Second dog inquiries

[Zhucca]

Alrighty. Just wanted to get something that I've been ruminating about out there and get some advice.

I'll be going to school coming this fall, and I'll be setting up for the long haul whereas school is concerned. This school year will be considerably easier than any other year. Since my plan is dental school, I'm looking at 8yrs of full-time school. While I'll be relying on school loans a lot, I'll also be working as much as I possibly can. So this is kind of a shitty situation for Duke. I'm really worried on how I might be potentially neglect him where time and exercise might be concerned. So I was considering adding a second dog this summer/fall (likely a puppy) because this is truly the only year where I could feasibly raise a puppy. I'm doing upgrades and pre-reqs for this year, so I won't be fully immersed into a degree (whether it be my B.S years or DDS years).

So I was thinking that maybe having a friend with him will help out with him being left alone more often. Obviously I will try to spend as much time with him as possible, but little things help like that. He's not much for strange dogs, he likes his long term friends. He has a bit of separation anxiety and having a buddy to hang out with he always seems a lot calmer than if I leave him by himself. I think the biggest con would be finding a place to live when I have to move to a different city for dental school, but really that's already an issue with 1 dog. I know Chaz has a lot of people in school with dogs, so I'm really anxious to hear your first hand experience with that and if you think adding a second dog would be a good idea. Maybe two dogs will add too much work load? Duke is an easy dog to begin with. I'd love to have a second dog and I think he would benefit in this situation by having a friend.


I think I'd be more inclined to stick to medium to small breeds. I'm primarily looking at another Lab, Toller, Finnish Lapphund, or a Border Terrier. Maybe I can make this a dual-purpose thread? Breed suggestions perhaps? Here's a list of things I find important in a dog.
>Max of 60lbs
>Coat must be easy maintenance, no curly coats, no breeds that require regular professional grooming. No super heavy shedding (like a husky)
>I like quieter dogs, but can handle guard barking. I don't like barking because the fridge made more ice cubes.
>Love people and not prone to suspicion (where tollers might lack, not all have that demeanor)
>High energy where they can go all day, but have a superior off switch. Duke can hike for 8hrs one day and sleep all day the next without a hitch. This is more of an adult trait than I think a breed one, I suppose.
>Laid-back, not highly sensitive. I don't really like soft dogs.
>Dog friendly, or at least not prone to DA/DR/SSA.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I don't have personal experience with it, but am in somewhat of a similar situation.

I am getting through college little by little (LOL, it's taken me a lot longer than planned) but still living at home. So that works in my favor.

Jackson is going to be 5 this year :yikes: and I just don't want that window of time to pass where I feel it's fair to him to add another puppy, ya know? To be perfectly honest, for the MOST part, now is the time I should be adding another one if I'm ever going to. Like you said, my course load is still fairly easy and I have a really great part-time job as far as hours go. I could easily take care of another pup at this point in my life, and I know in a few years, it's not going to be that way. I'll be working full-time, etc. Now would be the time to settle in a new dog, get trained, etc.

But, it's just very... easy with one. And I'm not sure I want to complicate things anymore than I have to. I think if I lived alone though, and was settled in my own place, I'd be more inclined to add another. And while I know Jackson would love to have a buddy, I'm not sure it's THAT big of a deal. I mean, when I sleep over at my dads house, with the other 2 dogs, it's not like they even play with each other that much. And he's still just as much of a pest (to me) haha. And when we leave, they all just sleep. I'm sure the company is nice for them all. But to be perfectly honest? I think they all would be okay as single dogs (well, and Jackson is 75% of the time). I think you have to determine if you think Duke would even really enjoy the addition or not. I guess sometimes you never know. I go back and forth with Jackson... sometimes I feel he'd be happier, sometimes I think maybe he wouldn't so much. That's my own personal hesitation.

But I really think getting a dog for YOU should be #1. Think about yourself, and why YOU want another dog. Not necessarily just for Duke, ya know? If you think you will barely have time for one, think about having that amount of time for two....

But basically I understand where you're coming from. I think I would maybe feel less guilty if Jackson had a friend, and we decide to have a few lazy days... at least I know he'd have another dog?

But I do think getting a dog for yourself vs. getting a playmate for your current dog should come into play first.

 

[Zhucca]

I don't have personal experience with it, but am in somewhat of a similar situation.

I am getting through college little by little (LOL, it's taken me a lot longer than planned) but still living at home. So that works in my favor.

Jackson is going to be 5 this year :yikes: and I just don't want that window of time to pass where I feel it's fair to him to add another puppy, ya know? To be perfectly honest, for the MOST part, now is the time I should be adding another one if I'm ever going to. Like you said, my course load is still fairly easy and I have a really great part-time job as far as hours go. I could easily take care of another pup at this point in my life, and I know in a few years, it's not going to be that way. I'll be working full-time, etc. Now would be the time to settle in a new dog, get trained, etc.

But, it's just very... easy with one. And I'm not sure I want to complicate things anymore than I have to. I think if I lived alone though, and was settled in my own place, I'd be more inclined to add another. And while I know Jackson would love to have a buddy, I'm not sure it's THAT big of a deal. I mean, when I sleep over at my dads house, with the other 2 dogs, it's not like they even play with each other that much. And he's still just as much of a pest (to me) haha. And when we leave, they all just sleep. I'm sure the company is nice for them all. But to be perfectly honest? I think they all would be okay as single dogs (well, and Jackson is 75% of the time). I think you have to determine if you think Duke would even really enjoy the addition or not. I guess sometimes you never know. I go back and forth with Jackson... sometimes I feel he'd be happier, sometimes I think maybe he wouldn't so much. That's my own personal hesitation.

But I really think getting a dog for YOU should be #1. Think about yourself, and why YOU want another dog. Not necessarily just for Duke, ya know? If you think you will barely have time for one, think about having that amount of time for two....

But basically I understand where you're coming from. I think I would maybe feel less guilty if Jackson had a friend, and we decide to have a few lazy days... at least I know he'd have another dog?

But I do think getting a dog for yourself vs. getting a playmate for your current dog should come into play first.

We definitely seem to be in the same situation. Your worries are pretty much mine. I guess I should more so focus on why I would want a second dog. I can take care of a second dog easily, and in the end I think dog would either be neutral or content with a second buddy. He really does seem happiest when I have Boomer. Maybe that's just for Boomer though, since they've been raised together. Perhaps it's grasping at straws to hope that he'll have the same bond with a new dog.

I do think I'd love to have another dog. I just need some pros and cons to really weigh it out.

 

[HayleyMarie]

Well I am not in school or anything like that, but I can comment of how a dog might change Duke's life while you are away or even when you are home.

I know that Teagan prefers living with another dog, I can say right now without another canine companion she is a lot lonelier. And instead of spending her days laying around she would be spending her days playing or just chilling out with the other dog, but in saying that when we are not home she will never be allowed free roam with the other dog. BB pup is always going to be locked up in a kennel when we are not home, but I know even just having a companion near by helps.

When we are around other dogs that Teagan is familiar with she is a much happier dog.

 

[Zhucca]

Thanks so much for your insight, Hayley. I'm still pretty torn. I know I'll have trouble dividing my time for one dog, so it doesn't seem fair to add another. But on that note; two dogs are good to entertain each other. I would also really like another dog. I'm afraid that Duke may not take a liking to the new dog as much as I want him too. Maybe shooting for the same bond he has with Boomer would be unrealistic.

 

[Toller_08]

Part of the reason I enjoy multiple dogs is because they can sort of entertain eachother if I'm too busy/sick/tired/whatever. Obviously that's not their only source of activity, but it does certainly come in handy.

None of my dogs are particularly dog oriented, but they all really enjoy those that they live with. Dance is my my most non-doggy dog in that other dogs often annoy her and she really couldn't care less about playing with other dogs, but it doesn't matter how many dogs have come home since I got her, she ends up loving them all and snuggles and plays with all of them. She loves being an only dog on occassion too, but I notice after a week or so that she starts acting a little lonely and out of sorts and is always super thrilled to see her friends at home again. Actually, come to think of it, Keira really isn't much of a doggy-dog either. She never plays with strange dogs and spends most of her time telling other dogs to leave her alone and keep their antics to themselves. But she likes living with the dogs she knows and lives with. It takes her a few weeks to warm up to a new addition, and then she's quite happy to have their company it seems. And even when I'm at work and my dogs are at home, I feel better knowing that eventhough most of them are seperated from eachother in crates, they're still around eachother and know they're there rather than just sitting around all alone.

Part of the reason I wanted a puppy this year is that I also plan on going back to school, and I knew realistically that this was going to be the best time for me to add a puppy. My next four years or more, while I know I'll be able keep my adult dogs happy, would not be very ideal for puppy raising since they need just that much more time and attention. And on the days that I am super busy, while my dogs might not get quite as much activity as they do now, I'll still be able to make time for them. I figure even with one dog I'll have to (and want to) make time for her, so a second dog really wouldn't get in the way of that (and it didn't) and then it provides extra company for both dogs (when I move out on my own) too.

So, while it's not an easy decision one way or the other really because everyone's situations are a little different, I think adding a second dog likely would not be to the detriment of you, Duke or the new dog and might even be a good thing.

 

[xpaeanx]

I tend to prefer having 2 dogs over just having 1, although 1 defiantly is A LOT easier. But adding another dog always has to be because you really wanted another, not because you feel guilty over your other dog.

another thing to consider is how long the puppy will need more exercise, until 1, 2, 3 years old? Maybe more? That depends a lot on breeds and lines. So, if you only have 1 year free would it be easier for you to add a 1-2 year old dog now so they are more mature and settled down by the time you get busy?

There are also other options for things to duke with Duke, daycare on some days or play dates or if you have another busy friend with a dog you can watch her dog for a day or two on her busier days and then she can watch duke for you for a day or two on your busier days. I did this last last year with Muffin & Walsh, I had one 13 hour day so my friends would watch my dogs that day. They got more attention and I was able to not stress as much.

Any choice can be made to work, just make sure you weigh all the options and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.