[deadtree]

Hello,

This is my first time posting....hopefully i am doing it correctly

I have been considering getting a second dog...I was hoping i could get a few ideas from people.

I currently have a beagle shepherd mix and she is great. her name is dori. every so often we go to the dog park where we met a cattahoula that is being fostered named George. George is a sweet 6 month old dog (dori is 18 months) who gets alongwith everyone.

The questions i have are...is it fair to Dori? are 2 dogs better? meaning does it give them someone to play with when i am gone? If 2 dogs ...is it ok have a boy and a girl (both have been fixed). I am not a novice dog owner, just a novice at 2 dogs....any experience or suggestions?

Thanx
David

[harajukulove]

I got my 2nd dog (chihuahua) about 5 mos after I got my 1st(terrier mix). I was kinda nervous about them not getting along but they got along great. Sure in the beginning, Coffee (terrier) would be territorial with his food & toys. I had to separate the two dogs during feeding times. But after about a day or so, they were best friends and they play all the time, eat out of the same dish, & share their toys.

[Curbside Prophet]

Originally Posted by deadtree

The questions i have are...is it fair to Dori?

It's fair so long as you have the time and the committment for both dogs.

are 2 dogs better?

That depends. Some people don't like the doubled expense. But some don't mind at all.

meaning does it give them someone to play with when i am gone?

Again, it depends. Some dogs are quite content being the sole dog, and don't make friends easily. Not every dog likes every dog, after all. Then there are those who enjoy having a partner in crime...sometimes this is good and bad, depending on whether the crime is good or destructive. In general I would say most dogs enjoy the company. Emphasis on most, but not all.

If 2 dogs ...is it ok have a boy and a girl (both have been fixed).

It's not uncommon for dog packs to have both an alpha male and an alpha female, an it be a perfect balance. Really, it's more about whether the two dog's temperaments match well. So if you can get yourself in a position where you can try it out for a period of time, and return the dog if you need to, this would be ideal.

Basically, if you can provide all the needs for both dogs, you are a candidate for having two dogs.