Money: Or lack there of. It's easy enough when everything goes right and it's about $300 yearly at the vet's. When things go wrong, thousands of dollars worth over just a couple year, reality hits. And it's not enough to be able to borrow money for any emergency because some things require very expensive drugs and supplements.

Training: I hate training with a passion. Don't want to take on two at a time right now.

Time: Ellie doesn't get nearly enough exercise. Not bringing another dog home to be bored with her. It also takes time and energy to make her food and I can't just not do it.

Personality: Ellie hates other dogs.

Travel: I can't find a place for my one to stay and we end up taking her. I wouldn't want to pay to board or take a second dog on vacay.

Not settled in: No definite plan for future yet. One is plenty. I will have several when I settle down someday.

I had a chiweenie but she was very needy (i cant stand to not be able to move for fear of squishing a dog)
and we never really bonded so she went to my best friend and they could not be happier, sometimes i think the path to a great dog is not always direct.
my ex-boyfriend and i got two puppies and they hated me from the minute they wear born I mean it they wear one day old and they let him pick them up and look but the squealed when i so much as tried to pet them when we broke up he took both with him

I learned that Gatsby really just needs my undivided attention and he gets aggressive when i pay attention to another dog so after i get him neutered we are going to take a advanced tricks class (aka jobs class, like getting the mail) to try and build his confidence then maybe if he is less defensive we will be open to a dog looking for us

Buster turned into a fearful, intimidated, stressed boy when we got Maggie. We did not re-home Maggie. She is very dominant, they both want all the attention, she wants all the toys, etc. Maggie has calmed down some and we have to discipline her sometimes but for the most part it has worked out. I think they could both be only dogs and be very happy.

Wow, there are some really good posts here.

I have also considered a pal for Copper. Seriously like you. He loves other dogs...but there are other considerations, many which have been mentioned.

1. Expense is one...when all goes well, not so much but if a problem occurs...
2. Portable...I took Copper and his x-pen with me when I went to my daughter's house. She just had a baby and I needed to help with the other 2 children. Copper was easy. Just one little dog and the kids enjoyed him with supervision. Two would have been an adventure. I also took Copper to a friend's house yesterday (he was invited too!) and we watched a movie together. Copper kept an eye on her cat...funny...
3. Hubby is not really an animal person, but if I run out in the evening for something, Copper is always curled up in Charlie's lap while he watches TV when I get home. (I personally think they both enjoy that time.)
4. Copper is very attached to me which I needed and love. My brother comitted suicide last year, the day before my birthday. My family's world came to a stand still for a long time. I started reading Yorkie books because I couldn't concentrate on novels. They were a happy distraction and I started dreaming about owning a yorkie. Through a wonderful series of circumstances I ended up with a breeder and at 11 weeks old Copper came home with me on my birthday this year. 1 year after my brother's death. I have enjoyed nurturing and caring for this little dog. He has brought me so much joy after a year of grief. My brother was incredible at training dogs and won some awards for his field work with goldens...so I remember this often.

One dog...it works, why mess up a good thing?

I totally understand the desire for another...didn't someone say they are like potato chips, you can't have just one...

But...again, why mess up a good thing?:rolleyes:

Well, for me...the main thing is my office is in my home. I'm a claim rep and I'm on the phone 75% of the day. Zhoie is a low keyed, well mannered, quiet little girl, who fell right into the my routine when she came home at 12 wks. We work through the day and I'm all hers for playtime come 5 o'clock. And believe me, she lets me know when it's time to wrap it up for the day.

She hangs out in my office all day and doesn't even bark when someone comes to the door, like UPS or whoever. She just runs ahead of me and twirling to be picked up so we can open the door. When I say low keyed, I mean it, she has never attempted to even jump up on the furniture. If I put her up, she stays until I come back to get her, LOL.

I often wonder, is she lonely. Hmmm, probably at times, but on the otherhand, I can't rock the boat.
What if I got another that did bark? Carried on like crazy, I would just have to put it in a crate to be able to work and that would break my heart too.

Plus, Zhoie doesn't care for female dogs at all, she will tolerate them but she has to be boss and makes it known immediately. She only enjoys running wild with them in the back yard for a few minutes, then she done with them. No playing in the house what-so-ever. She a little selfish brat and I do believe she loves it that way.

Bottom line is, I know if I got one...it would be for me....her, not so much. So, I figure...I made her this way....I'll keep her just like she is.

Good luck in you very hard decision.

I understand! Levi is my only dog right now, and he will be my only dog for awhile. I am in grad school right now, so honestly, while I can afford Levi's costs, that is my limit. He is completely spoiled and gets the best of everything, but I'd seriously have to cut back my spending on him to accommodate a second dog. I'm not willing to do that.

It's also much easier to take one dog with me everywhere. Levi and I go out of town about every other weekend to visit friends, family, etc. It would be much harder to take him everywhere and travel as much as we do with more than one dog. He is my perfect little companion and right now I am content with it just being the two of us.

That being said, I do wish for Levi to have a sibling someday. He is much happier when he is around other dogs. Luckily, my brother moved in with us a few months ago. My brother has a one-year-old, 25-pound little mixed breed dog that adores Levi and plays so well with him. They snuggle and play and constantly chase each other around. They are the best of friends and it will be hard to eventually separate the two of them.

I'm attaching a picture of Levi and Dallas. They are so sweet together and I do think it will be unfair if Levi becomes the only dog in my house again. When my brother and Dallas move out, I think I will seriously look into finding a sibling for Levi. Until then, we are perfectly happy with them being here with us!

Kacee is an only doggie and she's going to remain an only doggie. She goes everywhere with me, including work and shopping. I could not take two. That would probably never work. She is calm and behaves at work (most of the time).:D She loves to go. If there were two doggies, then she couldn't go all of the time. If I took her, then the other one would have a broken heart. I don't want to rock the boat. She has a full schedule of working, walking, and playing, so I don't believe there is much that she misses. She is well-trained. She rings the bell to go potty. She never messes in the house. She doesn't bark, but on occasion. Even then, it is not a lot of barking.

See, I live at home with my mom and step-dad and they used to have a dog that lived here. Unfortunately, she got hit by a car and died last summer... so Jackson used to always have a constant companion at home, yet she wasn't MY responsibility, which was nice. They were the best of friends and Jackson was devastated when she died. That would be the best of both worlds... if my mom would just get another dog! LOL. I know she can't though, she works all the time, and it wouldn't be fair to the dog. Jackson is also SO much happier with other dogs... when we stay at my dads house, he is just in Heaven with their two dogs.

Thanks Maggie!! I do know Jackson gets a ton of training and socialization and exercise w/o a sibling too. I always just feel so guilty when he just looks so bored and lonely at home, and then I see him at my dads house (with their 2 dogs) just SO happy. Granted, he picks up their annoying habits when they're all together... but in general, the 3 of them just have a BLAST together.

I agree with Quicksilver, I think if the right dog comes along, I will not pass up on it. But for now, you are right -- I am lucky to have Jackson.

I think if Jackson would have it he would want to be the one and only. He gets all your attention, all your love, all everything!! I think he is happy how things are, besides you take him to the dog park, trips, family houses.. etc etc. Its just like Peanut he is my one and only and I know he prefers it that way!!

You can tell You and Jackson have an amazing bond, like someone said if it aint broke, dont fix it!!

I got peanut a brother a while ago, I dont remember if you seen any of the threads of me asking if I should get rid of him... Well ya that didnt work out, maybe if i could find a dog like pnut it would work, but then again there is only one of me and thats who pnut wants!! So I had to do the hard thing of re-homing my other yorkie! Lucky enough I found an amazing family with a big grassed backyard and 3 little boys!!

I also have been wondering about getting another dog to be a furfriend for Buster. I had started a thread about it and received a lot of great advice especially about travelling with more than one. I decided not to as I was afraid to change the dynamics of my relationship with Buster. He is my first dog and he has brought so much joy to my life. His love makes me feel so special. I know it is selfish but I would be sad if that changed. He is a really easy going dog and I would be afraid I might bring home another dog who would dominate him. I would hate to break his spirit. I also was not sure if I had enough free time to give quality attention and love to two dogs. I realize I still have so much to learn about being a good furmom. Maybe down the road but for now it's going to be just the two of us. He does have one friend that he can play with so I am thankful for that.

You and I both know we share all the fears on this topic. So I'm not going to bore you by putting down everything you just said. :)

Anyway, I'm too scared to try. Besides, I want a little brother for Kaji, and Kaji will probably want a sister. :rolleyes: A boy will just crash Kaji's "Casanova" style. :p

I want to try fostering in the near future. A second pup to care for but in the end, he'll or she'll find her forever home. Maybe that'll convince me to get a second pup?

Oh yeah, and Kaji is my first pet EVER. I'm still learning. :)

Oh! I just saw your avatar and I love it!

I have had single dogs for most of my life. In the past 5 years I went from 1 to 4. I never intended to get this many but things happened. I do miss the ease of one dog to care for, financially provide for and the ease of taking one anywhere easily. What I love about multiples is they always have someone with them. They love to be in their own pack yet love me too. I love watching their family dynamics and antics. I don't like the cost of 4, it's impossible to take all 4 out anywhere, cleaning up after 4 is a pain and grooming 4 in long coats takes a long time. Trying to leave 4 to go an a vacation is hard.I am glad I have had the opportunity to experience both, but the older I get I definitely think 1 or 2 would be my preference.