We got our lovely boy, Boycie, from a rescue home one month ago. He is a 6 year old Bedlington Terrier, of very good and loving nature but also likes a good game of nip your ear and shred the dog toys.

Boycie is left alone in the house for 5 hours a day up to 4 times a week. As far as we can tell, he simply sleeps. A workman has also confirmed this, after expecting trouble but finding a snoring dog on his hands instead.

We picked Boycie because he is gentle and middle aged and quite independent in nature. He has settled in well but I have recently begun to wonder if he should have a doggie companion. I am not sure. Sometimes I imagine he seems bored. For example, when we are watching TV he quite often settles into his bed (in the room with us) but lets out a huge sigh. Is this a sign of bored resignation from our boy, I wonder.

If we had another dog/bitch, they would be great company for eachother, whether we are there or not. But would it encourage an otherwise well behaved dog to start getting boisterous? I have been the owner of 3 bitches before and saw how quiet they can be when on their own and how much more of a handful when together. I love his gentle nature and also enjoy having a house that is intact. Of course, if the best thing for Boycie is to have a chum, then the house can take it's chances, too bad, Boycie comes first.

So do you think Boycie would like a companion or is he quite happy being a spoilt 'only dog' with all the attention to himself?

Jenny

Personally, I'd enjoy Boycie as he is. That "sigh" sounds like a contented one to me :) If you get another dog he will have to share your attention and compete for top position... and if you get a bitch then he will have to settle for being hen pecked. Why not enjoy your boy for a while longer - you could end up upsetting the apple cart, which would be a shame as he sounds so happy :)

JMO
Chloe

Hi Jenny

I agree with Chloe - it sound's as if Boycie has a very contented life as he is :)

I was in a similar position to you about a year ago. We had a 5 year old male who was a joy to own but we thought it would be nice for him to have a pal. So we got him one !! Although they get on OK, it hasn't been the huge success we were expecting.
Obviously we wouldn't part with either of them now but there are many times when I've felt it would have been better to leave things as they were. Sometimes when you try to enhance something which is already good, it doesn't quite have the desired effect :D

Joyce

i too would agree that the sigh is him being happy...our dog gives a huge sigh before he falls asleep in his bed..dogs are happy as long as they are near you..it does not matter if you dont pay him attention all the time, infact he is probbably enjoying the piece and quiet after being in kennels waiting to be re homed! :)

I have worked with dogs and personally i do believe that dogs are happier dogs when they have a pal however they are better companions on their own! i have just made the leap of getting a pal for my 8yr old mini schnauzer and quite frankly he hates the pup! lol! he cant stand him..im hoping that he will like Monty more as he matures..he is a bit nippy at the moment (10wks old) and Boston my older dog does not like to be bit lol!

If i were you i would keep things as they are...he is more than happy and with all the stress he has had in his past he is probably thankful for having you!

Roxanne

Chloe, Joyce and Roxanne,

Thank you all so much for your replies. I have felt much better reading them and knowing that you all think Boycie is OK just with us. I would have got him a friend if that was the best thing to do, but I have to say I am quite relieved that you all think Boyice is happy enough living the spoilt and quiet life he now leads. I have worried so much about him being lonely or bored, which I never did when I had 3 together. But I am re-assured now that he is probably enjoying the fuss and undivided attention, not to meantoin a bit of peace and quiet.

We take him to the park twice a day, and depending on the time of day, he often gets to meet other dogs and play with them for a bit (off his lead, haring around, happily interacting). If that is good enough then I am happy to leave it at that too.

By the way, thanks for letting me know that his little sigh at bed time may mean he is content. That is good to know. He also makes strange whiney sounds (almost like a cry) when you play with him (gentle rough and tumble). Is this a good noise to make? Is it a 'I am having fun' noise, do you think? He wags his tail so I guess so. I have read two books recently about understanding your dog and they seem to have got me more confused than I was before.

One more thing that has confused me... sorry to waffle on so. He shows me his teeth a lot when I put my face up close and kiss him or talk to him. With my previous dogs, this would have been interpreted as a grin. But Boycie couples it with his cry noise or with a quick nip to your nose (very fast, teeth and gums showing). I wonder if this is meant to be a nice sign on his part or maybe he wants me to back off, get out of his face a bit?

Great to read all your replies. It has made me feel much better.

Jenny

I would have thought that the interaction he is getting at the park is more than enough. :) Sounds like your all really happy together and he is lucky to have found you!

In wouldnt worry about his whine when you play as long as there is nothing else he may be talking to you :)

however showing you his teeth is not nice! you have to remember that you dont know what happened before you go him. I think he is telling you to get out of his face..there are two main resons dogs do this. Somtimes if they are frightened they will do this to scare you off, obviousley if you dont move he has given you a little nip, he does not want to but feels like thats all he can do. Also its agresson, but if there is no growling with it its likley to be the other. Does he lift his lip up and down like a quiver almost? this is likley to mean he is a little scared, possibly not sure what to do, your best bet would be to reassure him and just back off a little...over time this will improve.

he sounds like a great dog and i think you both need to learn some boundaries that make you both happy. just continue to make him feel at home and fit him in to your life, gain his trust and love and im sure you will be able to play more and get up close with him after a while :)

Good Luck, Sounds like your great together and its really good that you have been reading (even tho i too have found it can be even more confusing!)

Just one more thing...do you know anything about his background? was he abused? abandoned? lost? he may not have had the socialistation or he may have never had as much attention paid to him...baby steps will get you there :)

Good Luck!

Roxanne

Roxanne,

Thanks for another great reply.

Yes, I think he is really happy and he is a lovely boy. I have been careful to set some boundries but have not followed all the rules. For example, he gets fed first because it is more convenient. If he was fed after us he would then be walked on a full tummy - not good. Also, he doesn't often sleep in his own bed. He prefers the sofa in the spare room. That's OK by me. I don't want to make a rod for my own back but also I don't want to go OTT with rules. I am in the process of teaching him some basic stuff such as sit, stay and walking on his lead nicely. We have got as far as sit so far plus we have house trained him and taught him to use his dog flap, which he loves. He has learnt well so far.

No, we don't know his back ground other than he was in a rescue home in Wales before being transferred to the rescue home in Kent.

I would hate to upset him or scare him, so thanks for replying about his teeth showing and nose nipping. Looks like I was right to be a bit concerned. I will make an effort not to get so close, at least for now. It's odd though because sometimes you kiss his face and he licks you back. Then other times he goes for your nose. No, he never growls or quivers his lips while doing it. That is why I was unsure of what he meant by it.

Yes you are right, we don't know what might have happened to him in the past. He is very sociable and seems to be very used to any person approaching him. I guess life in the rescue homes was like that though. He is very good with other dogs. Also he does the whole back rolling submissive thing a lot, with us and with other dogs. At first I thought this meant 'I trust you' but these books I have been reading are making it sound more like 'I am lower than you, do you like me'. That's has made me feel sadder about the behaviour now.

I like that fact that you mention that he maybe hasn't had this much attention before. I never thought of that. Maybe he simply doesn't know if he is coming or going. Bless.

Anyway, I will not get into his face so much and that should make him feel better. See how we go. He certainly is a one. I thought I knew dogs quite well, but he has me wondering quite often just what it is he is trying to say.

Thanks again for your help.

Jenny