From: lizalee@leland.Stanford.EDU (Liza L Miller)
Subject: Re: 2 dogs vs 1 dog
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 21:56:46 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.193821.14709@nas.nasa.gov> blake@wk60.nas.nasa.gov (Matthew W. Blake) writes:
>
>We have a 1 year old Catahoula hound (45lbs, short hair) named Gaucho. He is 
>well trained for his age, loves people and dogs.  The family includes myself, 
>wife, 13 year old daughter, and Gaucho.  We have a typical suburban house.
>During the day Gaucho is alone in the yard, approximately 30ft by 80ft.  He 
>gets walks/runs once or more per day with me, and he goes lots of places 
>with the family (beach, dog run, hiking, etc.)  He and we are hppy.
	Having doggy sat for Gaucho, I think I can add significantly
to the conversation.

>We have the opportunity to get one of Gaucho's sisters as the folks that 
>have her must give her up due to an unforseen job change.  She is the same
>size and temperament.  I believe she is probably not as well trained.  I would
>verify all this before taking her.
	Sounds like a good opportunity.

>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
	Yes to all of those things.  Guacho in particular really enjoyed
being with my female, Hopper.  He bonded to her quite well.  Gaucho was a
little barky at my house, no doubt due to the strange environment (well, I
do live a strange life--just ask my mother! :)  I think having a companion
would be really, really good for Gaucho.

>Disadvantages
>-------------
>-Double all costs (food, medical, kennel, etc)
>-Double work (more poop, 2 baths, double flea battle)
>-harder to take 2 dogs for a walk,run, rollerblade
>-Harder to take 2 dogs on trips in car, visit art/wine festivals, etc.
	Yes, all those things are true.
But, I will say that two does are NOT really double the work.  I don't know
why, but it just doesn't work out that way.

>Questionable
>------------
>-Dogs more in tune with each other than humans, ignore humans?
	If raised together that is often true, but TRUST me, Gaucho is
*very* in tune with people, I can't imagine him prefering a dog over you.

>-More destruction by playing together and banging into things in house?
	Sure, but Gaucho is pretty careful (hey, you want to borrow a couple
of labs for a comparison testing!) -- I bet he doesn't do much damage!

>-Less destruction since they play instead of dig/chew?
	Nope.  Gaucho happily dug out of my bitch run one day.  Actually,
I was glad because if he could dig out then, my other dog would be able
to dig in and I'd just as soon learn about that before I have locked my
bitch in season up in there.  Thanks Gaucho!  Although, that was the only
thing that he did that was at all a problem, so, if he's normally doing more
than that, then having another dog must have helped.

>-Happier regularly, less worried about being left behind?
	Again, in general, yes.  Gaucho is very people-oriented, but having
Hopper there really seemed to help.

>What do people that have had 1 and 2 dogs think?  Which is more convenient
>for the humans and how much happier are the dogs with a dog companion?
	I have a very clingy, needy, demanding male.  Getting a second,
third, and even fourth dog helped him immensely.  He's always got a buddy.
He doesn't feel abandoned and he doesn't demand as much of my constant
attention.  But, trust me, he still makes me feel QUITE loved!

-llm.

-- 
Liza Lee Miller         My dogs are labradorable!     liza@leland.stanford.edu
Cibola Labradors            Field * Show * Fun                    415/326-5309
Cibola's Misty Mountain Hop--Hopper                   Mistypoint Kashmir--Kash
	            Campbellcroft Cibola Rosette -- Rosie