From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: 2 dogs vs 1 dog
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 21:32:42 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.193821.14709@nas.nasa.gov> blake@wk60.nas.nasa.gov (Matthew W. Blake) writes:
>My question:  What are the advantages/disadvantages to 2 dogs?  How about
>comments on these:
>
>Advantages
>----------
>-Dog companionship during weekdays(or evenings) when humans gone
>-Could leave the 2 dogs a bit longer (overnight?) than one dog 
>-More dog exercise with less human required time
>

ADD:  More dog love for the humans!

>Disadvantages
>-------------
>-Double all costs (food, medical, kennel, etc)

Our vet/kennel gives us a cheap rate if two of the dogs are in
the same kennel cage, so its not double (now we have 3, though).

>-Double work (more poop, 2 baths, double flea battle)
>-harder to take 2 dogs for a walk,run, rollerblade

Its a good excuse to get my husband to go on a walk...

>-Harder to take 2 dogs on trips in car, visit art/wine festivals, etc.
>
>Questionable
>------------
>-Dogs more in tune with each other than humans, ignore humans?

This can happen, you just need to spend enough time with each
dog so that they know you are the alpha and they have to listen.

>-More destruction by playing together and banging into things in house?
>-Less destruction since they play instead of dig/chew?

Don't count on less destruction.....our old ones teach the new
one(s) to dig.

>-Happier regularly, less worried about being left behind?

Our black Lab is MUCH MUCH happier now that she has friends to
play with!  I will never again get just one dog (although the
circumstances at the time restricted us).  I'm sure only dogs
work out too, but Kenzie loves her new friends so much its
worth the extra work.  You do have to be careful to spend
time alone with each dog, and training them is harder.

My major professor from grad school had 3 Catahoulas and they
were great dogs.


Jamie

*********************************************************************
     canines:  Kenzie -- 1 yr old black Lab X
               Meggin -- 8 month old Australian Shepherd X
               Harry  -- 4 month old Border Collie X

     felines:  Kieri  -- 5 1/2 yr old lilac point Siamese
               Zak    -- 5 1/2 yr old blue point Siamese
               Duke   -- 1 yr old seal point Siamese
*********************************************************************
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