2 rotties and individual attention to each of the rotties?

We are thinking of getting another (rescue of course!) rottie now that our old dog has passed on. However, we want to make sure we wait til we have the time to do this right.

Now we have a ~ 2year old rescued rottie male who is very small (<23" and ~82 lbs). He gets along with other dogs and is friendly and well-mannered. He has his CGC.

One of my concerns with getting a 2nd dog is making sure I spend individual time with each. I enjoy my walks with 1 dog as a training and bonding time, and I would want to do this with the new dog as well. Also taking dog to visit friends, for hikes in woods, for drives, etc.

I am mostly concerned that whichever dog is left at home will be lonely and upset while we are gone. How do you tell one dog 'want to go OUTSIDE for a WALK??!' and leave the other one at home?

Please do not suggest I take both dogs all the time; I really feel it is important to spend quality time with each separately.

How ddoes it work out for those of you who do this?

Thank you

[Hurricane]

Mine seem to understand that I will take the other one next time. Sometimes I just can't handle them both at the same time. You can't hide the leash. They learn to take turns and get over it. At least, that's how it goes at my house, when Jeff isn't here!

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Mom to:
Tornado (23 Feb. 1999)
Hurricane (6 May 2000)

[Paxx]

I am moving this to General Info.

[Dagos-Dad]

This is a great question. I also have two rescues and feel bad when I take one out for a walk and leave the other one at home.

[Carina43]

My dogs get their regular walkies, very early in the morning...depending on outside temperature, YMMV!

Anyhow, as long as it's not too cold (or too hot, which it isn't in the very early am), I put one in the car. They love going in the car, and it doesn't seem to matter to them that it's not actually GOING anywhere. They just sit in the back seat & feel important. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif
Then the other one goes for a walk with me.

Rinse and repeat!

[winniecnm]

My dogs are so used to doing things seperately. But I do try to make the ones being left behind feel special by leaving the radio on and giving them a bone or treat.

But I do sometimes take them out two at a time beacuse I think it is good for the dogs to learn how to behave and be managed together. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[rottix2]

I always take both dogs with me when we go out to snowshoe or run so I don't have to put double the mileage on me. I do take Stumpy out alone with me to feed the goats in the evening (both dogs go in the am) while Mikk watches from the window.

They each get their time alone with me in the house. Stumpy always gets his turn first as he has been there the longest and I don't want to disrupt the pecking order. I will sit on his dog bed, call him over, and say "Stumpy's turn" and then pet or groom Stumpy only. If Mikk comes over, I ignore her until it is her turn. Then I go to her dog bed, call her, and say "Mikk's turn" and pet or groom her only. They seem to understand when it is their turn and for the most part don't pester me when I am with the other dog.

[Rudi]

I have two rotties. I too have the dilemma of which to walk. Fortunately there are two of us. When one goes for their walk, I spend time with the other and give that one their special attention. That way, he or she doesn't feel "jealous" because the other one is walking without them. This also helps to elivate the problem of giving attention to one while the other one tries to bogard. Of course, this doesn't solve the issue of who's going to greet mommy and daddy first. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

Having another rottie provides a companion. It has really helped. Initially we had one rottie but when we brought the younger one in the family, it made our male more social and it did wonders for his temperment. He became more gentle with us and the puppy. I suggest if you choose to get another rottie, get one of the opposite sex. It will help to avoid the male dominance and territorial issues that occur.

Hope this helps you out! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

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Rudi
You haven't loved until you loved a Rottie

We've just decided we are going to foster to adopt a 15 month old male rottie. He is very congenial as is my current rottie. The rescue people feel very positive about these two being good companions. the new one will require some obedience work and work on self conttrol, but he is a sweet, sweet, boy.

I plan to take current rottie to novice obedience classes and new one tto beginners, probably alternating weeks unless I can enlist husband to be involved in the formal ttraining. Will also shorten the walks with rottie #1 so that I can also spend some trainig and play ttime in Am with rottie #2.

I like many of the suggestions here. Will try some out.