Anyone notice?..2dogs maybe three.

[mikeesik]

Hello.
I observe.

In the last 5 years I figure, the Dog ownership has changed from one dedicated REX to two REX'S.
It is a rarity, over here anyways to see a dedicated #1 Dog shared between the two marriage contractors.
His and Hers is what stands now.

I know what I think, but I'm curious as your observations.

[Tervuren]

I'm really not sure I understand your post to begin with.

In my experience with pure breed dogs, they tend to have one person that they connect with, so the idea of "sharing" a dog is not something I've ever encountered.

[mikeesik]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

I'm really not sure I understand your post to begin with.

In my experience with pure breed dogs, they tend to have one person that they connect with, so the idea of "sharing" a dog is not something I've ever encountered.

What ever happened to the singular- "Family Dog" instead of Plural Dog(s).
Why the increase ?
Pure Breed or not, doesn't matter.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by mikeesik

What ever happened to the singular- "Family Dog" instead of Plural Dog(s).
Why the increase ?
Pure Breed or not, doesn't matter.

We had a dog at one point, he was my brother's dog without doubt. Although to an outsider you might consider him the family dog, there was no question who the big fella looked to and took after. None of us were an adequate substitute if my brother walked out of the house.

My uncle's family had a dog, no question who in that family who the dog looked to, and that was my aunt, not my cousins, nor anyone else in that household.

There are also dogs that belong to no one, had one of these in our neighborhood for several years growing up. He stayed one place, maybe another a day later.

Most of the multi-dog house holds I know of, its not his/hers, they are either his or hers. The breeder of our dog, one of her dogs was attached to her husband, otherwise, the remaining four pure breds and one additional massively mixed breed were all hers.

If you don't have as much room, having multiple dogs can ease their energy level as they play with eachother, so with urbanization, and smaller spaces, it could be easier to have 2 or 3 dogs so their playing with eachother, expends energy in non destructive ways.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by mikeesik

What ever happened to the singular- "Family Dog" instead of Plural Dog(s).
Why the increase ?
Pure Breed or not, doesn't matter.

I think that now that families where both adults work are much more common, lots of folks get a second dog to hang out with the first dog during the day. Or possibly, the second adult wants a dog to bond with since they do usually bond to one person more than the others.

[nota]

about 1/2 of the dog owners have one on my street
others have two or more

[Tobra]

In my experience, a dog will pretty much pick out their favorite person. As far as the multiple dogs thing, we ended up with two for a while, couple rescues. The people I know with more than one dog have acreage, for the most part. I know a guy with a couple pugs that lives in a house with a small yard, but they are rescues too. I know a fair number of people with multiple cats.

[Jim Richards]

It's all just the pack to me.

[VINMAN]

I have three now. I'd have a hundred if I could. Nothing better than a dog.

[recycled sixtie]

Yes Mike you are right. Living in the same city as you we notice that 2 dogs minimum is becoming more common. Three yappy little dogs live next to us. I just have to go out of the back door and they yap at me. By the way I sent you a pm.

[BK911]

We have 3.
Rhodesian Ridgeback male and 2 German Sheppard / Black Lab mix females.
We needed another dog because the Knucklehead was just too much to handle. And one more would be no match for him. Friggen energizer bunny. Walk a couple of miles a day, couple of bike rides a week, and he still needed more.
So we got him his own harem. Twins!!
We are also in the middle of 20 wooded acres so they have plenty of room to run around.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

lots of folks get a second dog to hang out with the first dog during the day.

That's exactly why I have two dogs.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's exactly why I have two dogs.

I understand that one dog is company for the other but you have twice as much poo to pick up.....in the meantime I am enjoying my dog holiday.

[yazhound]

Many reasons but I think the foremost is that dog owners with multiple dogs in the family are dog lovers. (not including those that kowtow to their kids....)

At one time my ex and I have seven dogs. The reason was love of dogs, and yes, certain pure breeds, with each of us having those we cherish. And, there was a certain amount of: "oh what's one more in the mix", as it related to the work involved.

We had: a Basenji; an Irish WolfHound; two Ibizan Hounds; two Scottish Deerhounds; and, a rescue Austrailian Shep.

I now have an Irish Wolfhound and a Basenji/pit rescue and would love a few more if I had the time. Only have two hands.... they get two walks a day minimum and I would hate to add another and leave one behind...

I am looking in to adopting a retired military working dog, preferable a German Shep. This is more a future addition.

[VaSteve]

I got a pet for my pet!
They have fun running together.

[vash]

i might have misused this ring of mine..but i interpret this as an infestation of dogs?

[enzo1]

I've got 7

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's exactly why I have two dogs.

Yep--same here. One dog alone could suffer more separation anxiety without a play (and pack) mate.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by vash

i might have misused this ring of mine..but i interpret this as an infestation of dogs?

I think he reserves that term solely for people that are not his ethnic background.

G

[aigel]

I have two because I need a back up. I hunt with them and need a spare dog in case one goes down with a health issue during bird season! Also, my wife likes a dog at home for company and protection while I am out with the other.

G