Should I get another sheepie?
My husband just started a new job and travels Monday-Saturday. Basically, that leaves Rheba and I home together all week. I feel like I have to make up for all of her alone time by spending extra time with her. Sometimes I feel guilty if I go out for a drink or to get something to eat if it happens on a work day because I know she was home alone all day and I think she is bummed to see me leave for a couple more hours. I am trying to get some input from the "sheepie world" to find out whether or not I should get another sheepie? I have thought about some pros and cons to getting another sheepie...here are more of my thoughts (sorry if this is boring) If I get another sheepie... double the kisses, love, walks, fun, playing, toys, cookies double the food, shots, heartguard, flea control, poop, baths and grooming It will be company for Rheba and a companion who looks more like her! My husband and I are going to have to relocate in about a year because of his new job. I don't want to get another sheepie as an impulse because Rheba and I have a lot of alone time (during the next year) but as a well thought out process. Sheepies aren't disposable. They are friends furever. My largest fear is that I will get a "holy terror" as a companion for Rheba. She was so well trained by her original owner. I would love to get a sheepie that is a little more spunky although not wild just to help bring out some spunk in Rheba. Those with more than one sheepie, if you have a laid back sheepie and a more energetic sheepie, do they counteract eachother? I think the adoption agency where I got Rheba would help me find the perfect sheepie but...what do you think? |
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I think you are asking the wrong crowd... 
A rescue group would be a great place to get another sheepie, that has been in foster care, assessed, and is known. Take your time, and wait for the right dog to come along and you will not regret it.. |
| I got my first sheepie in Dec, and just got another a few weeks ago, and it is great. They play and get along great and awsome with us. Go for it. |
| I guess the main thing that I would consider is: is it Rheba that feels bad about being alone or is it you feeling bad for leaving her? Lucy was my only dog for years. She's always been quiet, relaxed and an all around great dog to live with. Like you, I felt bad for leaving her alone all day after awhile and decided to get another dog. That's when we got Clyde. It turns out, Lucy probably would've enjoyed just chilling out by herself and living the solo dog life. We wound up adding a third dog to get Clyde a playmate to give Lucy back her sanity!
I don't regret the addition of Clyde or Bear at all but, looking back now, I definitely think I assessed the situation wrong with Lucy. On the positive side, Lucy did get to be a lot more active and do fun dog stuff with the addition of the boys that we really didn't do before because we weren't so "dog-centered" and just didn't do tons of dog stuff. She seemed to enjoy the new experiences but had always kept more to herself. Now she's 13 and just slowing down so she's not even interested in things like doggy day care and charity walks. She can't do it anymore. Anyway, I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm just trying to give you another side of things. I think 99% of the time, you can make it work no matter what, sometimes it just takes more effort on your part. If you have the time and determination, you can do it! |
Ours turned into great play buddies, Sami gets more doggie exercise which she likes I only know of people will small dogs so they are scared of her but even with Blue still young they play great and he is not scared, and I think very soon he will out grow Sami she is only 55 pounds Blue 22 pounds at 11 weeks. It is double the vet bills but I off set that so they are not the same month. Food is double Waht I did is cut out on order out nights got a slow cooker used that cash for their food for the month. Double the poop yup. Thats what teenagers are for when they want minutes for their phone.  When they get older I'll have to do it  I work through my house and my hubsand off work for another 3 months perfect timing to add a pup for the training. So for us it did work out. They are a joy if you have one or two or MORE. |
| i also started out with just one.. so along came my second a rescue to keep daytona company.. worked great for 9 years then i though to get another a pupppy derby, 3200.00 later he is one sick pup but i would never trade him , but my other 2 old ones would rather him not been there so now my pup still needs a friend, so 4 i think 3 is enough . i would never have just one again (which i did for 20 years) take your time for the perfecct mate a rescue is a good thought.. dixie rescue in ocala is starting up again .. |
| Now I have to really think. I know that Rheba is a happy doggy. She loves playing with my husband and I when we get kinda rough with her. She loves chasing us around the house and trying to play tag to get her toys. I do think that I get more worked up about leaving her at the house than she does. This is definitely a big decision and I am just hoping to make the right one. I know that either way, Rheba will be an only "child" and love life but if she had a little brother/sister to romp around with, life will be just as good.
Still thinking...but thanks for all of the help so far! |
| Having more than one dog is a lot of work and the level of your challenge will depend on the personalities of the dogs. Might there be a possibility for you to foster another sheepdog?
My advice to you is to really think long and hard about what YOU want. When we were just in the consideration stage of getting Fozzie, I spoke to and emailed with many people. The most positive feedback I received was when I said I wanted a dog for ME, not for the other sheepdog Annie. If I had taken Fozzie for Annie, he would've been back at the breeder within a week. However, because my husband and I REALLY wanted the puppy, we have worked hard to make our household one we enjoy living in (still not sure if we are there yet  ) Annie would've likely preferred that Fozzie left long ago. |
| I thought about fostering a 2nd sheepie instead of adopting another. What are the pros/cons about fostering?
I am assuming that is is nice because you get to help out but will Rheba get attached to the "temporary 2nd" and then act sad because her friend left? I try to also tell myself that dogs are very flexible and they get used to changed within the household. I also thought about the "holy terror" that I may foster. What if I foster a dog that destroys my house? Should that be a worry? How do I get into fostering sheepies? |
| Fostering is very addictive.Eitehr you end uo adopting the foster dog, or you enjoy it so much that you do it again...and again...and again...Contact your local rescue or Humane Society and they will walk you through it. Sometimes they have history on the dog, and know it will be fine...Like the collie I am fostering now...She can with full history, all good for behavior and she fit in very well.
I have fostered 30 or 40 dogs over the past few years...Some we were glad to see go, and some not so glad...Tears most of the time, though and we always learned more about dogs. It makes for a good experience for your own dogs, I think. They need to learn to share... |
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