For those with one dog, why do you only have one?
 

Just a question, and discussion.

As alot of you know, I've been debating a second dog for a long time now for a buddy for Jackson, but I have not yet found that right dog, or the right time.

There's a lot of threads about the benefits of adding a second dog, but I wanted to know what most peoples reasons are for only having one. I know I see a lot of posts of people who only have one, so speak up! :)

I know, for me, right now, one is easy with my lifestyle. I am a single girl and I like to bring Jackson with me to family events (Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer parties, etc, at families homes), I enjoy traveling with him (my dad has an RV and 2 dogs of his own, and it's fun to tag along on some trips), and bringing him to pretty much everywhere he can go, cousins little league games, etc. I often think how different it will be with 2 and that's what always makes me wimp out on getting a second... lol.

Jackson was my first dog, besides family dogs growing up, and so he will always be special to me for that reason, plus he was the first thing that made me truly happy since my 6 year old brothers death in 2006, and we share a really special bond. I'm worried that I won't feel that for a second dog.

Right now, it's just easy with one, and I don't want to screw up what we have right now. So those are my reasons for having one right now... why do you only have one?

My Yorkie was 4 years old and we adopted a ShihTuz mx, it has been a blessing for Tricksie, they get along so well, love to cuddle and play.

I would like to get Thor a sister. The main things stopping me:

- I would probably have to move.

- Thor is a fearful dog, and I've read that dogs tend to pick up on negative behaviors, rather than positive. Like with barking, if one dog barks, all the dogs bark.

- Thor is really neurotic, and I will need a dog *perfectly* suited for him. Very small, playful, but not too aggressive, excellent temperament.


That being said, if the right dog comes along, I will most likely snap it up as it will be a rare find. I volunteer at a rescue on weekends, so I see a bunch of potentials every week.

We tried adding a sister for Sophie but it didn't work out well and I had to let my niece adopt her. Hazel became very aggressive with Sophie over everything from the couch to toys. After trying for some time to work it out we decided since we had Sophie first and didn't want her bullied we would let Hazel go with my niece where she could be the only dog. Sophie fills our lives with so much joy that we decided to be a one yorkie household. :)

Pros and Cons of TWO
 

i'll give you the pros and the cons both :D

:thumbdownCons of having TWO:

1. You can get away with hiding one dog in a kwigy-bo and going somewhere.
2. Costs of food, shots, vets, passing illnesses back and forth, any other pet supplies doubles in cost.
3. taking two dogs by yourself anywhere can be a major challenge if they both are not perfectly behaved.
4. you always feel bad because you divide your love now, you do have special moments with each and a special bond with each, but neither really is a favorite anymore.
5. your first and at the time only love has to share you with a sibling and it's hard for them sometimes
6. if you have a dominant dog like sadie is they can be aggressive and bite/fight their sibling dog
7. twice the accidents when routines change and twice the mess, twice the paws to wipe, two coats to put on at the door each time, two harness and leashes to get ready. it's kinda tough to get them moving when you got to go somewhere
8. dog sitter and boarding is way expensive with two and it's hard to find a place to go that accepts TWO dogs staying with you.
9. two dogs to train to learn things both seperately and together
10. two crates really do fill up a car and two dogs loose from crates make a mess ;)


:thumbup:Pros of having two:

1. when you come home too tired for a tug game or chase game they just amuse themselves together.
2. more warm bodies to keep your lap warm all the time. :D
3. double the pleasure double the fun :p
4. watching them snuggle up and keep each other warm
5. knowing that your pup has a lifemate that they depend on and exist with for their entire life on earth is a great happy feeling.
6.seeing them smile and run and play and knowing they are pack animals that have their "pack" mates
7. knowing that Sadie is a better dog with Bentley there. he calms her down and she brings out his playfulness. she's stopped biting and has a much more even personality since he came in. and when she does have a crazy moment then she takes it out on him and they play hard until she goes back to sleep :D
8. you don't feel quite as guilty leaving them home for a few hours or if you really have to putting them together in their x pen for the afternoon to go out and do something together.
9. when you loose one dog hopefully you will still have that other one to hold onto while you grieve.
10. they become a pair very fast. life before having two just doesn't seem possible. they go so well together and they make you happy and each other happy and giving a gift of a partner to your single pet is a wonderful feeling.

it takes a long time and a lot of trial and errors to find the right match but from my point of view it's worth it and we wouldn't trade Bentley for the world. he made Sadie happier and fulfilled and she makes him feel loved and accepted despite her humps and her bites :eek: she does need him and he needs her. it's a perfect family.

This pretty much says what I would have said. We tried and at first he liked having a friend, sister, whatever you want to call her, but within a couple weeks he became introverted and changed his personality and behaviour alot. He wasn't happy, and no matter what we tried, it didn't change the fact he was that unhappy. Found the other dog a new home and he came back out of his shell. He's the happiest little guy now, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm not saying he'll never want a buddy again, sometime down the road, but for the moment, this is what works for us, and as long as he's happy, that's all we want. :)

Beth and Taylor

:pyou really do have to have a super calm stable dog with a neurotic one. take Bentley and Sadie for the best example. he tolerates her so much more than he should and she loves to push him around. but they do work. she barks a ton, he rarely ever does. he's the big brother that kinda lets her do what she will be secretly i think he does have the last say when he really wants to

we found out the hard way that Sadie WILL NOT tolerate females in her territory. but somehow this little male was the perfect fit.

I have also thought this through time and time again. I would love to get Prince a playmate but the cost of veterinary care, in addition to monthly flea & tick and heartworm meds, would put me waay over budget.

I'm also a happy-single-gal and enjoy bringing Prince with me (almost) everywhere I go. I think two dogs would be too much for me to handle and "I don't want to screw that up" either. Someone suggested I should give it a try and get a second dog. But what if it doesn't work out? He/She is not a Prada bag. I could never return a dog because he/she didn't fit into my household/lifestyle.

So it's just my Prince and Me
:aimeeyork & :)

Brittany, your concerns are exactly why I only have one dog. I'm an empty nester and it's much easier to bring one dog with me when I visit my family. It's also much easier to take one dog to run errands. Lady is very special to me and I would never want to have to divide the love and attention either.

Lady also has tons of health issues and I am so glad I never got another dog. Those vet bills can really rack up as a dog ages anyway, but I can't imagine doubling them. :eek:

that's the hard part of two. vet bills esp. dentals go up and up and up over the years...also instead of just taking Sadie everywhere i went, now i leave BOTH at home and that's sad when now i go up home and i'm alone. the whole reason i got one dog was to never go anywhere alone, and now look i leave them both at home because sadie is neurotic so she can't go in cars anymore, (so i guess it's good she has a buddy) and i can't just take one and leave the other :( it's hard on me sometimes, but then again i wouldn't trade the love they both give me and each other and it is nice to be able to leave them at home and not worry they are lonely :p

There are times when I wish I had two dogs. Sammy is older now and I wouldn't get another dog (can't really afford it anyway). My cousin has two dogs and my friend has a beautiful golden retriever who is 2 and she wants to get another one to keep the golden company. I think it would be nice to have more than one dog. If I had to do it all over again I think I would have gotten two dogs. When I got Sammy I really didn't think about getting more than one dog. Right now, I'm just so glad to have my little love bug in my life!!

I find that having one is plenty. She is my first dog, and sometimes I feel like a year later I am still learning so much about dog ownership.

Costs for her care have way exceeded what I thought they would, so I know I definitely could not afford food, grooming, toys, vet care, Heartgard, and Frontline for 2 dogs.

I hate to sound pessimistic, but if DBF and I ever part ways, I know that I can care for Roxie on my own. I don't know if I could handle 2 dogs by myself.

Roxie is very territorial. I don't think she would handle having a companion too well.

I seriously thinkI would still be a one-dog owner if Cooper had not been in such dire need of a home. I was bringing her home "temporarily" and well, 1 and a half year later, she is on the Christmas card. ;)

I think you and Jackson have a special relationship and I understand your concern of not wanting to change that. :)

Adding Cooper absolutely reshaped the realtionship I have with Maddie. We are still close and best buddies;) but we have to share moments that were always just ours with Coop now.

For us....this is our "first" dog. As in adults with a family and able to take care of it ourselves LOL! We only have one because we live in a small house and already have a cat and two kids. That takes up a lot of room. :) We probably won't get a second dog because we already have 2x the vet costs (with the cat) so that would add a third and that would be pushing it to much. Also, our dog is a rehome and we were absolutely lucky to get such a wonderful dog. He is well behaved, well trained, and housetrained to the tee. I would be afraid to push our luck with another dog (or cat for that matter) because we have two wonderful furkids. Oh, and I wouldn't be able to buy as much "junk" for them as I do LOL!

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.