What is the ULTIMATE toy for your dog?
today Tim describes the ULTIMATE toy for a dog
listen to the end because you discover how to get access to the full 1 hour 10 minute interview
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L8r,
Andy
Filed Under: Dog Fun Time • Dog Fun Time Audios • Dog Videos
a wonderful acct of the benefits of 2 dogs from someone that has tried seen the differences between a single and pair of dogs
Couldn’t access your first audio. Don’t have flash either; why should I need it to access an audio?
But I figured out from the comments what the subject was.
I agree that having another dog can be a great thing in certain situations. I have a older dog, a chow shepherd akita mix that I adopted from a shelter. She’s great around people and other dogs. We have had other dogs staying at our house for extended stays when we dog sit.
But everything changed when, a month and a half ago, I brought my new guide dog home. My sweet Ginger, the adopted one, who has always been so well socialized and gotten along so well with visiting dogs, finally figured out that Misty, my guide, isn’t a visitor, that not only is she staying, but she gets to go out with me most of the time when Ginger can’t. My husband is home with her most of the time since he works from home. But now, she has started bullying Ginger mercilessly. She tries to get her food, gets the ball every time I try to play with them, tries to get to Misty’s food dish, pushes ahead when I take Misty out even though I still care for Ginger, feed her, walk her, groom her. They play well but often their “play” seems to be a bid for dominance or for my attention. I guess I’m going to have to call the trainers at the school where I got Misty because it is getting worse and I don’t want her to be intimidated by Ginger. I have seen that kind of thing ruin other guide dogs. It breaks their spirits.
But, the thing with guide dogs is a whole different situation. You can’t explain to a beloved pet why she can’t always go with you when another dog, one she considers an interloper, is allowed to go everywhere. I know of situations where it has worked out, even where the old retired guide watches a new guide assume what was the older one’s job. But htat is often because the older retired guide wants to spend his senior years enjoying his well-earned retirement. But gwhen I got Ginger I was between guides. I had lost my last to cancer and blindness and was still grieving so didn’t get another guide right away. But Ginger had always seemed submissive to us and gotten along so well with other dogs. She walked well on a leash, responded to obedience commands, was affectionate. Now I feel like everything is coming apart. So, while I agree in theory and even in principle that having multiple dogs can be a great thing, I know there has to be supervision and understanding on the part of the family and pack structure has to be maintained. I’m sure (Oh, I hope!) that this will work out. I saw a case recently with a friend of where it didn’t because her husband’s guide dog, who was there first, dominated and scared the new dog so he stopped wanting to guide. I need to get on top of this before something like that happens.
Marda
that’s quite a challenge, I hope it works out fine
I also agree. Our dogs are 8 1/2 yrs (Golden Ret), 6 yrs (Golden Ret) & 2 yrs old (Rescue-retriever-border collie mix). They all get along great & are play pals. They can only play together like dogs do. They sleep next to each other, eat side-by-side & love to play tug of war. I know they have each other to keep company with when we are gone for the day or away on a trip. Having each other does not detract from them wanting attention from us, they desire to be with us the same as having just one dog.
There are more dogs than there are homes as evident by so many in shelters & rescues. If you have only one dog-get another one! Don’t Shop – Please Adopt! You’ll be saving the life of your new best friend.
thanks for your input Susan
This is good to know. However, I would like to know if this even applies to older dogs. My dog is almost 9 years young and I wanted to get another dog. I feel that it might not work out since she is older and a younger dog might be to wild for her. And likewise, that the older dog might be too boring for the younger one. Did the trainer mention anything about older dogs? My girl has always been the only dog in the house. She does get along with other dogs just and also our cat. I love to hear more on this. Thanks again for sharing and helping us make choices that will lengthen our best friends’ lives.
I recommend you adopt a dog….. and in the process, take your dog to the shelter to see how it gets along with the dog you are thinking of. if its going well, try bringing the dog home for a few days at a time.
the shelter operators will understand and be happy to accommodate your requests if it means finding a good home for one of their dogs. I’ve interviewed a shelter operator and that was her suggestion
I could not agree more with you, another dog is the perfect toy for one’s own dog. I unfortunately only have one dog, a miniature poodle, I live on a boat and travel everywhere with my dog New Zealand, New Caledonia, fiji, Vanuatu, then back to New Zealand. I have to take in account the cost of quarantine when going back to New Zelandand, but next year I am going to get another poodle. My dog loves people, is well socialised w dogs, the perfect dog as far as I am concerned apart from jumping up at the end of his lead when he meets people. He uses the lead as a balance, and I cannot seem to stop that. He does not jump on us, just when he meets new people. I make him sit down and then he is fine. He is 16 months old. I am more use to big dogs, my last one was a Rhodesian Ridgeback w a border collie friend, and I think that because he is small i let him get away w 2 much. But he is great and I will sort this out quickly. But for a second dog as a best toy, I could not agree more
thanks…. btw, we are all envious of your lifestyle!
I TOTALLY AGREE I HAVE 5 DOGS. I STARTED WITH 1. SHITZU ROTTIE MIX HIS NAME WAS KAYLO HE TRULY WAS THE BEST DOG HE STARTED IT ALL. tHEN MY KIKI WAS NEXT SHE WAS AN AKITA SHE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HIM. THEN i GOT 2 CHIHUAHUA’S NENA AND CHYNA. BUT KAYLO DIED WAITED A FEW YRS. TILL I GOT JADA (AKITA) i THINK I WAITED I LITTLE TO LONG. JADA IS A GREAT DOG BUT SOMETIMES SHE DOESNT GET ALONG WITH MY CHIHUAHUA’S A FRAID SOMETIMES TO LEave them alone. SO I GATE UP AN AREA JUST IN CAUSE SO THEY COULD GET AWAY IF THEY HAVE TO. SHE ALREADY GOT THEM ONCE AND HURT THEM BAD BUT I BELEIVE IF SHE WANTED TO KILL THEM SHE COULDVE. SHE IS A PUP NEXT TO THEM BUT SO BIG. HOW COULD I GET THEM TO GET ALONG ANY TIPS. THEY ALL KNOW I AM THE ALPHA BUT WHEN IM NOT THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT STORY….. ANY TIPS
thats a tough one, the wrong advice could result in a badly injured or dead dog so please get a professional trainer around to check out your dogs and the home environment for best guidance
Hi, I did get two new dogs at the same time. I had an older 8 year old lab. We lost our Bernese Mtn dog in February. WE were able to ge t 9 week old Bernese puppy and also rescued a 3 almost 4 year old Bernese Mountain dog. They are doing well together. They are all girls. We are loving it. We are retired so spend allot of time with them. We also dog sit at our home so we have up to 8 dogs at a time. They are all very well socialized and get along famously. We usually try to have only one male at atime.We have found that this works best for us. Enjoy listening and learning to your talks etc.
CJ Petersen Thomas
sounds like a good place to be if you are a dog
Great info! Interaction with another dog in household is a wonderful way to burn energy as well as curb destruction caused by boredom! Dogs that have no interaction with their own kind lack socialization skills and doggie manners. For this reason alone, good idea to enroll your pup in daycare at a young age for proper socialization skills and also to burn energy! A tired pup is a well behaved pup!!
yes and yes
I completely agree! I have owned severl dogs over the past 25 years, sometime alone and somethimes with companion dogs. To leave a dog alone all day is emotionally traumatic. Their whole lives revolve around the pack leader (you), and you walk out without them for 8-12 hours a day. The dogs I have had with companions are much happier and don’t suffer as much anxiety. I also find that it extends the life of a dog. At 8 years old my single dog Flower was lethargic and sad. Then we found Stella and she gained another 10 years of life keeping up with and playing with Stella. After that I never went back to 1 dog. Do your dog a favor and get him/her a companion.