QuestionQUESTION: I currently have a 7 month old male basset which is the only dog we own. We were wondering if it would be a problem to get another dog to help keep him company during the day. We would love to have another basset any advice if it should be a female/male and if it would be okay to get another basset or should we go with a different breed?
ANSWER: Hi Jenny,
My question(s) to you would be for what purpose does he need company? Are you at work during the day? At school? Is he crated or does he have full run of the house? Is he completely trained? Has he gone through obedience school? Think seriously about your reasons for wanting another dog.
If you DO leave him alone all day, a puppy is out of the question. You'll need to look to a rescue or shelter for an adult dog that has been trained properly already. Buying a puppy and then leaving it home isn't fair to the animal.
If your current guy is crated, having another dog in the house isn't going to matter.
If he's not trained, wait until he is. Concentrate on making him the dog you want him to be. :)
Dogs thrive in packs and love the company of other dogs. Provided he's well-behaved, house trained and roaming at large in the home while you're gone, there's nothing wrong with getting another dog of any breed. If you like Bassets and want another, there's no problem.
Yes, male/female is the best pairing to start off with, being sure, of course, that one or both are altered. Don't want any puppies running around that you aren't prepared for :)
If you decide to go with a different breed, do some research and find a breed that suits both your personality and that of the dog you already have. If your dog is laid back, you don't want a hyper little bouncy thing running around with him driving him crazy all day. ;)
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QUESTION: My current basset stays in my fenced yard all day while I am at work. Appr. 10 hours a day. We weren't really looking into getting a puppy but another basset that is about a year old from the shelter. My current basset does get to come in the house in the evenings and is completely trained. Im not sure if I cuold handle two dogs in my house though. Is it mean to leave one outside for an hour or two in the evenings while the another comes in? thanks for your help.
AnswerWhether or not you let your dog remain outside is really a personal opinion. If you're asking me what I think, I believe it is 'mean' to put a dog in a yard for 10 hours a day. It's not a choice that I would make. I also wouldn't get another dog with plans on leaving it outside. That's MY opinion. Yours is obviously different. :)
If you don't think you can handle two dogs in your house, why would you consider getting a second dog? It isn't 'mean' to do things separately with each dog, in fact, it's encouraged, however, you're talking 12 or 13 hours outside for one of the dogs each day.
I have my Basset because his previous owners kept him outside 9 hours a day, in a fenced yard, with his Rottie pal. Even though he had a buddy, he was still bored and dug under the fence to go explore. He was caught and now he lives here.
I would really evaluate your reasons for wanting a second dog. If you WANT two dogs, that's great. However, if you want another FOR your current, that's not a valid reason.
Consider a couple things with regards to adding another dog...
1. Double the food bills
2. Double the vet bills
3. Another dog house or shelter for the backyard (or a larger sheltered area)
4. Double the time currently allotted for dog care (4 walks a day instead of 2, etc.)
If you only want a dog so yours has a friend, skip it. They don't entertain each other in the sense that we think of as 'entertaining' nor are the responsible for each other.
If YOU want a dog because you think it would be enjoyable to have a multiple dog household, and you have the time and energy that will be required, go for it!
Don't think I'm bashing you for leaving your dog outside...as I said, it's not my personal choice. If it's yours, so be it. Just be realistic in your reasoning for getting a second. ;)
