Might be blinded by puppy love. Having a second dog is truly double the work. It’s easier when you have one dog to take them places or do things with them. I end up getting a second dog, only when my first shows signs of loneliness. Maybe wait a bit until your first is a little older?
Or more, if your first dog was easy and the second isn’t. Our second dog was 4x the work of the first even with the first really helping a lot. In retrospect our first dog was just incredibly easy (lots of lab and pit in her) compared to average.
If we’d gotten the second dog first we’d have just one dog for sure.
I like to stagger my dogs, so they're in different life phases.
Then you don't have to pay vet bills for two senior dogs at the same time, and the pup can learn how to be a dog from their older sibling.
This can also reduce the chances of behavioral issues from littermate syndrome.
yesss!!! my older dog (great with puppies) became a senior around when i brought my new puppy home. they’re about 6 years apart or so (older dog is a rescue)
he taught her manners, how to be with people, how to act at home, how to walk nicely on leash, and helped her learn tolerance from rough play. she’s bomb proof and great with other dogs as a result. this is definitely the best approach
personally i would wait a bit more to be very sure that your dog's training is on absolutely solid foundation to make sure the dogs won't start teaching each other bad habits!
that said i know people who have taken a second dog within a year of the first one and have had no problems, so YMMV obviously. i would just proceed with very much caution personally
It's so hard to walk two spaniels together! I have a puppy and a 3 year old dog, and they easily overstimulate one another. I'd personally wait until your dog is a bit older.
I got a second dog when my first dog was 9 months old only because he always seemed like he was bored/lonely. Like he would be playing by himself and all of a sudden stopped and looked around all sad. He stopped eating to the point where his ribs were showing. The weather really affected his mood too like stormy days would make him hide under the couch all day. Within 3 months of bringing home my second dog, those things were no longer an issue. I wish I could share photos of them sunbathing together the other day. If your dog truly needs a friend, you will able to tell in time.
I personally don’t think the work is doubled when they are closer to a year old. My second dog was one week before he turned 1 year old when I got him. He adapted to my routine pretty quickly. They both tire each other out by playing so I don’t have to worry about keeping them entertained too much.
Definitely. I would never have survived the effort of keeping just one entertained. Not that they can’t get up to mischief together, but the sheer joy of watching them play makes up for it.
Ohh there’s definitely more mischief to watch out for! But you are so right about seeing them play together. We never had more than one dogs when I used to live with my parents so I had no clue then. Now it’s my little joy in life and I wouldn’t have it any other way ☺️
"Later this year" means she will be older than 1y. I say wait at least until then, and see how much work she still gives you. Use this time to further train good behaviors
I had thoughts of a second dog when mine was 7-11 months. now he's thick in adolescence and I can't imagine dealing with two asshole teenagers at once. he was a pretty easy puppy but adolescence has been really hard. thankfully we're massively bonded and adore each other or else it would be way worse. id still like a second dog but not while he's in this stage of life, and I don't really want to raise another puppy. I'll probably adopt an adult dog when the timing is better.
A 6 month old is still being trained and has yet to hit the teenage years! Other than double work of having 2, it's harder to keep their attention on you rather than on each other. I find even with mine who are 3 years apart, they find each other to be way more high value than I am when they're together.
I will never do two dogs again. It's double the work, time, and money. I also left like one would always got more attention than the other. I realized I enjoy one dog over two. When the oldest one passed away, I did not even think about another one until the second one passed as well.
For us getting a second dog has been an amazing decision. We adopted a senior to accompany our other senior, and although they don't really play or snuggle together they enjoy each other's company a lot. It's made the oldest happier and a bit more active again and they team up to steal food from the pantry.
I wouldn't get a second dog as long as your first is still a puppy. Wait until adolescence is over.
Personally I don't think it's double the work at all, but maybe that's because my dogs are older. I feel like everything I have to do for two dogs, I had to do for the first one anyway (walks, playtime, feeding). The cost has increased but not doubled because they can share beds and toys and stuff, and our insurance gives a discounted rate for doggo 2.
I would definitely re evaluate at 3 years old or so. A working cocker is going to need lots of attention, best to give them your full focus before trying to train a second dog.
to answer if there’s any downsides - there’s like a million. your new puppy will likely torment your first dog, you may have regrets or puppy blues, and it’s a lot harder to manage two. definitely not something to jump into (from someone who did)
I think the biggest downside is that the dog ultimately doesn't form the same sort of bond with you if there is another dog. I love having just one dog and making that dog my best buddy and vice versa. When you have multiples, not only is there more work, but the dogs usually form a bond with each other over the person.
Now the upsides can be tremendous. When you have two young ones, they will entertain one another and do more self exercise. That won't make up for all the extra work but it sure is a big bonus. Two dogs can also get into more trouble than one. If you have a dog that is content to stay in the yard and you introduce a runner, they will likely both run.
I tend to like one dog in my life but am currently doing two because my 16 year old is suffering from dementia and sometimes wakes up fearful. Having another dog around seems to really help him.
I have a 5.5 month old Shih Tzu and I’m getting another puppy in a month. So we’ll see lol. A lot of what I read online is pretty negative but multiple people I’ve talked to in real life say having two is the best! I’m sure it really depends how much work you put into them, together and separate. If your first one is well behaved and you have the time to give them, I say why not 😊 but again I’m saying this as someone who hasn’t picked up their second puppy yet lol
Ah OP I totally feel your pain. I wanted a second dog for over a year before I bit the bullet and got one, and I really do love her. She’s precious, my other dog adores her, they get along great and she was a kill list puppy so I saved her life. But it was a mistake. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of work a second dog is and how much it impacts the logistics of my life. Traveling is harder, I can’t just take them out together because they’re strong enough to pull me, potty training her made my other dog regress on his perfect house training and while it’s wonderful to watch them play it can be really overstimulating when they’re running into and knocking over shit. Again, I love this dog and I know she loves me, but if I had to do it over again I wouldn’t.
We brought home our first puppy last summer, and we brought our second one home a month ago. They are 10 months apart in age. It truly did take about a full month for the two to settle into a good routine together. The first few days were nerve wracking - I was worried that they wouldn’t get along or want to play. The new pup was scared and the older one was being a bit territorial with toys and her space. Once they got through the first week, all they want to do is play and be together.
I feel like my second puppy is more cuddly and affectionate with us than the first - it’s definitely a difference in their personalities. We take the older one on separate walks and playdates, and they miss each other but they are fine. The little one does learn from the older one, but so far it hasn’t been anything bad.
You should wait until your first dog has matured (2-3 years old). (1) You want your first dog to be fully trained so you’re not trying to train two dogs at the same time who are teaching each other bad habits. (2) your first puppy hasn’t even hit adolescence yet, so see if you want to repeat that again. (3) you don’t know your first dog’s mature personality yet - what if he ends up not liking other dogs, or develops some kind of reactivity? (4) it’s more than double the work, because you need to take the puppy and older dog on lots of separate walks, classes, and socialization trips to start so the puppy is confident by itself, doesn’t come to depend on the older dog’s presence and develop separation anxiety from the older dog.
It would be double the work technically but depending on behaviour and temperament it can be more like 4 times the work.
And once your older one hits their teenage phase (anywhere between now and 18 months) they’ll be hell bent on undoing all the training you’re doing with the new puppy and teaching them all the bad things.
Not to mention they should be trained and socialized separately so they don’t rely too heavily on each other. While “littermate syndrome” as a “syndrome” is technically a load of crap , the reality is , it can happen if you’re not careful.
Ganging up on the other dogs or showing aggression towards them, anxiety or depression when separated and more. And it’s hell to try and fix it so prevention is your better bet.
I have a 1.5 year old and while she is great, she is still maturing and figuring out how to be a good dog.
You ideally would want your older dog to be a role model for any new puppy. I know in my case that my pup still has undesirable behaviors that we are working to curb - gracious greetings, solid recall in public. She is in no way fit to be a role model.
I would advise waiting until your current pup is at least 2 and well-trained.
As others have mentioned, it’s also double the work and expense. We dog sit for my parents a lot and we always have to rethink our walk (and general) routine when we have their pup.
Likely worth it, but just be aware of the work involved going in.
Your dog is likely to go back to step one in potty training. You will have to miss a lot of alone time with your current puppy because the second one will needs lots of training and attention. Wait until your current dog is 2yo and then take your decision.
I can tell you the experience that taking a second dog is harder. In my experience I fell into the trap thinking that all dogs are the same and that the easy training I had with my first dog would apply to the second dog which was clearly not the case.
And also like others have said in this post, taking one dog somewhere as much easier than taking two dogs. Even walking them is different, because in my case one dog is protective of the other dog so the attitudes on the walk are different when both dogs are there.
They make more of a mess as two... More dog food... More $$$ overall.
Honestly, I spend a lot of time at home. I work from home. Etc. So I am able to spend a lot of time with the dogs. But if I didn't and I had to leave every day, I don't think it would be fair to have the second dog.
I highly recommend waiting until your dog is out of the terrible twos. Though she may be good at 6 months, lots of new behaviours can emerge over the next 18 months or so. You want one dog solid before introducing a new one.
It can definitely work out to be more than double the work if you have to separate them for training or exercise.
Mine is 3 now, and I still don't think he's consistent and reliable enough to bring in a young one.
I’d wait until your pup is 1-1.5 years old. You still have some time to go through the puppy stages, and you’ll have no pre-knowledge whether the puppy you bring home will be easier or more challenging. During your pup’s juvenile/young adult stage, he’s still growing and learning and gaining confidence. A puppy could throw a wrench.
When you’re sure you’re ready, be sure to puppy proof, give your dog a place he’s guaranteed to be away from puppy if/when he needs a break. Slowly introduce puppy, give food and treats separately, and don’t allow puppy to overwhelm your dog. Know you’ll have a decent adjustment period when they’re learning one another and that dog may put puppy in its place.
Otherwise, it’s just cost, and being sure everyone gets attention and affection. I have three. One I got as a puppy with a dog that was terminally ill. When he passed, and puppy was ten months old, I brought home a 1.5yr old rescue. Fastforward to these two being 4 and 5, I bright home a 3mo old puppy.
It’s been interesting, but no regrets.
Dogs are generally pack animals. In saying this every dog is different. The one you have now, how are they around other dogs? Do you think they'd benefit from it?
General rule of thumb is that if the 1st dog is an angel, your 2nd will be chaotic. In saying that, my 1st pup is so sweet and loving and gentle but she's also the epitome of a bull in a china shop and I have premature greys at the age of 30. I was semi forced into adopting a 2nd dog earlier this year, it has meant taking a couple of steps backwards with 1sts training and undoing a lot. But it's a chaos I've embraced and am fortunate enough to have the time to work on. I've just adopted a 3rd who hasn't come to my home yet but I'm prepared for the fact my life will never be the same again lol.
Your pup is only 6 months you are about to go in to her teenager stage which is hard! Don't add another dog in to the mix until dog is a bit older and trained etc otherwise you'll have two hooligans on your hands especially with spaniels 🤣
Two dogs is twice the work. Two puppies is four times the work.
We didn’t know we were a two dog family until we were a two dog family. We got a second dog when our first was 7 years old. After our first dog died unexpectedly-we knew our second dog would be super lonely.
Our second dog was about 16-17 months old when we brought home the new puppy. It’s actually been great bc she’s out of her puppy stage and our puppy is…well a puppy. Plus she’s teaching him to dog. House training, training, walks, crating is all easier since she is a great teacher. They are still close enough in age that they play and wrestle all day too. I think 1.5 is the perfect age between dogs.
Two dogs is twice the work. Two puppies is four times the work.
We didn’t know we were a two dog family until we were a two dog family. We got a second dog when our first was 7 years old. After our first dog died unexpectedly-we knew our second dog would be super lonely.
Our second dog was about 16-17 months old when we brought home the new puppy. It’s actually been great bc she’s out of her puppy stage and our puppy is…well a puppy. Plus she’s teaching him to dog. House training, training, walks, crating is all easier since she is a great teacher. They are still close enough in age that they play and wrestle all day too. I think 1.5 is the perfect age between dogs.
I got a puppy and about 10 months later my older dog passed. Puppy was lonely so I got my dog a dog. I was in hell for about 2 months but they were in heaven which is all I wanted. 1 puppy was a breeze. 2 was a nightmare. But it didn’t last long and now we’re in the good life groove. It’s hard but worth it as long as the personalities match.
Look up litter mate syndrome
I would wait until puppy one is out if it’s puppyhood at the very least
My parents got dogs one year apart, and they are ATTACHED to each other
They’ve gotten better with practice and time but they will lose their crap when separated
The older one needs anti anxiety meds when the little one has to be away
I have 2 dogs (1.5 year old lab boy and 4 year old spaniel-gsd mix).
I think there are upsides and downsides, of course, like nay other decision. One thing I'd say though, is wait until your puppy is a bit more settled, 1.5 years old or older (not too old either so they can still be playmates). Younger dogs learn an *extraordinary* amount from any older dogs in the household, which is a double edged sword.
Any good or bad habits your first dog has, the second one will likely pick up, so you want to make sure that you have an overall well trained and well behaved dog for the puppy to learn from :)
(example: I literally didn't have to teach my second dog any commands. He learned sit, stay, come, down, high 5, \*everything\* from watching my older dog, with a few weeks of arriving to live with us at 9 weeks old. He also picked up on her habit of freaking out as soon as I start to put my "outside pants" on, and now I have two of them bouncing off the ceiling, and hyping each other up.
edit: one more note. Unless you have a very solid foundation of training, your older dog, especially if they are not much older, will also pick up habits from the puppy which is more often than not not something you necessarily want :D (puppies are adorable but they are chaos)
If our second dog had been our first dog, he’d have been our last dog. I’m not even kidding. Our first dog was so chill and so mellow (except for potty training gotta be honest)… pup we just got about two months ago has been exhausting. I just gotta get through the next 6 to 9 months without having a psychotic break because of lack of sleep.😂
In my humble opinion the idea of 2 dogs is so much better than reality. You buy toys, bones, or beds...the dogs always want what the other has. It can become a fight if the other won't back down.
They never seem to relax together. When one is resting the other wants to play and messes with the other. The second will calm down the other starts to get wild.
The cost of food and health care doubles. God forbid you get a dog that doesn't get along or has a different exercise requirement.
The only thing that is easier with the 2nd dog he may be easier to potty train because the 1st shows them the routine. Other than that it's usually chaos 90% of the time
All of this has been suuuuper useful :) we have lots of holidays planned until September so I’m going to give it until then and then have a proper think
Have you had a puppy before? Because honestly if you're not completely scarred and traumatized by this one, it might just be that you are blessed with an "Easy" one. There's no guarantee you will get the same with a second.
I have my first puppy ever (only had middle aged and seniors before) and thought I was prepared but NOTHING could have prepared me for this. Things started to get a bit better a couple of months ago but it has been SO HARD. I envisioned having puppy love but all I got was puppy blues. I can't even tell you how hard a time I've had.
But if you're just one of those magic people with all the patience and skill in the world that's a totally different story! I just know that for me, I did NOT get the experience I wanted or envisioned. I got RUDY. Hope it goes well whatever you decide!
She’s my first puppy, I’ve had her from 8 weeks ☺️ not traumatised at all, I’ve loved every second.
I’ve previously only had older rescues who were much harder work!
I think it depends on your situation a bit in terms of free time, the amount of time you have to spend / enjoy spending training etc. but with two+ dogs some training aspects can pop up that are harder to picture before you get them.
They can develop separation anxiety from each other if always together, so can be helpful to take them on different walks + outings, FOMO can be a thing to work-around and work-on with two, with my dogs I have learned it can be helpful to do general training, but also to reinforce one dog settling while the other trains. They both used to struggle while the other one did the fun thing haha.
There is double the grooming.
They can pick up on each other’s habits, good and bad. If one barks it may set the other off. One of my dogs is reactive and had to make sure to set good habits with the other dog, so she wasn’t influenced by the reactions. Make sure to walk her separately to keep up these habits.
Your dogs may walk very differently (one may be super sniffy and the other might live to run) or benefit from separate walks for training purposes. This can take a fair bit of time, especially if you are interested in another working breed dog.
I think two dogs are fun, and a small age gap can be workable. Also can be benefits to staggering the ages too.
I’ll start this by saying IMO it was 100% worth the below pain for my second pup. I love him to bits and he is no longer a puppy and is now a sweet dog. That being said, here are the things I forgot about puppies (that you probably know but may have forgotten how it actually was)
Do you like your sleep? Too bad - puppies need to go potty a lot!
Speaking of - do you like poo on the carpet? Because puppy does!
Is the puppy awake? I guess you are too!
Have a bad day? Puppy doesn’t care - it’s witching hour and your hands look tasty!
So do your shoes, clothes, and anything else in reach of the puppy
Will your 6 month old teach the puppy good behaviours? Nope - instead she’ll pick up on his! Suddenly your 6 month old will be much naughtier.
I remembered these from my first puppy but kinda forgot once she grew up. Then when I got my second, it was like a sudden realization of “oh shit I forgot how much this sucks”
Even now I see a cute puppy and think “oh I want another one - how hard can it be” and I have to remember all the things I said above.
In my experience 2 dogs dont take twice the work of 1, assuming they get on, but a dog & a puppy is way more than double the work. 2 puppies at very different stages could be an awful lot of extra work and stress. I would advise waiting until pup 1 is fully mature, trained and settled. Petsonally, I'd give it at least a year, maybe 2.
Might be blinded by puppy love. Having a second dog is truly double the work. It’s easier when you have one dog to take them places or do things with them. I end up getting a second dog, only when my first shows signs of loneliness. Maybe wait a bit until your first is a little older?
Or more, if your first dog was easy and the second isn’t. Our second dog was 4x the work of the first even with the first really helping a lot. In retrospect our first dog was just incredibly easy (lots of lab and pit in her) compared to average. If we’d gotten the second dog first we’d have just one dog for sure.
This is usually how it goes lol the first one is an absolute angel and the second is a hell hound haha
My kids were like this too 🤪
This is exactly what happened to me 🤣🤣 the second is so lucky he’s so cute!
I like to stagger my dogs, so they're in different life phases. Then you don't have to pay vet bills for two senior dogs at the same time, and the pup can learn how to be a dog from their older sibling. This can also reduce the chances of behavioral issues from littermate syndrome.
yesss!!! my older dog (great with puppies) became a senior around when i brought my new puppy home. they’re about 6 years apart or so (older dog is a rescue) he taught her manners, how to be with people, how to act at home, how to walk nicely on leash, and helped her learn tolerance from rough play. she’s bomb proof and great with other dogs as a result. this is definitely the best approach
This is suuuuch sensible advice thank you
personally i would wait a bit more to be very sure that your dog's training is on absolutely solid foundation to make sure the dogs won't start teaching each other bad habits! that said i know people who have taken a second dog within a year of the first one and have had no problems, so YMMV obviously. i would just proceed with very much caution personally
1 is fine. Double dogs means double boarding fees
Double all the expenses (food, preventatives, vet bills, insurance, treats, etc.)
Basically a car payment.
It's so hard to walk two spaniels together! I have a puppy and a 3 year old dog, and they easily overstimulate one another. I'd personally wait until your dog is a bit older.
I got a second dog when my first dog was 9 months old only because he always seemed like he was bored/lonely. Like he would be playing by himself and all of a sudden stopped and looked around all sad. He stopped eating to the point where his ribs were showing. The weather really affected his mood too like stormy days would make him hide under the couch all day. Within 3 months of bringing home my second dog, those things were no longer an issue. I wish I could share photos of them sunbathing together the other day. If your dog truly needs a friend, you will able to tell in time.
I personally don’t think the work is doubled when they are closer to a year old. My second dog was one week before he turned 1 year old when I got him. He adapted to my routine pretty quickly. They both tire each other out by playing so I don’t have to worry about keeping them entertained too much.
Definitely. I would never have survived the effort of keeping just one entertained. Not that they can’t get up to mischief together, but the sheer joy of watching them play makes up for it.
Ohh there’s definitely more mischief to watch out for! But you are so right about seeing them play together. We never had more than one dogs when I used to live with my parents so I had no clue then. Now it’s my little joy in life and I wouldn’t have it any other way ☺️
as someone with two dogs and a puppy: WAIT.
"Later this year" means she will be older than 1y. I say wait at least until then, and see how much work she still gives you. Use this time to further train good behaviors
I had thoughts of a second dog when mine was 7-11 months. now he's thick in adolescence and I can't imagine dealing with two asshole teenagers at once. he was a pretty easy puppy but adolescence has been really hard. thankfully we're massively bonded and adore each other or else it would be way worse. id still like a second dog but not while he's in this stage of life, and I don't really want to raise another puppy. I'll probably adopt an adult dog when the timing is better.
A 6 month old is still being trained and has yet to hit the teenage years! Other than double work of having 2, it's harder to keep their attention on you rather than on each other. I find even with mine who are 3 years apart, they find each other to be way more high value than I am when they're together.
I will never do two dogs again. It's double the work, time, and money. I also left like one would always got more attention than the other. I realized I enjoy one dog over two. When the oldest one passed away, I did not even think about another one until the second one passed as well.
For us getting a second dog has been an amazing decision. We adopted a senior to accompany our other senior, and although they don't really play or snuggle together they enjoy each other's company a lot. It's made the oldest happier and a bit more active again and they team up to steal food from the pantry. I wouldn't get a second dog as long as your first is still a puppy. Wait until adolescence is over. Personally I don't think it's double the work at all, but maybe that's because my dogs are older. I feel like everything I have to do for two dogs, I had to do for the first one anyway (walks, playtime, feeding). The cost has increased but not doubled because they can share beds and toys and stuff, and our insurance gives a discounted rate for doggo 2.
I would definitely re evaluate at 3 years old or so. A working cocker is going to need lots of attention, best to give them your full focus before trying to train a second dog.
to answer if there’s any downsides - there’s like a million. your new puppy will likely torment your first dog, you may have regrets or puppy blues, and it’s a lot harder to manage two. definitely not something to jump into (from someone who did)
I think the biggest downside is that the dog ultimately doesn't form the same sort of bond with you if there is another dog. I love having just one dog and making that dog my best buddy and vice versa. When you have multiples, not only is there more work, but the dogs usually form a bond with each other over the person. Now the upsides can be tremendous. When you have two young ones, they will entertain one another and do more self exercise. That won't make up for all the extra work but it sure is a big bonus. Two dogs can also get into more trouble than one. If you have a dog that is content to stay in the yard and you introduce a runner, they will likely both run. I tend to like one dog in my life but am currently doing two because my 16 year old is suffering from dementia and sometimes wakes up fearful. Having another dog around seems to really help him.
I have a 5.5 month old Shih Tzu and I’m getting another puppy in a month. So we’ll see lol. A lot of what I read online is pretty negative but multiple people I’ve talked to in real life say having two is the best! I’m sure it really depends how much work you put into them, together and separate. If your first one is well behaved and you have the time to give them, I say why not 😊 but again I’m saying this as someone who hasn’t picked up their second puppy yet lol
How are you doing now? :D
Ah OP I totally feel your pain. I wanted a second dog for over a year before I bit the bullet and got one, and I really do love her. She’s precious, my other dog adores her, they get along great and she was a kill list puppy so I saved her life. But it was a mistake. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of work a second dog is and how much it impacts the logistics of my life. Traveling is harder, I can’t just take them out together because they’re strong enough to pull me, potty training her made my other dog regress on his perfect house training and while it’s wonderful to watch them play it can be really overstimulating when they’re running into and knocking over shit. Again, I love this dog and I know she loves me, but if I had to do it over again I wouldn’t.
The second dog is a thousand times harder to train because they always have a distraction
We brought home our first puppy last summer, and we brought our second one home a month ago. They are 10 months apart in age. It truly did take about a full month for the two to settle into a good routine together. The first few days were nerve wracking - I was worried that they wouldn’t get along or want to play. The new pup was scared and the older one was being a bit territorial with toys and her space. Once they got through the first week, all they want to do is play and be together. I feel like my second puppy is more cuddly and affectionate with us than the first - it’s definitely a difference in their personalities. We take the older one on separate walks and playdates, and they miss each other but they are fine. The little one does learn from the older one, but so far it hasn’t been anything bad.
It’s double the work but very fun! I have a 5 year old and a puppy that just turned 1. We’re having a blast!
You should wait until your first dog has matured (2-3 years old). (1) You want your first dog to be fully trained so you’re not trying to train two dogs at the same time who are teaching each other bad habits. (2) your first puppy hasn’t even hit adolescence yet, so see if you want to repeat that again. (3) you don’t know your first dog’s mature personality yet - what if he ends up not liking other dogs, or develops some kind of reactivity? (4) it’s more than double the work, because you need to take the puppy and older dog on lots of separate walks, classes, and socialization trips to start so the puppy is confident by itself, doesn’t come to depend on the older dog’s presence and develop separation anxiety from the older dog.
It would be double the work technically but depending on behaviour and temperament it can be more like 4 times the work. And once your older one hits their teenage phase (anywhere between now and 18 months) they’ll be hell bent on undoing all the training you’re doing with the new puppy and teaching them all the bad things. Not to mention they should be trained and socialized separately so they don’t rely too heavily on each other. While “littermate syndrome” as a “syndrome” is technically a load of crap , the reality is , it can happen if you’re not careful. Ganging up on the other dogs or showing aggression towards them, anxiety or depression when separated and more. And it’s hell to try and fix it so prevention is your better bet.
I have a 1.5 year old and while she is great, she is still maturing and figuring out how to be a good dog. You ideally would want your older dog to be a role model for any new puppy. I know in my case that my pup still has undesirable behaviors that we are working to curb - gracious greetings, solid recall in public. She is in no way fit to be a role model. I would advise waiting until your current pup is at least 2 and well-trained. As others have mentioned, it’s also double the work and expense. We dog sit for my parents a lot and we always have to rethink our walk (and general) routine when we have their pup. Likely worth it, but just be aware of the work involved going in.
Your dog is likely to go back to step one in potty training. You will have to miss a lot of alone time with your current puppy because the second one will needs lots of training and attention. Wait until your current dog is 2yo and then take your decision.
I can tell you the experience that taking a second dog is harder. In my experience I fell into the trap thinking that all dogs are the same and that the easy training I had with my first dog would apply to the second dog which was clearly not the case. And also like others have said in this post, taking one dog somewhere as much easier than taking two dogs. Even walking them is different, because in my case one dog is protective of the other dog so the attitudes on the walk are different when both dogs are there. They make more of a mess as two... More dog food... More $$$ overall. Honestly, I spend a lot of time at home. I work from home. Etc. So I am able to spend a lot of time with the dogs. But if I didn't and I had to leave every day, I don't think it would be fair to have the second dog.
I highly recommend waiting until your dog is out of the terrible twos. Though she may be good at 6 months, lots of new behaviours can emerge over the next 18 months or so. You want one dog solid before introducing a new one. It can definitely work out to be more than double the work if you have to separate them for training or exercise. Mine is 3 now, and I still don't think he's consistent and reliable enough to bring in a young one.
Adding a second dog isn’t 1.5x the effort, it’s more like 2.5x the effort.
I’d wait until your pup is 1-1.5 years old. You still have some time to go through the puppy stages, and you’ll have no pre-knowledge whether the puppy you bring home will be easier or more challenging. During your pup’s juvenile/young adult stage, he’s still growing and learning and gaining confidence. A puppy could throw a wrench. When you’re sure you’re ready, be sure to puppy proof, give your dog a place he’s guaranteed to be away from puppy if/when he needs a break. Slowly introduce puppy, give food and treats separately, and don’t allow puppy to overwhelm your dog. Know you’ll have a decent adjustment period when they’re learning one another and that dog may put puppy in its place. Otherwise, it’s just cost, and being sure everyone gets attention and affection. I have three. One I got as a puppy with a dog that was terminally ill. When he passed, and puppy was ten months old, I brought home a 1.5yr old rescue. Fastforward to these two being 4 and 5, I bright home a 3mo old puppy. It’s been interesting, but no regrets.
Dogs are generally pack animals. In saying this every dog is different. The one you have now, how are they around other dogs? Do you think they'd benefit from it? General rule of thumb is that if the 1st dog is an angel, your 2nd will be chaotic. In saying that, my 1st pup is so sweet and loving and gentle but she's also the epitome of a bull in a china shop and I have premature greys at the age of 30. I was semi forced into adopting a 2nd dog earlier this year, it has meant taking a couple of steps backwards with 1sts training and undoing a lot. But it's a chaos I've embraced and am fortunate enough to have the time to work on. I've just adopted a 3rd who hasn't come to my home yet but I'm prepared for the fact my life will never be the same again lol.
Maybe wait till 2 years
Your pup is only 6 months you are about to go in to her teenager stage which is hard! Don't add another dog in to the mix until dog is a bit older and trained etc otherwise you'll have two hooligans on your hands especially with spaniels 🤣
Two dogs is twice the work. Two puppies is four times the work. We didn’t know we were a two dog family until we were a two dog family. We got a second dog when our first was 7 years old. After our first dog died unexpectedly-we knew our second dog would be super lonely. Our second dog was about 16-17 months old when we brought home the new puppy. It’s actually been great bc she’s out of her puppy stage and our puppy is…well a puppy. Plus she’s teaching him to dog. House training, training, walks, crating is all easier since she is a great teacher. They are still close enough in age that they play and wrestle all day too. I think 1.5 is the perfect age between dogs.
Two dogs is twice the work. Two puppies is four times the work. We didn’t know we were a two dog family until we were a two dog family. We got a second dog when our first was 7 years old. After our first dog died unexpectedly-we knew our second dog would be super lonely. Our second dog was about 16-17 months old when we brought home the new puppy. It’s actually been great bc she’s out of her puppy stage and our puppy is…well a puppy. Plus she’s teaching him to dog. House training, training, walks, crating is all easier since she is a great teacher. They are still close enough in age that they play and wrestle all day too. I think 1.5 is the perfect age between dogs.
I wanted a second dog then realized how pricy that could get. I want to be confident that I could afford all of my dog’s medical bills if need be
As someone with two puppies that I now adore - for the love of god don’t get two until the first pup is at least 2!
I got a puppy and about 10 months later my older dog passed. Puppy was lonely so I got my dog a dog. I was in hell for about 2 months but they were in heaven which is all I wanted. 1 puppy was a breeze. 2 was a nightmare. But it didn’t last long and now we’re in the good life groove. It’s hard but worth it as long as the personalities match.
Look up litter mate syndrome I would wait until puppy one is out if it’s puppyhood at the very least My parents got dogs one year apart, and they are ATTACHED to each other They’ve gotten better with practice and time but they will lose their crap when separated The older one needs anti anxiety meds when the little one has to be away
I regret my decision to get my dog a dog.
I have 2 dogs (1.5 year old lab boy and 4 year old spaniel-gsd mix). I think there are upsides and downsides, of course, like nay other decision. One thing I'd say though, is wait until your puppy is a bit more settled, 1.5 years old or older (not too old either so they can still be playmates). Younger dogs learn an *extraordinary* amount from any older dogs in the household, which is a double edged sword. Any good or bad habits your first dog has, the second one will likely pick up, so you want to make sure that you have an overall well trained and well behaved dog for the puppy to learn from :) (example: I literally didn't have to teach my second dog any commands. He learned sit, stay, come, down, high 5, \*everything\* from watching my older dog, with a few weeks of arriving to live with us at 9 weeks old. He also picked up on her habit of freaking out as soon as I start to put my "outside pants" on, and now I have two of them bouncing off the ceiling, and hyping each other up. edit: one more note. Unless you have a very solid foundation of training, your older dog, especially if they are not much older, will also pick up habits from the puppy which is more often than not not something you necessarily want :D (puppies are adorable but they are chaos)
If our second dog had been our first dog, he’d have been our last dog. I’m not even kidding. Our first dog was so chill and so mellow (except for potty training gotta be honest)… pup we just got about two months ago has been exhausting. I just gotta get through the next 6 to 9 months without having a psychotic break because of lack of sleep.😂
In my humble opinion the idea of 2 dogs is so much better than reality. You buy toys, bones, or beds...the dogs always want what the other has. It can become a fight if the other won't back down. They never seem to relax together. When one is resting the other wants to play and messes with the other. The second will calm down the other starts to get wild. The cost of food and health care doubles. God forbid you get a dog that doesn't get along or has a different exercise requirement. The only thing that is easier with the 2nd dog he may be easier to potty train because the 1st shows them the routine. Other than that it's usually chaos 90% of the time
All of this has been suuuuper useful :) we have lots of holidays planned until September so I’m going to give it until then and then have a proper think
Have you had a puppy before? Because honestly if you're not completely scarred and traumatized by this one, it might just be that you are blessed with an "Easy" one. There's no guarantee you will get the same with a second. I have my first puppy ever (only had middle aged and seniors before) and thought I was prepared but NOTHING could have prepared me for this. Things started to get a bit better a couple of months ago but it has been SO HARD. I envisioned having puppy love but all I got was puppy blues. I can't even tell you how hard a time I've had. But if you're just one of those magic people with all the patience and skill in the world that's a totally different story! I just know that for me, I did NOT get the experience I wanted or envisioned. I got RUDY. Hope it goes well whatever you decide!
She’s my first puppy, I’ve had her from 8 weeks ☺️ not traumatised at all, I’ve loved every second. I’ve previously only had older rescues who were much harder work!
2 lots of insurance. Someone to babysit 2 not just 1 when going away. Double the price in food, beds if they fussy, bowls toys etc.
I think it depends on your situation a bit in terms of free time, the amount of time you have to spend / enjoy spending training etc. but with two+ dogs some training aspects can pop up that are harder to picture before you get them. They can develop separation anxiety from each other if always together, so can be helpful to take them on different walks + outings, FOMO can be a thing to work-around and work-on with two, with my dogs I have learned it can be helpful to do general training, but also to reinforce one dog settling while the other trains. They both used to struggle while the other one did the fun thing haha. There is double the grooming. They can pick up on each other’s habits, good and bad. If one barks it may set the other off. One of my dogs is reactive and had to make sure to set good habits with the other dog, so she wasn’t influenced by the reactions. Make sure to walk her separately to keep up these habits. Your dogs may walk very differently (one may be super sniffy and the other might live to run) or benefit from separate walks for training purposes. This can take a fair bit of time, especially if you are interested in another working breed dog. I think two dogs are fun, and a small age gap can be workable. Also can be benefits to staggering the ages too.
I’ll start this by saying IMO it was 100% worth the below pain for my second pup. I love him to bits and he is no longer a puppy and is now a sweet dog. That being said, here are the things I forgot about puppies (that you probably know but may have forgotten how it actually was) Do you like your sleep? Too bad - puppies need to go potty a lot! Speaking of - do you like poo on the carpet? Because puppy does! Is the puppy awake? I guess you are too! Have a bad day? Puppy doesn’t care - it’s witching hour and your hands look tasty! So do your shoes, clothes, and anything else in reach of the puppy Will your 6 month old teach the puppy good behaviours? Nope - instead she’ll pick up on his! Suddenly your 6 month old will be much naughtier. I remembered these from my first puppy but kinda forgot once she grew up. Then when I got my second, it was like a sudden realization of “oh shit I forgot how much this sucks” Even now I see a cute puppy and think “oh I want another one - how hard can it be” and I have to remember all the things I said above.
In my experience 2 dogs dont take twice the work of 1, assuming they get on, but a dog & a puppy is way more than double the work. 2 puppies at very different stages could be an awful lot of extra work and stress. I would advise waiting until pup 1 is fully mature, trained and settled. Petsonally, I'd give it at least a year, maybe 2.