How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

DH and I are seriously considering getting Ollie a friend. I love the idea of having a 2nd dog but I'm not sure if I'm truly considering how much work a 2nd dog will be. Who here has more than one dog and is it really that much harder than having 1? I want to make sure I've considered everything I need to before I commit. TIA.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

Well, for us it wasn't THAT much harder. We had Lucky, an 8lb poodle, first. He hates other small dogs but he got along with my parents' bigger dogs so we decided to get him a bigger dog friend. Porter is an 80lb Pit mix. Because i baby Lucky so much he doesn't want anything to do with any person or animal in our house hold. he just wants to be with me. So we got Porter a friend. A now 60lb pit mix. Much harder with 3 than 2 but i definitely would not change it.

When we got the 2nd dog, ournfood bills were higher because Porter has colitis and had to be on special food until we found one good enough for him that they both liked. Other that the extra vet bills and food expense it wasn't bad at all. I would say just to make sure you are ready for the commitment and expenses of another.

Good luck!

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

it was a little harder at first because of having to train a puppy. but once we got him potty trained it got a lot easier. we just had to keep an eye on them when we they eating before chewy turned 1 cause they would sometimes switch food bowls. bugsy liked the puppy food a lot.

bugsy was 2 1/2 when we got chewy (he was 10 weeks when we got him). we brought bugsy with us when we went to pick chewy up to make sure they got along.

now its a piece of cake.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

You could consider rescuing a dog from a shelter that's older and potty trained? Then it may be easier...

I don't have 2 but am considering it. My dog may be like one of the posters above. She has no interest in other dogs just wants to be w/ me...but every once in a while she wants to play..lol so it would have to be the right dog...

but I figure you have to feed 1 what's 2? you hvae to let 1 out...what's one more? lol

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

We just added Lucy to our family! Of course our first Dog Lola is only 4lbs and Lucy is 3lbs so together they may equal one dog! haha

Its not that hard. I put them on the same schedule, eating same food, going out at the same time, etc. My first dog Lola is S P O I L E D and it was a little adjustment but overall I think she enjoys having someone to play with. We wanted Lola to have a companion because once we have kids in a couple of years I know our time with her will not be as frequent and I never want her to feel lonely!

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

Its not that hard, you just have to consider the added vet bills. I went into dog #2 thinking it wont cost much more, but well as you all know he ended up being sick, but besides that there are the normal vet bills and the added food and treats and wee wee pads. However, the transition was easy, its like you always had the second one! HTH

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

Having 2 dogs is just like having one. Having 3 is like having 16.

I love that quote and it's so true. I have 3 and I know all about it.

Seriously tho, I think its great to give a dog a sibling.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

We have 2 & its really not that much more work. They like each other. We got a second one because Sandy was home by herself during the day & we (mostly me) felt bad. I've had 3 when we are watching our friends dog & its nuts. Love the quote about having 3 is like 16. So true.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

For us, it hasn't been a piece of cake but it wasn't the worst case scenario either. There are a lot of people I know who added a 2nd dog and got a lot more than they bargained for! I'd just say to prepare for the worst, and not compare the 2nd dog to the first one.

It's really hard for me to not compare Ginger to Brinkley, since they're the same breed and all too, but all dogs do have their own personalities. And challenges. But our situation may be different because I know we expect a lot more out of our dogs in regards to training and discipline than others. I bring them to work with me 2x a week so it's a must that they be on their best behavior.

I wouldn't trade either of them for the world. I adore them and we are not sorry at all that we got another. It's just more expensive and a little bit harder. Sometimes a lot harder. But they're worth it.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

For us, it really wasn't that much harder at all. It does make it harder to walk the two of them, esp in the rain, pickingup the poops, etc but we have a double leash that works great. Grooming and vet visits, we take both. We have 2 carseats for them.

To get a 3rd, that would really be alot of work, esp with walking. For us, it was the right thing to do to give our male dog a friend. Our second dog is better than our male in many ways, worse in some ways. I didn't think I could love my second dog as much as my first but she iis so different than him. You have to keep in mind they will have VERY different personalities. We love our female so much for all the things she is that he isn't, and vice versa.

Now having a child after having two dogs, well that has been so exhausting we are very glad we never went to dog #3. That would have been a LOT of work, esp if we ever want to consider another child.

Message edited 3/26/2010 9:29:28 PM.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

<--- in the beginning it was tough because they weren't getting along too well..and our new rescue was supposedly housebroken but we spent a month learning to communicate (i think it was more my fault than hers). The other thing was our 2nd dog had a completely different temperament than our first...who was laid back & calm...then we got a high strung terrier. But i can't imagine life without either one of them...love watching them play now or snuggle on the couch.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

i def. think it's difficult at times...but i love having 2! i wish i could have more but i know now is not the right time!

i really like that they have each other for company- but, my girl is a little bossy to my boy and that bothers me! sometimes i am like a referee bc she steals his toys..ive tried everything and i am very consistant but, she still does it! it is def. less than it used to be but that's just her and i have to be more stubborn than she is!!...i love when they sit with each other and look out the door or lay on the patio together-it's priceless!

mine were both easy to train (they are only 4 months apart)...it's really the expense of more food/toys/vet bills/etc.....a little extra time to feed/wash more bowls/more pet hair around the house-it's like having more than one kid! you are still going to do the same things now just extra!...it's def. harder than one dog but do-able! good luck!

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

Message edited 3/27/2010 10:12:31 AM.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

once they are accustomed to one another and trained - it's not harder at all. in my opinion, it's easier because they entertain each other. i like that they have one another

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

It was easy for us. Diggs came home when Bob turned a year old and Diggs was a year and 6 months. It took a little while for them to get along, Bob is an 8lbs Poodle mix and Diggs is a 30lbs Beagle. Now they are great together, they love having eachother's company. they play together in the backyard and look out for each when they're at the park.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

thanks for your replies everyone, they were extremely helpful.

Re: How much harder is it to have a 2nd dog?

Posted by MrsKelly

once they are accustomed to one another and trained - it's not harder at all. in my opinion, it's easier because they entertain each other. i like that they have one another