Two dogs or one for company for each other ?

JC43

Our female dog died recently and in the spring we will get another hopefully.
She was 15 years old was very calm in her later years. She was a cross between a border collie and a cavalier. She had a great personality and would nearly talk to you.
I looking for advise on whether or not to get two pups. My boys are older now so they're in and out and I now work 2 mornings a week so wouldnt be about as much as when I was a stay at home mum for the first 10 years of the others dogs life. Will I get two females or two males ? Or one of each ? Do I get two different breeds ? Like a collie and a jrt for instance.
What's your opinions thanks

VonVix

Get one puppy, work on socialising it and raising it to be a well mannered dog, then once he/she hits the 2 year mark or so, consider getting a second.

Littermate syndrome can be an issue with getting two puppies. Two female puppies can be a very risky pairing and can be known to fight really badly. Another problem with two puppies together is that they can end up bonding to each other, and not their owner, which in addition to a host of other problems can make training a much slower process. Usually you end up with one puppy having very little confidence and the other ends up very outgoing. It is a LOT more hassle than it's worth... and that's not including having to do twice the house training.

I have sibling dogs and I can see the affects, it could have been a much worse situation for me, but I would definitely never get two puppies at the same time ever again.

Here is a good article on littermate syndrome: https://blog.betternaturedogtraining.com/2013/07/18/littermate-syndrome/

Knine

2 dogs are great company for each other provided they get on well. I have 4 living together & they mostly get on well.

I would strongly advise getting 2 puppies at the same time as it can cause all sorts of problems, they can bond better with each other then you, one can become totally dependent on the other & not cope very well without them. There can be fighting at maturity if same sex, training is more difficult. Both puppies need separate socialisation so taking a lot of time.

I would recommend getting one dog or puppy & then adding another in about 18 mths time. It is easier to have one of each sex or 2 males. If 2 females don't get on, it will be a nightmare.

Breed wise - don't get the likes of toy or short faced breeds & expect them to keep up with terriers or collies etc. A lot depends on what you like - how much exercise you can provide etc. 2 of the same breed often works well.

Of course there is always the rescue option & some rescues might have a pair of dogs looking for a home together who already are well bonded.

PuppIreland

If you do get one dog it's worth putting the effort in to socialise them early. The DSPCA run free puppy playdates regularly, and when they're a bit older doggy daycare is a great way to get them used to other dogs. Will make getting the second a lot easier!

s15r330

I had 2 lab females, got the 2nd when the 1st was 1.
They were inseparable, if one had to go to the vet the other cried and barked til she came back.
They were great company for each other and I felt better about leaving them for work etc knowing they had each other.

They are gone now but my gf has a 3 year old male lab and we got a new male puppy who is now 8months, they get on like a house on fire!
I would never have 1 dog on its own.

I wouldn't get male/female unless you want pups etc.
I prefer females, but if it was me i'd get same breeds, they can keep up to each other.

DBB

s15r330 wrote: »

I wouldn't get male/female unless you want pups etc.
I prefer females, but if it was me i'd get same breeds, they can keep up to each other.

Whilst you'll get away with it with some individuals, and certain lines within certain breeds, it is categorically not advised to keep two dogs of the same sex together.
Working lines of labs will often be okay, but keeping two same-sex hot-head terriers together is asking for trouble, with a huge representation of inter-dog aggression between dogs from the same household occurring between same-sex dogs across many other individuals of any breed or cross.
I'd also be cautious about throwing a party that an 8 month old pup is getting on a storm with a same-sex adult... It is very rare for really serious aggression to start until the younger dog reaches sexual maturity... I've really lost count of the owners who complain that their same-sex dogs always got on great, but have suddenly started to fight... The common factor? The younger reached sexual maturity. It is extremely difficult to repair this relationship when it starts to break down. Neutering does not always help.
By far the biggest risk is two related females, followed by two unrelated females, followed by two males.
By far and away the safest option for a two dog household is one male and one female... Statistically this combination brings the risk of injurious aggression down to a fraction of the risk with same-sex pairs.
For pet dogs, the issue of unwanted pups is very easily dealt with... Neuter the female, or neuter both, or keep them separate when the bitch comes into heat.

njs030

DBB wrote: »

Whilst you'll get away with it with some individuals, and certain lines within certain breeds, it is categorically not advised to keep two dogs of the same sex together.
Working lines of labs will often be okay, but keeping two same-sex hot-head terriers together is asking for trouble, with a huge representation of inter-dog aggression between dogs from the same household occurring between same-sex dogs across many other individuals of any breed or cross.

Really? That's so interesting! I have 3 males of different breeds and a female and no trouble.
Though I regularly foster and one in particular is hostile to male foster dogs until he inevitably goes too far and gets a nip and he turns back into the wuss he really is!

I must be very lucky with the personality combination of them all!

DBB

I am quite specifically referring to two-dog households njs
Once you go above two dogs, the politics and social flow changes significantly.

njs030

DBB wrote: »

I am quite specifically referring to two-dog households njs
Once you go above two dogs, the politics and social flow changes significantly.

Which I realised after i posted!!
We started off with one male, then two within 6 months but the second was (and still is) so easy going and relaxed it's easy to see why there was no issues. If he was a human he'd be a pot smoking hippie

VonVix

DBB wrote: »

I am quite specifically referring to two-dog households njs
Once you go above two dogs, the politics and social flow changes significantly.

When you say the "social flow changes significantly" would you say it gets more... complex?

When I went from 2 dogs to 3 (all male) suddenly there seemed to be so much more body language/communication between my dogs than I had ever seen before. Likes/dislikes became magnified, they also started to bounce off each other like a chain reaction.

DBB

notjustsweet wrote: »

We started off with one male, then two within 6 months but the second was (and still is) so easy going and relaxed it's easy to see why there was no issues. If he was a human he'd be a pot smoking hippie

Lol
I have two female GSDs now, and have had various combos of pairs of females for some time... But I know them and their lines inside out, and like your lad they're seriously laid back, gentle characters, neither man nor beast could fall out with them

kenmccarthy

Firstly, sypathies on loss of your dog/I'm in the same boat..ol girl passed away in November ...first ever christmas with no dog in the house was 'lonesome' for everyone. Personally, I'm a "one dog" kinda guy....going to leave things alone till March /April....then off to the <snip> pound with absolutely no agenda/preferences re breed / age/ sex.... realistically the kids'll be with me so it'll probably be first seen will be the "best dog ever". If you're working 2 morn & the family are "in and out" maybe the 1 dog is the way to go.......guess it's a very personal decision. I like the way you say " she would nearly talk to you" ......ol Betsy & I had breakfast together every morn for 15yrs & discuss morning ireland on the radio.miss her big time

kurtainsider

In my view 2 dogs are much better than one. They are great company for each other - especially if people aren't around 24/7. We have 2 dogs and they have great fun together apart from the occasional scuffle where the bitch has to remind the younger male (both neutered) who's boss.

Sleeper12

VonVix wrote:

Get one puppy, work on socialising it and raising it to be a well mannered dog, then once he/she hits the 2 year mark or so, consider getting a second.

This is the exact age we got our 2nd dog. We didn't plan it that way but have to say it's a great success. They love each other

DBB

VonVix wrote: »

When you say the "social flow changes significantly" would you say it gets more... complex?

When I went from 2 dogs to 3 (all male) suddenly there seemed to be so much more body language/communication between my dogs than I had ever seen before. Likes/dislikes became magnified, they also started to bounce off each other like a chain reaction.

I think 3 is the most difficult dynamic of them all VonVix... Things can get very complicated with 3, because there's a very real risk, a likelihood even, of a 2 vs 1 scenario developing... I remember my terrier ganging up with a female foster terrier I had, to attack my lovely, harmless little Spaniel x who my terrier had lived with for years before the foster dog arrived. A real eye-opener for me.
I had 3 resident dogs together for years too... Those same 2 dogs above, and a GSD. It worked really well as the terrier preferred to keep himself to himself, the two girls were good pals, and the GSD was herself a consummate peacemaker... She could calm a rising temper with ease. When she died, we got a niece of hers, who was and still is an even better peacemaker, it's a joy to watch her calming everything down. She now lives with her younger 1st cousin here to make up our now 2 female dog household... You can see why I'm in a good position to keep two females from these lines together!
When you get to 4+ dogs, you've a greater chance of more balanced pairings, and a greater chance that you'll have a peacemaker amongst them. There's more scope for social flow and watering down of the intensity that can happen in a 2 dog household!

VonVix

DBB wrote: »

I think 3 is the most difficult dynamic of them all VonVix... Things can get very complicated with 3, because there's a very real risk, a likelihood even, of a 2 vs 1 scenario developing... I remember my terrier ganging up with a female foster terrier I had, to attack my lovely, harmless little Spaniel x who my terrier had lived with for years before the foster dog arrived. A real eye-opener for me.
I had 3 resident dogs together for years too... Those same 2 dogs above, and a GSD. It worked really well as the terrier preferred to keep himself to himself, the two girls were good pals, and the GSD was herself a consummate peacemaker... She could calm a rising temper with ease. When she died, we got a niece of hers, who was and still is an even better peacemaker, it's a joy to watch her calming everything down. She now lives with her younger 1st cousin here to make up our now 2 female dog household... You can see why I'm in a good position to keep two females from these lines together!
When you get to 4+ dogs, you've a greater chance of more balanced pairings, and a greater chance that you'll have a peacemaker amongst them. There's more scope for social flow and watering down of the intensity that can happen in a 2 dog household!

Thanks for giving me another reason to get a fourth dog.

tk123

VonVix wrote: »

Thanks for giving me another reason to get a fourth dog.

+1 "DBB says we need 2 more dogs - not just 1" :pac::pac::pac:

shakencat

i have two..
Raven our lab - i thought she was lonely (for no reason - i wasnt working when we got her!)
So we started fostering to find the perfect match and to help of course!

Then Ralph came along, a rottweiler, she was 2, and ralph 4/5 months old when he arrived.

They are besties.

He is the brave one, but my god she is the boss.

I will always have 2 dogs, i feel less worried if im caught out a bit longer than expected (They are never left longer than 3-4 hours at a time, if even that!!)
When we only had Raven , id worry about her and she had really bad separation anxiety too

I would agree with the majority here, get the first pup, and bond with it, then introduce the second