One dog vs. two

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bex1984

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Stan is off on his second day of intensive socialisation today :) When we dropped him off, his breeder mentioned again about getting him a friend... (she knows of a potential one looking for a home, but it's a Westie X and OH 'Doesn't Do Westies')

Anyway. We were thinking of getting him a friend. Then we were thinking not. And I don't really know.

So, what would be the pros and cons? Specifically for a 16 month old terrierist who sleeps all day, plays ball obessively when out, and has occasional anti-social moments with big bouncy dogs. i would only get another small dog (small house - no garden, small car...etc).
Breeder thinks it will help him remember he's a dog? We sort of think he's happy as he is...
 
Hi Bex

I've got Millie a JRT and recently took on Suzy a lurcher, I decided to have Suzy for a number of reasons, both as company for Millie and also for me - Millie is fab but is not really cut out for obedience something i'd really like to do.

It (so far) has been brilliant, both get on like a house on fire, and Millie is far more chilled out (she was never too bad, but another dog means she's doing twice the amount of exercise on walks running around with suzy and playing during the day). I spent about 4 hours meeting Suzy for the first time at kennels (GRWE) before i brought her home, we have only had one spat when Millie played the whats mine is mine and whats yours is mine game. but other than that they play really nicely.

Cons wise - so far there have been very few (although i'm only 1 month in!) - but training wise i do have to spend time with each dog individually, so you may need to think about this. setting guidelines from day one. Both mine eat in the same room, but both have to wait until i give the command etc. and they under no circumstances go to the others bowl.

Maybe for Stan it would be a good idea to have a bitch, he (should) automatically be subordinate to a bitch and may make him more relaxed if he has someone to follow?

PS I love Stan - one of my favourite HHO dogs! maybe we'll bump into you one day if ever you go walking around bradgate park?
 
Thanks for your reply :) Breeder recommended a bitch too, for the exact same reasons as you have said.
I'm a bit ashamed to admit we've never been to bradgate park (I've been once, on my pony, slight brake failure - park deserted thankfully!!). We go to Fosse Meadows, Thornton Reservoir & Beacon Hill quite a lot :)
 
Ahh I love beacon hill, we go there regularly with the horses - great fittening hills to walk up! keep meaning to go to Thornton Resi - its literally down the road for me - but just never got round to it, if you're in that area, i'd really recommend Battram woods for walking too, its fab!

Best of luck if you do decide to get him a girl friend, let us know how you get on!
 
Until recently I had two dogs and they were fab together but the only thing I would say is that I now realise how useful it would be to have two ' similar' dogs exercise wise.

I had one couch potato who was happy to mooch and one who I love being able to walk ' proper'. They had different needs and couch potato was always fitted around.

I will deffo get another but am thinking it'll be another BM, even though I really want another BD as they are just ' my' breed.

If they are bessie mates its lovely and IMO two is just as easy as one.
 
Does Stan look really happy hanging around with his mates at his breeders? Or is he more of the 'I'll tolerate you lot but I'm not bothered with playing with you' type?

If he's the former and you'd actually like a second dog then I'd say go for it, if he's the latter and you're on the fence then it's probably not worth it. At least, that's how it seems to me from my armchair over here in cyberspace :D

We have two bitches and got the younger one when the older one was about a year old. Older dog is a really sociable type and at her happiest when hooning about with friends, so we knew a full-time friend would be brilliant for her. Not entirely sure we'd have bothered if she wasn't such a whore for doggy company, although we always planned to end up with two.

For me and the OH it means that the dogs have each other for company when we're not around, and it's lovely watching them play together. There is no extra hassle with two, beyond the finding the extra space for beds etc.

Finally, we were careful to choose another high energy dog - as much as I like small wiry terriers, we soon realised that our energetic labradoodle could drive one doolally!
 
I would never ever have a solo dog again after having my two terriers. I can't comment on bringing another dog into your situation now, as I'm no expert but I just wouldn't keep a dog on it's own again. My two adore each other and life is so much easier having two.

Who would have thought it, life easier with two than one? ;)
 
Two Dexter's dear lord, my nerves would not take it!!! LOL- but that is just him- just to play devils advocate though, what if Stan the man actively rejects a new "friend"?
 
There are a couple of factors and it depends on the individual dogs. We've had two extremes, dogs who have fought to the extent they've needed vet treatment/constant separation, and dogs who are so close they have bonded to the extent that they don't reckon we exist!

But generally I find two better than one.
 
Well, Stan has now done his second day at his breeders and has been much more laid back there this week. He has decided not to be scared of the Rottie x pup, although he isn't yet brave enough to play with her. He has been told off by his girlfriend there for running in and jumping on her (taste of his own medicine there!).

Apparently he played a bit, lay around for a bit, played a bit, ate a bit, lay around for a bit....last time played like a maniac all day long.

And then he did this all evening...
IMAG0202.jpg


I suspect that he's quite happy at home as he is at the moment TBH. Although he did try to get the cat to throw his toy for him this morning! We'll see how it goes over the next few visits to his breeder.
 
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