2nd dog opinion

[clbgem]

We have a beautiful 11 month year old female and are considering getting another. Our dog's breeder just had another litter. The pups are so cute, how could you not want another. But we also know it will be twice the money for vets and food, twice the hair, twice everything. I'm not sure I can walk two of them. I'm not sure our house is big enough for two. While it would be nice having another, I consider our dog almost perfect. She is well trained and behaviored. We spend a lot of time with her and take her wherever we go when we can. I think it would be harder to take two everywhere. I know it sounds like I'm leaning towards not another. One question I have is, are Rots people dogs or dog dogs? I appreciate all comments.

[AngelBunny]

Getting a second puppy when you have such a young dog is not a good idea. The inadvisability of getting two young dogs or having two young dogs at the same time has been discussed repeatedly. A search will pull up these discussions.

I am sure your current dog is lovely, that she’s smart and intelligent, and shows a great deal of promise. Why would you want to shortchange her and yourself by diverting attention and time away from her? This is a slow maturing breed and your girl is 11 month old. This is way too young to be adding another dog to your family.

Something else to consider—any breeder worth his or her salt wouldn’t sell you a puppy since you have such a young dog. Furthermore, my rescue group wouldn't adopt one of our dogs to you, given your situation.

What does that say to you that good breeders and responsible rescue groups think your dog is too young to be adding another puppy or dog to your family?

[juniata302]

Rottweilers are definately people dogs. They want to be around their owners at all times. I recently struggled with this decision myself, we ended up getting a second dog and I don't regret it for a second. But it sounds like you have a pretty good thing going with just the one dog you have now. Why not continue to bond and train your current puppy developing that relationship and then wait until he's a liitle older to get a second one? You're exactly right it does not sound like much work adding a second dog, but boy it is a lot of work!

[Weily4Life]

Two dogs at such a close age is not a good idea, IMHO. I would not want to have two dogs going through the teen phase at the same time.

Wait at least until your current dog is 3 years old. Spend the next couple of years socializing her, taking her to obedience classes, bonding with her and learning as much as you can. Then, think about bringing another puppy home. Your current bitch could potentially be an assistant to teaching the new puppy the "ropes".

[cocopuffs]

If you want a second dog you should get one, if anything your girl will have a full-time playmate, which means more exercise for the dogs.

[hokisteph5]

Samson's about 6 months older than Gretchen. Gretchen started off as my mom's dog (she was an oops puppy), but because I dog sat during the day (I work from home), Gretchen became my dog.

Both dogs are now 3 and 2 years old, respectively. I love them and can't imagine life without either of them. However, if I had it to do over again I would've kept Samson an only dog for at least a couple of years.

I do think mine are people dogs because they love the time I spend with them separately, especially when we go to class.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by cocopuffs

If you want a second dog you should get one, if anything your girl will have a full-time playmate, which means more exercise for the dogs.

Sure, the two young dogs will play with each other and keep each other company.

It's a romantic, charming picture--two puppies or young dogs, playing with each other and growing up together.

But, the reality is that it's alot of work and effort.

If the owner isn't careful to make time separately with each dog, they'll grow up more interested and focused in each other than in the humans in the house.

Dogs are inherently more interested in other dogs than they are in humans. You have to train your puppy to be interested and focused on people. The only way to do this is to spend alot of time with young dogs, independent of another dog.

It's quite a challenge to successfully raise, train, and socialize one Rottie, never mind two.

The OP would be well advised to heed the advice of long time RDNers.

[missythemom]

I would say (of course just my opinion) that You should really make your decision based on what your head is saying rather than your heart.Don't rule it out altogether,perhaps leave it as something to look forward to and plan for and then give yourself that time until you know for 100% sure you and your pup are ready.Good luck with your decision.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by cocopuffs

If you want a second dog you should get one, if anything your girl will have a full-time playmate, which means more exercise for the dogs.

You should never get a second dog as a playmate for the first dog...it's not a good idea. Angelbunny is right....your female is NOT trained yet at 11 months of age...you still have the teenage stage to get through...usually from 18 to 24 months of age.
Wait till the first dog is at least 2 years of age or better yet 3, and then get another dog, but only if you want one...not as a playmate for your dog.

Raising a Rottweiler properly takes a lot of time, money (obedience classes) and energy....give it your best with one...then add another.

Gina

[debbiej]

I would not get another pup for these reasons.

at 11 months, you girl is a puppy still. she will go through a period of time where she will test her training and your authority.

two dogs are not easy. they DO NOT need a playmate. you can't really safely leave two young dogs out unsupervised, so when you are gone, they should be in their crates anyway. when you are home, they vie for your attention. my two dogs do sometimes play and enjoy each other's company, but they enjoy our attention and company more. they do not "bond" to each other to the exclusion of the people in their lives. if anything there is a bit of pushy rivalry for our attention. and it can get intense.

I love both of my dogs, but..
I can't tell you how many times I've really wished I only had one rottie. even when they are both being wonderfully well behaved. to raise two rotties right, you will be going to 2 classes a week instead of one. you will be walking dogs twice as often, not walking two dogs together. I can't walk my two together, I can't give them the attention and training they need and deserve on our walk. when we go on a trip, one or both have to be boarded or dog-sat. One rottie in the car on a trip is manageable. two really isn't. One well behaved rottie as a house guest or in a motel room is accepted, two well behaved rotties often are not.

then there is what you mentioned. twice the vet bills, hair, food, treats, training, time.

It is much better to give one rottie all they need to be the best they can be, than to give two rotties half of what they need to get by.