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How many dogs is enough? Too many? Can one have enough dogs? Are there crazy dog people, like crazy cat ladies? Or crazy chicken ladies? *ahem*
Most of y’all know we have two dogs. For twelve years we had one dog, our first Aussie, Clee-o. She was a handful for a long time, full of energy, destructive at times, protective, brilliant, a little neurotic, sweet. We loved her completely. And then she passed. Cancer.
Now we have two neurotic dogs who share a brain. They seem to share their energy, dividing it pretty evenly. I hadn’t thought about it much till yesterday, but I think I prefer having two dogs. I think it might even be important to have two dogs versus one most of the time. Hear me out.
Talking with my friend Diane, Brute Squad mom with three Chihuahuas, we discussed a dog’s need for company. Dogs are social creatures, living in packs naturally. They either need people all the time, or a dog friend. Or some kind of friend. I mean, the friend could be a deer, right?
Or a fox.
My point is, dogs need friends. Articles online, like this one, address a dog’s need for a pack, a family, a leader. True. Dogs need those things. But I think most of us visualize that need as a human family for their domesticated dog, without thinking about the possible need for a dog friend.
Granted, some dogs don’t take well to other dogs. Just like some people are loners, extreme introverts. On the whole, though, I think it might be safe to say that many families leave dogs home while they go to work and school. Or the mom is home with the kids and the kids either don’t understand the dog, or they just grow up. Help me here – I’m seeing it with my two dogs, that they need each other. In fact, I dread the day one passes and leaves the other behind, since they’re litter mates.
So I’m reading all kinds of articles about dogs being socialized (with various people, and I completely agree they need it), as well as with other dogs (play dates with dog friends versus having another dog in the home). The other dogs articles vary. So I’d like to ask what y’all think. Does a dog need another dog in the home? Maybe need is too strong a word, but is it better to have two dogs?
We have two ducks, Jimmy (white) and Petey (black). When my Hunny brought our first duckling home a year and a half ago, I went out that afternoon and got a second duckling. They are very social creatures and need a buddy. That buddy could be me, or it could be another duck. And me. In fact, the domesticated duck seems to need both me and another duck.
Y’all, I’m fairly convinced that it’s the same with dogs. They need people. C’mon, we’ve seen a million and one videos, read a thousand and one stories, about homeless and abused dogs who are rescued by humans and practically worship them as a result. Dogs need us. But I’m serious about dogs needing each other. We humans are unpredictable and unreliable. Dogs are not. Almost ever.
There are a ton of exceptions to this, I know. People who are devoted to their dogs. People who truly pay attention to the one dog in the family. I’m just saying that I think a dog may be more emotionally balanced if it has another dog in the home full time. Yes? No? How many dogs IS enough? Let me know what you think? Thanks!
Until I write again …
Flea
