Hi Suzanne!

We had Freddy for just over a year when we got Wilma.  I was initially concerned about extra costs, space, etc - you know, the usual!  Within a very short space of time we had forgotten what it was like with only one dog!  I also felt less guilty about leaving Freddy alone - I knew he had some company. 

I would say if you can afford it and you have the space and time then go for a second dog BUT don't let anyone try to emotionally blackmail you into it!  Only you know your reasons for wanting a second dog - stick to your guns, and if you decide not to have another then don't feel guilty and don't let anyone else make you feel that way.  I know a lot will say "an only hound is a lonely hound" but it's not true!  If your dog is very much loved he might not necessarily appreciate another dog taking his mum away ......

Just something for you to think about.

Hi, Suzanne

For all my kidding you about Sweet (and I really am just kidding, honest!), I understand how you're feeling. Dave will tell you that Steve and I have been plaguing him for yonks about getting number 2, and he told us that it's often the hardest part of rescue. For me, quite honestly, it's a scary thought. Pearly is so good and we're in such a routine that it's very much a thought that the tidy applecart might be upset. The first week that we had her was awful - she and I spent most of it crying! But, forewarned is forearmed and we'll know what to expect the next time.

I keep seeing pics of happy hounds together and think that Pearly would love a friend. She's a funny one, cos sometimes she can meet other dogs and not give two hoots; next time, she's bouncing and play-bowing like a daftie. Suppose that just shows that the right combination is, well, the right combination. Hopefully, we'll have that one day, and maybe in the not-too-distant future.

For us, it's a case of "when", rather than "if". So I'll be watching this thread with loads and loads of interest myself..........

Fiona

Hi Suzanne, if you haven't heard my 'catchphrase' yet then here it is...''you only really notice the difference after the seventh..''

Seriously, as Fiona says homing a second dog to someone is MUCH harder than homing the first, and if Fiona doesn't mind I might even 'borrow' her 'tidy applecart' phrase. I've homed (and then had bouncing) a couple of 'second' dogs over the last year or so, the problem has always been that the second dog comes into the home and the nice little routine built up by owner and first dog goes totally out of the window whilst everyone adjusts to the new arrival.

First dog can sometimes get a wee bit upset at all the attention the second dog gets and suddenly first dog isn't the bouncy happy dog it was last week.....anyways think about it carefully and sensibly and if you do want to 'borrow' a potential candidate for a few days see how it goes you know who to call!!  

thanks so far for all the replies - keep em coming - def want to hear both sides of the story...this, as with Fiona is not a matter of 'if' but a matter of 'when' - be that in 3 mths time or 2yrs time...

I will def put a massive amount of thought into this & not be carried away on the fluffy, lets get Murph a playmate...as Im hoping Ill hear/have heard on this thread Im sure its most def not a fluffy ride!!

Right where to start..................?

Firstly, you probably need to know that I'm married to greyflintstone.  I wasn't for having one dog and some sneaky manipulative GAL volunteer (you know who you are.....!) asked me to "hold" Freddy for a minute on my first visit to Bothwell Bridge.  Within minutes, he was mine!  No-one else got to hold him..........!  Then came the "can't we have another one" question.  I was adament that it was a NO! but decided to humour Sharon.  We got in touch with Dave and went to meet Wilma (who was then Snowy).  One set of matching paw prints on my shoulders (I'm 5'11") and we had 2..............

We are now looking at the possibility of number 3........ though I'm not sure, even though it was my idea.......!  I know number three is likely - just need to decide where he / she can sleep.

Freddy and Wilma hit it off straight away and the kids were just as keen as we were. Wilma is now Andrew's (the oldest at 7) dog.  The admiration is mutual.  Toby (the younger at 5) isn't overly bothered unless the dogs get in the way of the TV or sleep on the "road" where his cars are driving (which is the rug in front of the window where the sun sits all day (can you guess where the dogs spend most of the day...........)

The additional cost is negligible, unless you get a dog who is intollerant to all but the most expensive dog food.... but even then, it's not that expensive.  Being anal retentive when it comes to number (no comments greyflinstone!) I worked out how much it costs to feed our two for a day/week/month/year, and it hardly broke the bank.

Advice for you Suzanne...........?  From someone who was adamant that he wasn't having a dog, had one, then two and is now looking at number 3, I'd say "an only hound is a lonely hound".  Seriously, though...not a lot of extra cost, already walking one, they don't take up that much room......  but you already know all that.  If you feel it's the right time for a second, why not foster.  The other thing to do is make sure the two dogs meet beforehand away from your house - probably better all around in neutral territory.  That was our experience and have had no real problems.

Anyway enough of me! Hope this helps you a bit.

 

Chas

Hi Suzanne

We were the same as you do we take a second one or not & my biggest concern was getting another one as good as Dinah because my son is 4 & I was wary that we would not get another one as good as her, but when we went to the summer show last year Denise shouted over her mike "Dinah's mum will not leave here today without another dog" & I never, we brought Noah home & he has been great, we took him a wander round at Devon that day with Dinah & the two of them got on great & Ross was with me & he took to him aswell, Glenda & Dave told me to take him for the week & see how he settled in (we were on holiday that week so a perfect opportunity)& we have never looked back.

Good luck, hope to see you with your new addition soon

We adopted our first greyhound (Ruby) 6 years ago.  Since that time we have adopted/fostered a number of different dogs and currently have 3 - Ruby, Reilly and Rosie.  The last foster dog was Serena - who was anything but "serene" and snapped and growled at all the others.  However, they learned to live and let live but peace eventually reigned and she has now gone to a wonderful new home.

Each time a new dog came into the home, the cats went into hiding and Ruby completely ignored them and us.  The bottom line is, that a new dog means there must be some "storming and norming", but invariably it works out - you just need to grit your teeth, keep your head down, (indulge yourself with some wine of an evening) and before you know it, you and your resident dog, have another "best friend".

yikes - lots to ponder over...thanks a million guys. I think my mind is made up....

ps Karen - did no-one tell you "black is this years new brindle"!!

as an Easter treat today Murphy got to meet Sweet & take her for a walk. Both behaved well & werent remotely fussed either way...not necessarily love but she certainly lived up to her name...

Watch this space...

truth be known Sharon is that I pick her up next Sunday on a 'fostering' basis...really to help relieve some pressure off Dave as he has no spare kennels at the moment for incoming dogs so I reluctanctly said that if it was absolutely necessary I could take Sweet home for a month or so...*hehe - he fell for it too!!*

She is black but has the thickest kennel coat ever so will be out in the back garden every night when I get her being groomed within an inch of her life as Im not a fan of 'the Fuzz' ...black & sleek is how I like them - not big fluff balls :) She is really short - wee stumpy legs & a big barrel of a body - very funny on our walk as she looks like the boy in the relationship - a real stocky John Wayne swagger compared to ikkle delicate ballerina boy Murf. She has SUCH "love me" eyes that won me over - if dogs could speak she would have you in tears with her pleading....You cant say no to that!!!

Clincher came when I tried to put Murf into the car before taking her back to her kennel & she launched herself into the boot, curled up & refused to come out again!! bless...if it wasnt for the course I need to go on next week she'd currently be curled up next to me on the sofa...roll on next Sunday - cant wait to get my hands on her : coat, teeth,nails, etiquette etc- Trinny & Susannah move over...

Hi Suzanne, thanks so much for  very reluctantly agreeing to foster Sweet.....

my advice on Fostering is basically just get on with it, when we get a new dog in we don't make sacrifices for it, we let it find it's own feet, no over pampering, dunno if that sounds cruel but they usually find their own feet, try not to change your routine too much around the new dog, just try to get on with what you usually do...Often when someone gets a second dog all the focus goes to that one so don't forget Murph!!..

Really pleased for you Suzanne. She sounds funny, i`m sure she willl look more feminine when she looses her kennel coat and you get her looking all nice & shiny. As for fostering tips, from someone who has only fostered once so far - keep smiling and for the times when you feel you can`t cope - a good bottle of wine!

You`ll have to bring her and Murphy down for a visit - i`ll have the wine ready!

Sha

Suzanne,

Think a lot of people change their dogs names.  New start, new name and all that. 

Luca's name was Lucky, which he hadn't been, so we picked Luca because it had the same kind of tone when you called it, if you know what I mean. He was 4 when we got him and it hasn't done him any harm.

Like Sweet, Eilidh didn't have a proper name that she responded to.  We chose Eilidh because it means 'noble'.  (Ha ha, if we had only known!)  On the website she was Switch, but Dave had been calling her Puppy mostly.  Think she came to that when Dave called her, but she couldn't be Puppy forever. She picked up her new name really quickly.

Don't think giving her a new name would worry her at all and Erin's lovely.

C

I`d change her name too Suzanne. I can just imagine you shouting "Sweet" across a field - we would all laugh (sorry) Erin is far nicer. I find (when i`m trying to teach puppies their name) if you say the name and they look up at you, reward them with a treat, they very quickly catch on. Have fun trying to get rid of that kennel coat!!

Sha