Getting a second dog?

Anyone get a second after already having one? Did you regret it?

Our dog is two-years-old and she LOVES to play with other dogs. And my husband and I love dogs so much, I find that I keep thinking about getting another one. But our dog is also like our baby, she loves being the center of our attention, she sleeps in bed with us and gets very jealous if we pay too much attention to other dogs (but I think she'd get used to this after a little while) or a baby (I know that's going to be a tough situation down the line). Also, I don't really really think I want to sleep in bed with two dogs and I also worry about our dog not being "our baby" anymore and having more interest in the new dog than us.

Am I crazy for even considering this? I'd love to hear your experiences.

Re: Getting a second dog?

lol, your'e not crazy. I got my little lucky man last year September. My parents already had 3 dogs and my then Fiance and I still were liing with our parents. But i was in the pet store and he looked so scraggly looking i had to have him. So my mom, my partner in crime, and i took the dog home. 7 months Later my fiance and i moved into an Apt together and of course i took my spoiled little toy poodle, who BTW goes EVERYWHERE with me. A month later i was so used to living with 3-4 dogs i felt we should look for another. I wanted to rescue a dog so we went t a few shelters and then found little shelter in Huntington. Where we found our Big guy, Porter. I call him Porter House Steak.

WELL, let me tell you, i swear i went through pst pardom. Porter was very shy and would not even come near us. Who knows what happened to him before and he was only at the shelter for 2 weeks. And as far as my baby, Lucky, my heart was Broken. I felt like Porter hated me, and I felt Lucky was so mad at me for getting another dog. I Literally cried myself to sleep because i thought my baby hated me. I tried to think of stories to tell DH as to why i don't think we can keep porter. I told him i didnt trust the dog. Or we really just dont have the time for 2. But then i lloked at his face andthink how can i bring him.

Porter got much better. Won't leave our sides and so well behaved for the most part and Lucky is still my baby. He sleeps in bed right next to me and let me tell you this dog has more clothes than me to keep his little body warm.

Well thats my novel and my experience. but overall i am so glad we went and got our Porter House Steak. Can't wait for his first Christmas

Re: Getting a second dog?

Message edited 1/30/2009 11:43:07 AM.

Re: Getting a second dog?

This is long, but... we got a second dog about 6 months after we got our first, and I am so glad that we did.

We both work full time, so even though we paid all kinds of attention to our first dog when we were home, we felt really badly leaving her alone all day, and wanted to get her a playmate.

At first, she hated the new puppy. Seriously, it took major adjustment time. Thankfully, DH worked from home the first week and a half they were together. After about a week, she stopped trying to kill the new puppy Then it took another week before she would let him play with any toys. After the first month, she tolerated him fine. After about 2 months, they were actually playing together. It took her even longer to stop trying to bully him, but eventually it happened.

Eventually, they became the best of friends. They snuggle together to sleep, and trade toys, and play-fight, and share their food. We're so happy we went ahead with the decision, because they really do provide the companionship for each other while we're gone that was missing before.

It will be difficult in the beginning - for us, we had to supervise them all the time to make sure dog #1 learned that she's not allowed to fight with dog #2. It was stressful, and I worried about both of them. But it was so worth it.

In your case, don't worry - your dog will still love you best, more than she is interested in the new dog. If our dogs are playing together, and one of us calls the dogs over, they immediately stop playing and come running to us! You guys are the "pack leaders" - far more important than just another dog in the pack

Also, you mentioned worrying about your dog not being your baby anymore. Sounds silly, but I can kinda relate - the day before we got the new puppy, I told DH I was afraid I wouldn't love him as much as the first dog, and what if I just didn't like him very much? Turns out there's enough love in my heart for both of them equally! Think of it as having two babies to love

Hope this helps!!!