Your thoughts on only having 1 dog

[Doberluv]

One would certainly be a lot easier in many ways. I've had just one dog before, but most of the time, I've had multiple dogs. I almost can't remember having just one dog. I do like having two little dogs. They're easy since they're Chihuahuas and they're such playmates. I like that they have another of their species to hang with besides me. I have three now, but I think two is my magic number. The most I've had at one time was 4 and at one time, 5 (a temporary). That's really a bit much for me. And I don't know what I'd do if they didn't get along. That would really be hard. So, I am fortunate that all three are so in tune with each other and such friends.

 

[Kristy_Spca3]

I only have one, and she adores it. She obviously will get spoiled more than people who own a lot of dogs at the same time, it's like kids. Only child is spoiled, when you have more than one, you got to divide things and share. Jenna has lots of doggy friends around here, so she just loves it.

 

[Doberluv]

Only child is spoiled, when you have more than one, you got to divide things and share.

Math doesn't work that way in my house. It all comes down to supply and demand. All three dogs are spoiled and there's no such thing as division. It's all based on multipication.

 

[Beanie]

Math doesn't work that way in my house. It all comes down to supply and demand. All three dogs are spoiled and there's no such thing as division. It's all based on multipication.

Agreed!
I also agree with Georgygirl that it depends more on the individual owner than the actual number of dogs. Two dogs are just too much to handle for some people, and some people can easily handle two, three, four, five... or more.
I think we all have our own magic number. It's just not going to be the same for everybody.

 

[Holly's mom]

Holly doesn't like other dogs/cats, so another dog is out of the question. I'm graduating in June, but for now I am still with my mother, and I've been bugging her for 6 yrs to get another dog, since our golden had to be euthed. So, I am lucky to have one dog, haha. Holly has really bonded to me, I spend a LOT of time with her, and I don't think it would be possible with another dog, to spend so much one-on-one time with her. She is costing us a lot on food (we have her on orijen) so I'd have to double that amount with another dog, and since I'm going to Uni in a year, I need to be saving every penny. Plus, I've had bad experiences with small dogs, so another dog would have to be a larger breed also, (Probably another lab) and walking them together would take a lot of strength, even though Holly is perfect on the leash.

 

[eddieq]

I have one dog. Any time I've had dogs, it's only been one at a time, so I have no frame of reference for multiple-dogs, so I cannot really comment on it.

With my single dog, though, I don't feel like anything is missing and we're quite content. She's a great companion and gets to visit with neighbor dogs frequently, so she isn't missing out on anything either. I really have no interest in adding another dog at this point.

 

[~Jessie~]

We have 4 dogs, which is our personal limit. There are 2 of us (my husband and myself) to take care of them, so it's manageable.

I will always have multiple dogs... at least 2 chis at a time. My chis are veeerrry bonded together (Rylie and Chloe, at least) and are constantly together.

 

[xpaeanx]

One dog is definatley easier in terms of expense for food/travel/vet/getting people to watch them. There is a lot more one-on-one time when you're home.

I like having two for the companionship they offer one another when I'm at work. I can be honest, I work 8 hour days plus travel time. That's a LONG time for a dog to be alone. With two they keep each other company and play while I'm out of the house.


The other thing to take into consideration is the size. In the case of people not minding your dogs, if you have two 20lb well behaved dogs, people aren't going to mind them over thier house so much. If you try to bring over two 100 lb(even well behaved dogs) people may not like that. Now if you have crazy, non-behaved dogs.... I don't think the size or amount will do much, people won't want them over.


Also, in terms of amont of "work" the breeds personality plays a big part. Two Border Collies would be A LOT more work than a less active breed of the same size.

For me, when I had Keeda and Bailey I drove a Bronco. I riped the back seat out so they had a huge area to chill out in. I had fans that I put in the window and a screen that went across the the tailgate window so I could leave everything open they would get a breeze. There were blankets and pillows across the floor, and lots of toys. If I couldn't bring them inside with me, they hung out in the car.

When Bailey died I took the truck off the road, so right now Keeda and Midget have to hang out in the car.

Although, now that's it's summer and hot and I can't leave the dogs in car during the day I've only been bringing Midget with me. He's not DR, so I can take him out of the car and walk him around with me without a problem.

I hope to add another Corgi in about 1 year.... at the same time I think I may buy a new car. Something like the equinox, so that there is more room for the dogs and I can give them a better set up than the car.

 

[sparks19]

there are pros and cons to it.

and I also think it depends on your dog.

Teddy was high maintenance. he was an only dog until the last few months of his life. He was extremely active and even after hours of physical and mental stimulation he still wanted more or would become destructive. I thought OMG if we add a second dog and that dog is the same way... how will we be able to handle that? so then we found Belle who was really the polar opposite of Teddy. she was lazy and laid back and not at ALL destructive. she would rather lay around then go outside and run and play for hours lol. but she liked to play with teddy so it gave him some extra stimulation.

So now we have Beezer and Belle.

They pretty much entertain each other. with having a toddler running around I can't always be outside running the dogs. So rather than get bored they just play with each other. I don't find that it's harder to take care of two dogs than one dog. and I think we have been able to bond with them pretty equally. they both have such different personalities so the type of bonding is different. Beezer is a velcro dog who has to follow you around and lay on you or at your feet at all times and that's his bonding lol. Belle... she likes a good rub down and some big hugs and her personalized songs lol. but when she is tired she doesn't want to be crowded so she goes to the end of the couch and spreads out.

but then... it's harder to go out with two dogs than it is with one. everything is double the cost. they eat twice as much food, cost twice as much at the kennel, double the vet bills... etc etc.