Is the solution to get another dog????

NoDice

Hello guys!

Sorry in advance but this may be a longish thread, I just need a bit of advice and I think this would be a great way to get many experienced opinions at once. I'm thinking should I or should I not get another dog to socialise my current dog. If you can offer some advice please do and read on - sorry it's so long again!!! :o

I was thinking of getting another small dog (Love dogs and would love a pack of my own one day anyway but) so my current dog will have company and a permanent playmate. What do you guys think?? There are more details below if needs be. I know it's a bit long...

Basically, my dog and I used live in a big house with a big back garden. I was house sharing also with another person who had two dogs. She spent her first year and a half of life with these dogs playing in the big garden etc. Never had a problem, got on with other dogs/cats/hamsters and any person who called.

I then had to move to the city, moved to an apartment. No garden. No other dogs. This has been for the last year and I found that it has had a huge affect on her. She now barks madly at other dogs unless she gets to play with them. She sits at our window and barks at every single dog that passes (I live right beside a park so there are a countless number of dogs a day). I thought to myself "this is perfectly normal for a dog" but she gets regular walks (at least an hour a day and a longer one on the weekends). She has now started to act aggressively towards children. She won't let kids rub her and doesn't stop barking.

It's a shame cause she's a really cute looking dog, tiny and just can't give me and any other person (adult only of course) enough love.

I have a dog trainer coming out tomorrow who will also be able to take her for a walk with her "pack" for an hour during the day whilst I'm at work. I am planning on paying for this at least twice a week to help socialise her with other dogs again.

I will also be moving this month or next month fingers crossed to a house in the suburbs again with a big garden as I no longer need to be in town. And I will not be moving again.

I can afford the two dogs(vet bills, food, toys, insurance etc) and would love to look after both of them together.

Thanks a mill.

mymo

See what happens with the trainer first, but I think 2 dogs are great, they keep each other company(maybe part of the problem with yours, she maybe missing the company)and play together.
If you can afford it why not, and the shelters are overflowing at the moment with dogs of all shapes and sizes(have friends who adopted a Bichon, another 2 shih tzu's, 2 different friends Bassets, and a golden cocker) there seems to be loads of lovely dogs handed in due to costs involved and nothing else.

Vel

Getting another dog might not solve the problem. It all depends on how well the dogs end up getting on. We decided to get a playmate for our dog a few years ago and while they get on fine they just didn't 'click' in terms of wanting to play together all the time and our first dog is often left a bit frustrated trying to get her to play!

Would you be in a position to offer to foster a dog for a local rescue to see how adding another dog to the pack changes her behaviour before you commit permanently to getting another? It might give you an idea of how she will react to another dog

NoDice

mymo wrote: »

See what happens with the trainer first, but I think 2 dogs are great, they keep each other company(maybe part of the problem with yours, she maybe missing the company)and play together.
If you can afford it why not, and the shelters are overflowing at the moment with dogs of all shapes and sizes(have friends who adopted a Bichon, another 2 shih tzu's, 2 different friends Bassets, and a golden cocker) there seems to be loads of lovely dogs handed in due to costs involved and nothing else.

Ya I would absolutely love to get another dog myself and I'm certain that's what she's missing. What I'm afraid of is that she has gone so long now living on her own that she may not take to having to share again. Yet she is getting more and more aggressive around other dogs in the park and I don't want it to go on or get worse..

Vel wrote: »

Getting another dog might not solve the problem. It all depends on how well the dogs end up getting on. We decided to get a playmate for our dog a few years ago and while they get on fine they just didn't 'click' in terms of wanting to play together all the time and our first dog is often left a bit frustrated trying to get her to play!

Would you be in a position to offer to foster a dog for a local rescue to see how adding another dog to the pack changes her behaviour before you commit permanently to getting another? It might give you an idea of how she will react to another dog

Yeah I was thinking of getting a dog from a shelter. Maybe a 2 year old so that they'll be the same age and I'd look for a lively one cause leela just wants to play most of the time. I'd also have to look out for one that wouldn't mind being the second dog too. Was checking out www.westcorkanimals.com and they're meant to be brilliant.

Regarding fostering I don't think so. I think I would find it very hard to give back a dog after taking it in. I have minded other people's dogs whilst they went on holidays many times and my dog got on great with some and really badly with others.. So I'm really unsure as to what I should do.

I think she needs a friend and she'd love it. I'm not sure how to go about picking the dog or if it would make the problem worse.

Cherry Blossom

NoDice wrote: »

Yeah I was thinking of getting a dog from a shelter. Maybe a 2 year old so that they'll be the same age and I'd look for a lively one cause leela just wants to play most of the time. I'd also have to look out for one that wouldn't mind being the second dog too. Was checking out www.westcorkanimals.com and they're meant to be brilliant.

I'm not sure how to go about picking the dog or if it would make the problem worse.

I think if you explain your situation to the shelter as you have done on here they may be able to match you to the right dog as they will know the tempraments and needs of the dogs. You could also ask if you can take your current dog along to meet them before you come to a decision, just make sure all her vaccinations are up to date before you take her to meet any dogs from a shelter as you might not know if they have had all their vaccines, have any illnesses etc

NoDice

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

I think if you explain your situation to the shelter as you have done on here they may be able to match you to the right dog as they will know the tempraments and needs of the dogs. You could also ask if you can take your current dog along to meet them before you come to a decision, just make sure all her vaccinations are up to date before you take her to meet any dogs from a shelter as you might not know if they have had all their vaccines, have any illnesses etc

Will defo take her with me and ask at the shelter should the time come. Great tip, thanks a mill.

cjf

am a big fan of pairs and think all doggies should have a doggie pal if you in a position to have a second dog. Advice would be to really really make sure to find the right dog!! Its not just your preferences you need to take into account when picking the 2nd doggie! Defo try to rescue and you should be able to find the perfect match for your current dog. I had same problem was concerned my guy was lonely and he had no one to play with and was all a bit to clingy with me so after a good long search and loads of advice adopted my little girly! They are great and she has helped him to become more independent and he has helped her in confidence! He used to bark and whine at any dog he saw and that has improved loads since I got my other one! They are best pals and love seeing the 2 of them playing together and sleeping together!

Important to remember when getting the second dog that they can just a easily pick up bad habits from each other as well as the good ones!

Age, breed, temperment, likes, dislikes, energy levels, level of training all so important when getting number 2! Good luck!!

Graces7

We took in collie because of her needs; our existing wee dog has to be dominant bitch and they have never "gelled" . As others have said, it does not always work out.

We do not leave them alone together when we are out and when we walk them in the field, they still tend to do their own thing.

Collie would always love to play, but wee dog is mean-spirited! Funny to watch. Jealous wee hound too...

Depends on the dogs...

morganafay

If you found a dog that she got along with (just make sure they do beforehand) then I hopefully it would work out. I definitely think most dogs should be with their own kind. People can never replace another dog

I know some dogs don't like other dogs, but yours obviously does and misses them.

Vel

OP the reason I suggested forstering is that our first dog met the second dog plenty of times at the rescue before we took her home and they played quite a bit and got on very well there but once home and settled the second dog just wasn't interested in playing with him anymore.

Therefore, you could pick a dog, see how they get on and then offer to foster with a view to adopting. That way if it doesn't work out you have the backup of the rescue and aren't 'stuck' with the dog and if it does then you could adopt. I do really think its a good way of knowing if the dog is the right one for your circumstances.

NoDice

Sorry about the thread bump but thought I'd let those of you who posted here know how I got on (and those of you who may be thinking of getting a second BFF ).

I am now the proud owner of a 5 year old GSD rescue.

Leela, my first JRT x gets on great with him and he has done her a world of good. He was a stray who was taken to a shelter and I took him out a week or so later. I had time to walk the dogs together, to play with him before taking him home and so on. He was very timid as had been through a hell of a lot before coming to me, he is epileptic and still I have yet to hear him bark(I've had him since late October). I knew he'd be the perfect dog for our family and he'd let Leela be the dominant bitch she is.

Since having him he has displayed every character of a perfect dog. Has been easy to train, though we are taking it slowly as both vet and shelter believe he was always kept outdoors as a guard dog. He is great on and off the lead. He is also so gentle with Leela whenever she wants to play with him.

Leela, since having a new friend, has definitely quietened down. She no longer barks at people outside, no longer gets overexcited whenever people call over. Instead of jumping all over us with her toys she runs over to him now, and he happily does whatever she wants. They run around the garden together and tire each other out. She no longer barks at other dogs out on walks and spends most of her time just trying to walk ahead of Charlie (the GSD). :rolleyes: Typical.

So he's been a blessing and it's truly the best decision I've ever made. Thanks for all your advice guys.

Cherry Blossom

I just love a happy ending!