In the near future i will be getting a new puppy, after 6 months the wife will go back to work and the pup will be left in the back room(with access to outside)for 6 hours Monday to Friday. I was thinking of maybe getting 2 pups to keep each other company.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
p.s. i only want a small bread maybee a Border Terrier.
2006-11-23 06:38:18 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Just one is my advice, save the other one for.... next xmas
2006-11-23 07:38:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Once again, the answers on Answers suck. Probably because this site is so overrun with children and BYBs.
Honestly, you should reconsider getting ANY dog. Dogs are not meant to be left alone in a back room for 6 hours a day. Especially not a family dog like a terrier. I think you should reconsider your motives for wanting the dog and taken into consideration how it will feel being left for that long. Chances are, you'll have massive separation anxiety, destruction issues, and potty issues, to start. Some dogs left alone for that long become self-destructive - chewing paws, over grooming, over scratching.
Two puppies won't solve the issue for several reasons. It is NEVER recommended to get two puppies at the same time from the same litter. They bond with each other rather than their owners, and are often times destructive. They feed off of each other. Secondly, if you decided to get one and then wait until the 6 month point to get another one - when do you expect to potty train it? When would you make it feel at home? Even rescuing an older dog at that point would not be great - simply to lock it up in a back room.
I'm not saying that working people shouldn't have dogs. Not at all. But they need to seriously think about more than the 3 hours a day that they would see their dogs. Doggie day care, house sitters, and dog walkers should be given to any dog left aone on a regular basis for more than 3-4 hours.
2006-11-23 06:53:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not give your dog access to outside when you are not home to supervise. They can run away, get beaten, get poisoned, get killed, get pregnant/impregnate other dogs.
It is best to crate train and have the dog there when you are not home. It keeps them safe and is like a room for them!
It is not a great idea to have two puppies (or two dogs of the same age) at the same time. It's twice the work, twice the poop, twice the training. They will also bond with each other, instead of the humans. Dogs do best if they are 2 or more years apart. Once the first pup is 2 or more, s/he will be trained and well-behaved, and bonded to you and your wife. Then, bringing a new dog into the house will allow the older dog to help train and teach good behaviors, including the awesome bonding with the humans! :o)
2006-11-23 12:40:29 · answer #3 · answered by Alicia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the dogs are the same sex and same age I been of the understanding that they may constantly compete for the upper status, its best to get just one at first then get the other a month or 2 later and it don't matter about the same sex, they are pack animals and will need a pecking order, they will sort their own out but make sure they realise that they are both lower in the pecking order than you as they will see you as part of their pack. It is more prominent in a 2 dog house hold. A good source of reference about pack behaviour and pecking orders and coping with more than one dog is The Dog Listener DVD by Jan Fennell, I got mine on www.qvcuk.com item no: 824 767. She also writes books as well so have a look an Amazon.
2006-11-23 08:44:29 · answer #4 · answered by sladelover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals, when left alone, usually have problems as a result of separation anxiety from their owners. If your wife is going to be there for the first six months and then not, getting another dog won't help the first dog, it'll just mean you have two dogs going through separation anxiety instead of one. Eventually the two may serve to keep the other company but it won't be the immediate solution to your problem. Also if you have never owned a Border Terrier, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you read information on them, they may be a dog you think looks good, but it may be the wrong breed of dog for you, your wife and your lifestyle. Learn about the dog you get before you adopt, it'll save you lots of time, money and hassle in the long run. There are tons of informational books and magazines that you can purchase from any pet supply store or book store on any breed imaginable.
2006-11-23 06:51:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally i would get 1 for the time being and see how that goes as you can always add, if you feel you can cope with the mess and damage to your house and other items. however the desisson is up to you and your wife. if they are small breeds then you could get 2 but again this is up to you, i would do some research on the breed you want and what they are like as puppies and if they are better as a pair or on their own.
My mate got a puppy and thought it was lonly and was going to get another one, but she got a big teddy for company and put a radio on, and played tapes of their voices to keep him company. Both of these worked a treat and they never did need to get another one
good luck
Lisa X
2006-11-23 22:33:08 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if i were you i'd get an older dog , but a puppy might be fine, i have a puppy right now (jack russell terrier) and a full grown lab and they are they best companions ....the only bad part about getting two puppies is double the work and trouble and they'd bond to each other instead of you and you wife
2006-11-23 06:54:22 · answer #7 · answered by pianoplayer4life 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the best plan. Make sure that from when you first get them you get them used to being left at home without you for a while. Build it up to the 6 hours a day otherwise they'll get really bored and start being naughty.
By the time they are 6 months they'll be housetrained and less crazy so they should be alright.
2006-11-23 09:11:29 · answer #8 · answered by PetLover 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if they are going to be left for a long time then you will have to make sure that they have plenty of chews and toys to play with but if you get 2 which i would if they are going to be alone for a while then get the same breed but bearing in mind that you are better to get a dog and a ***** as they will get on better than two of the same sex i got mind and they where only two weeks apart in age and they are both 28 and 29 months now and they get on relay well together and where the one is so is the other and they look after one another and Ive now got 3 of them (bichon frise) and they all get on so well together and not one of my dogs have ever done any damage in the house but they have so many toys to play with and always got some sort of cheweys to chew on good luck in what ever dog you have but don't get just one as you are going to be away they will be good company for one another but you will need to take them for a good run in the morning before you go out then they will sleep for a few hours
2006-11-23 07:36:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Remember brother and sister dogs will get cheeky with each other when they're in the mood!!
6 hours isn't so bad, the dog will probably sleep for most of it!
It probably would be nice for the dog if you got it some company, they do get bored. But if you opt for one or two, make sure you leave them toys etc so they can have a wild time while you're gone!!
2006-11-23 06:43:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Personally I think leavin it for more than 3 or 4 hours is a bit harsh, but maybe 2 puppies wouldn't be that bad idea - as long as they're trained etc. and you take them for good walks when you get in!
2006-11-23 06:41:45 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋