Would a Second Dog be an Idea?

kylith

Well, if there was ever a question to which 'yes' is the answer, eh?

Finn has been recovering from his issues with going outside since Halloween. He's leaving my side more than in months and starting to want to play and run, which is great.

However this has left me with a bit of an issue: he wants to play with me. This is not, in itself, a problem: while he didn't wanted to go out we made up the time with playing tug and wrestling at home, which has been a great bonding exercise, but now he wants to wrestle while we're walking which 1) makes it difficult to actually walk and 2) 20kg of dog throwing itself at you at full lurcher speed and smacking into your chest will wind you quite badly.

So, I've been considering fostering, with a view to adopting, a lurcher, GSD cross, or some sort of spaniel (the breeds he seems to get on with best) as a buddy for him; that once he feels comfortable with them the pair could loon around a field and wrestle each other to exhaustion.

He's about 3 and a half, 20kg, pointer/whippet, not keen on small dogs but very patient and forbearing with dogs in general. I've had him a year (anniversary yesterday!:D), he's very well behaved in the house (other than barking when he wants to play and the occasional bout of zoomies).

Do our local experts think he'd be a candidate for a playmate?

dubjay

if fin is male then get a female also make sure to spay and neuter and you should have no worries.i have a retriever and got a 12 week old rott/lab from <snip> and they get on great always playing and cant be without each other now. get a halti and just walk him short distances everyday to build up his confidence again.

axcel

Not an expert unfortunately but we've adopted a lurcher a while back and actually getting a second rescue lurcher now for her.

She loves other dogs, and I see her staring at us sometimes and she's definitely thinking I wish these people were more entertaining no matter how long our walks our or how much we play her. Unfortunately so many dogs we meet out are easily mistaken for cats from a distance, and too fragile for her so she doesn't get to be off The lead with them.

The rescue place Said she gets on best with males, and he has them all paired up like that in the kennels so that's what we are looking out for. He also said we weren't the first ones who considered getting another dog. Lurchers just seem to be really social from the experience I've had with them. I think once you've put thought into it go for it. So great to see the bond between two dogs

dubjay

yeah we had a female and got a male but made sure he was younger/puppy so we could train him and stop any bad behavior before it started. he is 15 months old and built like a tank although he means well when playing he can get a little frustrated after a few minutes of messing and use his jaw which are like crushing vices to drag the other down so going to get a muzzle until he learns not to do that and play a little nicer

Knine

I have 4 together, 1 dog & 3 bitches & they all have great fun together. Although groups of Borders sing like wolves!

So I say go for it!

dubjay

Knine wrote: »

I have 4 together, 1 dog & 3 bitches & they all have great fun together.  Although groups of Borders sing like wolves!  

So I say go for it!

i second that

Hooked

All I can ad is...

When it works, it's so rewarding!!!

Luckily for us, two boys worked out perfectly. Every day is like Groundhog Day. Playing together, eating side by side, curled up together... Very respectful of each other when one wants to be left alone. Sleep like angels in one large divided crate!

And thick as thieves the rest of the time!

Choc Chip

Fostering with a view to adopt is a great idea!

I try to fit in a foster if I have time ('cos my little dog loves having a playmate and the big dog isn't too fussed about him). Well, I'm fostering my first bull lurcher right now and he's an absolute gent. He's the consummate peacemaker in my house and plays with both my biggie and my littly, kinda gelling the house together if that makes sense? I wish I could keep him!

I'd definitely foster any dog I was going to adopt in future - it's such a nice feeling when you find a good fit. Go for it.

aonb

If you are thinking about fostering, then it could really work out for you both.
Its a pain when your dog wants to play with you all the time

The big advantage of fostering is that if it doesnt work out its not a disaster. It will be interesting to see how Finn reacts to having a new friend. If hes very rumbunctious, the incoming dog could react badly initially until s/he sees that Finn is not a threat etc. Choose the incoming dog as a future playmate - the personality needs to be right - the new dog needs to be the type that likes to play as opposed to a grumpy, leave me alone type! If you are going down the fostering route, it would be a good idea to take the prospective new dog AND Finn for walks together before committing - its wierd how two dogs can be friends instantly, and equally take against each other from the first moment. The rescue will be happy for FInn to meet the prospective fosterer on the grounds that they want the fostering to work

Bells21

I think fostering and finding the right fit of personalities is a great idea. We talked about getting a second dog for a loooonng time(and by we I mean me). We were concerned that our lad wouldn't take to kindly to having to share attention/space etc as he had been spoiled rotten for the year and a half we had him. We didn't foster/adopt our second dog so we were concerned about how it was going to go. We have a very large garden so introduced them there as Bella was only a puppy and I felt a walk wasn't really going to be an option. Thankfully the first meeting was a great success. We initially kept them separate at night as we felt that being in close quarters unsupervised wasn't a wise move until they got to know each other better. But they both cried for three nights (expected it from the puppy but not our first dog) so they have slept in the same room since then. They play, they curl up together and are living happily ever.

kylith

Choc Chip wrote: »

Fostering with a view to adopt is a great idea!

I try to fit in a foster if I have time ('cos my little dog loves having a playmate and the big dog isn't too fussed about him). Well, I'm fostering my first bull lurcher right now and he's an absolute gent. He's the consummate peacemaker in my house and plays with both my biggie and my littly, kinda gelling the house together if that makes sense? I wish I could keep him!

I'd definitely foster any dog I was going to adopt in future - it's such a nice feeling when you find a good fit. Go for it.

Soooo... a bull lurcher you say?

Saoirse1981

I say do it. I mind dogs, I usually only mind one as I live in a small space but I agreed to mind two because A) the owners were stuck and One is the size of a shoe:-) I am so so glad I did:-)

Right now, the shoesize one is sat on my knee and the not so shoesize one is sat on top of me AND the shoesize one! We are all cramped together even though there is plenty of room on my sofa...but I love it. They are sleeping, so content. The bond between them is a beautiful thing. It really is.

I got up to make them sausages before (they love them) and they are like two Meerkats....their heads move in unison at the same time. Sure, you may aswell have two as have one. My little one licks the eyes of the big one (whose eyes weep). He is so protective of his big brother.

My sister had two and the bigger one died earlier this year. The little one was so lost, it was so distressing to see. My young nephew was so upset, he ended up in hospital making nurses cry at his young tears. My Sis is contemplating getting the little one a new companion so he is not on his own when everyone is out of the house.

I have followed Finn's story. I say go for it, Get him a friend. These two on my knee now, they are not even mine, but I cannot imagine one without the other. They are so close.