I have finally made up my mind that if the right opportunity presents itself I am open to getting another dog.
My current buddy is about 10 months old. We rescued him off the side of the road when he was 12-14 weeks and named him Tweed due to his red merle coloring, and he is some sort of Cocker spaniel mix. He is potty trained, and a lot of fun, and has learned to cope with the fact that my daughter and I are not really very active people.
I have several questions about adding another dog to our family.
1) I plan to get one that is younger than Tweed, and which will be about the same size when mature: I want them to be well matched physically for playing. Is this a good idea?
2) I hope they can both learn to sleep together in the kennel. It is quite large. Is this likely? Will the dogs enjoy being together?
3) I keep hearing "don't get a dog for your dog", but really, that is one of the main reasons. Yet I have read that most people who have two dogs don't let them stay together alone. If this is true, then I may need to reconsider. Tweed will be alone a lot when school starts, and I'm worried that he will be lonely. So if another dog is not going to help that I need to think again. I do have a yard, and they would be outside most of the time when we are gone, with the possible option of having access to come inside to the kitchen area.
4) As long as the dog is spayed/neutered, does it matter what gender I choose?
5) Tweed is quite attached to me. If I go into another room and close the door, he will come and lay by the door until I come out again. What are the possible changes that might occur in his relationship to me if I add another dog?
thanks in advance for any advice.
shallbe
My current buddy is about 10 months old. We rescued him off the side of the road when he was 12-14 weeks and named him Tweed due to his red merle coloring, and he is some sort of Cocker spaniel mix. He is potty trained, and a lot of fun, and has learned to cope with the fact that my daughter and I are not really very active people.
I have several questions about adding another dog to our family.
1) I plan to get one that is younger than Tweed, and which will be about the same size when mature: I want them to be well matched physically for playing. Is this a good idea?
2) I hope they can both learn to sleep together in the kennel. It is quite large. Is this likely? Will the dogs enjoy being together?
3) I keep hearing "don't get a dog for your dog", but really, that is one of the main reasons. Yet I have read that most people who have two dogs don't let them stay together alone. If this is true, then I may need to reconsider. Tweed will be alone a lot when school starts, and I'm worried that he will be lonely. So if another dog is not going to help that I need to think again. I do have a yard, and they would be outside most of the time when we are gone, with the possible option of having access to come inside to the kitchen area.
4) As long as the dog is spayed/neutered, does it matter what gender I choose?
5) Tweed is quite attached to me. If I go into another room and close the door, he will come and lay by the door until I come out again. What are the possible changes that might occur in his relationship to me if I add another dog?
thanks in advance for any advice.
shallbe