If you have 2 or more dogs...

what made you get the second (or third, etc) dog?
I would like to get another dog. But I love Lucy so much and I can't imagine loving another dog as much as I love her. Is it fair to Lucy for me to get another dog and her to have to share me and my attention? I really would like another dog, but I feel guilty. Please enlighten me. Thanks

PS: Is this how it feels when you have kids (human kids)?

 

I have 2 dogs, we had Jake first, he is very needy dog, and I kept saying I wanted another dog, mainly for Jake, husband said NO, put 2 Jakes together, I have done it, and no way

well Wylie came into our lives a year later or was it 2, I cant remember, anyway shes the best thing tht has happened to us, she is the biggest sweetheart and totally opposite personalilty of Jake. I baby her more than Jake and they get along so well, but jake does have to be the center of attention.


First I would ask yourself is it for you or Lucy?
then
Does Lucy like and get along well with other dogs? that is the biggest factor, if she doesnt and its just for you I would say no.

If she likes other dogs and you are ready, I say go for it.

 

I got another dog mainly b/c I don't like dogs being alone and I knew I was going to start working 40 hrs a week so I didn't want Indy to be alone all that time. The puppy has been FANTASTIC for him. They are a pair made in heaven. They both like to play all the time and they both play ROUGH. I don't think Indy minds sharing me at all b/c he just loves the puppy so much. Obviously they get a little jealous of each other but it has never been a problem. The puppy is a puppy and she wants all the attention all the time but she Loooves Indy so she doesn't really mind him at all.

 

Eliza, what di you end up naming the puppy?

 

LOL. As of right now she's still the puppy. Nothing has stuck.

 

Thanks for the input. I would get the other dog for me, for Lucy, and for the other dog (I want to rescure one). I would love to have another dog because I see how much we love Lucy and how much love we could provide for another dog in need of a good home. Lucy absolutely loves other dogs. In fact, she is at doggie day care right now for the whole day having the time of her life playing with the other dogs. She loves to go to the dog park too. I would like for her to have a companion.

I am just trying to consider everthing...money, time commitment, etc.

 

I felt exactly like you feel when I had my second human baby. I was so worried about how I could possibly love another one so much and felt guilty about taking attention from my first one. That all went away when I held the new baby.

When we were looking to get a second a dog, it was because Nala had so much energy we just couldn't keep her exercised enough. And she LOVED to play with other dogs. We thought a playmate might help. I tried to set up playdates with other peoples' dogs, but it never worked out.

I finally decided I couldn't handle a second dog. I figured the second dog would have to be as hyper as Nala to keep her busy, and there was no way I could deal with that. So then I decided to take advantage of one of the local rescue's "Weekender" program. They had this program where you take a dog just for the weekend and when you return it, you have to also return a sheet with info about the dog. That way, they got more info to help the dog get a permanent home that would work.

So we went to the shelter and I picked out Bonnie. I brought her home and she made everything so much easier and not much got harder! Once I figured out a new feeding routine, everything went very smoothly. They played together and Nala was in heaven. Best of all, Bonnie is NOT hyper in the house, yet she can keep up with Nala all day long outside. Nala is my crazy, high-energy, sometimes pushy, loads of personality dog while Bonnie is my sweet, cuddly, laid back dog. They both have good and bad points that complement each other beautifully. Needless to say, Bonnie ended up staying forever.

I did worry about Nala feeling like I didn't love her as much, especially since my husband decided it was okay to let the dogs on the furniture so Bonnie was always in my lap. Nala does not like to cuddle and won't do it even if you try to make her. But I still felt like she looked at me with her sad eyes whenever Bonnie was cuddled in my lap. She comes and lays in front of the couch and then I pet her, too. And I still take her to agility all by herself every week, so I get my alone time with her to do our special thing.

For a while, I didn't think the dogs were specifically bonded to each other. They liked each other and liked to play together. But I thought Bonnie would be just as happy with just her people, and Nala would be just as happy with any dog who likes to play her way. But we have had Bonnie for a year and a half now, and lately I see them looking for each other when we are out and I get the feeling they are bonded with each other specifically. It is wonderful to see. I am glad I have them both.

Things to consider when thinking about adding a new dog. Money - food, vet, supplies, treats, incidentals. Time - training, walks, playtime, pooper scooping, attention for each dog. You also have to be willing to work to solve any problems, because there most likely will be. I think Bonnie was one of the easiest transitions there could be. We had issues with her digging in the yard, getting trapped under our deck, crying if we left the room, feeding the dogs separately, getting on the furniture, and learning to control two wildly wrestling dogs in the house and getting them to go outside. There was also the issue of Bonnie not having any idea what training is. They had two fights in the first few months.

Whole Dog Journal had a really good article recently about things to think about when adding a new dog.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I found a dog on petfinder.org who is around Lucy's size and looks/sounds so sweet. So I emailed the foster mom for more info. I am just amazed at how much my husband and I love Lucy and I would like to share our love with another dog in need. I would also like for Lucy to have a friend because she LOVES other dogs. In fact she is passed out on the chair right now after spending the day at doggie day care romping with the other dogs.

 

Let us know what happens! It sounds like it is a great idea.