so, talk to me about adding a second dog to the household

[Fireman Farmer]

We have two Chocolate labs, Sadie is 14yo female and truthfully been a pain in the butt the whole time

. She is well trained, but is constantly pushing to see what she could get away with. Then about 14 months ago we got another because Sadie just couldn't hunt like she used too. Jethro is the new 14 month old male weighing in at 105lbs. He is also well trained and a pleasure to be around. After we bought the new puppy home we had problems with the female tearing things up around "which had never done her entire life" the house and picking on the puppy. I guess she was trying to make a point to him that this was her house and she was the queen and she didn't have to answer to anybody. Including the wife and I. When ever one got something the other also got the same. Now that Jethro the male has grown up she has stopped all the nonsense and acting normal again, but there always seems to be some tension. They both have been kept in the house their entire lives and we spoil them rotten. Neither have ever spent a night in a cage or locked up.
We never could put a finger on what exactly the problem was maybe sex diffrence,age, maybe just their dispositions. But I can tell you that they will definately learn from each other "BOTH GOOD AND BAD THINGS" and they are the diffrence bettween night and day. Jethro is very protective of Sadie and the house and yard & chickens and Sadie would be just happy to let you do what ever you wanted to do

. I am not sure that we would go through it again though. We enjoy them both but there was a point and time we were ready to call it quits. Labs are a working breed and needs tons of attention and hours of play time both together and alone.

 

[emjay]

I have two dogs.

We got Koda first as an 8 week old pup. He was worse then having a newborn, oh my my, I had almost forgot how much work they were. the crying, the potty training, the biting. etc etc. as he got to be closer to 6 months, he was a nightmare, psycho, run away when given the chance.
By 9 months old, troublemaker, eating siding on the house, chewing furniture. We would walk him, run him, could never tire him out.
so at a year old, we looked at adopting a second dog, but, this time, it would be an adult, no more puppies for us.

I went and met one at teh SPCA who caught my eye, I went and visited him twice, third time I brought Koda with me to meet and greet. They basically hit it off right away.
I wanted to make sure it would be a good fit, before I even considered it.

We brought him home on a trial run, we made it official two months later and he's been with us for 2 years now.

We debated and debated about a second, I had to convince hubby of it.

It has its pros and cons for sure. Double the Trouble.

and boy have they committed some crimes together.

on the other hand, they both bring something to our family. The second dog Buddy brings security for me in the house when I'm home alone, and he's super cuddly and good with the kids , inside.
Koda is fun outside and is well behaved enough that he won't run away when outside with us.
Buddy will run away outside if free, and he has a high prey drive.

They are best friends and play so well together, on teh days when me and hubby are both working, they have each other for companionship.
\\
would I go to one dog again, yes. would I stay with two dogs, yes, absolutely. It's great both ways.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
I have mixed feelings about what you are wanting to do, LOL but of course its your life..... so take this with a grain of salt or a grain of wisdom

My personal opinion is this. I think getting a dog for your other dog isn't the thing to do. I don't know why you'd want to double all your animal care, while adding just one more dog you are also adding about four times the amount of training. Why? Because the dogs will have to be trained seperately and together for all commands, then proofed the same way if you want both dogs to have reliable obedience.

You sound like a really great dog owner with all the great things you are doing for and with Russell, but think about your goals with him in agility. Another dog will take your time away from that, plus the bond you have with him may decrease if the dogs spend too much time together. Not saying that is what will happen, but it could happen. Do you want both dogs in the same sports? I hope you do. I hope you are thinking you'd spend as much time with the other dog as you do your current dog. I have a feeling Russell is a well adjusted and not bored dog that gets plenty of exercise, I don't know that he's pining away for another dog to be with. Sounds to me like you've got a great dog pack right as you have it now

...and with all that nay saying...

I will say that if you do get another dog, I can't wait for pics...he he

 

[arabianequine]

I don't think Russell has had enough time yet to learn without interference. Does not seem like you have had him that long?

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I have 5 dogs here right now (4 are ours, 1 is a foster)

ours are (in order that we got them)
Rally (boxer 8 yrs old weve had him 5yrs) Sully (chihuahua 3yrs old had him 2 ys), Pnut (chihuahua 3 yrs old, have had about 5 months), Trixie (Boston Terrier, 2 yrs old (weve had about 5 months) and finally Carly (black lab 1yr old)our foster dog, we just got her on Saturday she is a shelter dog that was to be PTS on Friday until the rescue we work with yanked her and we are fostering her.

they all get along great except Carly is guarding her ball, and water! were working hard with her on that.

I LOVE them all, but Rally and Sully are my favorites, Trixie next, then Pnut, I just havent bonded with her, she is my husbands dog more so.

One dog is easier for sure, and LOTS cheaper. I do think that 2 is great, 5 is awesome though lol

Its like having our own dog park everytime we go in the yard!

(we bought a chuck it today and OMG the fun we have had)

 

[patandchickens]

Thanks guys, good food for thought

Just want to clarify two things: one, I'm not asking *should* we get another dog, that's already been decided, just what to expect WHEN we do

Which you have given me useful insight into, thank you!

Also, I was being facetious when phrased it as getting a second dog "for Russell" -- that is certainly part of the reason, as I really do think he should get opportunities to play with his own kind; but chiefly we would just like a second dog, all of us in the family. More love and shed doghair to go around, that sort of thing. Also I want another dog to 'play with' training-wise.

Because the dogs will have to be trained seperately and together for all commands, then proofed the same way if you want both dogs to have reliable obedience.

This is actually part of my reasons for thinking that a second dog sounds like a good idea. I am a stay-at-home mom and do pretty much all my work with Russell as "thirty seconds here, two minutes there" during the day, so there really is very little time used up by training other than when we go for long walks (which I would anticipate it not being too long til we could just take both dogs at once) and classes (and yes, either the second dog doesn't get a lot in the way of dog-class experience or I take fewer classes with Russell to free up money/time to enroll second dog in classes, but either sounds quite acceptable to me).

I would not say I am bored, as I have plenty of thigns that need fixing/cleaning/building/feeding/planting/etc around here... but really, in large part I'd kind of like another dog to give me another opportunity for FUN during the day. To experiment with when 'on break' from actual constructive activities LOL

think about your goals with him in agility. <snip>Do you want both dogs in the same sports? I hope you do.

Well, the only dog sports that really interest me at this point are agility, rally and tracking (and I don't seem likely to tackle the latter any time soon, as it seems like an awful big daily time commitment... though, someday when things are different, maybe). And it is not like I am desperately attached to any one particular sport, or even to competing at all. I am soooo not a competitive person - well, highly competitive against MYSELF, I just don't care how I place against *others*

It just seems like a fun challenge, you know? I figure if a dog turns out to be mentally or physically unsuited to one thing, no problem, we do something else (even if it is just noodling around having fun in the back yard or learning tricks or whatever), same as if it were a horse.

Note that although I would really like to get a second dog that is ABLE to do agility, how much will I *actually* get it into agility? I have no idea. I have no idea how much I will actually choose, or be able, do agility with Russell even. I would just like the option to be there, if possible.

Another dog will take your time away from that, plus the bond you have with him may decrease if the dogs spend too much time together. Not saying that is what will happen, but it could happen. I hope you are thinking you'd spend as much time with the other dog as you do your current dog.

Oh yes, definitely equal time. As mentioned, most of what I do with Russell is in minute-or-two little dribs and drabs throughout the day, both indoors and out; I would do the same with the new dog, will just have to work out the logistics of not having the nonworking dog interfere. Maybe I am a bad person for not letting Russell "live free" all the time, I dunno (please don't tell me what you think about this

), but I do not leave Russell outdoors on his own or loose in the house when I'm away for a while, so there would not be lots of time the dogs spend together without me there too. (Not *doing* things with them, I mean, but *there*). Not that a dog can't do some pretty exciting things silently in the next room before I realize, but, you know what I mean.

So, returning to the subject of "a friend for Russell to play with" -- how much does "style" of play matter, in terms of finding a compatible friend? From the very limited opportunities I've had to observe Russell with other dogs, his thing seems to be a) racing around real fast playing chase, and then b) vigorous 'mouth wrestling' with the other dog; and he is easily intimidated by dominant-minded dogs (cowers, lies on his back til they wander off, etc). What would one look for in another dog to get along well with this type personality? I mean, obviously I would not adopt a dog without having them meet and see how they get along, but if it is possible to weed out likely-incompatible prospects BEFORE getting to that step...

Thanks,

Pat​

 

[Appytaz]

We got a dog for the dog! I had a cocker that was getting up in age (17) and was really thinking of getting another dog. I wanted one established with me before my older dog passed. Just so happened a friend had a litter of puppies and I brough Daisy home at 8 weeks. Abby (the cocker) stuck around another 2 years. Daisy was having a hard time being an only child now and Karma struck again - My cousin was looking for a home for his 3 yr old cocker. So we got Linus. We took Daisy to meet Linus, took them shopping together - just let them spend the day together before deciding to bring him home. They truly are like brother and sister - they get in arguments - they have fights that you are sure someone is coming out of missing a limb - but there has never been a mark on either one of them. Linus is 10 and Daisy is 9 now. I truly enjoy having both of them. I work full time so it is nice to know they are home together.

I say got for it! And you will know WHEN - when you meet the right dog - just take Russell out and see who he picks

 

[apdan]

Personally I wouldn't get a dog older than him. A dog that is slightly younger would fit with his personality. Our retreiver is like that with our 4 yr old. Our lab racing around like a crazy woman and then does the "dominate dance" and our retreiver just flops to the ground like a dead fish. However, when her and our husky play there is no cowering there at all. They are on an equal level just two of the best friends in the whole world playing.

Granted don't do obedience classes or anything like that, this is just my personal opinion. I also wanted to say as far as bonding with them going from 1 to 3 it was no difference, they are all still very closely bonded with me. I would trust each one with my life (well except my husky, he is big time mama boy and kind of a sissy)

 

[mandelyn]

We recently added a 3rd dog, a whole new dynamic to a 2nd dog. The Original dog, Ricca, the 5 year old GSD, has seen a lot of dogs come and go through rescue work. So I had pretty good idea of what she needed out of a permanent addition. I like to wait 2 years between adding new permanent additions. So when she was 4, we added Logan. Ricca, is dominant, excitable, and her method of play is "Shepherd smack down" where she throws her front feet out, down, at the other dog, does a 360 in the air, and throws the feet again, then takes off running. She's a flirt too. And has issues with females who display any sort of dominance if I'm not there to keep her in check. So I knew I needed a boy, a Shepherd or similar that would play the same, and something mild mannered to put up with her and not make the house chaotic.

Logan came calling as a rescue, perfect time, perfect dog. 12 weeks old, pure bred Shepherd bred by a moron. He had been attacked twice by another Shepherd on the property, had worms, fleas, and ticks so bad he was anemic, and then Parvo on top of it. He survived all that. And quickly warmed his way into Ricca's heart. She's really good about correcting puppies and acting as a surrogate of sorts in pack manners. So between her and I, he had a good puppy-hood and is now socially acceptable, sweet, loyal, respectful.

As far as adjustment, I took Ricca's crate and gave it to him. Bought her another crate, because she wanted her "den" back. I just left the door open and she weaned herself off it by transitioning her sleeping spots to the center of the house on the floor. Better for guarding. LOL Normally I find her sleeping within the same distance of all the doors. I pulled Logan for one on one training, much to Ricca's dismay. So then I had to pull her for one on one time even though she didn't need it, I wanted to be fair. Then we did group training. If your goal is to walk both dogs at the same time, LOT's of leash work needs to happen and good solid heel needs to be in place, as well as group training going well where they both respect commands with the other present. If they have a mind to chase a squirrel and don't care what you think about it, two large dogs on leash will have the strength to drag you. LOL... I never experienced that, but I spent months preparing for calm, respectful, quiet walks together.

You learn things about each dog as you go. For example, Logan needs to be the inside dog on walks. I don't put one on each side of me, they tend to want to have a pulling contest to get next to each other. So Logan is on my inside left, and Ricca is on my outside Left. Don't bother with the double ended leash, if you need to correct someone, you do it to both. Always use individual leashes. If I change who goes where, it gets thrown out of whack and they don't act right.

Then came the puppy. I'm still wondering what the heck I did that for. Haha. She's been great, and she fits in really well. But Ricca loves her to the point of failing on issuing manners. Logan lets her walk all over him, literally. She is sassy, awful, vocal, demanding, greedy, everything the spoiled 3rd child is. I wouldn't be able to put up with her if she were the only dog. But as it is, it is working. She plays with Logan the most, he's king of puppy entertainment. When he finally says enough, she goes to Ricca. Then myself, then my husband, then me again, then Logan again. She has plenty of energy to go around. She gets right into the thick of it during the Shepherd smack down games outside. She learned the art of body slamming, paw smacking, chase, teasing, all of it. Jumps right into the middle of it and takes a beating from the other two, and loves every second of it.

They exhaust each other, and it's awesome. But they haven't bonded so close that I lose control during a pack moment. I do 3 training sessions and then a group one. One will always come to me during a quiet moment for some loving. Another sees it and comes in too. Ricca will even give her chew bones to the puppy, she's never done that before, she's known as the greedy, bossy, my way or the highway dog. But not with Annabelle. They all get along great.

Annabelle will be starting school soon. I haven't been at the training club in some 15 years, but I think Annabelle will benefit from more one on one time and also working around other dogs she can't take such liberties with like she does at home. She is SO spoiled by my older dogs. I'm the only one in this house that doesn't cut her any slack.

The older dog always needs a lot of patience. They will get chewed on, slapped at, yapped at, all things puppies do. Some dogs don't like puppies, they want a dog they can play rough with and be a "real" dog with. Other dogs, prefer a puppy. It just depends. When choosing a new dog, look for the same key qualities the existing dog has. Play style isn't needed, they'll learn to play with each other. One chases, the other runs, switch... it all works out.

If your dog is prone to high levels of excitement, choose one that isn't excitable to that extent to balance out the other. Unless you want two big dogs chomping at the bit to go outside. I like having only one doing 360's by the door and the other calmly thumping his tail in the sitting position. It's much easier to have the crazy one calm down when the other is consistently calm. If both are crazy, it takes twice as long to restore order. Logan is my sanity, the girls are nuts. But they are very quick to see that Logan gets a treat when he's calm and they get nothing until they calm the heck down.

Some rules I have to avoid conflict, which aren't needed in a single dog household. No dogs on the furniture, period. No king of the mountain games, no "who's closer to the human" games, none of that. You eat out of the same bowl, in the same place, every time. No sharing, no switching, no competing, no checking to see what the other has, no dirty looks over the rim of the bowl. I had to monitor meal time for some 3 months to get that all situated. But food aggression is no issue here. No one is allowed to collect the toys and sit on them. Ricca is bad about that. I'll look over and she's got 6 toys between her front paws with the other two dogs sitting near her peeved about it. There are 3 toys out at any time. No one is allowed to have more than 1, and I can take it if I want it and keep all 3 myself if I want. "Drop it", "Bring it", and "leave it" are solid commands here. No going in the puppies crate and stealing her stuff.

People think it's fair to treat the dogs fairly and equal. But that isn't how it works in dog world. You are in charge. Then the next oldest dog, and down from there. Puppies can get entitlement issues if the human shows favoritism to the cute new addition. That's a good way to have the original dog peeing on your bed. Older dog gets the food bowl first. In group training, older dog that sits first gets the treat first.

If you treat the puppy first because "It can't wait".. you'll have a hard time teaching patience and focus. Puppy is not allowed to steal from the first dog to get the treat. Puppy has to look to you, and wait it's turn. It's low dog on the totem pole, last for everything. Seems hopeless initially when the puppy is spazzing out about who has treat crumbs on the floor. Catch it's attention, hold the treat, practice "stay" while treating the others. In a couple of weeks, puppy will learn that the faster it sits and stays calm, the faster the treats are issued out. It will learn to wait 2 seconds.

Puppy will learn patience, respect, order. If you give the puppy it's food bowl first because you know it will race to the other's bowl, you're giving the puppy power. If it really is that excitable over food, put a leash on it. Control it's movements. You'll thank yourself later for the early training and manners when the puppy is a year old. If the puppy gets special treatment because it's crazy and cute, it will challenge the older dog, play too rough, and act like it's high dog when it's 1 or 2 years old, because the human said from day one that it has that power.

But my puppy is crazy. She needs more care and attention and training than any puppy I have ever owned. Logan was a very easy addition. But since you over analyze, the worse that can happen is you end up with a lunatic puppy that requires twice as much training time as you've put into your current dog. Or that their energy levels feed each others excitement and your time will be spent keeping order.

Just be patient, choose wisely, let the dogs meet and great before making a decision. Don't rush it. Don't show total equality or favoritism when you bring a 2nd one home. Just keep the natural order of things. Don't slack on training or exercise because they have each other. Do exactly what you're doing now x's 2. Training will be x's 3, one on one with each, then group. Have your rules in place and hold to them. If the current dog is allowed on the couch, will the 2nd? If not, start teaching the current dog no more couch, before the new one arrives.

It's fun. I'm excited about this Spring, when all my training pays off and I can walk 300 pounds worth of dog by myself. We've been practicing in the yard, with the puppy on my right.

 

[welsummerchicks]

When I excitedly declared to my farrier that I was getting a second dog, he said, 'You DO know the old saying, don't you?'

I said, duh, what old saying?

'One dog is man's best friend, two dogs is 'who the **** are you''.

LOL. Most of the time, it's all beer and skittles, fun to have two dogs. They play with each other, they have fun, you have two coming along in training.

The 'who the heck are you', though, comes out at the most 'gee I wish it hadn't' times, such as when they get loose and run off, or when you want them to come to you and they don't.

Two dogs is a pack.

One dog is that dog joining your pack. Two dogs is 'look, now we have our own pack'.

And granted, it does, indeed, very infrequently happen to make a difference, but it does, make a difference.

I read carefully, and got the part that you are not looking for anyone to tell you not to get a 2nd dog.

And I'm not saying, don't get a second dog.

I'm saying, it does, indeed, change the dynamic, by quite a lot.

As far as your plan to get a dog from a rescue organization or pound, I would give one piece of advice that I really hope you follow: make sure your second dog will mature to the same size and build as your first dog. Don't get a dog that's going to mature 20-30 lb lighter, or heavier.

Why? Because when they play, they hurt themselves otherwise. They should be matched in weight, built, speed, etc. When one dog is slower or smaller or lighter, generally, that is the one that's going to blow out the cruciate ligaments in the stifle when it gets broadsided by the other.

I rather laughed also, when I informed the vet I was going to get a very light, slender, fast, tall breed to go along with my solid Samoyed. He shocked my by saying, 'I hope you're rich!' I said why, he said, 'You'll be paying for a lot of orthopedic surgery!'

I was extremely careful, and I avoided having one hurt the other, but most of my friends who have a 'mixed pack' did NOT. Even my friend who had all German Shepherds, one much heavier and taller, the littler one was the one with the two blown cruciate ligaments, and that, my friends, that was expensive!

THAT - and forget agility, obedience and a lot of other sports if that happens. Sure, some recover fully, but most don't.

So the golden rule - match your dogs for weight, size and speed. Even then, there is still a risk of orthopedic injuries. Having them both jog side by side from a bicycle is often safer than having a wild free for all that involves a lot of stampedes and crashes.

I am also very careful of WHERE they play - slick grass and concrete, not good places for free for alls. I choose good ground. I try to pick good ground, away from obstacles.

I recall at a park once, my dog and a friend's dog were racing toward us at top speed, and they crashed into each other - hers went spinning around a concrete bollard, hooked on both stifles, like a donut on a stick.

That one, was two cruciate ligament surgeries too.

Too - fit dogs are safer from injury. If they are conditioned so they are very hard and fit, they not only get injured less, they also recover better when they are. By hard and fit I mean not one spare ounce of fat - all the muscles well developed, belly tucked up, and no yet, no ribs or hip bones sticking out (unless it's a saluki, lol).

Obedience for one and all. Firm rules about let's not go too far playing out YOUR pack dynamics on my bed, my couch, and in my kitchen at the feed dishes, with the toys, with my children, etc.