescue. There never was a serious issue with anything, and I consider myself quite fortunate in that respect. Coco was the last addition and she had a thing with food, a thing with her rope, a thing with cats, and a thing with dog greetings. Nothing too difficult though, after training started six weeks after her arrival everything fell into place. However, there are times that they are visibly annoyed with eachother. One on one training time doesn't count as alone time either. I try to give them a day once a week where they get a full walk by themselves individually, no commands, no expectations, on a 20 foot lead, they do whatever they want even if it's smelling that one tree for 15 minutes. In the past I never had more than one dog, but now I don't think I will ever have less than four at a time. As for the relationship thing, I got Sioux and Bubba within two weeks of eachother, so I don't have much info there...

emily445455

Thank you everyone for their input! (other's comments are still welcomed, btw)

I have another question...how is it on your, the parent to have more than one dog? obviously it takes more time, work, energy...but it is doable, or extremely stressful? Do you do things together with them, or seperate? or both? Like walks, playing outside, etc.

Thanks all

harrise

Well, when I was working we only had two. It was easy once Sioux got past his couch eating phase. Now I'm not working, so I have the advantage of constantly being around them and it's quite easy. Sometimes I get the feeling they want ME to go away for a bit. As for doing things with them, it's a big mix and match. Sometimes I bring one with me for short trips to the coffee shop/liquor store/Petsmart. You start to get a feel for their moods after a couple of weeks, then you will know who could use a break and take just that one out for a walk or a romp in a field.

ar3151

same thing here, i have a different bond with 3. me and my fiancee had 1 dog, and she loved to play and we couldnt keep up so we decided to get some friends, found a boy around her mutt breed. well he had a brother and i couldnt split them up so i took on 2 more. it was the best thing ever.

at first it was a culture shock for me, but now we are a happy dog pack.

spoodles

We have 5 dogs in our house. I have my 4 Standard Poodles and my daughter has her 'pound puppy', Jazzy. Jazzy is the 'old' one at 3! My poodles are 16 months, 14 months, 13 months, and 12 weeks old. Lots of work but so much fun! I have a different bond with each of them, and they have different relationships with each other. They all get along and, while it can get chaotic and noisy sometimes, I wouldn't have it any other way. They entertain each other (and us!).

borzoimom

Well I have found dogs do better with another dog in the house. Try as you might, you can not play like another dog, you can not exercise like another dog, and of course, when left alone- the dog has company.
My house went from 4 to 2 in a matter of two weeks. It sure feels like someone is missing- not just how we feel, but in watching my dogs, its obvious they feel the same way..

Rowdy

We got Cameron a year after Toby. Toby will be 4 next month and Cameron will be 3 in July. Getting Cameron was a great thing for us and Toby. Toby is a very happy couch potato. We refer to him as our "energy conservationist". Cameron is more boisterous, so he gets Toby moving. They play and run together. You can tell they enjoy each other... most of the time. Every now and then Cameron will get growly with Toby. Toby mostly ignores him, but occasionally he will put Cameron in his place.

I spent a lot of one on one time with Toby when we first got him. Cameron didn't get as much individual time, but he did go to puppy classes without Toby and I will walk them separately sometimes.

I really enjoy having the 2 of them. The only problem that I foresee is that, with 2 dogs close in age and the cats 5 years older, we are going to have 4 senior animals at the same time. But we'll deal with that when we get there.

golden&hovawart

I will always have 2 dogs or more!.
It's easier on the dogs and easier on the owners!.
It's fun to watch them play and cuddle,together!.
Go for it,you won't regret it!.

709Juggalette

I think it depends on the dogs.

I sometimes have two foster dogs and it is pretty easy looking after them,but other times,it can be much more work...more training,socializing and attention.But two means they have eachother when you go out.

Of course it can be more expensive with vet bills,food,supplies...etc.
But if you can afford that,then two dogs is a joy!

aero4ever

I currently have 3 fairly large dogs. After I lost my shih-zhou 2 1/2 years ago, didn't think I 'd ever get another dog, let alone 3! There is only 4 months that separate each of them so they are really close in age. They all get along great and have a blast playing together. I'll join in, but I know it isn't the same. I couldn't be happier having all 3 and find myself thankful for them each and every day.

We do things as a group cause I feel guilty if only one gets to goe (like to the vet) and the others have to stay home (I know that probably sounds weird ).

I thought it would be alot more work, money, etc., but to be honest, I couldn't imagine it any other way and haven't even noticed the extra expense and time. There's just something about watching them interact between themselves in a way I don't understand that just facinates me and brings a smile to my face even on the crappiest of days.

As to whether you should get another, is purely a personal choice, but you're heart will tell you when or if it's right.

Two Labs Mom

We have two and debated the same things you're considering right now. We decided to get them at almost the same time (within a month of each other). Our male is about a month older than the female.

It was difficult in the beginning, getting them used to each other and getting their training started. Our female didn't like the male too much when she first came but eventually they became pals. We did notice, however, that they started bonding too much to each other; they would each get upset when the other wasn't around. So we started working a lot with each of them separately so they could start bonding more to us, and we have begun limiting their play time together (just for now, while we are working on training, etc.). They can each concentrate on their training better when the other isn't around, and they appreciate our company more when their buddy isn't nearby.

I like the fact that they have each other when we're not around, and I like that when we can't play with them, they have each other to run around in the yard with. Neither of them has a chance to get bored or lonely because they are either with each other or with us. It's been more work for sure, but I think the benefits of having more than one dog far outweigh the hard work!

emily445455

Thanks everyone so much for their input!!!

Another question, lol: When you have more than one dog, does the dog give you less attention? I was thinking about this today...I absolutely love how Belle is always in the same room as me, follows me around, sits by my feet when I make dinner, etc etc. If we had another dog around, would she (they) not do that anymore?

RBark

Every dog is individual... Ollie still sleeps under my chair. Both dogs follow me room to room.

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