Here comes Dog No 2
BY NICK BARNETTA year after getting the first dog of my life, I've just acquired a second. How has it turned out? Well, I'll tell you.
It's magic. Well, so far it's magic. We're only in week No 2 of being a two-dog household and I suppose there's a lot still to do, but (knock wood) I have a really good feeling about it.
Our new dog, Connor, is a spry little coil of a dog. As a wire-haired dachshund he's got ancient terrier genes, so he's bouncy and brave if a little barky. He has a taut whiskery face and brown eyes to die for.
He loves us and our first dog Phoebe (who returns his affection with interest), and gives no trouble to our cat. The house training is going...okay. Which is not to be sniffed at.
I suppose it could have been different, even disastrous. What if he'd turned out to fight with Phoebe? Or attack the cat? Or chew on our limbs? Or poo horizontally at the furniture? Or bark at the air?
Don't think we hadn't wondered. That's why it's a big decision, getting a second dog.
Did we have the time and budget for it? We reckoned so. Is our house set up for it? Perfectly, we thought.
What about the pets we already have? Well, we'd learnt that our cat had taken Phoebe in his stride, so there was no reason to think he wouldn't manage a second. And we'd seen Phoebe welcome a puppy playmate into the house before, so we knew she wasn't a territorial type.
And after watching dozens of playtimes with other dogs, we thought we knew which sizes and types of dog would suit Phoebe and us. Especially, one who could also use Phoebe's mousehole-type doggy door.
But do you know what I really worried about? Losing some connection with Phoebe.
I knew that a second dog would take some of her energy away, and make me and my partner divide our attentions between the two.
I had spent a year watching Phoebe grow up and decided that we couldn't have asked for a better dog. So would a second dog be a letdown, or put distance between Phoebe and us?
Such are the typical agonies of a born worrier - which I am, a bit.
But when we saw an advert for a wire-haired dachshund pup, we didn't hang about any longer. We had read up on the breed already. I bombarded the puppy's owner with questions about his training and habits and felt good about the answers.
Four days later, the puppy was at home with us and beginning a seemingly endless game of catch-tag-wrestle with Phoebe.
I guess that game will go on for the next 15 years.
They're together almost all day, apart from when they sleep - they often put a bit of distance between each other at bedtime but renew their affection after waking up. Such emotional intelligence they have!
And for us it's not just twice the joy, but the joy cubed.
Have you ever gone from one dog to two? How did it go? Did you plan it all out or did you just let fate decide?
P.S. If you're planning a second dog, you could do worse than read Theresa Mancuso's Who Moved My Bone? It's a guide for multi-dog households and goes over a lot of the issues: health, finance and training among them. Or look out for chapters on "pack life" in the various dog ownership guides.
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A friend of mine recently reccomended "Who Moved My Bone" as a behavoural guide to people who don't like change, thought it sounded interesting and resolved to read it. Now I find it's about pets?? Definitely a must read. Joke on me or humans and their habits? Will be going to the Library today, now I am really curious Your new baby looks adorable, glad he enjoys Phoebe's company.
Awww! Wire-haired dachshund's are just adorable!
We went to buy a Daxy 6 years ago and came home with a Bichon. So a year later we found the Daxy we wanted and came home with her. The Bichon needed a mate to keep her company through the day and it worked out great.
Sometimes they hate each other (at night they must have their own space), but most of the time they are best mates. The Bichon licks the daxy's ears and the daxy pre-chews the hard stuff for the Bichon. Kinda gross, but it's what they do!
We sometimes look after a Griffon and that puts them both out entirely as after 5 years together they are well and truly settled. I think the idea is to make the major changes while they are still young.
Now to see how they cope with the baby when it turns up early next year!
Ive been trying to convince her indoors to let me get a second wee beast, but so far its not happened. Im starting to think that maybe Im not in charge of the house afterall.
Our first dog does exactly what he is told. Our second just copies the first. So basically We are the boss, then dog 1, then 2. The joy is doubled and cubed for sure, but unfortunately the mess formula is not equal. Two dogs make more than twice the mess. When our dogs have a naughty moment. Punishing us for being absent, it can be well devastating. Also if we seperate them our older boy is fine, but our second is a mess, looking for his mate. The relationship we have with them both doesn't lack anything and they just get more love from each other. And the occasional dog only thing, such as sniffing each other.
We got our first dog and raised him up well trained and lovely, but when he was finally old enough to be left at home alone we discovered a horrible secret. He has terrible separation anxiety - he will bark, non stop, all day, not play or eat or drink, just bark. Our neighbours were beside themselves. We tried a few things which didn't work, so we decided to get a new dog to keep him company. It worked a treat. We rescued her from the pound, after taking him in to meet her and make sure they'd get on. She is amazing, they're so close with each other and our cat, and it has not detracted from our relationship with the first dog at all. She completes our little family perfectly.
Having owned one dog and once he passed moving onto two I have to say I will ONLY ever have two dogs - never one by itself again. They keep each other amused, stick up for each other. the girl chases the boy out the house at night when he is doing his 'death march' to the backdoor after been told bedtime. The boy who is short haired is kept warm by the girl who is long haired - I could go on and on. In short as you well know dogs are pack animals and if you're at work all day then your onsie dog will think having another mate to play with is the best thing in the world!
@Phoebe #2. I think the book you are thinking of is Who moved my cheese? by Spencer Johnson. I think “Who moved my bone” is parody of that title.
I never regret getting my second dog. However, I often regret getting the first one to begin with. My two are like children. They love each other one minute and then scrap, well like animals. Then they love each other again. To see them playing together always makes my day. I know I can go away and neither one is lonely. Every dog should have a buddy.
I've got 2 black Labs (9) and a cross Rhodesian/Great Dane (10). Often look after my brother cross Sharpei (7). I'm the pack leader and they get on like rocks on fire. They so love eachothers company. I'll NEVER go back to just one dog. Unfair on them and heaps more fun for me :-)
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Your blog today couldn't have come at a better time. I've just convinced my partner a second dog would be a good idea. I have all the same concerns as you - how will my "baby" feel when there is another dog to share attention with?
Hopefully our 2 dog household works out as well as yours!