Hi
I'm new here and have just spent the last two hours reading through the archives its a brilliant website and much better for finding information from other dog owners and what some of them get up to!
Ive got a question that i hope some of you can answer i have a 3 year old rottie x lab and he is absolutely spoilt rotten although i also have two cats which he will put up with me fussing over he will look at me out the corner of his eye waiting for his turn of affection he is well trained and well behaved. Recently I had a friends dog to stay while they were on holiday but when she left he seemed down and upset as if he missed the company, as he will play every minute of the day if he could. So now I am wondering whether to get another dog to keep him company or will this just mean he will have to share my attention more (or I will have to share mine between the two of them) I love giving him all the attention he is my world but I wouldn't mind another dog as long as it is right for him. Whatever is best for him I would do. Although with him weighing 8.5 stone and taking up most of the bed I'm not sure theres much room for me my hubby and two dogs in there!!
Please help.
(sorry its a bit long got a bit carried away)
Jacks mum

Welcome to the forum :-)

I think this is now down to your personal preference. He doesn't 'need' a companion, he is doing fine with you on his own, on the other hand he enjoyed having the company so it wouldn't hurt if you did get another dog. I love having more than 1 dog (actually 9 at the moment although 3 are puppies 6 weeks old so it won't stay at that number), I love watching them interact with each other as well as their relationship to me and they are all very different in character so we share different things together. However at times I miss the days when I only had 1 dog who went absolutely everywhere with me and will always remain in my memory as the best dog I could ever have (he died on Christmas Day). It does become more difficult to take dogs with you as the numbers go up.

I really don't think either way is better for him, he will cope whichever you do.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I think this is the problem I know he will be fine if I get another dog I think the problem is me, I love spoiling him and I love it that he wants my attention every second I'm there and I dont really want him to share it. But then again I love dogs and wouldnt mind having another one. He also comes with me to my friends when I go but if I had another one this would be more difficult as three dogs in a house is much more of a handful than two! But then on the other hand if I had another one he would be happy to stay and play with his own mate anyway? There are so many pros and cons my head is in a spin. I do work but he is as good as gold when I am out he sleeps on the bed most of the day, or eats his bones and finds the treats I hide for him around the house in the morning I think the only thing he gets up to is trying his best to eat the postman when he comes. So at least if I had another dog they would keep each other company while I'm out. I would love to stay home all day with him unfortunately houses dont pay for themselves do they.
Oh decisions decisions

I think sometmes it comes down to practicalities...those with smaller breeds canhave say 6 or 7 dogs and it's not toomuch of a problem, but having a larger breed myself , and liking to spend a lot of time with them individually and taking htem out in the car and so on....I would stick to a smaller number. But 3 may not be too much! Hope your car is biggish! :D

Lindsay

Hello me again thanks for your replys its nice to hear from other animal lovers. Those of you that have more than one dog do you like work and have kids as well? Cos I'm one of those people that think quite far ahead and I work and love animals but when it comes to having children I'm thinking I'll have a house full by then and I wont be able to cope cos I've got my hands full with pets, a house and a job!! But I want it all, dogs kids money holidays house etc etc. (almost there just a few more pets a LOT more money kids and a few more holidays!) But I know I will get snowed under and wish I hadn't taken so much on, but they are so rewarding those cheeky little grins when jack has stolen my knickers and run down stairs with them tearing them as he goes!! It gets quite expensive you know but I laugh too much to tell him off and so does my partner until I point to his socks and jack has then turned and is ripping them from his feet! ha ha.

Yep! muggins here!! I work have one 2.1/2 year old child 2 cats (with catflap) 2 dog soon to be 3 (new pup on its way) and a husband that is never here! (i.e. squaddie) and you cope, I wouldn't have it any other way, at the end of the day the animals keep me saine and on bad days I have to get up whether I like it or not, they dont care what Im feeling like they still insist on breakfast etc. I thought 3 dogs 2 cats and one horse was adequet but my life wasnt entended that way, hence my adorable (sometimes) toddler. I worried at first when I became pregnant but on the day I brought her home I plonked her in the middle of the room in her baby seat, they all had a look and sniff at this thing that was making a noise and walked away! No problem! And the end of the day a baby will smell of you/partner so they should be no threat. Believe me you adapt!!! The only thing Ive perhaps given up is SANITY and holidays only because I dont trust any one else with my "Babies", and wouldnt enjoy the holiday worrying that they may be missing me as much as I would miss them!

I have two labs and they are just so much fun to watch. They adore each other and are sometimes so loving towards each other it brings tears to your eyes!!!!! It's great because I can leave them together in the house when I work, knowing they have each other for company. One is much more playful than the other, greeting me at the door with a slipper, a shoe, a sock, you name it. They are both very different in personality, but that adds to the pleasure. As far as dividing your attentions go, having two just makes it more difficult to walk away from them ie four eyes staring at you in that labrador fashion!!! I just sit every night fussing both of them, it's never a chore.

I went through your dilema some years ago now. I had one dog which I had rescued ... a cross gordon setter... he was such a happy dog and loved me to bits. Then I rescued another dog... only on a foster basis because I didn't want 2 dogs. When she was rehomed he looked devastated. He sulked for several days then got over it. I thought for a long time about what to do and eventually decided since I worked and he was alone during the day he would benefit from company. I then bought from the RSPCA an emaciated bearded collie cross bred. Funnily enough Rags didn't seem to take to her like he had the first rescue. Having the two of them was, however no harder than the one. I then ended up with three when the next rescue I had wouldn't let anyone but me touch him. The three of them were fun to watch .. the two boys would play and the girl would run round the outside barking like an old lady at a boxing ring!! However for the years I used to wonder was Rags really happier with the others than he would have been alone. This question was answered when I decided as a special treat I would take him back to Scotland with me on his own. The others duly went in kennels and off we went to Scotland. He was by then 13 years old (He was 7 when I first took him on). In Scotland he was miserable .. insecure and worried ... evidence was finally there he loved the other dogs and thrived on their company. I had now disrupted his routine and made him unhappy. Now I only have two dogs .. he died last year .. he will always remain in my memory as the best dog anyone could have had ... but I can say categorically I would never now have less than 2 dogs in my life. Even when they squabble as they do ...

Thankyou everybody for your suggestions and stories they've been a pleasure to read, unfortunately my circumstances have now changed and me and my other half have split up (I think, in the process of) so my house has got to be sold and its back to mothers!! But my mum has a bitch that my dog knows very well as we're always down there so he'll have a friend to keep him company but at least I know now for the future if I want to have another dog I have peace of mind.
Ta everyone