Do you think dogs benefit from having canine company?

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FestiveBoomBoom

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Just wondering, do you think dogs are happier, more contented and it's good for their wellbeing etc if they have company at home? Ie you own more than one dog and they live in a family group - not necessarily related. Obviously there are plenty of people that only have 1 dog and I'm sure many of them are perfectly happy but, assuming they actually like the company of others, it's better for them?
 
I have one dog and I think he would be happier if he had a friend! He stresses when I go to bed (have a gate on my door so cat and bunny have somewhere quiet) and can't be left alone at all! Will be getting another dog eventually when even though I hate to think about it .. My cat dies :( she's getting on a bit now bless her and I don't think she could cope with another dog in the house!
 
My whole married life I have always had 2 or more dogs, dogs are pack animals and love the company of their own kind.

They dont tend to suffer from separation anxiety either which can only be a good thing.

I am not saying that everyone should have more than one dog as lots of dogs are only dogs and live quite happily with their owner but I think it just makes them more rounded.
 
I hev been wondering this a lot recently. Although Freddie seems happy enough (and gets our attention to himself!) I do wonder if he would be happier with another dog. Especially when he's always so happy to see our neighbours JRT and they play together for ages.

I also think it would help with his dog socialisation if he had another dog around. He can be a bit funny with other dogs (normally bigger ones, he loves little dogs), and we just don't see them enough - and if we do, its on a narrow track in a head-on which is never helpful!

Admittedly now isn't the best time/circumstance for two dogs but we are hoping to move by the end of the year and will have more space etc. Just need to work on the OH now...
 
I have always had more than 1 dog, I believe they are happier that way. Mine all pile into one large bed. Dogs/cats, everyone seems welcome, there is no fighting, they just snuggle up. They also eat together, from the same bowl.
 
I definately think they are happier in a pack. I only have one dog but he's too blooming human and clingy....unfortunately not in a place where I can have 2 at the moment.....
 
We started dog ownership with 2 (adult rescues) because we felt it would be beneficial to them with us out at work and most greyhounds are used to company while in kennels.

When 1 died, his brother seemed to cope ok being a singleton, but i noticed that he would try to engage with other dogs outside much more than he used to. We also didn't like being a 1 dog family so we adopted another, they aren't as close or play together much like with his bro but he is much more relaxed and quickly went back to his usual self on walks.
 
IMO it depends on the dog(s) involved!

I have one male who keeps himself to himself and has no interest in other canine company whatsoever - unless it is an in-season bitch! He would be VERY happy as an only dog. On the other hand, because he lives with a large number of other dogs, I have one bitch who is very full-on/in your face and she has for whatever reason latched on to him.....she has as a result FORCED him to interact with her and play, which I was never able to do. This has actually brought out a whole new dimension to his character! :D

My deaf spanner couldn't exist without the others to 'guide' him.

Generally speaking I think dogs benefit from other canine company.....now whether that is within their own home or outside is another matter. I know that some of my oldies have helped train the newbies much more quickly and effectively than I ever could!
 
Depends on the dog, but in general yes they thrive on canine companionship, learn and develop in ways that they would not as a lone dog. But some are rather happy without canine company.
 
Probably many of them do, but renting with one dog is tricky enough. Also, you need to be able to give them both time for separate training sessions, the bills are doubled etc etc.

Although it is worth making the occasional comment about a second dog, just for the look on the OH's face... I don't think he's keen on the idea:D
 
Think mine likes being the only dog at home, but he generally has company for walks/ in OH's work, which suits him well - own space/time with his people, and doggy company. When the dog numbers at OH's work reduced so he only spent time with a spoilt JRT, he seemed to miss them/looks miserable but when the labs are around he think it's perfect - always seems a bit more relaxed when he has his house all to himself!
 
In the past few years we've gone from being a one dog family to having three of them and we'd definitely not go back to having a single dog now.

We've got a really nice dynamic going with our three. The oldest dog is 12ish (rescue so we're not absolutely sure) and we've then got a bitch who is coming up to 4 years old and a 7 month old whippet pup. The whippet and the bitch play and cuddle together a lot and don't pester the 12 year old so he can join in as and when he feels like it.

The eldest is actually fear aggressive towards strange dogs and for years we never thought we'd be able to have another with him. We ended up trying him with a pup and although he wasn't over the moon with her he tolerated her and it wasn't long before he was rolling around on the floor playing with her, I might have had a bit of a cry at that as he was just so, so happy :o

Our bitch (who is really trainable and loves 'working') has made training the whippet boy very easy as well :D
 
I waited a long time to get a second dog because I wanted to tackle the first dog's ishoos first - I'm glad I did because training two at the same time would be a nightmare, it's such a relief to know that dog #1 will mostly just get on with it while I faff about teaching dog #2.

It's doubled the bills, doubled the training time, doubled the hair (oh sweet Jesus the hair :o) but it's the best thing we ever did, she is obviously much happier with constant company.

I'm not sure R is, he'd happily be an only dog but he puts up with being mauled around with good grace. :o
 
I also think it depends on the dog.My 2boys would hate being on their own where as my bitch has now thrived moving in with my parents and being the only dog. She loves the extra attention she doesnt have to fight for. Best decision I ever made letting them have her.
 
I had one on his own, Bosworth, the dog in my signature, he was my dog, I was the only thing in his world that mattered. I did get another Poppy as a puppy when Boz was 9. He liked Poppy, but his world still rotated around me. And he was happy on his own or with her. Bosworth died last year, Poppy was devastated, she had gone from her litter mates, to Bosworth so had never been an only dog. For a week she was depressed, she came with me and sat in on driving lessons for a week. Then the week after I collected Flodden my pup. Poppy was horrified, but he did make her stop being depressed, even if she just spent her time telling him off. Now they are best friends, they play like lunatics, they beat each other up, play chase, sleep together. They are the best of friends. i still take them both out as individuals, Flodden goes showing, so Poppy stays at home. But they are very much happier with each other around. Real shame as my partner has just decided we are splitting up, he wants Poppy. So they will have to be split, I have tried to argue the case for me having both but he will not listen. poor poor Poppy, as I know she will miss Flodden and my ex is not likely to get her a friend whereas I will get Floddette if I cannot have Poppy
 
Thanks CC, I am struggling to cope, I adore Pops but I bought her as a present for my Oh and legally I cannot force his hand. I am doing everything to make the break easier, i take Flodden teaching with me, he sleeps in my room and Poppy in my ex's. But its like love story every morning. That and losing a horse cos my Ex wants him too, putting my old boy to sleep as he is too old to move yards, losing my home of my dreams having worked like hell to renovate it is all pretty soul destroying. trying to get money to buy a home, but need a garden for Flodden and my sanity. Determined not to give Flodden Seperation anxiety its all getting a bit hard. Actually all that is far far worse than losing my partner.
 
H is so into humans, I think he likes being an only dog, or put it this way, I don't think he craves doggy company!! He loves a play and a walk with a dog out and about, but round the house, if we are visiting, or being visited by another dog, even one he knows really well, he couldn't care about it and just wants to be with me and my OH.

When H is older though, and we have a bigger house, we will be getting another.
 
My dog spent 5 years of his life with his brother but towards the end all they did was fight.
We took him on 1 year ago and he is so happy now. All his vices have gradually disappeared, his sociable with the horses, other dogs and behaves when left at home and down the stables.
We would love to get him a friend but we know he likes it on his own. He has to be top dog and what's all the attention.
 
Sorry, started then promptly disappeared from this thread! Interesting to hear everyone's views. I have to say I do feel a lot less guilty when we leave them to go to work knowing they have each other for company and they do have a lovely dynamic, I love watching them interact with each other. They are very close as a threesome and it's lovely to see.

Also, Bosworth, sorry to hear about your situation it must be very hard. I hope all works out well for you.
 
i can honestly say, my dog would not benefit from canine company!! :p she did until 17 months old, but now feels the need to dominate all other dogs. bitches are a no go, and i would have to be switched on supervising her with another dog at all times. she is very happy being the only dog- means she is boss (not over us though!) and doesnt need to prove it!

x
 
My Lily (dalmatian) loves other dogs but not in her own home... she sees lots of them at dog training or out for walks, with no probs, and we share a garden with my mum who has a collie and a spangle so has lots of playtime and doggie interaction. But when it comes to her house, I really don't think she'd want to share her space (or our bed) with another one and gets quite grumpy about toys and food bowls when the other dogs wander in (we are working on this!). Which is tough, because my OH does volunteer work with large breed dog rescue nr Maidstone (have a look if anyone is looking for a big friendly pooch to rehome http://www.largebreeddogrescue.com/our-dogs.php) and there is the odd one that I'm tempted to add to our menagerie!! Funnily enough, Lily expects to wander in to mum's house and eat all the dog nuts/steal the toys/jump on the sofa with no problems!!
 
I do quite a bit of dog sitting - visiting dogs stay with my own dogs in the "dog room", go for walks with my "pack" - nothing special.......but you wouldn't believe the number of people who say that their dogs get excited as they near my house or, if I collect them, how excited they get when they see me! But, as I've said, I do nothing special with them -I'm sure they just love playing and being with all my dogs! So, yes, I believe dogs enjoy having doggy companions!
 
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