Adding a second dog?

WelshD

WelshD

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I'd like a second dog but my husband is worried about the family dynamics changing too much, he thinks that our well behaved (in the main...) terrier will be distracted or egged on by another dog and that we will end up with two badly behaved ones

We put a lot of training in to our dog and although I know we would work equally hard with a second one hubby seems to think that the two dogs will find companionship in each other and so not listen to us as much

I suspect he doesnt want to lose his very close relationship with our terrier who is devoted to him and thats part of the reluctance, discussions have been going on for over 6 months on and off

We are extremely lucky with our dog, he can be left for periods of time without being destructive, he isnt noisy, he travels well, he doesnt chase our sheep, he occupies himself when he is with us at our field for hours on end, plays gently, doesnt chase the cat etc.. but part of me does feel that we may not get so lucky next time round!

I am not working now till at least mid January so if we are going to get a youngster/rescue the time is probably right from a 'we can spend maximum time with it and bond with it now' point of view so discussions have been re-opened lol

What are peoples experience of adding a second dog?
 
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I would say get it. People make their animals behaviour and you have already made your dog into the well behaved well adjusted dog that he is. Your new one will learn off your existing one. I lost my old boy Boz this year, I got him at months old, he was fantastic, followed to heel from day one, came when called never chased sheep, was just a star. I then got a puppy, Poppy, he taught her everything, she became well behaved, a really lovely dog to have around, the two became inseperable. Then Boz died in April this year, i bought a puppy, Flodden, Poppy is now his mentor, yes she pretended he didn;t exist for a couple of weeks, and put him in his place if he dared become too obnoxious. Now the two are inseperable. Poppy has taught him to behave, he is easy to have around, calm, fun, not destructive.

So all your time and effort that you have put into your first dog, will transfer to the second. And if you are prepared to put in work on the new one as well then you will have two lovely well behaved, well adjusted dogs. Go for it, and your dogs will have even more fun. They don;t transfer their allegiance, but boy do they have fun with their furry friend.
 
WelshD said:
I'd like a second dog but my husband is worried about the family dynamics changing too much, he thinks that our well behaved (in the main...) terrier will be distracted or egged on by another dog and that we will end up with two badly behaved ones

We put a lot of training in to our dog and although I know we would work equally hard with a second one hubby seems to think that the two dogs will find companionship in each other and so not listen to us as much

I suspect he doesnt want to lose his very close relationship with our terrier who is devoted to him and thats part of the reluctance, discussions have been going on for over 6 months on and off

We are extremely lucky with our dog, he can be left for periods of time without being destructive, he isnt noisy, he travels well, he doesnt chase our sheep, he occupies himself when he is with us at our field for hours on end, plays gently, doesnt chase the cat etc.. but part of me does feel that we may not get so lucky next time round!

I am not working now till at least mid January so if we are going to get a youngster/rescue the time is probably right from a 'we can spend maximum time with it and bond with it now' point of view so discussions have been re-opened lol

What are peoples experience of adding a second dog?
Click to expand...

I agree with your husband, maybe not as drastic as he says, but the dynamics do change! I have 2 terriers and they are buddies, when one is out the other is then back to following me around.

An old farmer said to me when I was getting my second :-
"Own one dog and you have a dog, own two dogs and you have half a dog"

There is truth in this xx
 
From my experience, if your first one is well behaved then that is a good roll model and I would have no problems bringing in a second. To an extent the pack dynamics will change but only if you let them i.e. new dog is well at the bottom of the pack, fed last - it sits and watches older one eat and you feed a little of new ones feed out of the bowl to older one, older one is treated first etc etc - basic logic in training terms.

If you have the time to dedicate to train a second independently of the first, and spend time with the first dog apart from the second, then I don't think you will have an issue. You also have time now to do it, so I would go for it!

Providing you choose the type of dog properly i.e. not a huge big one when you already have a teeny one, and your first dog is not too old if you introduce a puppy, my experience is that you will be fine.

You may also find that the first one actually enjoys a different pack dynamic, being the boss over a younger dog and having a playmate....good luck.
 
Thank you all for your replies, I am slowly digesting the information :)

our dog is a Welsh terrier and four years old we spend a lot of time with him outdoors excercising him and playing interesting games, if we get a second dog it will probably be a terrier or small gun dog or a crossbreed along those lines
 
I got my second dog in April, Millie my JRT who I had had since the April before was pretty much devoted to me, and i did have some concerns that dynamic would be lost when Suzy my lurcher came along. However, Millie is still as devoted to me, and Suzy is actually slowly getting to that point too, but they also have each other to play with and interact, and I am so pleased i took the plunge!
 
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