Having more than one dog....

[TootiesMom]

I have four(had five until a few months ago) a 95 lb. lab, a 25 lb. mix, tootie 16 lbs and Hope 5 lbs! and I love it! I know they have someone to "be with" while I am at work.. My mix chi Tinker got shut up in my room today and I felt horrible for her being alone... haha... eventhough it was only for a little while, It truly shows how much they love each other!and I surely cannot leave out Me-Kitty who has no idea he is a cat... LOL
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[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by mynameishadow

I'll be honest.
I am scared to share the love I feel for shadow with another dog!
I love him so much that It makes me sad to think that he no longer be the ONLY one.
I know..It sounds strange but that's how I feel.

I don't think it's strange at all. I have a new "foster" child and I am struggling with "is it really the BEST thing for Max" who's been an only child for 3 yrs? These two get along ok...and I think it would be better if the new guy was neutered....which he isn't yet. You just wonder if you're projecting all YOUR feelings and thinking that's how your first dog is feeling. I can tell you that my dh is NOT happy b/c he thinks it's not fair to Max, but everyone who's a dog person says that he'll get over it and they'll be great friends. I've never had just ONE of any animal I owned, so I have been wanting to get a companion (dog) for Max too, so that when we're gone for dinner or anything we don't feel so bad about leaving him home alone. I mean, I know he probably SLEEPS most of the time, but I know we cut our time out short b/c we want to get back to him.

And it's not JUST an adjustment for the dog....it really IS an adjustment for you too....I struggled with getting another dog (but I figured I'd get a girl) for awhile (maybe we just should have done it right away) for the last couple of years. And now that this darling little dog has come into my life, as much as I love him, I still am unsure if it's the right thing to do.....there's NOTHING wrong with him at all. But I can sense that Max isn't feeling him.....he's distant and doesn't want to be around him. So, I'm just trying to maintain here and wait it out til I can get little Madison neutered and see if that doesn't help the situation. At the same time, I'm seriously wondering if maybe some dogs aren't meant to be ONLY dogs....but I refuse to sell out just b/c it's simpler...I'm going to give it everything I can. My dh is having almost an impossible time with it however....so you really need to think about how you will work another dog into your life. I don't think timewise it is any more consuming than having one dog....but I'm a first time dog owner...I think I struggle with it more than some of the more experienced and knowledgeable people here would.
A lady at the shelter told me the other day though, that a lot of the feelings that we attribute to our dogs in these situations are things WE put on them; not how they actually feel. I just try to take all the information in as I can....and then hopefully make the best decision for everybody (animal and human) concerned. Good luck.