should i get two?

So I don’t know where this should go so I put it in random thoughts. I am moving away from my parent’s house in a few months into a two bedroom apartment. I don’t do being alone well, but I can’t live with another person. So I decided on getting a dog and after a lot of research have decided on a shiba inu. Now my question is should I just get one or could/should I get two?

 

i would get one for now and see how it goes. it's easier to get another one later than to get rid of one.

 

Get 1 and only 1 because you can spend the most time with that 1.

 

I thought that at first but then I was wondering what will it do when I’m not at home during the day

 

i like turtles.

 

my girlfriend did not appreciate this philosophy.

 

What will two of them do all day if they don't get along?

If you make sure your dog has enough toys, knows how to use them, has access to them; then they should be fine on their own.

 

Get one for now and see how it goes. Get the dog a few toys and it should be fine on its own till you get home.

 

duh...poker party

 

One dog is much more easily trainable than two - you're much less interesting to a puppy than another dog. If you do decide you want to, get and train one dog (for at least six months) before getting the second.

I'll assume you won't be buying a house, so a second dog makes you much less appealing as a tenant.

Don't feel bad about leaving a dog home alone all day. They just sleep. Just take it out when you get home and it'll be fine.

 

I disagree with everyone. Dogs are pack animals and don't like to be alone. A puppy will do much better when you aren't home if there is another dog there.

I would suggest adopting both a puppy and an adult dog that is already trained and has been well-socialized with other dogs. This way you won't have to worry about training both dogs and the puppy will also learn by example from the older dog.

 

This makes sense and maybe even get a dog who is pretty old. Lots of shelters have those guys and the old dog would get a good place to live out his life while the pup would get some mellow companionship. I've got two right now and they amuse each other just fine without me being home. Although before I got Aunt Lucy, Scottie did OK by sleeping all day, just hyper when I came home.

 

See I thought about that cause I would love to give an old dog a home and like love before it dies but will it be ok around the puppy?

 

get three

 

My experience has been the older dog likes the play and fun with a pup and will establish the rules when it's time to chill out. My 5 year old dog weighs 16 lbs, he plays well with the 1 1/2 year old &75 lbs till he wants to rest. Then he does an Alpha dog routine and games over. A lot will depend on the nature of the dogs you get. A lot of the "Mutt" category seem pretty mellow and tolerant but you gotta spend time with them to know. Do you have to get both dogs at the same exact time or can you space it out a bit and let the older dog establish himself before the pup arrives? If the older dog "owns" the place first it's usually no problem...he's the boss and the pup will take orders from him.

 

As a breeder we often have people purchase two pups at once.

There are advantages to doing so as well as a few disadvantages.

In favor is that they are company for each other and keep each other fit through interaction. They also tend to socialize better as they are then in a pack.

The disadvantage is that they require training and the commitment must be there on the part of the owner to make the time to do so.

The advantages of having one a little older and adopting another pup later is that the second pup will train faster as they follow the senior dog and learn from them.

It all comes down to how much time and effort you are willing to put into training your dog(s).

 

cat's don't tie you down like dogs do. I love cats. they don't need to be taken outside. when I go out of town. I only have to have someone come by 2 times at the most

 

I’m really allergic

 

as long as its been socialized, and even in most cases a dog that hasn't been well-socialized will still get along with a puppy. He might snap at or even bite the puppy once, but the puppy will learn its place and it shouldn't happen again.

The only exception I can think of is an older dog that cannot move very well and won't be able to assert him/herself in front of the puppy.