What We Do for Our Pets

[Marge]

What? Does this mean I don't get $100?

[Katwyk tile]

Thats a nice picture Paco.
Marge I'll have to get back to you on that $100.

I'm wondering if dogs do better when they have another dog to hang out with. Maybe it depends on the breed. My house is a lonely empty place 8 hours of the day. It seems like most people here have more than one dog.

[oakview]

Rod,

Not that you didn't already know this, but dogs are by nature pack animals. A good number of them will do fine as an only pet either by necessity or owner choice. That said, the company of fellow dog is beneficial, especially when people are away for extended periods on a regular basis. Dogs are better adjusted both mentally and physically with regular companionship, human or canine.

We started off with just one greyhound. After adopting a second one months later, he really blossomed. Double the fun and his great personality just got better. As a rule, two dogs are no more trouble than one, although food and medical expense do go up and need to be considered.

Just my $.02...

[ceramictec]

our solo dogs always watch tv or have the radio on.

[MudMaker]

Originally Posted by Dave

That said, the company of fellow dog is beneficial, especially when people are away for extended periods on a regular basis.

That's true Dave, and they also look out for each other...

Here Baja is checking to see if Mat "The Cat" Dillon has any cavities....

[Dave Taylor]

It look like Mat "The Cat" Dillon (above) is singing oprey'....

"Ooooh Sooool Meeeeoooowww"!

[Tiger Mountain Tile Inc]

Originally Posted by ceramictec

our solo dogs... [plural?]

[Katwyk tile]

Wife agrees on the second dog. Should we get one from that same litter or a different litter? We don't wantto breed them. Thought it would be cool to have the same age and not sure about a male or female.

[bbcamp]

Getting them from the same litter is kinda cute, but if there are any issues with genetics, you have both eggs in the same basket. The age thing is a crapshoot. If they are both puppies, you have to housebreak 2 dogs, and you will never know who is backsliding, so to speak. They will both age about the same rate, so when it comes time for one to go, the other will be right behind. I think getting them a year or so apart has some advantages, particularly in the training. With one dog, you can concentrate your efforts, and your dog will learn faster. With 2 dogs, they tend to distract each other. Speaking of training, I highly recommend finding and attending puppy obedience classes, then following up a bit later with some advanced classes. Your dog is a better pet if he obeys both on and off leash.

Get girls if you have the choice. Less "marking."

[prostuff1]

Dogs do better in pairs though it is not necessary.

If it were me I would wait a year or two to get the second dog. Get the first house broken, trained, and all that jazz. Then introduce the second puppy into the mix. The older dog should be the "alpha" and keep the other one more in line. My 13 year old was a good influence on the puppy I got and trained for a friend. She wanted a puppy and was willing to pay me to keep it and train it for 6 months. My older dog was really good with the younger one. I think the one biggest thing that improved was the housebreaking part of it. The new puppy took about a week to housebreak and I think it was mostly from watching my dog and "understanding" the rules from her. My dog will let me know whenever she has to go out and the puppy keyed in on that. The puppy took a couple of weeks and then started letting me know when she wanted to go out.

As far as training the puppy. Get everyone in the house to participate and be hands on with the dog. If only one person does 95% of the training the dog will always listen to that person better. If your kids are old/young enough to be in 4-H I highly suggest looking into taking the dog to the county fair as a 4-H project. I trained my dog in this fashion and it worked out well. It got her use to lots of different people and situations. I think the first time I showed her at fair she was about 6 months old, we placed first in our obedience class that year and every year i took her to fair for the next 5 years. After I was to old to participate in 4-H obedience my sister took our dog for the next 3 years and placed first every year she was there.


Crate training I can't really comment on. We never had a crate for my dog, we had a doggy bed for her and that was her crate when she was younger. Be sure to start early with keeping the dog in the crate/bed and making sure they do not whine/yip/bark when in there. The dog has to "love" being in the crate or you will soon get annoyed. I babysit a dog that was never crated and hates being in it, even with someone sitting right next to the crate. He whines/barks/yips any time he is in the crate as the owner gives in way to easy just lets the dog out so he will stop making noise.

[Katwyk tile]

Well we couldn't wait til Christmas for our dog Molly and my wife suprised me with her brother Dexter. It has been a fun couple of day's for our family.
The dog's have been pretty good as far as going potty when we take them outside on the grass, soon to be snow. They very seldom bark and really play and do everything together. I think it helps cut down on the whining. They sleep in the same crate in our bedroom and get up at 5:30 and we go straight outside. Tomorrow eveyone goes back to work and school so I made blocked in an area in my basement and that's where they will spend their day's. We are hoping to train them to go potty on pads maybe kinda like a litter box.
These dog's have changed the dynamics of our house and my girl's are so happy.

[ceramictec]

we have the same crate, he sleeps in it every night.
recently he has been going into it during the day for naps.

[Davestone]

Hah

[Marge]

Something makes me think the little guy could control him.

[Davestone]

That right there is the reason i don't work for the Post Office.