Totally Random Advice - 1 or 2 dogs?

(Now watch how quicky I get flamed...)
As much as we like to attribute human characteristics to our animal friends (and I LOVE dogs), they do not get bored. The alleged doggie boredom does not lead to destructive behavior to alleviate boredom. What happens is that if you have one dog and he or she chews through the fence, you say "oh, he's bored because he's alone." But multiple dog owners will tell you that doggie destruction is simply proportional to number of dogs.
They don't get bored, but I think they do conspire...
Newbie owners: go with one. If it's all peachy, get another one later.
 
Get them both if you can. Otherwise you might always question if they would have been happier together than they would be seperated. Two dogs will still bond with their different owners individually. And they become more human when you see jealousy kick in.
 
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Two dogs, they will keep each other entertained.

We have three Beagles and an Irish Setter

(only one of those is actually my dog though) hehe
 
I wound up adopting two kittens, because they were brothers and the friend from whom I adopted them really did not want them split up. Now of course cat-psychology is very different from dog-psychology, but I really do believe that it's beneficial for them to have each other for entertainment, since both my wife and I are out of the house a lot, to work and travel...

The difference between keeping one animal, and two, is really pretty minor (at least, compared to the difference between one, and none).

And it's true, there's very few things more destructive to your home, than a lonesome bored dog with nothing but time on his paws...

Seems to me, any creature with the smallest little bit of intellect, is probably capable of boredom. All due respect to Danv.
 
I have one dog and she's so incredibly easy. She was born house-trained -- somehow.

I feel if we got another dog that was a puppy it'd be really easy to raise because it would sort of follow the older dog and learn from it.

I don't think the same would happen if you bought 2 puppies, but I'd still get both. The only thing that may be harder is walking 2 dogs at once.
 
I will forevermore get adult dogs... I got my dog when she was 4 (a year and a half ago) and she is just awesome :)
 
I have five dogs - I say get those two plus another ;)

Seriously though two is LESS work to me than one. Always having a friend to play with is worth its weight in gold. When they want to play and you dont go let them play together. Sure you pay more in food and vet visits, but if you feed and get them treated all at the same time its not any more work. And if they already get along together then you are golden.

I'll end my argument with my cousin who has 1 border collie - its the neediest most annoying dog in the world. If I bring one of my dogs over though they just play and never bother anyone. Get both and a few more...
 
The only problem with older dogs, is sometimes they come with hangups that aren't easily unlearned. It really depends on how they were raised.
 
Hey Luis,

I've got three dogs (one off a beach in Mexico - don't ask). I'd absolutely go with taking the two dogs.

From my experience, two dogs are less work and more fun than one dog. I would not, however, go with three dogs because it seems that two dogs will naturally hook up and leave the third on its own to fulfil the role of trouble-making **** disturber.

So yeah - go with 2 - and as somebody else mentioned crate train them from the start.

Cheers, man.
 
Capt Quirk said:
The only problem with older dogs, is sometimes they come with hangups that aren't easily unlearned. It really depends on how they were raised.
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True, the one I got was a well trained show Champ, and was retiring (most show dogs retire around 3 or 4 years old) and from a breeder I trust.

Also, retired show dogs are very inexpensive, if you're looking to purchase a pure bred dog
 
Brandon Rice said:
True, the one I got was a well trained show Champ, and was retiring (most show dogs retire around 3 or 4 years old) and from a breeder I trust.

Also, retired show dogs are very inexpensive, if you're looking to purchase a pure bred dog
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Very inexpensive as in... cheaper than normal dogs?

Or very inexpensive as in cheaper than pure bred working show dogs?
 
Cheaper than dogs you'd buy at a pet store, for sure...

but... the one thing is, you have to have references sometimes, from other breeders, or people who've dealt with that breeder and sometimes they require you take pictures of your house, and yard, etc. They want their dogs going to people who will really take care of them.

Rosie cost nothing actually, just shipping (she lived in Washington) which was $250.

And I think our other two Beagles were $300, and $400, and our Setter (who we actually got as a puppy) was $500. They're all pure-bred.
 
Brandon Rice said:
Cheaper than dogs you'd buy at a pet store, for sure...

but... the one thing is, you have to have references sometimes, from other breeders, or people who've dealt with that breeder and sometimes they require you take pictures of your house, and yard, etc. They want their dogs going to people who will really take care of them.

Rosie cost nothing actually, just shipping (she lived in Washington) which was $250.

And I think our other two Beagles were $300, and $400, and our Setter (who we actually got as a puppy) was $500. They're all pure-bred.
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Sounds like that's the way to buy then. I do love puppies, though.
 
Luis, get both! I've always had 2 dogs in the past. The thing is, they both have different personalities and YOU would have more fun if you had both. :beer:
 
Well - we don't have to make a 'final' decision until monday.
The woman who is keeping the dogs in foster care is out of town until then and she promised me no one else would see the dogs until we decided if we wanted one or both.
(They're being really nice to us about this because I've been shooting a show at the Humane Society and my wife has been taking photos for them to use for promotion)

Sooooo.... just got off the phone with my wife and I'm about 99.9% certain that we're going to get both dogs. As much as the rational side of me keeps telling me I really only 'need' one dog - I can't get around the fact that we both 'want' both dogs.

So as long as I don't flounder again (like I have over the last 24 hours) we'll have both of them here next week.



(or at least one of them)
:)
 
Luis Caffesse said:
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dogs2.jpg
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How can you NOT get both??? :)

EDIT: If you only get one, I'm going to make a trip to that Humane Society, get the other puppy, and take it to your house in the middle of the night so you'll wake up with both of them and will have to keep the other one. :beer:
 
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