One loyal companion or a playful pair?

Dogs are often called man’s best friend, and with good reason. They’re loyal, affectionate, and extremely intelligent animals that make wonderful companions. A question that often arises for those considering adding a furry member to their family is whether it’s better to have one dog or two. Here, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of each option, as well as which dogs do well as only dogs, and which need canine companionship.

The benefits of an “only fur-child”

First, let’s look at the advantages of having only one dog. The obvious one is that it’s less work – less walking, feeding, grooming, and of course, less mess to pick up. With this, comes the affordability factor; one dog is going to be half the cost of two. One dog bowl, harness, collar and bed; half the food and half the vets’ bills. If you decide to take your dogs to puppy school or obedience training, one is again going to be half the cost of two, and the same goes for finding accommodation for your fur-baby when you go away. For someone on a budget, this is definitely something to take into account.

With only one dog, you are also likely to develop a really strong bond, not least of all because, depending on its size and temperament, you can take a single dog with you to many more places than you could two or more dogs. Many hotels and other accommodation options have restrictions on the number of pets you may have with you, and one dog is less likely to be a nuisance if tagging along to friends, the farmer’s market or the beach. If the idea of having a single companion who can be fully trained and spend all his or her time with you is appealing and you have the luxury of not having to leave to go to an office every day, one dog might be the answer for you.

Another real advantage to having only one dog is that it will be much easier to go for walks and manage one as opposed to two or more. If two dogs run after a bike or a cat, it’s going to be much harder to round them up than if it was just one. If there is trouble with another dog while you are on a walk, it will be easier to break up any spats if it’s just your dog and the other dog, whereas if you have more than one dog, they may go into pack mentality and gang up on the other dog.

Finally, with two dogs, there is also always the chance that they don’t get on, that one becomes really possessive of you or its belongings and that they often have “disagreements”, which can cause you unnecessary stress.

When two dogs are better than one

There are also many benefits to having two dogs, rather than one. The first of these is that your pooches have each other to play with and for companionship when you are not around. If you are out most of the day, it will be much easier on the fur-babies if there are two of them to keep each other company. They can also exercise one another with play, meaning the time you require to exercise them lessens a bit. And because a bored dog is a mischievous dog, it might be better if they can get up to mischief by playing and chasing each other, as opposed to one bored dog that looks around for something to do – and often, chew!

Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety when they’re left alone. Although some will simply grow out of it, for others, it will get worse and they may need special training, emotional therapy, or even medication. These dogs will do well with a canine companion to help keep them calm and entertained when you are not home. However, separation anxiety is a complex problem, and for some dogs, a new dog will actually increase their anxiety rather than lessen it. Always consult with your veterinarian or behaviourist before making a big change and always let your dog choose his or her own companion.

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but an old dog can definitely teach a young dog the rules of your house. Because dogs are pack animals, they look to their pack leader for guidance, and your older dog will naturally take on the role of teacher and leader when a new puppy comes along. The young dog will learn habits from the older one, such as doing his business outside when he sees his older friend doing so, or running straight to you when called on a walk.

When it comes to security, having more than one dog will help to deter criminals from your property and more dogs are likely be able to protect you better than one, in the unfortunate event of a criminal on your property.

The reason most people add a second dog to the family is because it’s double the love! If you’re a family of dog lovers, you may want to keep adding dogs to the pack, because you can’t get enough of fur-love, but also because the more dogs you adopt, the most doggy lives you save.

For some families or individuals, one dog is enough and they love the idea of showering one dog with plenty of love and affections, all the treats they can eat, and the best care money can buy. For others, no number of dogs can ever be enough! The route you choose will depend on your lifestyle, budget and preferences. Either way, just make sure you do your research and understand the breed/s before you make your decision.

Despite being pack animals, some breeds do prefer to be the queen or king of the house. Here is a list of dog breeds that can do well as the only pet in the family:

• Bichon Frise
• Shar Pei
• Basset Hound
• French Bulldog
• Chihuahua
• Pug
• Bull Terrier
• Chow Chow
• Akita Inu

Things to bear in mind when introducing a second dog

If your existing dog is aggressive or simply not sociable, please consider leaving it as an ‘only’ dog. Any of the fighting breeds should rather be only dogs. You should also consider making sure your second dog is of the opposite sex and that both dogs are sterilised – not only to avoid breeding, but also many other problems, including health and social issues. It may seem cute to get two puppies from the same litter, but this is never recommended, as it can cause countless problems, especially for the weaker of the two dogs. It’s also never a good idea to get dogs too close in age – rather have one fully grown and well trained before the second one comes along. Remember, when introducing a second dog, rather go and “meet” him or her on neutral territory to see if they take to one another first.