2 is better than 1 theory?
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They're like Lays potato chips! You can't just stop at one!  |
Well, I don't have the room for another Sheepie, but maybe something a little smaller like a Wheaten Terrier. *IF* I do decide to get another puppy, this one will certainly be a rescue. I still want opinions on whether I should get my head examined or not for even considering this idea.  |
I've been thinking along those same lines RollrXGirl. As much as Beau loves to play with other dogs, I thought it'd be nice for him to have a companion. Even though my neighbor takes him out and plays with him during the day while I'm working, like you, I know it isn't as much excercise as he'd get with an actual playmate. And like you, I'd rather adopt from a rescue. My sister thinks I'm NUTS!! 
Sooo....I'll be very interested to know what you decide to do. |
| Why no room? I never think of the space a dog takes.....obviously....except for trying to get to the bathroom at night. We are now down to 6 (sniff... I really miss Sam). One of the greatest dogs for apartments is a Great Dane.....except they do take over the couch. I'm not saying get a Great Dane......I'm just asking what space is so limited you'd consider a smaller dog? Actually a Wheatie is fine little dog for sheepies....except being a terrier they have all the terrier issues: barking, digging, wild energy........which would be great to exercise a sheepie. Doggies don't mind the size of their companion, they can play with anything. |
| Now for the other side of the coin......
We have also been considering a second puppy, as our Oscar is deaf and we heard that deaf dogs need other dogs to model after. We had an opportunity to get Oscar's littermate. After thinking hard about it, we ended up deciding that one dog works for us, and here's why. With a one dog household, we are Oscar's pack. Period. There is a very special relationship that goes along with that, which means that Oscar looks to us for everything...play, food, love, discipline, etc. He doesn't have to compete with anyone or anything for our attention. He's extremely well adjusted, not at all anxious when he's left alone. Now having said that, we do not have children, which makes it much easier to focus on him when he needs it. Plus we travel a bit (driving), so one large dog is quite enough to transport! As much as Oscar loves to play with other dogs, we think he's pretty content to come home to his one dog household. |
| I've always gotten 2 at a time. The only drawback is the vet bills, which as they age can become enormous. My dogs always have someone to keep them company and the 2 older ones housetrained the 2 little ones.
As mine are getting older(6.5 &7.5) I think it's time for 2 more  |
| I just made my decision on that last week, I am also getting another one. Same breeder same mom and dad if I woud have waited the mom would not have been bred for 2 more years, Ialso had been thinking about it anyways for sometime. We love Murphy so much we decided why not, we spend most of our time with him, why not have 2 sheepies to love. just my thoughts. |
| I originally got Clyde to keep Lucy company and get her more active. It couldn't have worked out better. For a dog that never liked other dogs, Lucy took to Clyde really quickly and she's more energetic than ever from his constant need for play. It's great. However, I should stress, CONSTANT need for play. Sometimes they go on and on for hours, which can be really trying when you're trying to watch a movie or concentrate on something.
But, another bonus, the older one will help train the younger one. Lucy taught Clyde about good and bad biting, which is a godsend for the little nippers that sheepies are! |
| After thinking about this I have decided to wait until Spike is about 1 year old or so before I get another doggie for him to play with. He needs to learn good habits before he has a partner in crime to share the bad habits with. I appreciate all of your responses! |
| My two cents here on this issue:
1 dog easy to do everything with, travel, walking, feeding, playing...affordibilty of the best things. 2 dogs...the GOOD: they play together and becomes a constant companion for alone time, the older helps housebreaking. The BAD: it's harder to walk 2 dogs, double the poo, double the food bill, double the vet bills, less likely to buy the good stuff. We don't have a house that shares dog duties, I do it all. Now that being said we are going to try AGAIN to have 2 dogs, this time the kids are in school and I can spend more time with both dogs. I still may have to alternate my walks, and take 1 at a time. Or we will be diligent at going to off leash park on warmer days. Our vehicle will hold two dogs, but if we ever go shopping or travel, we would need to use a roof rack, or have stuff on the floor. Or leave the dogs behind at a boarding kennel. |
| 2 dogs is a challenge at times, but I think routine is imperative to making things work. Once a routine to outside time, feeding, grooming etc is established, everything else seems to pretty much fall into place. There are more bills to consider.... but they are worth it in my opinion!
They do help train each other, and keep each other active, and prevent boredom destruction. |
| My 2 cents-
Vet bills are huge. I have 1 with synovi sarcoma, 2 with hypothroidism and Daisy is showing signs of HP. Do I regret the money for surgery, radiation, medication, etc.? NOT FOR 1 MINUTE!!! Do I regret the problems? Yes, because it makes me sad for them. Will I get more dogs, yes, but not right now because the 4 I have need all our time and attention. I have chosen to make my guys part of my family and am willing to take care of them no matter what. That being said not everyone wants to spend their disposable income on their dogs. They have brought so much more to me than I have to them, I can't imagine not having dogs. It is also true that with multiple dogs you spend lots of time cleaning your carpet, keep the furniture covered, live with dirty walls and give up all hope for a nice backyard. And as Oscars Mom said, you can travel with one dog. |
bestdogsx4 wrote: They have brought so much more to me than I have to them, I can't imagine not having dogs.
It is also true that with multiple dogs you spend lots of time cleaning your carpet, keep the furniture covered, live with dirty walls and give up all hope for a nice backyard. True on both counts. But, I find you start to find a new level of "acceptable" too. A clean floor with 2 dogs is much different than what I used to consider a clean floor to be with one! |
| I think I remember having clean floors |
| We've had a bit of a rough time with puppy # 2. I was not prepared for the jealousy and pouting that came with bringing a new puppy in the house. We've had Jas nearly a month now and we've had to make a lot of efforts to make sure Nab is always first in the house, in the car, out of the car, out of the house, only one on the bed (working up to Jas spending 20 minutes at a time on the bed with us and then into the kennel for the night). Then there is feeding...Nab only grazes...then she wouldn't eat at all! Seperate feeding times and places...the list goes on. What have I done!!!!
Yesterday I was doing the dishes and looking into the back yard. There were my two puppies, Nab 11 months old, Jas 12 weeks. Nab grabbed a stuffy and went up to Jas and pushed the stuffy into Jas's face. Jas grabbed the stuffy and pulled as hard as she could. Nab gave one little tug and let go. Jas ran as fast as she could to the back of the yard with Nab right after her. Jas came back to the deck and dropped the stuffy and grabbed stuffy number two and ran to Nab and shoved the stuffy in her face. Nab tugged until Jas let go. Nab ran across the yard with Jas in hot pursuit then back to the deck for a rope. Next came tug-o-war. Both dogs with an end of the rope running and pulling around the whole yard. I must have watched the two of them for 30-45 minutes. Then they spotted me and ran into the house through their door. Both of them stopped right in front of me and sat down. Nab gave me a little nudge and Jas gave a little bark as if to say...'Cookies Mom...we need more energy for playing...Please!'. Are two better than one? YES!!!!!!! |
NABsMom wrote: Yesterday I was doing the dishes and looking into the back yard. There were my two puppies, Nab 11 months old, Jas 12 weeks. Nab grabbed a stuffy and went up to Jas and pushed the stuffy into Jas's face. Jas grabbed the stuffy and pulled as hard as she could. Nab gave one little tug and let go. Jas ran as fast as she could to the back of the yard with Nab right after her. Jas came back to the deck and dropped the stuffy and grabbed stuffy number two and ran to Nab and shoved the stuffy in her face. Nab tugged until Jas let go. Nab ran across the yard with Jas in hot pursuit then back to the deck for a rope. Next came tug-o-war. Both dogs with an end of the rope running and pulling around the whole yard.
I must have watched the two of them for 30-45 minutes. Then they spotted me and ran into the house through their door. Both of them stopped right in front of me and sat down. Nab gave me a little nudge and Jas gave a little bark as if to say...'Cookies Mom...we need more energy for playing...Please!'. Are two better than one? YES!!!!!!! That is SUCH a cute story! I can just picture them playing and I'm trying to be patient and stick to my decision for at least another 6-8 months so Spike will be a more mature and better trained pup. It sounds like you have your hands full but also that it's worth it. Nab and Jas sound adorable- please post pictures of them playing together. |
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