Why have more than one?

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by lynzy420

Once you have 2 you won't remember what having 1 is like!! Its fun to watch them, I wish I had gotten a companion for Mini long ago!

I promise you won't be sorry!

Yeah...that...you betcha!

I re-homed Brody when he was 14 months old. He'd had a 95 lb 1 year older brother, but was mostly separated in a room by himself while his previous family was out...most of the time. He was used to being alone. He was okay alone. He was my baby...always with me...always in my lap, etc. He touched nothing while we were gone...slept, from the look of it.

Then we puppy sat for our friend's Shih Tzu, who was similar sized and about 3 months younger than Brody. When she went back home, Brody was so forlorn that he would just lie on the place on the floor where her kennel had sat. I knew he needed a friend like him.

So, I went searching for a similar size, similar age, similar energy, preferable Yorkie or Yorkie mix as a companion for Brody. Mia is 6 days older than Brody, and although we got Mia 3 months after Brody (a few couple weeks after puppy sitting), they are almost exactly the same size, age, and energy...Mia is golden, having lost all her black before I got her.

Brody and Mia are inseparable most of the time. They are so good together it is AWESOME to watch them!!! They touch nothing while we are gone...sleep, from the look of it. They COME ALIVE when we get back home.

They both go everywhere with us that we can possibly take them. The difference for us having 2 instead of 1 is that there are 2 to feed, 2 to walk, 2 to dress, 2 to carry, 2 to talk to, 2 to cater to, 2 to fetch for, 2 in my lap, 2 to love...and 2 to love me back!

I think having "a second dog" might "seem" more scary than it "is"...in reality...because it is tricky to imagine it if you haven't lived it yet.

You will make the right choice for you...

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

...I feel very guilty when I have to go out to somewhere Harry can't go....he's so used to being with me, and all he does is 'wait' while I'm gone - nothing moves, nothing's eaten, he doesn't drink etc. 'til I get home....he literally just waits for my/our return...

Sally, you are right...it's tough!

I already have two (2) and I still feel guilty having to leave them behind! Twice as guilty! Brody and Mia both just seem to go to sleep and wait for us to get home. Even with DH home during the day, they pretty much seem to sleep and wait for Mommy to come home. Then, they come ALIVE!!! They dance and spin with joy! They are right there everywhere I go.

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

...I know he'd love a little brother or sister, but - to tell the truth - I'm really worried about the family dynamic of adding another Littlie.....he's so in to us that my concern would be he'd transfer all his attention to the newbie....and I personally often have to incorporate Harry into the days I care for my (elderly) parents and I'm very unsure how that would work out for us all....

Brody and Mia get along fabulously! They sleep together, play together, etc. But, they do all this together right next to us. Usually, whoever's got one's got the other...rarely do I have one while the other's with DH. The main difference is just that now, Brody has a friend more like him than the kitties were...and the two of them can scheme against us, compare notes, organize "our" training...

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

...Such a personal, difficult issue...

Absolutely!

In our case, we had a very obvious "directional" sign pointing us to the correct solution. Yes, we could have ignored Brody's reaction, and rehabilitated him back to being an only child. And, yes, he would get lots of social opportunities to play with his friend...we knew this already. But, we watch the Shih Tzu fairly frequently...so there was the 'next time' and the 'will he just be miserable again' question, too...not just the 'added work/expense' of having 2 dogs of our own. Sometimes, they don't know what they're missing until they have it and lose it.

It has worked out perfectly for us. I bet it does for you, too, Summer!

[Lil Sis]

I have three... and if you count the new puppy of my dd who lives with us..four.

I started with one, got a companion. My youngest dd had to have a dog, so I got one too. She past, I got my dd's dog because she couldn't take care of him and then I decided I wanted a little girl and got the yorkie lol...my poor dh never knew what hit him. I live by the ask forgivness not permission rule

I think you should alway have more then one. They need companionship.

Why did I keep getting more? I just kept falling in love I guess.

[Patti]

I always had one yorkie. Then my DH and DD talked me into getting a pomeranian after my yorkie Gracie passed away. Several years later I lost my job and was going to be home so I decided to get a Yorkie. I missed having one so much. AFter I got Cali, who was pretty sick as a puppy I decided I wanted 2 yorkies. I wanted to get one from a show breeder that was a bit older than a puppy. I found a breeder who I got Pixie from ay 13 months. So I had 2 yorkies and a pom. About a year later the same breeder called and said she had a deal I couldn't refuse. She offered me a 5 month old little girl that looked a lot like Pixie. She wanted her to go to an experienced owners home. So I went to see her and of course brought her home. Sadly, she ended up with a congenital kidney failure and passed after I had her 5 short weeks. The breeder felt so bad and gave me Roxie. So now I have 3 yorkies and a pom. My pom passed away and I had the 3 girls. A few years ago I took in a male rescue yorkie that an elderly lady couldn't keep after going to a nursing home after a stroke. I had him 2 1/2 years and he passed away last summer 2 months after my husband. So now it's just me and my 3 girls. THey give me so much comfort and love since losing my DH. I won't ever have 3 again as my situation has changed as far as income and eventually needing to move from my home. No one around here will rent with 3 dogs and condos have a 2 dog limit.

[Pookie1w]

Timely topic as I'm going to the rescue tomorrow to look at a small chihuahua/terrier mix. I too feel that Coco needs a companion. We have yorkies in my development that Ive invited for play dates, but no takers. Though we love going to the dog park, she's always the smallest and most timid puppy there and is easily run over the larger or more confident dogs, so we only go early am or late pm.

From what I'm told, Midget is 1.5 y.o and is himself timid, but a real snuggle muffin. I'll see what happens tomorrow, but if he's not the one I know it will be some other young pup at some point. I can wait for the right one.