The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

I'm curious about what people's general opinions on this and if adding a second dog is generally a good thing or not. I just have my puppy right now, but am considering adding a second cocker to the mix after he get around the 7 or 8 month mark. Good idea or should I wait longer? Thanks!

We just recently joined the 2 dog group!

The only difference is that our older dog is 8 years old and we adopted a 2 year old rescue, not a puppy. Jill (our 8 y/o) already knows the "rules" (house manners, walking on a leash, sit, down, wait, leave it, riding in car, going to vet, going to groomers, getting along with the cat, getting along with friends' kids, etc). Winston (2 y/o) came to us already housebroken, decent on a leash, great in the car, great at vet, and ok at groomers. We are working on simple commands and not chasing our cat. I think our situation is MUCH easier than what you are considering because you would essentially have two puppies. Then again, others may chime in and say that as long as you are training one you might as well train two!

I love our two snugglepups. I don't know what the right timing is to add a second dog, but when you do it you end up with twice as much to love!

At least two

Hi Hannah,

We had originally thought to bring to pups home at the same time, however, our trainer talked us into waiting until Karlie was around 2 years old. Her thoughts were that she would bond with us first learn her house manners, be semi-fully trained and thus be able to help train the new little one to proper house manners. When she turned 2 we brought home Kaitlyn and it all went pretty much as promised. Kaitlyn learned from Karlie, and since we were really bonded with Karlie is was easy to bond with Kaitlyn, each dog had their own time as well as together time. Also as you know a puppy is like a baby and I wanted each one to have their childhood without the stress of twins :)). I know others say twice the work but twice the fun, for us it was just to spread the work and fun out a little.

Two or more....the more the merrier!

Just done the same thing although I didn't think it through properly. Got a 6 year old in tacked male. I got the chance of getting 1 year old bitch great I thought, while everything went well for a couple of month's I have had to split them up. I have spent 2 weeks keeping them apart because the bitch is on heat, it's that bad I have had to leave one at the mother-in-laws. Wouldn't change anything though
go for it, 2 dogs is like1, 3 is like 10.

I definitely knew that I didn't want two pups at once, but the fact that Hobbes has been so good ( at 13 weeks he hasn't had an accident in almost a month, a HUGE blessing) has got me thinking about adopting a second sooner rather than later. I just don't want to make a mistake and end up biting off more then I can chew. Thanks for all the advice!

Huh? I have had 3 and it wasn't like 10. Right now I have 7 and it is not like 10, it is like 7.

Gee....I have 5....what 's THAT like?

All kidding aside, we got Teddy and added Annie when he was two and then added Cody when Annie was almost three. I liked the age differences because each one was out of the puppy stage and the nitwit twos. Since then we squeezed in Jennie and Maddie. I have not had issues between them and it has been generally easy to manage. We just make sure they have alone time as well as together time and that they know WE are in charge, not them ( sort of vital when they outnumber you).

I love having two! Couldn't imagine having any less.

Two they keep each other company! They are so much fun when in groups!

Definately 2! Although we have three, they are all three years apart in age which I really love. I think I would prefer them at least 2 years apart though...not two puppies but some like it that way too.

Cockers are like Lays Potato Chips-you can't have just one! I have 3, and they are 3 BFF's. Mine are 1 yr apart-5, 4, 3, and the 5 and 3 yr old still play and wrestle like puppies-the 4 yr old is the fuddy dud that watches and doesn't get involved in the wrestling, but he loves playing ball with the other 2. IMO, any age to add the second playmate is fine, as long as you introduce them appropriately and watch to make sure the older one doesn't hurt the puppy during play.

We just recently added a second dog to our family. We have Dexter a 2 yr old Cocker Spaniel and we just recently brought home Daphne a 12 week old American Staffordshire Terrier. I HIGHLY recommed waiting until your current pup is atleast 1 1/2 years old and is fully trained. I waited until I felt Dexter was trained and responded well to what I asked of him to get another pup. It is alot more time & strain to indavidually train 2 dogs than 1 in my opion

Hi Hannah, I thought I would chime in. My KC is now 7 months and has been completly potty trained for quite a while now. I too have thought about adding a second dog to our family. How could I not, they ARE like lays potato chips !
Seriously though, potty training was only one of the many training bench marks that I have been working towards with KC. Nipping at ankles, grooming, door darting, and leash walking, barking at other dogs... on and on it goes. I think that if I decided to get another dog I would have alot of stressful days ahead of me. Training one is hard enough. Once KC is fully trained though he will be a great leader (after me, my husband, and our two children of course ) to another younger dog in the house. The hardest part is waiting. I do love watching him play with the neighbor dogs. That will have to do for now.
At least that's how it is working out for me. It might be easier for you though.

Three dogs in my house.We got Tucker after Hannah was eight months old. Roxi has been in our home for over a year now. I think three is just as easy as two or even one (except the added cost of vets, grooming, preventatives, etc.). They all love being part of a pack. They all know their own spots for meals and for being loved and for even napping.