Having an "only" dog

[romeosangiovese]

I am thinking of getting another pup too. At first I thought, am I a one-dog kind of mum? I love what Romeo and I have and the time we spend together alone. Then I thought, I work long hours and if I have kids (at least in the initial baby stage) I'd probably not be able to spend as much time as I'd like (do husbands take well to being dumped with the child while we run off with the dog?).

Romeo needs alot of attention - he gets bored easily and even now I have to find something for him to do before I can get 15 mins to reply to emails (and that is why I am on this forum at work!). I think a companion would do him good. He likes to think he is "alpha" too but the first sign another dog shows of being "dominant" his tail will go down and he'll get all hunched and small.

I was just discussing with another sheltie owner what sort of dog will get along with Romeo. He doesn't have food aggression issues and he's very tolerant of other dogs. He's not snapped or growled at another dog ever, not even when they (male or female) try to hump him incessantly! I'd like him to think he's still "the boss" (in his own little head), so maybe a dog that has a more "submissive" easy going personality would be best for him. I'm also thinking female, but spayed. Is that a good idea?

I need to be sure and to speak with a good breeder though because I plan on importing one from Australia - I'm pretty sure we can't do a trial and then send the poor pup back!

 

[sheltiemom]

When Scarlett came to us she had been so sheltered and overly coddled/ She hated the other dogs and just wanted to be left alone, Because at that time I had 7 shelties and my son only had one, we moved Scarlett over to his house. Well that was all she needed. She came out of her shell..and started playing and becamne more friendly. Scarlett lives here now ( Five females and 4 males) and theyt all gfert along beautifully

 

[Calliesmom]

Happy was adopted first- he was 5 yrs old when I got him from the shelter- a no-kill so he had been there around 9 months before I took him home. He did seem to be an "only" style dog. I had him a little over 2 years and then in the summer of '06, we babysat 2 dogs for friends. He did really well when they were there and was much better having company when I went to work. So I decided to get him a girl- he loves the girls- and thought well, I've always wanted a sheltie and there she was on Petfinder - local collie/sheltie rescue and so Callie came to stay with us. They were very separate for quite a while - she took some time to settle in and even now, they don't play together but I know they both enjoy the companionship. Happy has taught Callie to bark when I come home from work and she kind of follows him around just like a little sister. The rescue has a 2 week trial but I told them we wouldn't need it and we didn't. Callie was also 5yrs old when she came to live with us and she will turn 8 next week- actually had a little doggy party this evening with a couple of friends- one whose dog turned 3 yrs a few days ago so we combined their birthdays- they had doggy cake- I haven't downloaded the pix yet but will post soon. so, the moral is, 2 dogs are better than one and if you consider the personalities, then it can all work out wonderfully.

 

[sable]

My two shelties are four years apart, and they are in love with each other. I am accustomed to having two dogs at a time.

When I picked up my girl I put his blanket in her crate, she took over the house in a second. My boy who is older, hooked right up with her. I kept telling him, she is your puppy take care of her, and he does. OMG he is so sweet with her. The biggest thing, your older one was in the house first, so at first he was petted first, he got his treat first, now its all even steven.

Both of them are very well socialized with other dogs, kids, and any age adults. My boy will like once and awhile his alone time with me. He pretends he wants out, to make my girl go out, he runs back in, brings a toy so we play alone. My girl runs the squirrels off while we play. Then she comes to the door barking to get him outside, then he goes out. Cute!

 

[MissSuzie]

Oh, I want another sheltie so badly. But alas, the time is not right. The majority of Meggie's first year she was alone with me and the cat. She went to doggie day care once a week and LOVED it.

When we moved up here Dad had little Lucy, but at the time she was at the nursing home with mom. They actually let her live there. When I took Meggie over to visit them Lucy went nuts. She was growling and baring her teeth. Both Meggie and I were petrified! Then we took mom out of the home and she is living at my sisters. My sis is not a dog lover, so Lucy had to come home. I was nervous and there have been a few incidents, but all in all it's worked out well. Meggie loves running and playing with Lucy, but Lucy definitely is the alpha dog and let's Meggie know when enough is enough. Meggie is very laid back, so if Lucy tells her like it is, she accepts it.

I'd like to get another sheltie puppy one day......................dreaming!

 

[sheltiemom]

Oh, I want another sheltie so badly. But alas, the time is not right. The majority of Meggie's first year she was alone with me and the cat. She went to doggie day care once a week and LOVED it.

When we moved up here Dad had little Lucy, but at the time she was at the nursing home with mom. They actually let her live there. When I took Meggie over to visit them Lucy went nuts. She was growling and baring her teeth. Both Meggie and I were petrified! Then we took mom out of the home and she is living at my sisters. My sis is not a dog lover, so Lucy had to come home. I was nervous and there have been a few incidents, but all in all it's worked out well. Meggie loves running and playing with Lucy, but Lucy definitely is the alpha dog and let's Meggie know when enough is enough. Meggie is very laid back, so if Lucy tells her like it is, she accepts it.

I'd like to get another sheltie puppy one day......................dreaming!

My little Rachie and I were so extremely close that she started alerting to my low bloodsugars ( I am a diabetic for 41 years) I had her liicensed as my service dog. Rachie was never aggressive to anyone, but she ket them know she did not care for them. I had never seen a dog give the evil eye...but Rachie had that mastered. Poor Rachie poassed from Renal failure slmost three years ago, I still think she knew I was going through many of the same things she was going through. She was such an amazing girl

 

[BarbV]

I can't speak to this myself because I don't know enough about it, but I think another consideration is the sex of the dogs.

So its a question finding the right combination of:
- dominance factor
- respective ages
- sex

I love having the two. When I can't be playing with them, they play with each other. Part of my reason for getting the 2nd is I work full-time, even though I still come home at lunch. Eventually, I will leave them penned together while I'm away to keep each other company (not yet though....they're not trustworthy enough!)

I'd love a third, but I'm afraid that David would finally walk! Two was hard enough for him to accept!

 

[TaraLynn]

After I had Caliber for a couple months I knew right away I wanted a second. "After I graduate college" I said, as a gift for myself for graduating. Yeah - didn't happen that way. Caliber is 11 months and Replyka is now 11 weeks, and they get along great. I did have the advantage of getting Caliber used to the idea of being around a puppy though, by taking him to the breeders home about 2-3 times a week to get jumped on/toyed with, and other such fun loving puppy behavior! They live very close to me, so it was easy...and they love having Caliber around(he was their favorite out of the last litter...and Replyka was this litters fave too lol) But as most said, it depends on the dog you have now. Maybe try bringing your puppers over to meet the new puppers and see how the reaction is?

 

[mcguiregirl2248]

We have two girls-2 and 3 years old. They get along great, and we're considering getting a sheltie puppy. Anybody have three? Any suggestions or thoughts? We don't want to rock the boat, but we love them so much, and would like to add to the family.

I had three girls for about a year before we lost little Zoe. It was pretty good. Marlie and Zoe were here first and then I brought in Rasha. Rasha was much older when I brought her in and took longer to adapt but all 3 girls got along. I have never had any food issues or any aggression issues with any of them.