Dogs - benefits of having 2 over 1
Discussion
I always said having our 2nd child was how I imagined 3 would be like, i.e. it was more work than simply double.
We're now a year on from our dog passing away and we're looking at having another. Primarily a Weimaraner or an English Pointer (as we had before). We like the idea of re-homing rather than having a pup as we enjoyed Izzy much more as she got a little older. After ringing around and visiting various places, we've found two Pointers, both females who get along very well and need to stay together, they seem to be exactly what we're looking for and more importantly, we seem to be able to offer exactly what they need.
We've never had two dogs at the same time before and are concerned we may be about to bite off more than we can chew. Is having two double, or is it more than that?
We're now a year on from our dog passing away and we're looking at having another. Primarily a Weimaraner or an English Pointer (as we had before). We like the idea of re-homing rather than having a pup as we enjoyed Izzy much more as she got a little older. After ringing around and visiting various places, we've found two Pointers, both females who get along very well and need to stay together, they seem to be exactly what we're looking for and more importantly, we seem to be able to offer exactly what they need.
We've never had two dogs at the same time before and are concerned we may be about to bite off more than we can chew. Is having two double, or is it more than that?
Jasandjules said:
No great issues having two IMHO. Walking is more of a challenge, but hey, we've got four....
They must be great dogs to walk four at a time.Generally, thanks for the input so far chaps. It's largely what I expected to hear thankfully. More info is always gratefully appreciated, but i'll keep the forum up to date as to hat we do/get.
One dog is a pet, two (or more) dogs is a lifestyle!
I agree with you when you say 2 dogs is harder than double the effort, but every dog combo is different
As you already know they get on thats the biggest hurdle out the way IMO.
Ironically we keep our sseparate when we go out for long periods as they had the odd scrap and they seem to prefer it, so dont bank on the company argument.
Hmmm if you love having a dog , the walks and the general lifestyle then having two is great
Biggest problem from my point of view is that it is difficult to leave them with family members when we go away, as one dog was easy, two is taking the piss a bit. Kennels are pricey and one of our dogs doesnt get on well there, where as the other is fine. Costs obviously double for everything. If your circumstances change then it can be even more of an issue, we have a baby on the way and one dog isnt too much of an issue, but having two dogs might be hard work etc...
I agree with you when you say 2 dogs is harder than double the effort, but every dog combo is different
As you already know they get on thats the biggest hurdle out the way IMO.
Ironically we keep our sseparate when we go out for long periods as they had the odd scrap and they seem to prefer it, so dont bank on the company argument.
Hmmm if you love having a dog , the walks and the general lifestyle then having two is great
Biggest problem from my point of view is that it is difficult to leave them with family members when we go away, as one dog was easy, two is taking the piss a bit. Kennels are pricey and one of our dogs doesnt get on well there, where as the other is fine. Costs obviously double for everything. If your circumstances change then it can be even more of an issue, we have a baby on the way and one dog isnt too much of an issue, but having two dogs might be hard work etc...
Always had two dogs.
When my wife and I seperated (about ten months ago) she kept Chester and I took Phoebe. Not ideal or even what I wanted, but, hey ho...
To be honest, I struggled a bit even with just Pheebs (black lab) as I walk badly and use a stick. Very quickly she learnt to walk off her lead and is better behaved than on it! Phoebe really did not like being an 'only dog'. She pined and seemed really bored and demanded much more of my time than ever before - always wanted to play ball, always needed to be close to me...
Roll on six months and I get a message asking if I'd like Chester (Basset - ish) back.
Chester is what I'd call, a handful! Quite young and not particularly obediant but he settled in really quickly and is a happy little camper.
So is Phoebe.
She is much more settled and content with him around and they amuse each other all the time. Walking is not a problem as they both go off their leads now and behave impeccably. Feeding is obviously twice as much as are vets bills and insurance, but they are very happy as a twosome.
I think two mutts is the ideal number. They amuse each other, keep each other company when you leave them alone (I had reports from neighbours that Phoebe whined when left alone, all quiet since the two of them are back together)and are, really, no more problem than just one.
One word of advice though, buy a decent hoover! Dog hair....
When my wife and I seperated (about ten months ago) she kept Chester and I took Phoebe. Not ideal or even what I wanted, but, hey ho...
To be honest, I struggled a bit even with just Pheebs (black lab) as I walk badly and use a stick. Very quickly she learnt to walk off her lead and is better behaved than on it! Phoebe really did not like being an 'only dog'. She pined and seemed really bored and demanded much more of my time than ever before - always wanted to play ball, always needed to be close to me...
Roll on six months and I get a message asking if I'd like Chester (Basset - ish) back.
Chester is what I'd call, a handful! Quite young and not particularly obediant but he settled in really quickly and is a happy little camper.
So is Phoebe.
She is much more settled and content with him around and they amuse each other all the time. Walking is not a problem as they both go off their leads now and behave impeccably. Feeding is obviously twice as much as are vets bills and insurance, but they are very happy as a twosome.
I think two mutts is the ideal number. They amuse each other, keep each other company when you leave them alone (I had reports from neighbours that Phoebe whined when left alone, all quiet since the two of them are back together)and are, really, no more problem than just one.
One word of advice though, buy a decent hoover! Dog hair....
Johnnytheboy said:
Our dog is our little baby and is devoted to us - does this diminish somewhat in a double act?
Quite the opposite, in my experience. When you add the competition for your affections, you end up getting even more cuddles because they get jealous if you give one attention. 
We got a second dog as company for our first. The only trouble is, one is a lurcher and one is a GSD so they have fairly different personalities. The lurcher is very independent, likes her own company and doesn't like it when the GSD tries to share her bed. The GSD, on the other hand, adores company and is completely thick-skinned so he just shrugs off all the growling - if he wants to lie in her bed, he will!
That said, they absolutely love playing together - in the garden, in the fields, on the beach. Or in the house in the absence of any outdoors to play in.
So for that reason alone, I'd say it's worth having two. Yes, two cost a lot more than one to feed and keep healthy, but what you lose in monetary terms you get back tenfold in other ways. We have two dogs, the choc lab is two and the rottie is 16 weeks they took time to adapt cause bailey the lab is quite giddy and boisterous so had to get used to the kaiser the pup but now they have been together a while they are best mates and get along great, they keep each other occupied getting another dog was best thing we ever did. Would def recommend it.
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