Do dogs in two/multi-dog households sleep as much as a dog in a one-dog household?

When I thought about getting Betsy, I thought Charlie would love having a pal - he likes puppies, he likes playing with puppies, he's a playful dog. But what I found out is that Charlie really, really, really does not want to share with a second dog. He does not like sharing his humans, beds, toys, attention, cuddles - anything at all, with a second dog.

Sure, Charlie loves puppies. To play with. He does not want to take a puppy home - he wants to give them back to the owner when he has finished being entertained by them. I understand that, I feel the same way about human kids, I don't want to take them home either.

Charlie is getting used to Betsy, and he is starting to play with her a bit, and starting to be ok with her being around. But he would be happier without her, that's for sure.

Mind, Charlie is not a laid back dog. He chills in the house, but he's a million miles an hour dog. He find EVERYTHING stimulating. He does not want to spend his down time entertaining a boring puppy.

Indeed, it's fair to say that Betsy, at 5.5 months and is (I believe) a normal, average, bouncy puppy, is sort of like watching paint dry compared to Charlie.

 

Doug loved Moo quickly but the day I put her in the car to bring her home he looked betrayed. Then he looked like he was thinking you have got to be kidding Sar, no way is that thing coming home with us. He was stand offish for a day and was lying on his bed , she cried and he lifed his leg so she could get into bed. She got in he lowered his leg over her to keep her warm and after that she followed him round and he protected her. They slept together for 13 years and seemed very happy together .She was his half sister and they were nothing alike. She was always the pushy live wire and he was steady and calm. It got difficult when he developed lupus at 6 he was in a lot of pain and very depressed she became depressed too. It was a hard time

 

That's my big concern for Snowie -- would we be making it worse for him getting a second dog? At present he lives the life of luxury! However, we went away for a long weekend with friends and he was so incredibly happy to have their 12-year-old female pavement special (I think with Lab, similar size) as a constant companion. They walked around glued at the shoulder tails wagging the entire time.

I also don't have the energy to go through the puppy stage again so I'd want an older second dog. But what if it's nasty to Snowie? So, a puppy at least comes more-or-less as a clean slate.

Oh well, probably won't happen in any case. Every time I show my husband another gorgeous Lab from the rescue page he says "we are not getting a second dog". If it were my decision alone, Snowie might already have that pal, for better or for worse.

 

Fred loves Annie and she him. They both go out for their walk/run first thing. When we get back they have their breakfast and then sleep for a couple of hours. Annie wants to play with Fred more being younger, but when Fred has had enough he just goes under the table in his bed. Annie then goes looking for Ted the cat or one of her human friends.

 

How sweet how he embraced her into his life and so sad how depressed they got -- I am so sorry.

 

She's ok now shes got her toy boy Rory but that's another story

 

I've been talking about having a third for ages now. It'll happen when the time is right. When the time comes round, I'm going to do everything right (this time!) and do my homework to find the right pup, so it won't be a quick process. I see spreadsheets. Lots of spreadsheets

 

I always think that but the dogs always have other ideas. They all turn out right in the end. Its never is the right time but it always feels like it is in the end. I never thought i should have got Rory but it was the best thing i could have done he bought so much fun to the house he really silly joyful dog. He makes me smile with his silly too big for his mouth tongue and his let's go attitude

 

Ah, I had considered a second dog for several years but life circumstances weren't right. Just got Bessie a couple of months ago. Burke is a VERY active seven years old. Part of why I got another is that he seemed to love to play with other dogs when they were visiting, or when he was boarded with them, and he seemed tired out by it in a way that he never was at home.

It's been really good for him in terms of companionship. He plays with her a lot. I try to limit it to outside, because I have a tiny house and it's wild when they go at it in here, and I'd rather not be part of the body slamming! And I do have to separate them at times. One of them is often wanting more when the other is done. It really varies as to which it is!

However, I'm not sure I'd do it again. Burke does have some behavior issues - he is very reactive to outside sounds, including UPS, the mail, and barks whenever anyone comes to the house, or when we leave or come home - and I worry Bessie will pick up the reactivity from him. Sometimes managing two is just exhausting, but that could also just be managing a puppy. I do love to watch them run around and play together outside; it warms my heart.

And there are things Burke doesn't want to share, so I worry I've just created more stress for an already anxious dog. He gets jealous when she has my attention, and he doesn't want her too close to him on the bed or couch (though he's warming up more and more - she's steadily inching closer, ha, and they slept with their heads inches apart yesterday).

They do both sleep plenty, too!

So, I'm glad I have Bessie, but I also feel like I just massively complicated my life and that maybe Burke would be just as happy or happier alone.

 

I can tell you that's not the experience I've had with my two. There were certain things they were both scared of (kids being the main one), but other than that, they have their individual issues which don't affect the other in the slightest. Shadow can be reactive to other dogs (although he's getting much better through training), but Willow was always completely ambivalent to other dogs. She is scared by swooping birds, gunshot-type bangs and strong winds, he's not bothered in the slightest.

 

Really glad to hear that, @snowbunny!

Right now they're both happily munching on Kongs side-by-side and I'm having one of those heartwarming moments.

This is an awful lot like when my kids were little, ha.

 

We have two, and they do play some of the time by themselves. Cooper is only 1-1/2 years and Tilly is almost 11 so there is a big difference in energy, but Tilly does play fight, and tug with Cooper. Tilly definitely gets more exercise with Cooper around than she would without her. They seem to like each others company, even though Tilly sometimes rolls her eyes at Cooper. When we kennel them, they go in the same run.

When we visit another dog or visa versa, Cooper will play very hard, and Tilly will mostly lie down out of the way.

If we are around they are very competitive retrieving, although Tilly almost always loses. (We through a second ball for Tilly after Cooper is off running.)

 

Both mine play with each other a lot, but when they sleep, they sleep at the same times, sometimes together, sometimes in different rooms. Layla is now 6 years old ( yesterday ) and Jessie was 4 in June. I was a bit concerned at first when we adopted Jessie at 9 months that things wouldn't go well between them as Layla had for 2 years had all the attention, but after a few weeks they were best buddies. Completely different characters. Jessie is a dopey, bouncing" I love everybody and everybody loves me" girl and Layla is an affectionate, laid back lady. Do I regret getting a second pupster.... NO WAY .
Just wish I could have another, but I think Layla would pack her bags and leave home