2 vs 1- honest opinions needed!!!
 

Hi everyone,

YES- I know this has been discussed before. I have a few specific questions.... Right now I take Lex everywhere with me. She LOVES going bye-byes with her mommy. How do you handle it when you have 2 ? I would think it would be hard to handle 2 of them in pet stores,ect. Also.... I am worried that Lex wouldn't recieve as much attention from me. (although I dote on her so much- she would probably welcome the distraction- haha!!)
As many of you know, Lex just turned 2. I am somewhat concerned as to how she would handle a newcomer. A huge reason I have for wanting another (other than to love a new baby like crazy!!) is for Lex to have a companion while I am at work. I do come home every day at lunch, but for the time I am not here she would have a friend. Do you think dogs get lonely for other dogs? Do they do better in pairs, or is it double trouble? I know I analyze EVERYTHING to death- BUT I want to make sure I make a very well informed decision before adding to our family, and want to make sure we are doing the right thing for all involved. By the way, I have been considering this for well over a year. There is an adorable little boy currently available that I am totally falling in love with..... check him out.....
PLEASE any advice-pros/cons would be VERY welcome and most appreciated!!
Thanks in advance- you guys are the best!!

He sure is cute. She may be a little jealous at first, so I always try to pay attention to the one I had first as normal, and love on the new one second, so nobody's nose get's out of joint. I'm sure you'll do fine, and yes it's harder going somewhere with two, so I take one at a time rotating when they get to go. Then when I get home I give extra lovin's to the one who stayed home.

It is hard to impossible to take two places. That is the only negative to having two

Two for me was fine! I still took them on visits to PetSmart and walks were still easy. Now that I have double that, things are a little harder and trips out are rotated with one to two of them at a time to be fair.

I loved having two, they had companionship in each other and were just so fun to watch them play :).

Two dogs was simple for me!! I have even taken 4 dogs with me on a regular basis and do just fine.

They do have carriers now that are made for two small dogs to go in so they can both go with you everywhere.

I would say that if Lex is well socialized, she will have no problems with you adding a new dog, she will most likely welcome it. Most dogs do better in pairs, after all they are pack animals.

I say if you have the time, money and room, go for it!!:thumbup:

Well Bella was 2 also when I got Diggy who is now 6 months old. Yes...I dont take them bye bye as much...and yes it is harder to handle to me. BUT Diggy added a ton to our lives....Bella was very accepting of him and she is a VERY dominant female....so all went well for me. Overall I think 2 is a great # if you feel in your heart you really want another, then you do it. Im actually itching for a #3 :p :eek:

I have three and I honestly don't really find it much harder then when I just had one. I still take them out with me to all places that they are allowed and they go for walkies every day. I try to make sure that I take them each out individually at least once a week as well so that I have a special relationship with each of them.

She may be a little jelous at first but as long as you spend plenty of time with her, fuss her when the puppy is around so that she knows his presence is a good thing and give her a break from the puppy from time to time then they should settle down and form a great bond pretty soon.

I only have one right now, but I plan on getting a second. Aurora gets lonely and jasmine, our cat refuses to play with her. She is very hyper at home.
She gets to go visit my mom's yorkies and she is so much happier when she is there. She loves getting to play with preston (my mom's boy yorkie). My mom's girl is named Penelope and she is not really the playing type, but she is very motherly to aurora, but if Aurora is there for more than a few days, Penelope gets sick of her. She actually sleeps at night when she is there playing with them. She even gets excited if I ask if she wants to go see preston. I am going to set aside some money so I can get another little girl from the same breeder, so Aurora can have a baby sister. I want to get her before Aurora is too use to being the only puppy.

well, 2 is wonderful because they bond to each other and keep each other company. i have one that loves to go bye bye and one that sometimes gets car sick and gets nervous around a lot of other people. The one that doesn't like to go places hates to be at home by himself. :( But I'm glad I have 2 because they keep each other company while I"m at work all day. I say go for it. If you can give them a good healthy home, it's worth it.

When my first dog (a pom-a-poo) started to get very sickly and old, we got a new puppy hoping it would take away SOME of the pain when our first died. The vet told us that we only had around 6 months with our first dog when we got Beau. Right when we brought Beau home, Roscoe, our first dog started to play with him, and they sleep in one bed instead of their own seperately. When Roscoe had his monthly check-up, the vet said that he was totally healthy again. His blood pressure was down, his heart was beating normally, and he has lost weight. Instead of the 6 months we had at first, Roscoe lived another 4 years, and I give the credit to Beau. Beau gave Roscoe a reason to live. After Roscoe died, Beau was in a depression and wouldn't eat or drink for around 3 days...he missed his big brother. Beau is acting normally now, but it took him around a year to become his old self again.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that two dogs will bond just like two children. They may fight sometimes but they will complete each other. I say GO FOR IT!!!

When I was thinking about getting another one, it was for the same reason. To keep Bella company. She was almost 1 when I got Izzie. It was difficult at first. I really wanted to pay attention to Izzie since she was just taken away from her mom, dad, and litter mate. But, at the same time I didn't want to ignore Bella. To be honest, it was really tough for a couple of weeks. I felt guilty and wondered if I made the right decision.
Bella had always slept with me, when Izzie came home and moved in on her (my) bed Bella got really hurt and went and layed on the family room floor. She had never done this, I felt soooo bad. I went and got her and really gave her a lot of attention.
It has been a couple of months now and they are GREAT together!! They play a lot and cuddle. Of course, they still both want my attention, but I don't feel and torn and guilty as I did. I can love them both at the same time and they are OK.
I must admit taking them is harder at times. Izzie is still little, so she doen't do as well on a leash. She will walk fine on it, I am just more nervous about other people or dogs around her. So, I tend to carry her or put her in a carrier. Eventually I can see it getting easier as she gets bigger.
Honestly it has not been a piece of cake.....but worth it!!!!
Good luck with your decision....

Do both of them now sleep with you? Lex sleeps in my bed now and I can totally see her being the same way!!

Izzie has slept with me from day 1. She was so used to having other dogs around, I couln't stand putting her by herself. Luckily I am a very light sleeper, and when she moves I know. I used to have to get up a couple of times to take her out. Now she sleeps through the night.
I have one on my head, and one curled up in my belly:D

I have two little furbabies now, and I still take them places with me. I put them in the doggie stroller and off we go :) I wouldn't want to carry both of them in a carrier on my shoulder....I think for the first 2 weeks, you might get jealousy issues, but in time, the first one will accept the second one, and they will be inseparable. Luckily, Miko took to Emma right away. I think it's important for them to have a playmate to keep them company while you are at work even if it's only a few hours at a time that you're gone. Miko was almost 3 when we got Emma (she was 7 months old when we got her)...

Bubba was 1 1/2 when we got Sissy-she was very shy at first but came around quickly once she got comfortable. He helped housebreak her. They are best friends and keep each other company when I'm out or busy. The each have their own time for loving. Doubles the love with two. Yes, I take both out with me using a splitter and each has their own seat belt harness.
The bad side-they are inseparable and cry and mope with out the other (he was depressed when she stayed at the vet for spaying). So they both go to the vet at the same time. AND he is a teaser-takes all the toys and bully sticks so the she starts crying and barking because she has nothing.
All in all it's great! Oh and by the way double the land mines in the yard;)