Hello all,
I have searched but can't quite come up with the answers I am looking for. Some background: Right now, it is my wife and I, both 25 y/o and our 15 month old male, Cooper. He's a typical Boxer, nosey, loving, playful, etc. He is OUR first dog, and my first Boxer. We were going to get two when we got him, but thought that two may be a bit much(we also lived in an apartment). I have had medium dogs prior, but my wife grew up with cats. Now, we feel that we have a grasp on Boxer ownership, and feel that we know what to expect from them. We were looking to possibly adopt a rescue, around our Cooper's age, for a companion. We aren't trying to get him to leave us alone or anything. I know that some people will get a 2nd dog to pacify the 1st one. He has no behavioral problems, and is just the little gentleman. He is a typical Boxer. He has a nice fenced in yard and we walk him at least 2 times a day, most of the time more. He goes to the dog park once a week for continued socialization, and has never not liked another dog. The second dog would get the same treatment.
I would really like either another pup, rescue or not. I was going the rescue route because it feels like the right thing to do. I know the risk involved in getting a 2 year old dog.
That beign said, we may start having children in the near future. We are both established in our carreers and have our house and yard. The next logical thing would be kids. I have mixed feelings though. On one hand, two dogs could be alot to handle with a child. But, we're talking almost a year at the minimum beofre a child would be born. That would put Cooper around 2.5-3 years and starting to act adult-like(whatever that is for a Boxer
). I would like to hope that a rescue or pup would be settled in in 9-12 months time. On the other hand, I don't want Cooper to be jealous of his new human sibling when it is born if he's by himself. So, I was thinking that a second dog may make the transition easier.
Any opinions or experience with this? Thanks for any suggestions.
I have searched but can't quite come up with the answers I am looking for. Some background: Right now, it is my wife and I, both 25 y/o and our 15 month old male, Cooper. He's a typical Boxer, nosey, loving, playful, etc. He is OUR first dog, and my first Boxer. We were going to get two when we got him, but thought that two may be a bit much(we also lived in an apartment). I have had medium dogs prior, but my wife grew up with cats. Now, we feel that we have a grasp on Boxer ownership, and feel that we know what to expect from them. We were looking to possibly adopt a rescue, around our Cooper's age, for a companion. We aren't trying to get him to leave us alone or anything. I know that some people will get a 2nd dog to pacify the 1st one. He has no behavioral problems, and is just the little gentleman. He is a typical Boxer. He has a nice fenced in yard and we walk him at least 2 times a day, most of the time more. He goes to the dog park once a week for continued socialization, and has never not liked another dog. The second dog would get the same treatment.
I would really like either another pup, rescue or not. I was going the rescue route because it feels like the right thing to do. I know the risk involved in getting a 2 year old dog.
That beign said, we may start having children in the near future. We are both established in our carreers and have our house and yard. The next logical thing would be kids. I have mixed feelings though. On one hand, two dogs could be alot to handle with a child. But, we're talking almost a year at the minimum beofre a child would be born. That would put Cooper around 2.5-3 years and starting to act adult-like(whatever that is for a Boxer
). I would like to hope that a rescue or pup would be settled in in 9-12 months time. On the other hand, I don't want Cooper to be jealous of his new human sibling when it is born if he's by himself. So, I was thinking that a second dog may make the transition easier. Any opinions or experience with this? Thanks for any suggestions.
