Getting a second dog for company

mcdoogle

Hi all, I've a 5 month old lab pup and want to get her another dog for company but amn't sure when is a good time. Should I wait until she is a bit older or does that matter? Also what type of dog would be good company for her? I was thinking of a rescue dog. I have a decent garden and 8ft walls with a 7th gate so escape shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Shanao

Hey there- i was having this same debate just a few weeks ago. I've got a four month old pup and was wondering whether to get a rescue dog for company as well. However, we decided against getting a permanent resident for a while, and instead started fostering. We have a five month old collie cross now and the pair are best friends- sleeping together and everything. I was worried about training them, but it actually seems to have helped my own fella because the new pup picks things up so fast. Though i think its turned into a bit of a competition as they seem to be trying to one-up eachother.
So while we will eventually get another dog, for now fostering is working out perfectly for us, and I would definitely reccomend trying it out. Just make sure that the new dog isn't too much smaller than the lab pup- dont want them to get hurt when they start getting boisterous.

mcdoogle

Cheers for the reply, when you say fostering do you mean that you're going to send the other dog off soon? I like the idea of two of a similar age all right, similar energy levels and play types but would the pup not gain some experience with an older dog (even a year or two old)?

suziwalsh

Fostering is an excellent way to find out if you are ready for a second dog will all the support and most rescues will allow you to have first refusal on adoption if its within a reasonable amount of time.

You can foster dogs from www.petsireland.invisionzone.com

www.irishanimals.ie - loads of rescues listed I recommend Animal Rescue Ireland

www.homewardbound.ie

www.fordogssake.ie

You'll get loads of information and it will help you find the right dog for you

Zapperzy

mcdoogle wrote: »

Cheers for the reply, when you say fostering do you mean that you're going to send the other dog off soon? I like the idea of two of a similar age all right, similar energy levels and play types but would the pup not gain some experience with an older dog (even a year or two old)?

Fostering is when you take a dog in from a rescue for it to live in your home as opposed to kennels, it's particularly beneficial for pups and dog with issues. With pups it's not fair to have them in a kennelling situation, much better to have them in a home so they can pick up some basic manners, and with adult dogs it's brilliant because the dog's true temperment begins to shine (a dog that may have been nervous in kennels starts to come out of it's shell), and it gives the shelter more info on what sort of permanent home the dog will be suitable for. Dogs recovering from illnesses or operations are also fostered out to homes as they would recover more quickly in a home situation and they can get more individual attention.
I think most shelters will foster out to people, I think they usually cover all expenses (food, vet bills etc.) and give you first preference on re-homing. You may have the dog for a few weeks or more, it just depends on how quickly people begin to show interest in them.

A very worthwhile experience, you would be helping a lot of animals by doing it, not only does it benefit the dog by getting the dog out of a kennel situation (or save it's life depending on where it's coming from) but your also freeing up a space in the kennels for another dog to be saved.
It would give you an idea as to how you would manage with another dog as well. And you never know, you may become a failed fosterer!

Shanao

Yes, we will have to move him on, but he stays with us until he gets a new home, and then we will get another foster, though a bit bigger cos our fella is growing fast. The pup we have at the moment was tied up outside since his owners got him (present for young kids, who quickly got sick of him) and he had absolutely no training. Within two days, he was sitting, giving the paw and lying down on command and even better, he keeps our own fella entertained as well!!
We took in an older dog originally, but she really didn't like the pup as he was too boisterous, so we decided to try a pup instead. A lot of energetic older dogs can also be too boisterous for pups and knock them over/hurt them by accident.

It really is a very worthwhile experience, and I have a feeling that now that we've started, we'll probably be doing it for a while.

Sigma Force

People often get a second dog for company and if they get on really well it's definetly a good move, everyone's happy.
We have 3 dogs, they get on well but they want nothing more than us humans they couldn't care less if the other dog went off for the day as long as their humans were here so we could get 5 more dogs but it wouldn't make them happy they just want us.

At 5 months it's a good age to see if he'll pal up with someone his own age even so they both go through the playful stage together and can tire each other out. You'll know yourself if you're ready for a second one, just don't forget 2 dogs means double vet bills, double food bills, double car space etc. and double walkies.

barbiegirl

We just adopted Fargo 18 weeks old, two weeks ago. He is company for Sindy 21 months. We thought long and hard and it's been great. It took a couple of days for them to gel but now they're best friends. :-)

mcdoogle

Thanks for all the replies folks, I reckon we'll def get another one soon so. Saw a few of the nicest dogs around on some of the suggested sites, will be making a few calls!

Meteoric

I think having two dogs is ideal, they are company for each other and also remind them that they are dogs, not humans, as they have the same species to communicate with.
The idea of fostering is great, I never thought of it but now I see it, when circumstances change I'll definitely think of it. Would have been the best thing in the world for my dog. At the time was not feasible though even had I known.
Best of luck with whatever you decide,oh and in my experience they (labs) tend go go through a stage where they decide on things when they are 9-11 months old where they bond a lot, basically teenage years in humans. Teenage hormones I think. They can bond at any age though my first family dog loved my first dog at the age of 10 having been an only dog up to then.

Bog Bunny

Whether to get a 2nd dog as a companion for your first puppy depens very much on your lifestyle. If you are an absent owner, that is, if your single dog is left at home (presumably in a safe environment) for many hours and you think a 2nd dog will aleviate boredom for him, then it is not a good idea. Then two dogs are bored. Which means that two sets of jaws, eight paws and two eager brains can think up at least double as much mischief! If you are a stay-at-home devoted owner and can be with your dogs 24/7, then you can probably manage two or more quite well.

But generally I'd say it would be wiser to spread the ages a bit, like wait for the first pup to be a bit more mature, responsive and settled before you add another one.

Also consider if you want a companion of the same or opposite sex and think about neutering them. This is best done when the skeletal growth is nearly finished, but in bitches before they come into season.

As far as I know, foster dogs are always neutered before they are fostered out, that's a plus to consider too.

The Sweeper

A second dog is good for your dog for company, but age-wise I believe it's better to introduce an adult dog to your pup. Alternatively wait until your pup is at least 18 months old. This is wisdom I've been given by a number of dog breeders on a specialist dog forum when I asked a similar question about getting a companion dog for my guy who's nine months. It's to do with obedience and training and personalities. You lay the groundwork on your dog for the first 18 months of their life. At that point, they should transition from puppy hood and adolescence into adulthood and they'll be calmer and less excitable (in theory), and should be shaping up into great dogs if you've put the work in with training and socialisation early.

If you add a second young dog or pup into the mix apparently you can jeopardise the success of training and focus for the younger one. I have no idea of the validity of this in absolute practice, but I can see merits in the theory!

tropics

Our old lab had to be pts 2 years ago, my little terrier was really lonely. So we went and got another lab.
They are best mates (see pic) and I think they would be lost without each other. They entertain each other all day.
2 dogs are defo better than 1.

On the previous posters point, I do think an older dog is better for your pup. Our terrier is very good and the lab just seemed to fall into line with him and the daily routine. But the only downside was that for certain parts of training such as sit, down, heel and leave it I had to remove the terrier inorder to keep my labs attention. We got there in the end.

Tranceypoo

oh no tropics - that picture should have a CUTE ALERT before you view it!!!

WIZE

It worked for our 3 year old but I think its not enough entertainment for her . Our other Westie passed away a few months ago so we had to get her a new friend