What are people's opinions on having either one dog or two? I am currently looking for my second, as one.......I just want another! there were two breeds I really wanted and now I have one, the other will be the icing on the cake for me. Two.......I thought another dog would be great company for the one I have.

Are most dogs happier to have a canine member in their family or would you say they don't really care? My dog seems to adore other dogs and is happy to see and play with all dogs he meets.....but would he prefer to have another in his home as well? he is just over 9 months so will be around a year I expect before I bring home his "brother"

> What are people's opinions on having either one dog or two?

Speaking for myself, 2 just isn't enough!  :-)  :-)  :-)

My dog was 4.5 years when we got our pup and I'm convinced he kept waiting for the 'shark toothed hooligan' to go home - I'm sure he thought he was only here for a holiday!! 

The pup is now 19 months old and my eldest has just been away for an extended holiday to my mother in law (it was due to be a short holiday but they got snowed in, then something else happened so he was actually away for a month).  We missed him terribly but I'm not convinced that either dog was very bothered about each other being absent.  My eldest is used to short holidays with 'Grandma' but as the youngest has never been an only dog I thought he might get lonely or bored - turns out he's quite relaxed in his own company when he has to be and he is much more attached to me than his canine pal...

They are great together but don't seem to have a huge emotional attachment.  After 5 minutes of enthusiastic greeting between people and dogs it was business as normal.

One dog can be easier for sure but I'm very happy with two.  What else are my two arms for???  Saying that though I'd still wait a while to add another.  If it were me, I'd wait til my youngest was at least two.  After all the puppy stuff, he's really maturing into a fine dog and all the effort we put in is being paid back in spades - I'd be unwilling to spoil this rather special time :)

> Speaking for myself, 2 just isn't enough!  :-)  :-)  :-)

You will also have to speak for me as well in that case :-D

Obviously you will have to take a few things into consideration;

Are the breeds compatible?
Dog or Bitch?
Exercise/ Training requirements
Space/ time
Temperament/Age of your current dog.

And I am sure many other things that I have overlooked at this time of night :-D

If you let us know the breeds we may be able to offer more constructive advice :)

IME two or more dogs are better than one they do enjoy having the doggy company.

> They are great together but don't seem to have a huge emotional attachment

Really, I don't find this at all with mine, they hate to be seperated. The two girls especially with the pup (9 mo) if he has been to vets or out without them he has to have a thorough checking over and kisses when he gets back, and they are very gentle with him and each other they adore each other and they all always sleep together.

I don't know if it is breed specific but the two girls were like this with the terrier we lost in 2007, they looked for him at the door for several months after we had him PTS and were very down in the mouth for a while without him.

Well, speaking as possibly the newest person on here to have the joy of two dogs (he spent his first full day with us yesterday), I'd say two is more than twice as good. Our two are the same breed (WSS), 16 months and 10 months respectively, and very different personalities (one shows, one works...when he feels like it) and I have been cracking up today watching the pair of them...way better than actually doing any work. On the plus side, the older lad has always been a poor eater, but Jack "who ate all the pies?" has really been the best incentive he could ever have--if he doesn't get in there quick there might be nothing left! A bit of a tense moment between them sharing a bed (yes, ok, my bed), but when I woke up they were both sound asleep starfished out on the bed which explains why I had the edge of the bed...not complaining--I'd be happy to do this all the time if it means having two happy dogs.

I haven't told my son yet, but have been thinking about no. 3...and putting the television up for adoption.

> I haven't told my son yet, but have been thinking about no. 3...and putting the television up for adoption.

Lol, and when you have number 3 you will be thinking about number four. :)
I find a good idea is to discuss the max number you can have with OH, then double it ;)

ive three and my oldest was 3 1/2 when i got my 2nd and it took awhile for them to get along.
My 2nd was 17 months when i got the new pup whos now 13 months.
they get on great.
Mu oldest seems to be waiting for the next one but OH has said no more ( until we get a bigger house / garden )
So i have :

one whos 6
ones whos 2 1/2
and one thats 13 months.

Hard work but i woulndt be without them now.

I would never have just one again. 

They are social creatures, and I feel solely human company is denying them something basic.

From a selfish view point I know they are not lonely when I can't be with them.

I do believe though that a decent age gap of around 3 years is best.

Since 2003  have had up to five permanent residents(went down to 3 when oldest two died).  I Currently we have an 11 year old, one 9, one five, a two year old and baby of 6 1/2 months.

> Speaking for myself, 2 just isn't enough!  :-)  :-)  :-)

Totally agree with JeanSW, I have 6, they're great company for one another.

Once you get past 2 you don't notice all the extra dog hair, chewed furniture, dirty paw marks etc etc :-p

> They are great together but don't seem to have a huge emotional attachment.

Funny how they can all be so different, if mine get seperated there's lots of distress shown. If one for whatever reason has to go to the vets or groomers the others whine and bark until their pal returns. The worst one is the GR but that could because she's upset at missing out on a car ride :-D

I too would never have just one dog again - currently have 4 who adore being with each other and will often piled on top of each other when snoozing!

> Once you get past 2 you don't notice all the extra dog hair, chewed furniture, dirty paw marks etc etc

Very true :) :)

Same with gotta walk one - walk 2 or more :)

Multi dog household here :-p  Usually three, sometimes four but always at least two!

I wouldn't go back to one again if I could help it.  When one of my girls was temporarily with a friend just over a year ago the other one was definitely lost without her (at that time we were briefly down to onlytwo dogs).  When reunited they were sooooo excited to see one another - but even more keen on the little ragamuffin that came along too :-D

I'd suggest for ease of life your second dog is of the opposite s@x, ideally that both breeds are of similar size when mature and also that you've got your existing dog fully trained in all departments before taking on another.  It's much more difficult to go through the Kevin stage with two at the same time as they quickly bond to one another and we humans just don't cut the mustard in the excitement stakes.

HTH, Teri

Hi Bichona,

We have 3 - hopefully soon to be 4 - and if I had my way, I'd have even more. Ours all get on so well, its an absolute joy to see my Cavalier and Samoyed chasing each other round the lounge. They bond so well, they're partners in crime and I dont think I could ever have just the one dog.

What breed are you thinking of getting then? Is it a Bichon you have at the mo?

I always have at least two. I like my dogs to have each other. But at the moment I have a small dog and a medium  size dog and they don't always get on, the small dog always trying to be boss. So maybe having two who are close in size is better.

I don't think it's just a matter of close in size, I think close in 'type' is just as important - or perhaps even more so.

Just to pluck two examples, a Boxer may be a similar size to a Collie, but would be likely to have a very different attitude and playing style, and would not necessarily 'gel'.

M.

I've not had just one dog for many years - I was up to five at one stage, but am now down to three. Although I wouldn't have missed having the gang, it's really nice when we just take one out with us! It's much more relaxed, and you find you're welcome in more places (pubs etc) with a single dog than if you have a group of them.

That said, if you're going to get another (and there are definitely good times to be had with a duo!) then wait until your first dog is fully adult and as well-trained as you want him to be (probably about 2 years old) before you get another one, or you might find that he regresses in his behaviour.

What is he like when other people's dogs come into your house?

>> They are great together but don't seem to have a huge emotional attachment.
> Funny how they can all be so different, if mine get seperated there's lots of distress shown

I often wondered if it's because my eldest was an only dog for longer (4.5 years) that he doesn't see the need for another!!  It may just be personality too, he hates to be disturbed when sleeping and has always discouraged the pup from being in/on the same bed as him and he is a more independant dog anyway...

The pup surprised me though, he's used to having days/trips away when we show him but never longer than a night or two.  I really thought that over the month he would show very obvious signs of missing his pal but no.  In fact he demonstrated what a laid back, relaxed, confident dog he is - it was really interesting to see him as an only dog for a while.  Could it also be because mine are boys and quite different breeds/temperaments?

I am down to one dog for the first time in many years and it is a mixed blessing.  Outside the home, visiting, holidaying etc one is so much easier but inside the home one can be lonely and more dependent and, I don't feel, has the full experience of living life as a dog :-)

Ok...stable door and bolting horse come to mind. One was more than he bargained for, but to be fair he was very good about it, but when it got to two I decided I'd rather have the dogs than the discussion! Best decision I've made in years.

>>> They are great together but don't seem to have a huge emotional attachment.
>> Funny how they can all be so different, if mine get seperated there's lots of distress shown

> I often wondered if it's because my eldest was an only dog for longer (4.5 years) that he doesn't see the need for another 

That's a very good point.

I got girl no 2 when no 1 was 6 mnths, no 2 was about the same age (rescue), no 3 came along when 1 and 2 were 8 years and very steady,
4 and 5 came along as pups together when no 3 was 2yrs and no 6 joined us last week and he's 10 and my only boy.

So all of mine have always had somebody else in their lives from an early age except the boy and as he's a rescue also I don't know alot about him other than he likes dogs, which is just as well considering :-D

Thanks for all the replies!
My current dog is a male Bichon and my second would be a male toy poodle. (have a great groomer plus I love doing it myself so that's all sorted) My little one is only 9 months old at the moment but such a lovely little dog.......I was told bichons were difficult to house train but I never had a problem with him, he did tend to "hump" a certain other dog when we took him to "puppy parties" but he is so much better now. He learnt all the basic stuff like sit, stay, down, leave it, really quick.........he's not perfect with that unless there is a treat available......then he does it before the word is out of your mouth!
We have not had another dog visit the house so don't know any reaction to that. I read that poodles were quick to learn too.......so was hoping if I did their training seperatley, then tried them both together it would be good fun! i'm a glutton for punishment that way but I adore little dogs as I love to teach them to do little tricks like dancing round and round and rolling over etc. My bichon does all his tricks for his groomer before she gives him a treat when she has finished him.

Would the training he has just get lost if we had another puppy around? I know they'd probably ignore us and run round the garden together chasing but thought it would still be possible to calm them down and teach them both on their own. Something I need to think about I guess.

My other half rather fancied a yorkshire terrier as opposed to the poodle......I do love them too, my mum had one when I still lived at home and he happily chased and played with the labrador......wonderful little dog.  That breed would be my only other choice.......but I would prefer the poodle.......guess I like fluffy dogs, though mine spends half his life pretty scruffy as he loves mud and walking through the woods! typical.

Ive got two and given half a chance Id have three!! Two is not much different than one you still have vet bills, kennels ect but lots more fun and you see them react with one another which is great. Pup or older?

I would be getting a puppy.

> Would the training he has just get lost if we had another puppy around?

Yes, it most probably would. 
I think there are other benefits to having a bigger age gap too as this thread has touched upon.  It is not good to have a dog very dependent on another any more than it is to have dogs very dependent on their owner.  There will be times when you have to seperate them for vets visits, showing, training whatever and ultimately you will lose one before the other.  Better all round to have them at least 2 years apart. 

We currently have 3 dogs and 1 pup in the house.
1 dog is mine, 2 my sister and the pup my fathers.
The 2 older ones have no interest in playing with other dogs and no real interest in interacting with any of the other dogs in the pack. They are 6 and 7 and never played with each other. Far too independent to care for other dogs.

My boy is nearly 2 and the pup is 3 months, they play all the time and have a ball. My boy is very sociable with other dogs and just loves to play with whoever he can.

I am hoping to pick my pup up in 7 weeks time, though not seen the litter yet and just waiting for the time and then will decide if i like what i see. I am very excited. It will be the same breed i currently have right now. Fallen hook line and sinker for them.

I do also agree that you have to look into the breed and sex of the breeds to make sure they will be compatible.
We have one bitch who has been spayed and currently don't have the set up to have another bitch, so not even a consideration, love the males and will continue to have them.

> One was more than he bargained for, but to be fair he was very good about it, but when it got to two I decided I'd rather have the dogs than the discussion! Best decision I've made in years.

Oh how very familiar this is!!

Had a bit of a threat many years ago.  "Any more dogs and I'm going"

I looked into three pairs of brown eyes and said "And we'll miss him won't we!"  :-)  :-)  :-)

Have more than three now!  And nobody to say I can't!

I only have the one.  Would love more, i'm always looking on the BC rescue site. But have to stop myself as the worry of vets bills and insurance is just to expensive for me to cope with.

> Once you get past 2 you don't notice all the extra dog hair, chewed furniture, dirty paw marks etc etc :-p
>

Another bonus!  Once you EVENTUALLY get to sit down in the evening - after all the hard work.  While you're sprawled on the sofa, the gang are all laid out on the floor, and it's wall to wall dog.  Nobody can even see that you were too tired to vacuum the carpet!   LOL  :-p

LOL
Jeansw.
so true.

Bichona - are you sure that you haven't got room for 3 ? A bichon ,a poodle and a yorkie  ?

> While you're sprawled on the sofa, the gang are all laid out on the floor, and it's wall to wall dog. Nobody can even see that you were too tired to vacuum the carpet! LOL :-p

OK so just where is your spy camera in my lounge :-D

One saving in grace in my house, NO CARPET TO HOOVER downstairs ;)  and no it's not because the dogs ate it :-p  we're all tiles downstairs so I can go round collecting the piles of hair that collect in all of the corners, soon I'll have enough to knit another dog :) :)

We have just two lovely girls here,they love each other to bits,but can also do without each other at times if one has to go to the vets or elsewhere.
One is 3yrs and one is 2yrs old.
I would dearly love another girl now, but hubby is being stubborn,i need to work some more on him. I usually win in the end if i stick at it.

> I would dearly love another girl now

OH would have another Golden tomorrow, they are his special love, mine is Shelties, when we went to collect our rescue Sheltie boy last weekend OH said to me 'if there's any Goldens you do know we'll be coming home with two'    In our house I have to put the breaks on him.

I notice you 'van' with your girls, we're avid vanners too, all our dogs have got the vanning bug and the new one will aquire it too. When I've got my picture bucket thing sorted I'll put some vanning pics on. :-D

If we didnt have the van Pinky he would have one tomorrow. its just the room in the van he worrys about with two big girls,then adding another.
He fusses,it wouldnt bother me. No children to worry about now so plenty of room.

> soon I'll have enough to knit another dog :-) :-)

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

> I usually win in the end if i stick at it.

goldie you just brought back memories!  Many years ago, when I was married, our next door neighbour died.  I was amazed that none of his kids took in his much loved dog.  They were all grown up, married and about my age.

They gave me a key to the empty house, and asked me to pop in (she had nobody else in the house, it was empty.)  Hubby said I couldn't have another dog, so I used to take her back to her house to sleep at midnight, and fetch her into my house first thing in the morning.  They had only instructed me to feed her and let her out, poor mite.

After 8 weeks I got a phone call to say they had found her a home.  Hubby was hard, so I had to tread carefully.  He came in the room just as I put the phone down.  I was crying, and he asked what the problem was.  I told him they had found a home for Judy, and sobbed "but I love her now!"

He said phone them right back and tell them you're keeping her, you've looked after her long enough!

:-)  :-)  :-)

AND.. during the winter when its colder.. you have a spare dog to throw on the bed :-)

> its just the room in the van he worrys about with two big girls,then adding another.
>

When we started vanning about 8 years or so ago we only had the GR and BC, when the weather is good they've always slept in the awning but if it's been cold and wet they come in the van at night, the carpets get covered with loads of old towels and you just have to be careful if you get up in the night for a tinkle not to tread on a dog. :(

As our doggy numbers have increased we've just carried on in the same way. It was the pups first vanning season last year and they loved it the awning is a very useful piece of kit, it acts as a giant play pen when we're in the van and can't watch them.

This year should be good with 6 dogs!!! :-D

> I was crying, and he asked what the problem was.  I told him they had found a home for Judy, and sobbed "but I love her now!"
>

Awwwww,  I'd be like you too after all of that looking after I wouldn't have been able to let the little waif go.

We have four dogs and I could not imagine ever having just one (I only ever had just one dog for the first two weeks, when we added another). They enjoy each other's company, those that want to be left alone can do that, those that want to play can do that, they are like four brothers and get on very well.

Vera

Hi Bichona

I saw your latest post on the Searching page about pups due soon - have you decided to go ahead?  We haven't persuaded you to wait a while then!! :)

I certainly gave it a lot of thought.
What I did was asked a lot of other Bichon owners at what age was their first Bichon when they got another dog......lots of people said they got their second before the first was even a year old and none seemed to have major probs. The only thing people have told me is that they did the training seperately....or they otherwise got distraced (which is to be expected with two young dogs)
So with that........I have decided to go ahead. If my dog I have now was not so easy, or not completely housetrained then I would of definately reconsidered. I am at home all day so can at least nip any bad behavious in the bud.
I guess by the end of the summer I will be calling them the terrible twosome!

Just remember that every dog is different , and just because you have had one easy one doesn't mean that the next one will be !!!!

My oldest dog is a dream dog and I couldn't wish to have a better dog - my youngest dog is the son of satan :-)

Harley lol lol my oldst dog is also a dream girl ,i love her so much (i do all my dogs but she is my girl;)  )  the other 2 are well very good ,but our youngst girl is the daughter of satan lol but she is only 4months lol :)

> So with that........I have decided to go ahead. If my dog I have now was not so easy, or not completely housetrained then I would of definately reconsidered. I am at home all day so can at least nip any bad behavious in the bud.

Best of luck than as you will be needing it. I would never sell a puppy to someone who had a very young dog already, as the newcomer & cause the older one to regress to puppyhood. Some Bichons are a nightmare to house train & I know of some who at the age of 5 still are fully reliable

Yes I do know of some people with Bichons that have been difficult to house train. Then again i've known a few people with other breeds who they seem to have a great problem house training.
I think it depends on who you speak to as I have spoken to a couple of Bichon breeders and they do not understand why some people have problems.....I do realise I may have just been really lucky but my boy was a doddle.....or maybe I just don't find it a problem to be constantly watching a young puppy.

Does anyone have any idea why a Bichon would be more difficult to house train than any other breed? after all they are just another dog, not a different species.

It's not set in stone that I will be getting my puppy in the next couple of months, i'm actually wondering if I might prefer an adult around two years old or so.......though finding one of those seems to be impossible.......i'm giving it all great thought.

>> Does anyone have any idea why a Bichon would be more difficult to house train than any other breed? after all they are just another dog, not a different species.

I haven't a clue, except that I've been told this by both pet owners & breeders alike

That's really odd isn't it!