So, I currently have a 3 yr old male Yellow English Labrador and wanting to add another English lab to our family. The 2nd pup would be my current dogs biological Nephew. Our current dog is an absolute dream and is just a perfect dog. He is very socialized and I don’t see him having an isssue with adjusting to a new family member. My thoughts are that I’d love to have another dog, I just adore them and of course I’m willing/wanting to take this on. I wanted to get some advice on people who have 2+ dogs already and would you do it again? Should I just stick with having 1? Was it “easier” with the 2nd one? What if the 2nd one is the complete opposite of my current dog. I appreciate your thoughts.
I have three, plus a foster. Two of my Labs are litter mates, three years old. My third is nearly one year. You have to steel yourself against the puppy months and remember that your new puppy isn't capable of the things your older dog is yet. That's obvious, of course, but still sometimes easy to forget. I sometimes find myself getting a bit frustrated when the pup can't do things that the older ones can, like sit and watch nicely while they have their turn, but she's still just a baby and, even though she's bigger than them, she still has baby brain She's a complete delight, though, and I wouldn't be without her. Yes, it's a lot more work, but it's worth it. She's actually more advanced than the other two in so many ways, because I had more of a clue what I was doing this time round. She makes me proud every day. My foster (an older Podenco cross) I've only had for a week now. She's a completely different kettle of fish and absolutely wonderful, but has also made me realise that three dogs is my limit!
I really love having two dogs and didn't find having two much more work than having one. In fact, I was lucky in that my older dog really helped raise the puppy - especially in the "keeping him entertained" department - and he was easier to raise than the "only child" dog I'd previously raised on my own. The disadvantage was that it seemed to me that the puppy grew up to be more attached to the older dog than to me. It was only after the older dog passed that I felt the younger one (then five years old) really formed the strong bond with me that I'd had from the beginning with my "only child" dog. But that could have also been down to individual temperament and my own strong attachment to the older dog. But all that aside, like I said, I really loved having two dogs at a time. The interaction and play between the two was very fun and they clearly adored having each other as company. It's funny that @snowbunny says three dogs are her limit because my limit was three. Where two dogs seemed no more work than one, when I got a third, it seemed to me than suddenly I have ten times the work. And I'd even had up to five dogs in the house at a time when I was fostering. But that third dog of my own...yikes. Of course, could have been because he was five pounds of toy poodle devil dog and the other two were much more chilled out larger breeds.
I agree, getting the second dog was easy. A bit difficult in the sense my adult dog was a Pomeranian and my lab puppy was bigger than him at 8 weeks old. But otherwise it was fine. But getting a third animal, a kitten, is a lot more work. He’s also very clingy and not independent for a cat so maybe that’s why (he acts like a dog). I was expecting a independent kitten like all the other kittens I know. But anyways, three animals is definitely my limit! Love them all but it is way more work than when it was just the two of them.
I have a 10 year old black Lab and a 10 month old yellow Lab. When I look back to just having the one, if I am being honest, life was much much easier. I don’t regret getting the second and I really love her BUT it has been a difficult year. Thought I was prepared for a very young puppy but it was hard. Made more difficult because my older Lab went lame at the same time and she didn’t want the puppy around her. I find having the two dogs takes up a lot lot more of my time - food, preparing kongs, vet visits, training, exercise - the list is endless. I miss the freedom of being able to leave the older dog for several hours knowing she’ll just sleep. Now going out needs more thought and planning. Going away has also become more difficult as that has to be more planned. Would I do it again? Yes . The puppy has such vitality. She makes us smile and laugh. I have become fitter and lost weight since we got her. It’s a delight watching her grow and her whole body wags just make my day. She is lovely. She has also given the older dog a fresh lease of life - love watching them together.
Yes, three is my limit too. We had four for a couple of weeks and it was hard work. I look after my friend’s dog a lot so my own dog, a Guide Dog puppy and Zaba are my limit. No more ‘crossovers’ (Older GD pup plus new baby) for us. I love having two. Tatze entertains the pup and I train him.
2 is great 3 is the best. 3 was my perfect number. Doubt I'll ever do ir again as I'm not as physically good as I used to be. I've got 2 now which is wonderful.
I’m very appreciative for everyone’s thoughts. I’ve been asking friends, who aren’t dog people, and they think I’m nuts lol. They do grow up fast and it was just a few years ago that I went through it with my current dog. I just adore the breed and just hoping if I do get another one, he’d have the same temperament as my current dog, but can’t be certain, right? My current guy is so mellow and just an awesome dog, so well behaved. I just don’t want to make a bad decision.
One child, one dog. More than enough for me. Just as my son was reaching a level of independence where I would have got my life back, I got a puppy!
I have had two or three dogs together since 1985 and have just one now as my beloved Drift was put down in September of this year. It is not such fun having only one, the one left misses the other one. Yes, it is easier, but I would have another one in a heartbeat.
My older Lab Sky is exactly the same but she did have her moments when she was young - it’s very easy to forget when they mature and become chilled and mellow. I do think the puppies follow the older one in lots of ways. Sky is a great teacher .[/QUOTE]
It's possible that your second dog may be quite different in personality to your first. I know they'll be related (good choice since you are so happy with your first dog) but even pups from the same litter can be very different. So, keep your fingers crossed for another mellow one but be prepared for an energetic, attention seeking, noisy one! But, even if your pup is more of the second type, you'll still love her/him to bits and s/he'll be a wonderful family member. And you'll learn a lot...!
Dogs, even from the same litter, are as individual as us humans so there is every possibility that a new pup would be very different from your current dog, even if related. Life would be very boring if we were all the same.
My two Labs were related, nephew and uncle and both quite different. By chance I met a lady who has the niece of my present Lab and again they are so different. Even a repeat mating can produce dogs not a bit like the first mating. However, the joy is that you will love the dog whatever
