Hiya..... I currently have an 18 month old retriever bitch. This last weekend I have been looking after my parents Westie, although once she had left my retriever was left wimpering for a good hour. This has made me think whether it would be a good idea to get another bitch/dog to keep her company. Currently she spends just under four hours alone each day due to my work commitments and my other half working full time. We have looked at the extra costs involved which isnt an issue and if we have enough space, which again isnt an issue.

Im not asking how to suck eggs i just would like to know whether 'company' is a big deciding factor in my dogs happiness and what type of dog I should look to purchase. Do I get another bitch or get a dog? Do I buy the same breed?

Your opinions would be much appreciated

Thanks, Tim

Ahhhhhhhh........bless X.

Yes, 2 are better than 1 without a doubt and if you can afford it, why not?

Im not asking how to suck eggs i just would like to know whether 'company' is a big deciding factor in my dogs happiness :-D

I think your dog has answered your question for you, in whimpering when your parents Westie left. I've seen plenty of GR's as lone dogs so yours would get used to it, I have no doubt, but I personally think gundogs love company.

It depends on room, (which you say is fine) and how you feel about starting all over again with the training etc if you were to get a pup,  Ideally having to leave a pup for 4 hours a day isn't a great start for a pup really, it would need to be crated or in a segregated part of the house for protection being so small until of an age when your GR and pup would be calm around each other.

At the age of 18 months you could get a dog or a bitch there is a large enough gap not to cause any heirarchy issues, though it is never a guarantee. I would personally get another GR or another gundog to go with your girl, or as a thought how about looking at rescue though it may be touch and go at getting two characters to gel.

Your GR certianly won't be opposed to company and if you are prepared for it too, then yes go ahead.

Not all dogs need another dog tho' :) Our older dog would be quite happy as an only dog :D

Daisy

Thanks for the replies. If im honest i think i have already made up my mind:rolleyes:

Although I do take on board the part about not leaving a pup on his/her own for 4 hours a day. I have the crate from when i trained my GR (lot less effort with the initials lol). Does anybody know a rescue centre where i could find a retriever, this may be a better option and solve the 4 hour issue, icant imagine any RSPCA centres having one...although another option is to take her down to the RSPCA and see if we can find a match (so to speak) with another breed, My preference is another goldy or labrador

Tim

If you want to rescue a specfic  breed then you can get in contact with breed rescues.  I tend  to find these a much better way to go if your looking for another dog and you know what breed you want.  So if you know you want another goldie or a lab and you wouldn't mind considering a slightly older rescue then get in contact with rescue co-ordinaters.  I'm sure they would only be too happy to help you find a dog that will get on with your current GR and you aswell.

I know on thursday, though rescue, we are hoping to be re-homing a 9 year old bitch as long as she gets on with the new owners current dogs.  :)  Breed rescue does do a great job matchinghome plus they specilise in the breed and know what's best for the breed.

Thanks Rox, im off to google them now........ just out of curiousity, the flat coat retriever is the most common retreiver isnt it? or are flat/curly coats specialist breeds alongside the normal breed?

tim

Just to clarify, WHAT retriever breed do you have? The Labrador is of course the most common retriever breed followed by the Golden. :) If you are after finding Golden rescue I can give you details -what part of the country are you in?

It is the golden i am ideally after, although just wondered if there where different types, ive heard the phrases curly coat and flat coat etc

Im in Sheffield South yorkshire:o)

Tim

There are 6 retrivers

Flatcoated
Golden
Curly-coat
checkabay
Nova scotia duck tolling
Labrador

The lab and golden most common, other flatcoat 3 and other 3 still quite rare.

All are difference in colour, size, shape, coat type etc.  I think google will be your friend for looking at each different tytpe. :)

checkabay   I think you mean Chesapeake Bay

It was late...I was tired...I had been listenin to my boyfriend winge all day because he was dieing of Man flu!!!!! :)

Yes I mean Chesapeake Bay!!!!  Thank you for the correction!!!! :D

I just had a vison of a dog in quilted lumberjack check shirt sitting in a fishing boat.

Ah they are different breeds altogether. :) There are the Labrador, Golden, Flat Coat, Curly Coat, Chesapeak Bay and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling, all retrievers but all different breeds, not variations of the same breed. (Compare to Spaniels, much the same thing.) Give me one minute and I'll post the rescue details.

Right seems there are no longer a YORKSHIRE Golden rescue (there used to be as I had 2 dogs off them) so you may want to contact the national representative to be given details of which of the rescue officers would cover Sheffield -not entirely sure if they count it as North or Midlands.
Rescue Liaison officer:- Mr Clive Donahue - Tel No: 01270 763849

Thats brilliant Marianne, thankyou, I will contact him tomorrow.

What happens next, will they come to check my home etc..... i've never been through this process before. I have known people have RSPCA dogs before but they change their protocols depending on what region you go to.

Tim

You will ahve a home check done, maybe a phone interview, you might have the dg brought to you or go visit the dogs, they are normally tried to be kept in foster homes rather then kennels however I'm sure if you call up the co-ordinater he would be more then happy to tell you the procedure of adopting a dog from them  :) 

No probs, thanks for your help, I will keep you posted

Tim

Hi Tim

I have a 14 month old golden and I foster dogs from the Irish Retriever Rescue from time to time and also do home checks for them.
At the moment we have a foster dog with us and Jasper our golden is having the time of his life.  This is the first time we've had a dog for  more than 3 days so I'm not sure how he will feel or act when Henry (golden/collie cross) finally goes off to his forever home, but from what you say your retriever seems as though company is what she definitely wants.

Maria :)