Happy to be an only dog?

[Pr1nce]

I have a Border Collie and a GSD currently, sadly the GSD is getting on a bit (just turned 15) and i'm wondering how/if Jack will cope on his own...

He has never been an only dog and i'm worried he wont settle, i don't really want to get another if i can help it as 1 dog is so much easier to take out/have looked after etc

They are left for approx 3-4 hrs daily during the week between my husband going to work and me getting home, is it fair to him to be left on his own for this period? They don;t generally play together or cuddle up in the same bed but can quite often be found bottom to bottom on the sofa and he does seem very pleased to see Toby if i've taken him to the vets on his own

I know it's morbid to be thinking about but it's only a matter of time until it's upon us and i'd like to have a plan as the expected grief will no doubt fog my judgement at the time

Have any of you gone from multi to single dogs who have been happy with the transition and are ok being left while you are out at work?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I've gone from having two to one, three times in the past ten years or so and none have suffered any ill effect, including one who did not seem to miss a sibling

Try not to worry and enjoy the time you have left with your old fella, I am sure the collie will be fine.

 

[TGM]

I've just gone through this. Had a 13yo lurcher and a young whippet, and I did wonder how the whippet would cope being on her own when the lurcher was PTS but she is absolutely fine! To be fair, I work from home and am about most of the time, so usually she is only left for an hour or two. But the other night we went up to London for a meal and she was left for several hours and she wasn't worried at all, just curled up and went to sleep. It probably helps she is from a notoriously lazy breed though.

 

[Moobli]

I have found that my dogs are much more bonded to me than each other and even when I have lost a dog that seemed to have a close friend in the group, the one left behind showed no signs of missing the departed one. I hope you have plenty of time left with your old boy and I know you will treasure that time. See how your collie is once the old lad has gone and then make a decision, but I think you will find he will be fine.

 

[Clodagh]

As the others have said. When I split up from my first husband I bought my dog back to the UK with me and he kept his. Mine had always lived with his since I bought her home as a puppy yet she showed no ill effects at all.

 

[oldie48]

When our elderly BT was PTS, the remaining BT was fine although he'd always had company. I actually think he rather liked being the only dog in the house as there had always been a little bit of jealousy.

 

[pippixox]

My friend had 2 labs and the younger one had always had her for company since pup. When she was pts friend was worried how he would cope. Really didn’t seem to bother- if anything he was better as he had picked up on her reactivity and was bad with other dogs- this disappeared without her bad influence.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

My border collie adjusted very easily to being an only dog when our retriever passed away. He's generally very people-orientated though. I think he prefers being an only dog.

He did miss our cats though, the funny thing. He still whines if he sees a black and white cat. Not that the cats were ever particularly nice to him!

 

[skinnydipper]

I have recently had 2 dogs PTS, both had cancer. My remaining dog has adapted well and enjoys having all the attention.

He is only left on his own for very short periods but I dare say he would be fine to be left for a bit longer. When I go out and OH is home, Sully lies behind the front door waiting for me but he did this when he had the company of other dogs.

 

[SusieT]

Yes I'd have no problem leaving a dog for that length of time.

 

[[59851]]

My WCS was 15 months old when I had my terrier PTS, he didn't even miss him, he seems to enjoy being the only dog as he has us to himself, he's no problem at all if we leave him for a few hours to go for a meal or shopping etc - just sleeps in his crate - his choice, he has the run of the house!!

 

[niko]

I have a GSD and lost my border collie to old age at Christmas. The border collie was 13 and shepherd rising 4. After a week or so she was fine & think ebjoys being the only dog. I am a groomer & work from home so she's never really alone. Plenty of exercise then sofa time & a chew I think she relishes the attention. I have no plans for another dog with a 2yr old & 5mth old I don't have time to train it as I would like.