We're planning on getting two dogs. Advice?

[UrbScotty]

The Humane Society has a deal on pet adoptions this weekend. We plan on getting two dogs.

I think we will get a large/medium-sized dog and a smaller dog.

What breeds would you suggest? Any other advice?

[leftyandproud]

1. black lab..black lab..black lab..

or any kind of lab really...black, brown, white...They are great dogs. Even a half lab/half something else will be a good choice. They are very smart, loyal, and well behaved.

[salinen]

6. Chocolate labs

are psycho. I recommend black, or mixed with lab.

[WINEWOMAN7]

40. Chocolate Lab's Pscho?

Chocolate lab's are great, even though stubborn they are smart, loyal, and loving. In fact all labs are great, they will be your best friend like my choc lab, Grizzly is to me.

Dian:bounce:

[Guaranteed]

18. Labs are smart? HA!!

I am SO much smarter than labradors, it's not even funny!

[delphine]

2. Beagle beagle beagle

Okay, I'm biased.

I heard you shouldn't get two of the same gender because they are territorial.

[Bleacher Creature]

37. I'm also biased -- Beagle Beagle Beagle n/t

[Downtown Hound]

3. Basset Hound

I grew up with them, hence my DU name. Very sweet, loving creatures that make great companions. Any kind of lab is great too.

[Maddy McCall]

4. Big dog: Weimaraner Small dog: Schnauzer

Weimaraners are protective of their family, and excellent watchdogs, yet they are very child-like and lovable.

Schnauzers are VERY smart dogs. They learn orders very easily, and are easily trained.

[Merlot]

5. Australian Shepard mix

Wonderful dogs, great disposition. Very friendly and fun. They do like their walks and runs, though.

[short bus president]

7. You don't pick yer puppies.

They'll pick you.

[shraby]

10. Once you look them over, you'll know.

[hatredisnotavalue]

8. golden retrievers

This is my little guy. Got him at seven weeks, just two accidents in the house and he is now six months. I dont think you will find a better breed.

[3trievers]

28. cute

I have 3 goldens and they make every day a better day.Good luck with the pooch.

[UrbScotty]

30. Cute! And, welcome to DU!

I like your username.

[hatredisnotavalue]

42. Thanks

I was here a long time ago, got discouraged, and left and have now come back feeling a need for some comraderie. I had but a dozen posts last time and was mostly a lurker.

I thought I was so ingenious thinking of my username until a day after I thought of it I saw it on a bumpersticker, so I cannot claim it. I think the only tolerable use of the word "hate" is in your username. :)

p.s. Have long, very long enjoyed your posts. You are most insightful and I think you speak for all of the Du. Keep up the great work.

[UrbScotty]

43. Thank you very much!

No one on DU has ever complimented me that much before. Thank you so much!

[hatredisnotavalue]

46. Hey you have your fans...

what can i say...You are an icon on DU :) Think about it...you speak for all of us who DON'T post...you are the voice of those who don't post and I know I speak for many.
BTW My husband is Old and in the Way so I am way cool. I taught him all of his liberal ways, although he would never admit it. :) Just kidding hon if you read this...

[ohioliberal]

9. We also have two dogs

Our oldest is 9 years old and she is part lab and doberman. She is very protective of the kids and is a good watch dog. Our youngest is 2 years old and she is part golden retriever/St. Bernard and she is just so loveable, but not such a good watch dog.

It's fun but hard to have two dogs, they shed something awful and I end up vacuuming every single day and they eat a lot. But all in all it's great!

[Spinzonner]

11. Ask for some advice from the keepers on getting compatible dogs

Dogs are pack animals so they naturally take to each other and being in groups but there can still be dominance and compatibility issues.

[whalerider55]

12. a few pointers

not the dogs.

get a girl/girl or a boy/boy, unless you want a lot of little dogs too

it takes a certain kind of person, one who likes to take risks, who likes to feel the wind blowing through their hair, who likes to vote democratic to parent a terrier. they're feisty, headstrong, loyal, brave, smarter than most humans and they look way cool.

we love ours.

whalerider55

[clover]

13. get one male and one female: australian shepherd or stumpy-

tailed cattle dog. they love to fetch and are sweet natured, gentle as can be. best to live outdoors, though. strangely enough, i fell in love with a friend's rat terrier, the tiniest of dog but with a great brave spirit.

[SW FL Dem]

14. Don't go for breeds - pick the dogs by

their personality. I would stongly advise getting dogs of the opposite sexes, and one that is a little more dominant. Pack order is important in multi-dog households.

[China_cat]

15. See if your library

has a copy of The Right Dog for You by Daniel Tortora

It'll help you pick a breed that'll fit with your family.

[welshTerrier2]

16. two dogs versus one dog ...

i've always been a one dog at a time person ... i've read that, because dogs are pack animals, they are likely to form a closer bond with humans if there is only one dog in the house ... with another dog, they are likely to see the other dog as their pack ...

this is not to imply that multi-dog households don't have incredibly close bonds with their dogs ... but perhaps there are differences between one dog and two ...

either way, get a good "puppy" book and get the dogs to training early ... around three months for a puppy class is probably ideal ... you can start teaching them things like sitting and coming before that ...

definitely get them to the vets within the first 24 hours you have them ... make an appointment now ... also, puppies should not be exposed to other dogs (or puppies) until they've had all their puppy shots ... they also shouldn't be exposed to areas that other dogs relieve themselves until then ... getting a crate is also probably a good idea ... and never leave the pups collar on in the crate or when the pup is unattended ... collars can be dangerous ... also be careful with electric wires ... we unplugged most things when the pup was left at home outside her crate ...

finally, the best tip we learned in our second puppy class (at about 9 months old): most dogs come when they're called to varying degrees ... the trainer recommended a special come command that you only use in emergencies ... you train this command by giving a super special treat each and every time you call your dog using the special command ... the command should be a word that your dog would not otherwise hear ... we chose "ici" which is french for "here" ... when she comes, she gets a huge hunk of cheese ... this tip could really save a life in an emergency ...

good luck ... there are few daysin life as exciting as getting a new puppy ... or two ...

[Guaranteed]

17. Best dog EVER: Border Collie.

Seriously. Smartest dog ever, very active, great with everyone, does tricks, fluffy, the whole sha-bang.

[FuzzySlippers]

27. I agree border collies are wonderful.

But you've got to know what you're getting into. These dogs need to be doing something ALL THE TIME.

[AP]

19. Some people say you shouldn't get two puppies at the same time or they'll

become more attached to each other than they will be to you.

But I say, unless they're going out and shopping for dinner, cooking it up, and feeding it to each other, they're going to love you a great deal.

[miss_kitty]

20. I am almost head over heels in love with the Cairn-like terrier

that freeperlessinseattle brought to my place last Sunday (She found a lost dog, up by the freeway). I am holding back a little because there is a slim chance that her owner could come forward, but no posters, no want ads, and I haven't heard from Animal Control that someone is asking after her.

But she's a high energy dog. I liked the combo that the ex jchild suggested, but SBP is right-the dog picks you. And Stella did pick me.

[The empressof all]

23. Cairn terriers are great dogs

I have an Australian terrier which is very similar--a little longer in length and hair. You're right they are very energetic and need to run. Have you checked to see if it has a chip? It's owner must be heartsick.

[miss_kitty]

25. I checked for a chip as soon as my vet opened Monday morning

I have many theories about her-mainly I think she was stolen from another area and escaped. She was wearing a rhinestone cat collar and the leash connector thing was pulled wide open.
I yelled at my computer and she was in the opposite direction. she nearly shat. Also, she doesn't like men right away. If she thinks she's done wrong, she'll cower. Like a beating is next. But that is going away-I don't yell at my computer now, and even if she HAS done something naughty, if she's cowering, I scoop her up and give her the kitty love so she knows no beatings and no yelling at the dog in my house.

She's incredibly smart and learning to sit and come and stay. and no chasing the cats, ducks or squirrels. Or crows.

[FuzzySlippers]

29. STELLLLLLAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! STELLLLLAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

That was tonight's Stanley Kowalski impersonation.:P

[miss_kitty]

33. I figured I'll have a good time yelling for her

but I'm not letting her off the leash for a long time.

[SW FL Dem]

31. Cairns are wonderful dogs if you are a terrier person!

I've lived with cairns since I was a kid, I now have three. Cairns are very intelligent but independent, some can be downright feisty. They remind me of the people I've met here on DU.

[miss_kitty]

35. I'm not even a dog person!

But she found me! and she is feisty and spunky-but just the right amount.

One thing-I miss the purring.

:)

[SW FL Dem]

39. Well we're not cat people, but the queen

of our household is a 16 1/2 yr old tiny cat named Jamie. The cairns all know that Jamie rules the roost even though they all weigh twice what she does. Cairns don't purr, but they can make amazing happy noises when you rub their ears and bellies.

Hope this works out for you and Stella. In the past few years I've done a lot of cairn rescue work. Happy endings are the best!

[RebelOne]

21. It doesn't matter what breed as long as you will be giving

a home to some doggies who may end up on death row. My preference is Rottweiler when it comes to big dogs. I have a Rottie and in my opinion they are the perfect dog or at least my dog is, as was my last Rottie who died in 1999. If there is a Rottie mix at the pet adoption, I would recommend it. And as for a smaller dog, Jack Russell or Rat terriers are also excellent pets.

[faithnotgreed]

22. thank you so much for adopting 2 "older" dogs

they need you and will be great company for each other! best wishes to all of you and again thank you so very much for caring this much to rescue dogs who otherwise probably wouldnt have a home
as we all know, puppies/babies/kittens are the first to be adopted whilst the others languish

good luck!

[vol5516]

24. dogs+birds+kids!

I love having two dogs! They seem to keep each other company and they love to roughouse. We got our dogs from the Humane Society as well. We got them a month apart, but your doing it the right way, getting them together. Anyway, we are now the proud parents of a beagle/weiner dog mix (very ugly but very sweet!!)and a black lab/sheperd mix. What we didn't know at the time was that I was pregnant with triplets. So, we now have our two dogs, 6 parrots and two year old triplets!!! Our house is a nightmare! Good luck! Let us know how it goes, ok?

[Ms_Mary]

26. Look for personality.

I look for dogs that are attentive and friendly and seem intelligent. I avoid the ones who are trying to be dominant over the other pups b/c sometimes there are dominance issues with them. I'm also wary of the ones who are too timid b/c they could be potential fear biters. I don't know that I can put it into words, but I it just seems like something clicks when I see the right one. I won't ever buy a dog from a breeder again. I have in the past and it worked out well, but there are so many who need good homes. My Molly was a free dog and she's great. I adopted her out of my vet's office. We don't know what she is, but we love her.

[elfrangel]

32. I have...

two female mix breeds.


Ginger--a German Shepherd/Sharpie mix about 4 years old


Julie--a Black Lab mix about 2 years old


No problems with them being territorial. They are best buds...love to see them come out of the doghouse in the mornings...covered in Cedar chips. *sigh* Just makes my day.

[Taverner]

34. If you get 2 samoyeds, prepare to vaccuum

[kodi]

36. 1 male, 1 female.

they get along better than 2 of the same sex.

big dog, female, small one, male.

that is all.

[rhyfeddu]

38. Buy Pat Miller's training books

Can't recommend them enuf for non-violent, fun training...and read them BEFORE you bring them home, if you can!

Taking someone else's picks on specific breeds is iffy, 'cause we fall for one, and its the ONLY dog in town ;)) - all other considerations are out the window! Like we have 2 Australian Shepherds - LOVE 'em, wouldn't have another dog - but ACTIVE is an understatement. But just 'cause I love them doesn't mean its a good pick for you...

But certain breeds do have particular needs: Remember size (in relation to your homestead), how much activity they'll need (do you have a yard? Will you be able to walk them? Often, if they'll need it?), Is it a barky breed? (Sorry - hounds! including beagles), a needy breed? (are you away alot?)...Considering these things will make a better match...

And yes, personality - you can get a pretty good sense from their actions now...domineering? aggressive? cowering? or just a bubbly puppy?

And PLEASE, please don't buy from a "pet store" - those are Puppy Mill-ed dogs, where the mothers are forced to breed (and breed) in appalling conditions 'till they are burned out - and the pups (tho' very expensive) are usually very unhealthy, too. Better to go to the pound (yea!) or a reputable breeder...

And have fun falling in puppy-love!

[kariatari]

41. You can't go wrong with a lab!!

I like yellow labs, but I'm kinda biased.

[Samurai_Writer]

44. Border collie and cocker spaniel

Border collies are the most intelligent breed, and cocker spaniels are just too cute and very sweet! I've had both breeds (have a cocker now). I've also had a Saint Bernard, who was a real sweety, but that might be a bit bigger than you want.

[SoCalDem]

45. Get one more, and "call it a night"..

:)


seriously.. LABS are the BEST ever..:)

[GoldenOldie]

47. Pick the dog not the breed

I have a ShiTzu, 9-lbs and am caring for my daughter's Pitbull into my 3rd year while she is working overseas. Both dogs are females the smaller dog is 13-years old and the larger dog 8-years old. Terriers can be scrappers and like to be top do but Belle the pitbull always lets KOKO go first with everything even though KOKO doesn't demand it.

Take time to observe each one's interactions with other dogs and with people.....men, women and children.

I prefer females and these two dogs have playmates they prefer...the pitbull adores my older daughter's golden lab and detests her little mixed ..."queen of the Hill" mixed terrier. The little mixed terrier wants to dominate and tends to pick a fight but is good with children and fine as long as Belle the pitbull is not in her territory. My veterinarian cares for all of them and has said that a Pitbull maynot start a fight but they sure can finish it if they want. We have not found this to be the case with Belle, but then her owner spent considerable time with a trainer on the do and don'ts of owning a pitbull, she responds to a clicker, she settles, sits and stays. She knows she is not to have her teeth on skin....she nuzzles her tidbits, similiar to a horse, so only her lips touch the skin. All but my Shitzu have been adopted from shelters and have brought much enjoyment to everyone.

Good Luck and enjoyment