Pros and Cons of multiple dogs

[kendalyn]

Is Scott going to get a puppy or full grown dog?

Probably not a small puppy, although if he did want a puppy now would be the time since Buck isn't a big fan of puppies and the puppy could grow up living at Scott's house.

It would most likely be an adult dog from the same rescue organization he got his cat from.

[DogPaddle]

He is concerned about being able to give 2 as much attention as 1. I don't think it would be hard since there are 2 of us anyway.

While it is true that two people can give one dog more attention than they can give two dogs, keep in mind the dogs can give each other attention.


I know some people must seperate their dogs and that is always a risk, although your plan to introduce them before Scott picks what dog to adopt should help. I have had three males in my home at once and for a breif period none of them were neutered - they were trustworthy together but that was just their personalities. We had the two largest in a giant crate together and the smallest in a smaller crate right next to them just so they would not step on him by accident. (They were all crated as Kavik was only just becoming trustworthy when loose, Tyr had been with us only a short while and Zaphod was a puppy.)

HF said:

6. if one dog has bad habits, the other(s) can very easily pick those up
. . .
10. more training... this seems obvious, but I mean that with TWO or more dogs, they are often more easily distracted by what the other is doing. Even if you have a perfectly well trained single dog, when you bring another home, you will need to do remedial training with that dog AND the new one. My dogs are great individually and in small groups, but it takes a lot of diligence (and luck) to get them all to listen... it's too easy to get distracted by what the other one is doing
11. if you have two dogs close in age, then you have to worry about the ordeal of losing two close together... most of mine are within a couple of years of each other and I think about this all the time

I do find they seem to be more likely to pick up each others bad habits than good. :-? There are some logistically problems with training and commands. We spent a great deal of time on "Boys Stay, Kavik Come" or "Boys Stay, Zaphod Come" etc.
All in all I like having more than one dog, and if the cost and extra work are ok with you than I would say go for it. HFs comment 11. does worry me though - all 4 of mine will likely go within 3 years of each other - I plan on being a basketcase.