Which Would You Rather: Two Active Dogs, or One Lazy, One Active?

Two active dogs definitely.

Seamus is LAZY. He hates walks (have you ever heard of a dog that hates walks?!). He hides whenever he sees the leash come out. Yes .. that lazy. And I'm super active and athletic. I wish so much he'd like to go on hikes and go jogging with me every morning. But no dice! Sally was active back in her day but now she's thirteen, so her walks are very short. My next dog will be super, super active. I miss having an active dog.

Honestly, that's me! :rofl1: I want a dog that can keep up!

When I think of a lazy dog, I don't think of one that physically can't go for a long walk or do activity xyz. Just one that doesn't need it and would be just as content to lounge in the house. But that doesn't mean they have to poop out during exercise or need to be left behind.

Because no... I don't want a dog that cant go for a walk, either.

Meh, I like the in between, which fortunately, I think about 90% of mature dogs are. You know, the dog that, once worked with, has a nice off switch, but is ready to go go go when you are.

Jackson's Mom, I think a mature dog of a typically moderately active breed might fit just what you want! You know, a dog that's mature enough that they're content to nap while you're doing other things, but not one that's lazy to the point that they won't want to walk, be trained, or play with other dogs.

Gotta say, that's what I adore about Boo. She's not the *most* biddable dog in the world, but she's fun to train with food and praise motivation, is always up for a walk or run, and still has enough energy left in her to play with the foster puppies and chase squirrels! But she's mature and low energy enough that when I want to sit at the computer, watch a movie, or otherwise be still during the day, she typically looks like this:

My next dog will be another high energy dog like Quinn. It will be demanding, however I'm not worried out being driven crazy at home or anything. Quinn is super quiet in the house and I feel pretty confident that the next puppy has a good shot at having her good off switch, based on the breed and also the fact that I'm not very "go go go!" all the time and the dogs learn to settle.

If I get a third dog though that one will definitely be a low energy toy breed or a small, easy going rescue. I think that would be the perfect combination for me - two ESs and then something small and very easy and friendly that I can take anywhere.

^ This.

Ideally, I'd have two lazy dogs that don't need to do anything, but both can and will enjoy doing things if I want to do things. ^^ Luckily, so far the dogs fit the bill. Chloe is that way (although she does burn off a lot of energy inside via playing), Cynder is that way, and Cooper is that way. Gracie...she has a hard time keeping up. We took the dogs to a little field outside my boyfriend's apartment yesterday (with just his three - Chloe was at home) and while Cynder and Cooper were tearing around being silly spastic dogs, Gracie kept pace with us walking. Had we been going over rugged terrain or any faster she couldn't have done it. Her little legs just don't work like that. Which just means if I ever do a walk with the more athletic dogs, Gracie will have to be left behind. But, on the bright side, although she would hate staying, she doesn't need what I call "hard core walks" to be satisfied. She's content to sleep under her blanket most of the day mixed in with some playing.

This is kind of what I was getting at - I guess 'lazy' wasn't the best word. Ha, but yeah.

I like having two lazy dogs. It was a huge blessing when I was on bed rest for several months during the last pregnancy and couldn't walk them. Especially when we didn't have a yard they could exercise in. If I'd had anybody with a normal energy level and not enough of an off switch my house would have been destroyed.

That said, they are both LOADS of fun when it's time for walks, runs, or just getting out and hiking and stuff. They'll go for hours when asked. Then sleep for hours when asked. It's the perfect combo for me.

I like energetic dogs over lazy ones,any day of the week!.

I would totally love to have a high energy dog and then a toy breed that has lower energy. Then when we are out exercising and the little one gets tired, I could just put it in a backpack. Hah! I am a genius.

I love the balance of two annoyingly high energy dogs and two can-cuddle-all-day dogs.

I currently have three very active, one lazy. And I'm okay with that. Zoey and I have our time when it's hanging out on the couch... Psyche, Crash and Simi and I bond over training, chuck it, swimming, agility, etc.

Honestly, before Crash came, my intention for when I moved out was to leave Zoey here at home and take only Psyche. Simply because having Psyche who's GO GO GO all the time and Zoey who's sleep sleep sleep all the time wouldn't mesh well with my life, because I love those go go go dogs. Not that I don't love Zoey, but I intend on having a lot more of those go go go dogs in my life, and Zoey just wouldn't enjoy it the more I got of them.

So yeah, long story, but two active dogs. Assuming they got along. Two active dogs who hate each other wouldn't be so much fun.

Depends on the day! Actually, I really don't know. There are benefits to having two dogs equally as active as one another, and there are benefits to having one that is high energy and one that is more laid back.

I like that my dogs can all go places together and keep up with one another, but I also like that if I want to take my highest energy dog out (Ripley) I don't really have to feel guilty about leaving my lowest exercise-needy dog at home (Dance). But, on the same token, I feel horrid when I leave Ripley at home alone when I want just a Dance day. It works well when I want to take everyone or when I want to keep the laid back dog at home, but when I want to take the laid back dog out I feel really guilty about it. I know she doesn't need it as much as he does.

As an aside, Dance is not lazy. But she doesn't crave exercise and attention the way Ripley does. She likes to do things and is active, but she's happy being a couch fixture too. Keira is inbetween both of them. She's nicer to live with when she's had a lot of exercise/when I keep her busy, but she is content to just stay home curled up in a cozy bed too.

So yeah, both have benefits and drawbacks. But for me it really doesn't matter. All of the breeds I like are high energy, so I guess I'm probably going to have multiple high energy dogs at once (unless I end up with another fluke like Dance). That said, I don't think I'd want more than three high energy needy dogs at once. Two I think is more ideal. Otherwise I might not be able to give everyone exactly what they need.

Argon is 1 step above dead as far as activity level is concerned. Literally, this boy has to be dragged outside to pee. Gambit is a wild man.

We make do. I think Gambit would like having someone a little more on his level, but it's not so bad.

I wouldn't call Bandit lazy. Just laid back. Two dogs like him or one with more energy is what I want in the future.

I would prefer 2 active dogs, in an ideal situation in which my active dogs liked each other and played together.

Well, I have two active.

Bailey is moderately high energy. He has a great off switch, and can take a day or so off, but by day 2 he needs exercise and training or he follows me around and stares at me, lol.

Grace is going to be pretty high energy (well, she already is ). Her breeder's dogs have good off switches and we are definitely working on that (along with a lot of other things!).

I don't want to jinx myself (B seems to be coming around to tolerating her for longer and longer periods) but I anticipate that they'll be close. She worships him for sure.

*I* couldn't handle two active dogs that didn't get along.

I would only take two active dogs if they were able to entertain each other somewhat - if they were the type of dogs that would actively play with each other. If I had to individually exercise two high-energy dogs, I don't think I could do it.

Missy and Jack are both moderate to low energy, and that's how I like it. Active enough to go hiking, go on long walks, etc, but low-key enough to just chill on the couch.

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

I'm glad someone appreciates my superior intelligence. :rofl1:

Somehow I read this as "interior intelligence" and was mightily confused!