adding another ds to the family

[mackdadutchman]

Hey all. I currentl have a 1 year and 2 month ds male. He is the most amazing dog I could ask for. I live in a condo with my girfriend and Mack. Mack does just fine here and gets plenty of exercise. I have been thinking of getting another dutch to let mack have a brother/sister. I think we would be leaning towards a sister. do you guys think that another ds would be ok in our place? Also would another dog be ok for Mack. I dont want him to be jealous or change the way he is. how well do they get along living wiht eachother? any other information on this situation would help. thank you and I look forward to some responses.

-Nick

[LyonsFamily]

I debated this same thing for a long time. We love Odin and wanted another just like him, wanted to give him a playmate, but weren't sure if they'd even get along or if he was content being an only dog. I finally agreed to a foster to adopt. Our contract gave us 14 days to make a final decision on her. Well, it's day 15 and she's staying. Odin is so much happier with her here. 98;';'

How long have you had Mack? If you've had him since a puppy, I think now would be a great time to add another dog. I prefer 2 years with a dog before adding another, but at least a year is good. I had Odin for a year and a half before adding Elli. I would be inclined to get a female, because, in my experience, male/female pairings have less complications. I prefer all male dogs, but for Odin and his strong personality, adding a female was a better option.

If he's getting plenty of exercise and stimulation in your current situation and you can commit to the increased exercise a 2nd dog might need, especially a puppy if you're going that route, then a condo isn't always a bad place to have 2 DS. Do you have a yard at all? Condos vary so much, so it's hard to tell what amenities you have. We're currently in a small 2.5 room sectioned off apartment area at my parents' house right now with the two of them. The inside wrestling gets a little out of control, but there's plenty of outdoor space for them to play. I crate and rotate some times to help with my sanity and make training sessions easier. I think it would've been a lot of work had I still been in my apartment in Chicago, but the outdoor area there was very small and we shared the lot and it wasn't exactly big dog proof. It was perfectly adequate for Odin, but not for the 2 of them.

Odin immediately recognized the fact that Elli was more like him than other dogs and they took to each other right away. He has some dog-dog relations issues, but absolutely loves being with another DS.

As for the change in Mack, there will be a change. Right now, your dog is probably the center of your world. Getting another dog will mean he has a new best friend and will probably spend a lot more time doing dog things. You'll also have less time to train him. Instead of taking advantage of everyday training opportunities, I find I have to schedule training time now with 2 dogs more than I did before. It's also a bit more complicated travelling. Odin normally went to work with me and rode in the car everywhere with me (I have remote start so I can let the car idle in hot weather, he was never left in a hot car). Now, I leave him home a bit more often. It's also hard to decide who gets to go on a trip if there's only room for 1.

[mackdadutchman]

thank you so much for the reply. I have had Mack for almost a year. we were not sure on either a puppy or getting a rescue that is a little younger than Mack. Our condo is a 2 bedroom but is larger than most places. we also have a large patio/yard that wraps around the place. Thanks again for all that helpful information

[katm4110]

I had to do the exact opposit with Stella. She was 3 when we adopted her a year ago and had some dog anxiety and aggression among other anxiety based issues. It was suggested by our trainer and several friends with knowledge of Stella's personality to look for a soft dog.... We adopted a 16 month old male DS mix yesterday! So far so good!

I think since you've had your dog since he was a puppy and you didn't mention him having any aggression or anxiety issues it would be great! I love having two. I think a properly socialized dog (which I'm assuming Mack is?) would make a great big brother! Especially if dogs like Odin and Stella can learn to share space lol