I've had Ruby for about 2 months now…and I'm thinking of adding a second B. Ruby (will be 3 in November) is super high energy, into everything, loves people (doesn't love being left alone), getting better w/random dogs that run up to her on the street...all in all, she's adjusted great to being an only dog and show dog retiree. 
When I originally chose her, I picked her high energy to give me an idea of whether I could handle a second B adult or puppy. Needless to say, things are going so well that I'm thinking I could handle a second one and that it would be good for Ruby to have a companion. There is a 5yo male that is a bit lower key than Ruby that I'm thinking of adding and the breeder thinks they'd both be fine together...neither is alpha.
I'm thinking it can't be that much more work to have 2 vs. 1...and that is where I need advice. I'm Ruby's sole provider and care taker...so all walks, bike rides, runs, play, vet, food I do it all. I could see walking 2 together, but I can't see doing the bike w/2 (so I'd probably do one at a time). I have a large fenced in dog run (half the yard) that I only let her out in when I'm either in there with her or out in the yard...so 2 could rough house nicely in there.
Anyway, I've read every thread on here when others were going to add another B. My situation is slightly different as I'm single and the sole provider.
Any thoughts you could give would help. Thanks in advance. Kim
Two isn't that much harder than one, because they usually wear each other out. The problem can be if they cause each other to be more poorly behaved (snarking…or downright fighting over sharing 'mom').
I think one of the biggest changes going from one to two was that it was more difficult to walk them together. They key each other up, and carry on...
Who is the breeder?
The breeder is Eldorado…the dog is Eldorado's Black Gold of Wilmer.
I met him when I originally visited there and then subsequently picked up Ruby. Neat dog, he was a quite a bit more aloof w/me than Ruby was...definitely not as outgoing.
Good info about the snarking over attention...is that something that can be fixed w/training or is that something you just sort of have to live with?
I figured the walking might be a challenge...I'd say 90% of the time Ruby is very good on the leash. When there is another dog or a rabbit (that happened last week) that is a whole different story.
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Weeelll...yes....the most effective way to fix it is to leave everytime one dog growls at another as they approach you. That is kind of unrealistic for most people because you are usually at your most comfortable (curled up on the couch, with dog on lap) each time it happens..but if you do it, the growling dog will quickly realize it doesn't pay.
There are other, more complicated ways to train them to be more tolerant of each other 
And there are simpler ways, that can sometimes backfire and make a dog more aggressive (reprimand/squirt bottle)...but some dogs do really well with a simple reprimand.
Yay for Eldorado! Super breeders, and nice and knowledgeable ladies as well. And I think it is great that you are considering a retired show dog..they make GREAT pets!
Hey Kim,
I was in a similar position you are. I am single and got Tayda when she was 2 and then a year later I added Lenny as a 14 week old puppy. It was hard at first, since I work 40 minutes away from home, but I made it work. Took really long lunches to come home and check on them and thankfully Lenny caught on pretty quick to the potty training thing.
I really don't find 2 much more work than 1. But, Tayda is REALLY low key and never got into anything. Lenny is more of a handful, but I actually find it fun. Walking them together is o.k, definitely takes some quick twisting/turning motions when the leashes get caught and they decide to run in different directions. And then picking up after them can get tricky when they are both orbiting in different directions and I'm holding both leashes in one hand and a poop bag in the other. But if you have a yard they can play in, this probably wouldn't apply.
The other area that I find more complicated, is when I had just Tayda, I'd bring her to my friends houses with me. Tayda would just sit in my lap mostly. Now with Lenny, I just can't cart around 2 dogs to someone elses house and be sure that one of them won't get away and pee on the floor or something. So now I mostly leave them home together.
As for food and vet… its just more money.. not necessarily more work. Tayda and Lenny eat just fine next to each other and are not food agressive toward each other at all. So I'm lucky there.
Overall I really like having 2 vs. just 1. They keep each other company, lay all over each other, and chase each other around. sometimes they get on each others nerves, and then there is a smackdown (usually tayda puts lenny in his place) but even that is fun to watch.
I really like 2 b's together.
Most of us have to work outside the home, and the dogs not only keep each other company, but play and sleep together, when we are gone.
Myself, I would always have 2.
Weeelll…yes....the most effective way to fix it is to leave everytime one dog growls at another as they approach you. That is kind of unrealistic for most people because you are usually at your most comfortable (curled up on the couch, with dog on lap) each time it happens..but if you do it, the growling dog will quickly realize it doesn't pay.
There are other, more complicated ways to train them to be more tolerant of each other
Yay for Eldorado! Super breeders, and nice and knowledgeable ladies as well. And I think it is great that you are considering a retired show dog..they make GREAT pets!
Thanks for that…as you can tell I'm new to training methods :D, but Ruby has responded really well to positive training, and consequently have never wanted to pull out a spray bottle on her (been a little leary of that). I could see myself trying your first method if the problem arose.
Hey Kim, I was in a similar position you are….
Overall I really like having 2 vs. just 1. They keep each other company, lay all over each other, and chase each other around. sometimes they get on each others nerves, and then there is a smackdown (usually tayda puts lenny in his place) but even that is fun to watch.
This was really good info and those pictures are adorable. Last night I was thinking about what I would do when visiting friends with 2 dogs, so this was really timely. Based on meeting Coal, I think I already have the high-strung one so my situation might be a reverse of yours. And you are right, with Ruby, I've found her energy fun and it has actually made me a lot more active (and I didn't think that was possible). The 2nd B might take the pressure off me a little to always be the source of the entertainment and play ;)….like when I wound Ruby up last night and she smacked me in the face by accident.
Definitely wasn't thinking about the money aspect of the vet & food, I was thinking more logistics, but from everyone's responses it doesn't sound like that would be a big deal.
Thank you, thank you for all the info!
I really like 2 b's together.
Most of us have to work outside the home, and the dogs not only keep each other company, but play and sleep together, when we are gone.
Myself, I would always have 2.
Thank you. One more question, they sleep together & play together when you are gone, does that mean you put them in the same crate? I was wondering if that would work…
I have a few in the house (dogs) I don't find it any harder than when I had one. The only time I have ever used the spray bottle is when they go for the cat. I also had a problem when I got the pup-my older female was jealous. I spent a little more time cuddling her and with her (our 'special' time) and she eventually turned back around.
The breeder is Eldorado…the dog is Eldorado's Black Gold of Wilmer.
I met him when I originally visited there and then subsequently picked up Ruby. Neat dog, he was a quite a bit more aloof w/me than Ruby was...definitely not as outgoing.Good info about the snarking over attention...is that something that can be fixed w/training or is that something you just sort of have to live with?
I figured the walking might be a challenge...I'd say 90% of the time Ruby is very good on the leash. When there is another dog or a rabbit (that happened last week) that is a whole different story.
Black Gold of Wilmer is Willy's father.:D
Black Gold of Wilmer is Willy's father.:D
Too cool…it is such a small world. Does Willy have a spot on his head like Coal does? Coal has a black spot in his white stripe on the top of his head.
Too cool…it is such a small world. Does Willy have a spot on his head like Coal does? Coal has a black spot in his white stripe on the top of his head.
I've never seen BG of W in person.
We have three dogs; two of which are B's.
There is a lot of snarking between the two B's,which bugs my dh but not me. It alarmed me at first until I realized that it's really just a bunch of noise. They are loud, but no one ever gets hurt. Most of the time, depending on what they are fussing over – often it's the best spot on the big pillow --I just ignore it and let them work it out.
I used to try to stop Jazz from getting snarky at Keoki when she was on my lap and he'd come into the room, but now I let it go. For them, it has become yet another game. Here's how it is played:
Jazzy is sleeping on my lap. Keoki walks into the room; Jazzy growls. The growling gets louder and meaner sounding as he comes closer. He jumps down into puppy-play position,then bounces back up and hops away, returning quickly to repeat. Jazzy leaps from my lap to charge him; Keoki dashes down the hall w/Jazz in hot pursuit. The Basenji 500 has begun and they will usually play for at least ten minutes and both forget about the lap.
When Gypsy {non-B and old} comes into the room and Jazzy growls, I can usually turn her face away and tell her to "be nice". For those two,that does the trick pretty well because Gypsy just ignores her and goes about her business --- she's too big to get on my lap anyway, and Jazzy knows that Gypsy is no competition for "the spot".
I crate Tayda and Lenny together and they are fine. Some snarking sometimes, but overall they are fine. I got them a big crate so they'd have some room to move around and they just lay on top of each other anyway…
I used to crate Jazz and Keoki together w/no problem.
I stopped when Jazz was spayed and needed some peaceful rest, and just never put Keoki back in {because he HAD been doing so well alone…...}
ours do great together and yes they fight but never drawing blood. they keep each other company & play a lot together.
Two actually makers it easier in my opinion, they keep each other busy.
walking two can be a trick, but I find they both are on the same frequecncy so usually go the same way.
I saw someone near me jogging with three on one leash!
Personally, I will always have at least two Basenji's.
We've had two in a crate together, but never when we are not around to supervise.
Personally, I will always have at least two Basenji's.
We've had two in a crate together, but never when we are not around to supervise.
Ditto, I have crated two together in a car, or at a show, or coursing, but never when someone wasn't there to keep an eye on them.
I know of quite a few people who do very successfully, though.
We stack ours- she just jumps in the top, although a couple of times she jumped up with the crate door shut.
She even will close the other crate door if it's in the way before she leaps.
