Gundog Training Forum

You will need to make time to take them out seperatley for training/walking and also bonding time with the new dog. I took on another dog this time last yr it took me a long time to make the decision to take on Sprite as Poppy had been a real challange to me and I worried about having another problem dog.

But I its been really good, Poppy has really changed in that the jealousy factor kicked in with her over having Sprite around, to start with I took them out seperatley for excersise and training which took up more of my time as well as spending time with Sprite bonding.

Theirs more brushing, de-burring, nail triming as well as double insurance, jabs etc etc, but its been FAB having another dog, in fact will be adding another next year , so if you think you have the time, money then go for it.

Forgot to mention Poppy was 4 yrs when Sprite arrived he was 8 mths part trained.

Do you know I can vaguely remember the bliss with having one dog Then it lead to two and so on and so forth My second dog was part trained which was great so much easier but still a big commitment in care and training. Then my 3rd was 2 yrs old untrained, 3rd was a pup, 4th was 8 months, 5th was a pup, 6th was a pup, 7th was a pup, 8th was a pup By golly its a learning curve but seeing as am able to be with my dogs 24/7 its made it much easier with everything however its constant

Ive learned a great deal with a pack of dogs of my own as they have all been different and have trained the pups according to their nature etc. For instance Sooty was never out with Sweep ever as a pup and only now she is trained do they now get to go out together free. Otter was so easy he was trained along with Belle, Drake is hyper so is generally trained alone but also trained along with the other 2 Labs. Its getting to the stage now they are a bit older that Otter, Belle, Drake and Sooty are being trained together in various disciplines.

I honestly think 2 dogs are better than one.. Good luck with your new dog when you get it

What about them living together in the same kennel would this be ok as I dont really have any other option.

rg1711 wrote:What about them living together in the same kennel would this be ok as I dont really have any other option.

i find it always helps, especially new ones, to live in the kennel together. Bridges the gap betwen leaving surroundings that they're used to aswell and sleeping in a new kennel. Ours sleep in the same box and keep each other company aswell.

p.s I also found a second dog keeps the first one company, even if they live in the house.

A word of caution there, not all bitches will accept a new pup straight away you will have to see how they get on. I wouldn't just bung a new pup in a kennel with another dog and expect they'll be ok it does need managing.

Rascal

Rascal wrote:A word of caution there, not all bitches will accept a new pup straight away you will have to see how they get on. I wouldn't just bung a new pup in a kennel with another dog and expect they'll be ok it does need managing.

Rascal

I agree in our case Belle the oldest bitch took months to accept each new puppy as she cant be bothered with pups, she'd never have harmed them but id never have taken the risk.

I have more than enough space to kennel mine in different kennels but I always put the 3 Labs together, its company for them and they all like to sleep together now they know each other well .

To be honest i would have more than one dog, but cant see the point myself, as someone said before twice the food bill, twice the crap to clean up, but surely the more action one dog has the better it gets so it will double the time for it to get to the standard it would be if you were one dogged. And i wouldnt kennel two together as a young pup with a young dog could untie the training, I`m just speaking from my own opinion. If the dog is a working dog then only one dog is the same as 10, to regards of working. But i must admit when i see gsp pups i do fancy running a brace but sense wins over my heart.

I run a group of 4/5 at a time when picking up, but when beating I like to run the dogs for half days. I either change them after dinner or if we shoot through after each drive, I dont like running them to the point of being knackered. I also find that helps with keeping them sharp as they tend to make more mistakes or go slightly off the whistle towards the end of a long day.
I did get down to 11 dogs this morning but im back to 12 again now

One good one is better than two bad ones.
two good ones are a treat on earth!
One good one and one bad one,is a virus,for frustration.

Anyhow, once apon a time, I yearned for a 'team' of dogs to work?......My mentor replied "learn to work 'one', perfectly, before you work two"

James wrote: I did get down to 11 dogs this morning but im back to 12 again now

did it find its way back home then ...