Thinking About Getting A 2nd Dog

DH and I are thinking about getting a new dog. We currently have one dog that is 6. I rescued her 5 years ago and have drug her from LA to SF to WA. so I understand the responsibility of pet ownership and have had 2 dogs before.

We prefer to rescue a dog. I don't want a puppy, but he sort of does. I'm really not into chewing, house breaking etc.

We're not planning on having kids for about 3 years, and whatever dog we rescue would have kid experience on it's resume.

I feel like we are considering all of the issues, but just curious what everyone's opinion is on 1 dog vs. 2?

I have four dogs :) I think the more you can rescue the better. you are of course going to have to have twice as much food, if you board them that will cost you twice what is usually does. Training, health care, vaccinations etc will all be double. But its so worth it.

One thing I would make sure of is that the dogs get along. Two of my four dogs hate eachother and it adds a lot of stress to the household constantly having to break up their little fights. They are getting better with age though.

What kind of dog are you thinking about getting?

aawwww!! yay!!

i know i'm not responsible enough or around enough to hfve a dog - so i live vicariously through all of you ;-)

Right now we're thinking a border collie or shepard mix. I currently have an american eskimo mix that is definitely part border collie or shepard. We're very active and have a yard, so I think adding another active dog to the mix will be good and hopefully give our dog someone to play with. I know there will be a period of adjustment with her since it's just been her for 5 years. When we sit family pets they usually get along after a few days. So I think she would acclamate quickly.

I saw him on petfinder and he caught my eye.

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12915346

I think 2 is better. I personally have 3, but two of them are tiny chihuahua's and barely count as one dog combined. It gives them someone to hang out with and get in trouble with. Luckily our dogs all get along famously! 2 chi's and a 55 pound pitbull/aussie shepherd mix. It is hysterical to watch them play and wrestle.

A, I've been thinking the same thing lately! We have one dog and she gets so lonely during the day. The only worry I have is.. what if we have children? Then we'll have two kids and two dogs, which seems like a lot of responsibility.

The border collie is so cute! We found our dog on petfinder too, way back in 2004. =)

Margaret we are planning on having kids as well. We have 4 dogs and plan to have 3 children. I am a more the merrier kind of person though lol I think itd be great to raise your kids around dogs and as they grow up they can learn to care for them and be responsible as well :)

Ditto hearts... I think you should foster the dog you'd like to adopt for a few days to a week to see if their "personalities" match. Expose him or her to as many common household scenarios as you can, and bring him or her around some kids. The best combination of dogs you can get is two that are calm, easygoing. Helps if they're both submissive (to you, of course). It's hard to tell until they get used to your home; and I'm sure you know that with rescue dogs, behavioral problems are common.

Years ago I had two, and they just didn't mix well. One was very calm but tended to dominate; and the other was submissive, but very high anxiety. They would get into squabbles a lot. We ended up finding a better home for the high anxiety dog, where he would have a job to do on a farm. The other one did much better on his own.

Best of luck - I would love to have two again, and probably will when we get a larger place. :)

Yay for rescue!!!  jack was a rescue...and we want another one too....but not at least until after the wedding and preferably until we get back to CA!