Is The Bond Stronger With One Dog?

[BigDog2191]

Alright, here's my question:

I'd REAAALLY like to have another dog in the future. Of course I can't right now due to finances, school, and generally dealing with the Rock.

But my question is, is the bond stronger with JUST one dog? I know the majority of you here have 2-3... but I realize that you're generally doing the same thing with 2 or 3 dogs that you're doing with one, so you'd think there wouldn't be any difference, right?

Well:

If you have one dog YOU, the owner, are the one who plays with it. You only do this a portion of the time when you have 2-3 dogs because all of the dogs wear each other out. So if you're playing with him, you're developing a bond-- in my opinion and in my experience.

Also, with 2 or 3 dogs you're generally focused on all 3-- not one. The same goes with the dog, he's focused on his other companions. So he has to kind of share the love, if you will. Therefore, you don't get much of the love if it's divided like this.

This is all speculation-- I'm really not trying to offend anyone with multiple dogs. But based on what I said, and possibly from your own experiences, if you've ever owned 1 dog at a time and then 2 or 3 dogs, I would love your input. Thanks.

 

[gapeach]

It's been my experience that (all of our dogs anyway) have always bonded more strongly to one person. They always bond more with whoever takes care of them the most. I'm not sure about the bond being stronger or less with multiple dogs. I've had just one dog and two at a time before. But ours were always so far apart in age, they never really bonded together more than they did with us. The younger ones always followed the older around but it annoyed the older ones,so they never played together. I'm curious to see everyone's input on this. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I take time every day to spend with the girls seperately...it can be cuddling, training, an alone walk...just so that they get some time away from the other dogs with me, their person.
I feel a bond with all of my dogs and each bond is different.

 

[Fran27]

It depends on the dogs I think. I don't spend less time with Boris now than I used to, but he's always been pretty independent in the sense that he spends a lot of time sleeping in another room anyway. When it comes to the dogs, I feel that Tips bonded to me more than Boris did, even though he was never the only dog in the house.

So I don't really think that having several makes a difference, but it depends a lot on your activities and the character of the dog too. If someone spends 10 hours a day playing with a dog then gets another, then I would think they wouldn't be able to spend so much time together anymore.

 

[BigDog2191]

Rocky can be independent. But he seems to love me more, per se- but he's much more obedient and well-behaved around my dad.

But I think I can confidently say that I spend the majority of time with Rocky... so if the case is that, the more time you spend with your dog the more of a bond you develope, then if Rocky was so close to me-- why doesn't he obey me as much as he does my dad? He spends time with him-- but not the majority. And I'll even see him just walk away from me to be with my dad.

 

[BigDog2191]

It depends on the dogs I think. I don't spend less time with Boris now than I used to, but he's always been pretty independent in the sense that he spends a lot of time sleeping in another room anyway. When it comes to the dogs, I feel that Tips bonded to me more than Boris did, even though he was never the only dog in the house.

So I don't really think that having several makes a difference, but it depends a lot on your activities and the character of the dog too. If someone spends 10 hours a day playing with a dog then gets another, then I would think they wouldn't be able to spend so much time together anymore.

So see what I mean? You bonded to Tips, one dog, the bond is strongest there. I know you love Boris but the bond is stronger with that ONE dog. If you were to JUST have Tips and not have to deal with another dog then the bond you have with him now would probably be DOUBLED because of the amount of time you spent MORE with him than dealing with another dog (not trying to be mean--just speculation).

Just observations, not trying to offend anyone...

 

[gapeach]

Rocky may obey your dad better because he considers him the alpha of your family. It certainly doesn't mean he loves your dad more because he walks away from you to your dad, he's probably just interested in what he's doing at the time.

 

[BigDog2191]

Rocky may obey your dad better because he considers him the alpha of your family. It certainly doesn't mean he loves your dad more because he walks away from you to your dad, he's probably just interested in what he's doing at the time.

But my dad has done next to nothing to establish the alpha male role-- but you're right it really seems that's the way Rock looks at him.

 

[gapeach]

Dogs are very perceptive, he knows your dad is the boss of you too,(you know what I mean anyway ) so he must be the alpha.

 

[Zoom]

You defer to your dad and Rocky picks up on that. Sawyer is bonded to me like Superglue but he will do what my dad says a lot quicker, because he knows that my dad 'outranks' me.

I can't really say that having two dogs lessens a bond, but I've had Sawyer since May and we just got Aubrey, so there's a time discrepency. Sawyer's always going to be my number one boy though, and I make sure that I spend time with just him. Aubrey is more Dan's dog anyway; she lives with him.

 

[BigDog2191]

You defer to your dad and Rocky picks up on that. Sawyer is bonded to me like Superglue but he will do what my dad says a lot quicker, because he knows that my dad 'outranks' me.

I can't really say that having two dogs lessens a bond, but I've had Sawyer since May and we just got Aubrey, so there's a time discrepency. Sawyer's always going to be my number one boy though, and I make sure that I spend time with just him. Aubrey is more Dan's dog anyway; she lives with him.

I see. So once again, you've got that bond with that one dog...

 

[Zoom]

And you've got your bond with Rocky.

I guess I'm not sure where your question is coming from, unless you're worried about not bonding as well with your second. Try what a client at work does, on some days she only drops one dog off at daycare and keeps the other with her for some one-on-one time.

 

[BigDog2191]

And you've got your bond with Rocky.

I guess I'm not sure where your question is coming from, unless you're worried about not bonding as well with your second. Try what a client at work does, on some days she only drops one dog off at daycare and keeps the other with her for some one-on-one time.

Exactly.

Basically, if I get another dog-- I want Rocky to have the same relationship with me before and vice versa. I don't want another dog coming between that... like I don't want him to concentrate on the dog and love me less...

 

[Zoom]

I seriously doubt that. Sawyer and Aubrey love each other, but he still loves me the best. He'll push her out of the way so I can pet him instead of her.

I think you've had enough time to establish a bond, especially with all the trust building you've had to do with him, that he's not going to drop you and go to this other dog. Some bonding is necessary so he doesn't fight with the other dog all the time, but just make sure you keep him first in everything: food, treats, praise, attention, who goes first out the door...

 

[RD]

I think that as long as the dogs have a good deal of interaction with their owner, they will bond to you just fine.

I think, with two dogs, pack order is much more important. It should be made known to all dogs in the pack that they answer to YOU, not one another. That'll play a huge role in keeping them intuned to you, and not one another.

I'm going to have my first experience with raising two dogs as "buddies" when I get my female BC. (I have always taught Ripley and Dakota to stay away from one another and just peacefully coexist, I don't want them getting too close due to their size difference and Ripley's fragility) So raising a puppy with my adult dog will be interesting.. Personally I would be more concerned about the puppy bonding too closely to the adult dog, than the adult dog bonding too closely to the puppy, you know what I mean?

 

[Athe]

I have 5 dogs, I have a strong bond with all my dogs. I don't really make any special time for one on one for any of them...it's mass lovin'
I bought a house with my Sister, so the dogs divide their time between the 2 of us...some nights the Newf's sleep with me, sometimes the Dobe and Rottie and one Newf...etc. They just take turns and spread their charms around There is no favoritism, and no ruffeled feathers...all my dogs get along, there are no little spats between them, no food aggression etc. The fact that I got ALL these dogs as adults and 2 with horrible pasts is quite remarkable in itself. I think it's all in how the owner handles them. I look at all my dogs differently and love them each for their unique personalities. Each of my dogs came at different times, I had my female older Newf first (with other newf's since passed on), then I got my rescue Rottie...then came my male Newf, then a few months later my second female Newf...then lastly I found my Dobe mix half staved on the side of the road. All my dogs love each other, but, their world revolves around me

 

[Fran27]

So see what I mean? You bonded to Tips, one dog, the bond is strongest there. I know you love Boris but the bond is stronger with that ONE dog. If you were to JUST have Tips and not have to deal with another dog then the bond you have with him now would probably be DOUBLED because of the amount of time you spent MORE with him than dealing with another dog (not trying to be mean--just speculation).

Just observations, not trying to offend anyone...

Just to clarify, Tips was the second dog. Also, I'm not sure a bond can be quantified. You have one or you don't. Tips sleeps at my feet when he needs a nap, comes to me wagging his tail everytime I call him (even when he's romping with Boris), answers all my commands, I don't see how it could be 'better'... The only difference is that when I can't pay attention to him, he will play with Boris. So it's a win-win situation for both of us.

Boris hasn't changed his behavior one bit since we got Tips either, he still sleeps in another room most of the time during the day, but comes see me regularly for attention, and will sleep at the bed at night.

It's definitely an interesting topic and I really don't have much experience on the matter, but I can definitely say that getting Tips didn't change my relations with Boris one bit, and that as a second dog he bonded to me more than Boris as well. But it really depends on the dog's character I'm sure.

 

[Becca_]

I have a very strong with Gracie. Just something about her, it happened the minute we laid eyes on each other. Princess, I love her very much, but we never had this kind of a bond like Gracie and I have. But I will say, Princess has never been left out or made to feel as if she is getting less attention. In fact, we may give her more to make sure she never feels left out. I dont love her any less. I make it a point to go cuddle with her on and off, she and I still do our evening get on the bed and cuddle while I watch tv. Lately she's taken up sleeping next to me half the night. I still take her out for one on one time to work on her walking skills. The biggest thing I have noticed with Princess since getting Gracie is she's happier. When I'm not in the mood to play it's ok because Gracie never turns down a chance to play!

I wouldnt worry if I was you. Your'll find you have plenty of room in your heart to love more than one dog and both dogs will know you love them. And chances are they will be great buddies with each other. You might always have a stronger bond with Rocky and even if you find you have a stronger bond with the other dog, you wont stop loving Rocking and making sure he's happy and treated right.

 

[smkie]

im like Becca..what i had with Bronki was just different from what i have had with any dog since Charlie. As it is now, Mary and Vic are about equal. I do spend the mornings alone with Mary so she gets her special time while Vic romps with Mr Shaffer..then in the evening after i am finished working Victor and i curl up on the chaise and Mary goes to bed. Each has had their special time with mom. There seems to be no jealousy. One thing i do appriciate was that when i petted mary bronki couldn't stand for me to show affection to anyone but him..even his mom then he decided ok..we'll love mom together. I would cuddle Mary and he would lick her ears and nibble her neck. I don't know if Bronki whispered in Victor's ear from the other side but it amazes me that now when i pet Mary..victor automatically starts scrubbing her ears and nibbling her neck. freaky huh...

 

[Gempress]

I guess I'm the only one who had a negative two-dog experience. My family's aging and arthritic golden retriever, Tigger, was 10 when I came home from college with Odin, my year-old rott/husky mix. Tigger never did get along with Odin. She was too old to keep up with his wrestling, fetching and running. Odin took advantage of Tigger's age and pushed my poor old dog to the side every time she tried to interact with us. Tigger was very miserable and depressed. I eventually had to send Odin to live with my fiance at his house, since I couldn't let my poor old baby live out her last years like that.

If you do get another dog, be sure it's one that your current dog can live with. Both dogs will bond with you no matter what, but they may not be the best thing for each other.