Get a dog more for yourself, or your current dog?

[DenoLo]

For me it'd be a balance. The only dogs that Lola has LOVED have been tiny wiggly dogs. I think she'd be crazy in love if I got her a puppy pap. I wouldn't get a big dog that was constantly harassing her to play because she'd hate it.

But I think I'd probably be more interested in getting a slightly bigger dog than a pap (15-30 pounds) so that I can do stuff with the other dog that I can't do with Lola.

 

[SpringerLover]

I don't know. I refuse to be in a crate and rotate type situation. I really adore the way I got Gabby. I'll likely continue to select dogs that way in the future. Foster first so I know my dogs like the dog and I like the dog. Win-win situation.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Well I guess I'm the only one... a huge (bigger than what I want really lol) factor of a possible 2nd dog..would be about Merlin.

I enjoy having only one dog, I could live happily with only one...the DRIVE to get another, is how happy Merlin is when I pet-sit and having a dog that is his BEST FRIEND.
So that would be my first priority (beyond the obvious of finding a dog I can comfortably care for/live with)

So I guess it depends on your reason for getting a dog. My reason would be first and foremost, playmate for Merlin. With of course a big part of it being a dog I could care for/handle.
I have no big breed wants (as you do) and could grow to love any dog really..so it's a totally different thing! My only want would be "easy for me to care for, makes Merlin happy"

If I wanted a dog for other reasons, or just really wanted another dog, it would be a different story. In that case, get the dog FOR YOU.
But as it is? Eh, as long as the next dog holds the sameish care requirements as Merlin....i'd basically let him pick if I could.

I have to feed and walk the dog...but Merlin is the one that has to be around him/her 9-5 while I'm at work and it's incredibly important to me for them to be best friends, not just co-habitants.

I don't think the extra cost/care/time of having two dogs, for me, is worth it, if they aren't enjoying each other immensely. So getting a dog that he loves would be a very close 2nd, to getting a dog that I can live with/care for.

This is kind of me. I am fairly content with just one dog. But, well, I just really want another puppy BUT it's also so nice when I see Jackson with another dog that he likes (same thing- when I am pet sitting, etc). I mean, he's not miserable. He lives a good life. A GREAT life. But I just think having a dog that will play with him would be ONE of my main points in getting another dog.

I mean, at this point, there's not much I can't do with Jax that I want to do. He fulfills my need for training, sports, etc that I may have. So second dog prospect is of course going to be for ME but nearly just AS much for him...

 

[Whisper]

If I chose a dog for just Millie, it would have to be an older dog that was on the couch all day and left her the hell alone, which was not at all what I was looking for. She's generally not interested in making any doggy friends. She loves my other dogs when they earn that right. So. . .I got a dog for me and I do my absolute best to make accommodations for Millie, like working to help Fable to chill out around her and making sure Millie and I get "just us" time.

 

[Toller_08]

A little of both for me. First and foremost I want a dog I am going to enjoy, because I only bring new dogs home for my own sake. But I also keep in mind the type of dog my other dogs enjoy and try to find one that fits us all as best as possible. I would not pick out the perfect dog for my dog while putting aside my needs though. I will not live with a dog I do not enjoy just because my other dog plays well and snuggles with it.

So far so good in my choices of dogs. Come my next dog though I do want one that will not only be what I want but also one that is able to enjoy Journey's playstyle. My other dogs all manage well with her but they aren't very well matched in play.

 

[Catsi]

My current dogs are a big factor in my decision regarding the next dog.

I'll be completely honest here. If it were just Grace I would want to get a puppy. Because she adores puppies. She is twelve, but I know she would still enjoy a puppy in her life and I would just make sure it didn't become too overwhelming.

I personally would rather an adult dog or older pup for myself. But seriously, having Abby come into our lives as a pup was one of the most joyous times in her life lol. If I could give her another pup, I would. And I would be fine to raise a pup, I know the effort required and I would do it to the best of my ability. I just like adult dogs better is all, as cute as pups can be.

Grace is very easy going and gets along with most other dogs so I would be open to many more possibilities with her.

With Abby, which is the most likely scenario because I won't have three dogs and Grace is the oldest one, I would have to take into account her dislike of in your face dogs. I'd get a confident, well-adjusted, small, adult dog.

In both cases, I still have heaps of choice and I don't have my heart set on a particular breed for nextdog, in fact I envisage a rescue mutt of some description. Unless the unlikely happens and Abby falls off the perch first... then I may just have to get a purebred puppy for Grace. (I am not keen on the idea of a rescue pup, happy with an adult though).

 

[Laurelin]

Both?

There are certain breeds I really like but I wouldn't have them with small dogs in the house. My current dogs come first before any wants.

I did get Mia primarily for Summer, really. I knew with her SA that having another smaller dog would be a big help for her. The two of mine don't play together much, sadly, but do cuddle a lot and seem to love each other very much. They are very closely bonded and definitely get a lot out of having each other around. Mia's been the best dog ever and my two are ridiculously easy together, which is very nice.

On the other hand, I know Mia's ideal would be a nice young male papillon like Nard who would play with her 24/7 or a large, very calm and protective dog that gives her space. Neither of which are what I want right now. So we'll have to make it work.

I do think having dogs that get along without much thought put into it is NICE and often underrated. My dogs go everywhere together without a hitch. No issues at all with the entire big group of paps and shelties. Then you throw the terrier mix foster in and she just didn't respect the papillon space at all and they hated her. We got to the point (about a month in) where she was coexisting with supervision, but I don't think we'd ever get her to be 100% harmonious with the pack of paps. It was always going to be a bit more management to keep a peaceful house. But you do take that risk any time you bring home another dog.

So for Nextdog I'm looking at breeds I like a lot and that will mesh with Mia... hopefully. I'm anticipating it will take some introduction time with her.

 

[SpringerLover]

Both?

There are certain breeds I really like but I wouldn't have them with small dogs in the house. My current dogs come first before any wants.

That. Exactly that.

 

[k9krazee]

Well I guess I'm the only one... a huge (bigger than what I want really lol) factor of a possible 2nd dog..would be about Merlin.



I enjoy having only one dog, I could live happily with only one...the DRIVE to get another, is how happy Merlin is when I pet-sit and having a dog that is his BEST FRIEND.

So that would be my first priority (beyond the obvious of finding a dog I can comfortably care for/live with)



So I guess it depends on your reason for getting a dog. My reason would be first and foremost, playmate for Merlin. With of course a big part of it being a dog I could care for/handle.

I have no big breed wants (as you do) and could grow to love any dog really..so it's a totally different thing! My only want would be "easy for me to care for, makes Merlin happy"



If I wanted a dog for other reasons, or just really wanted another dog, it would be a different story. In that case, get the dog FOR YOU.

But as it is? Eh, as long as the next dog holds the sameish care requirements as Merlin....i'd basically let him pick if I could.



I have to feed and walk the dog...but Merlin is the one that has to be around him/her 9-5 while I'm at work and it's incredibly important to me for them to be best friends, not just co-habitants.



I don't think the extra cost/care/time of having two dogs, for me, is worth it, if they aren't enjoying each other immensely. So getting a dog that he loves would be a very close 2nd, to getting a dog that I can live with/care for.

This. Sort of.

I think I could be happy and content with one dog forever but Crossbone REALLY enjoys the company of other dogs and thrives with it. I want a dog who could be a good playmate & companion for him but also be a good for for the things I like and want to do.

 

[Laurelin]

You could always get one now and get one later. I knew I'd eventually want another herder and another papillon (cause everyone needs their own pap puppy!). so I got Mia because she would theoretically be easier (lol) and be easier to rent with (which has been true, I doubt I would have gotten my current place with a larger dog). I am glad I did it this way, it's worked out great. But in the end I knew I'd end up with both dog types one day.

 

[Elrohwen]

If I got a dog based on my current dog's wishes, I would have a whole pack by now. lol Watson loves all dogs, sometimes to the point of obsession and obnoxiousness. The only type of dog he doesn't like are the ones who ignore him and won't play - he doesn't know how to deal with that. As much as he would love another dog, I won't get one until I'm ready and really want one for myself.

Of course, I would never get a dog that absolutely wouldn't work with my current dog, but since my current dog is easy going in that department, it's not much of a consideration. As long as the other dog is young and playful (play style doesn't matter) Watson would get along with it. Since I would like another Welshie or a herding breed with a similar amount of energy, whatever dog I got would fit in well with what Watson would want.

 

[Paige]

I wouldn't get a dog just based on it getting along with Bandit... but it would need to at least tolerate him to be added into my home.

 

[JacksonsMom]

You could always get one now and get one later. I knew I'd eventually want another herder and another papillon (cause everyone needs their own pap puppy!). so I got Mia because she would theoretically be easier (lol) and be easier to rent with (which has been true, I doubt I would have gotten my current place with a larger dog). I am glad I did it this way, it's worked out great. But in the end I knew I'd end up with both dog types one day.

Lol, this is true, I've thought about this as well. 3 dogs is not really on my "plan" though. I just feel like before dog #3 comes into the picture, one of my currents would have to be gone or old. Of course it could be highly dependent on living situation too. As well as being single or not. I mean, if I had a serious BF living with me or whatnot, 3 dogs wouldn't be bad, but as a single girl, I wouldn't want more than 2. I really have no idea where I'll be in 3 years. I'm hoping I never have to be in an apartment but ya never know. There's a lot of cute little houses around here for rent. So in that sense adding another small dog would be helpful for sure. But that's why I'm looking into the MAS vs. the Aussie or BC too. Because then I feel like I'd get a 'taste' of a herder per say, but still have the smallish size.

 

[PWCorgi]

And what Siri needs is for you to kidnap Squash lookalike from my dog park. Then she will live happily ever after.

I know! She loved that dog! And I also think it is hilarious that we saw that dog both times we were in Chicago

 

[sassafras]

Sooo... thoughts, whether on my "dilemma" or your own, or just thoughts in general?

I think it's a mixture of both, really. I wouldn't really feel bad giving more weight to a dog/breed *I* wanted. I'm a pretty big believer that most of the time things are going to work out fine. But having said that, my first responsibility is to the pets I already have so if I thought a combination would just make someone absolutely miserable, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Sit Stay]

A bit of both. Ultimately the dog would be for me and I wouldn't pick a dog I wouldn't mesh with just because my existing dog would like it, but I also do take the existing dog(s) into consideration. Because that also benefits me by making things easy! For instance, although I don't have a preference either way, my next dog will be an easier going male because Quinn gets along better with males.

 

[Equinox]

If Trent had any say in the next dog I get, I'd never have a second dog while he was still around. Unless I were to steal my friend's Pekingnese, because he is incredibly fond of that little dog (I don't think he actually realizes the Peke is a real dog). That said though, a large part of the draw of Whippets for me is the fact that I think Trent would get along very well with one. Their temperament and disposition seem well suited to live with a dog like him, but I do already love the breed to begin with.

For instance, although I don't have a preference either way, my next dog will be an easier going male because Quinn gets along better with males.

Oh, this is a good point as well. My next dog will be a female because Trent gets along better with them, even though I actually do prefer males. Except, I think part of that is wanting to make life easier for myself, too.

 

[Romy]

For my current dogs. Specifically Strider.

Honestly I really wouldn't mind getting another male at all, but I can't bring one into the same house as a resident dog with Strider. He's not full blown SSA, but at the same time he's really intolerant of male shenanigans and will do loud dramatic corrections for things that he will happily tolerate a female doing. Those types of corrections would quickly escalate into a fight with the wrong male.

There are a lot of breeds I'd love but won't get because of my current dogs. Mostly because of the risk of DA. So maybe it's partly for me because I don't want to deal with crate and rotate, but it's because of my current dogs. I would love love love an akita, but nope. Too risky.

 

[mrose_s]

My next dog is totally for me, not Quinn. I got a female against my better judgement to try to be a better match for Buster, backfire. She's the super bitch from hell and stresses him out so much he lives with my mother now.

There are dogs out there that Quinn gels with, if I just wanted a pet I'm sure I could shift through rescue till the right mature dog popped up that she decided she is besotted by (but from experience they all seem to be gundogs or huskies which ain't happening)

But I have very specific plans for next dog which includes raising it myself. I also recognise this is 10x more work on my part because untill the puppy is well out of it's vulnerable stage they will pretty much be separated whenever pup isn't on lead around her and under supervision.
She can handle dogs around her, just not in her face for more than a few seconds.
Even when I think she's doing well she'll suddenly get triggered, start to feel threatened and then cross threshold.

So until the dog is of age where it can understand how to behave around her it's gonna be work.

 

[Dagwall]

I want a second dog for me but a huge part of that is the possibility of being a good playmate for Jubel. All that I truly require is peaceful co-existance but I'd really love for them to be good buddies. I had that with my last foster dog and was really leaning towards keeping him but my brother wasn't convinced yet. A family came along interested in him off he went to his new home. It's a great home and he's very happy there so I can't be too sad about it but I do miss him.

One of these days I'll convince my brother to keep one of the dogs we foster. I do like that as a way to help dogs in need of a home and get a good feel for how I like the dog and how Jubel likes the dog as well. I'm not too picky in what I'm looking for in a dog so taking Jubel's desires into consideration isn't much of an issue either. In the end he'll peacefully co-exist with the vast majority of dogs, finding a good buddy for him is a bit more of a challenge.