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Whether someone is a 'one dog person' or not, I think much consideration has to be given to adding another dog to your pack. Just like deciding on your 1st dog, you have to weigh all the pros and cons. As stated mega times on this board - "a dog is a long term committment", whether it is #1, #2 or #6.
In more general terms, I think some people are more suited to a single dog. They develop a very unique bond with their dog and it can be very difficult to transfer the same emotional bond to the 'new' guy. Add any unexpected issues or necessary lifestyle changes into the mix and you can regret your decision. I think before any dog is added into a family, the forever committment must be made before the dog is aquired. It's not a matter of 'I'll see how it works out', it's a matter of 'I am ready to make it work'.

It's not a matter of 'I'll see how it works out', it's a matter of 'I am ready to make it work'.

 
How extremely accurate, and truly wise this statement is.
Denise that was a wonderful post all around....[sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]

Just by reading your conserns I would say "no".  You can't keep getting dogs and then giving them back like a bad CD when it isn't easy. 
 
Why do you want another dog?

ORIGINAL: luvmyswissy

Just by reading your conserns I would say "no".  You can't keep getting dogs and then giving them back like a bad CD when it isn't easy. 

Why do you want another dog?

These were my thoughts, too.  It seems you would be jealous of a new dog's interaction with your "special" dog.  That isn't a recipe for success.  Owners need to realize that, if all goes well, it's natural for dogs to interact with each other more than you.  After all, they speak a native tongue together.  It would be like you going to China, speaking to non-native speakers of English for a few years, and then coming face to face with someone who comes from Indiana and speaks the way a native speaker does.  You'd no doubt be chatting up a storm.

Also, there is a distinct possibility that if your dog was not regularly socialized to other dogs from birth through adulthood, it is quite likely that the addition of another dog would be quite traumatic.

Denise said everything I would have and very well.  If you do get another dog, you just have to be prepared to have that overwhelmed feeling and be commited to work through it.  I think it happens to all of us.  I was a one dog owner for years and we decided to add another dog last year.  Harley and Izzy do play with each other a lot but they want to snuggle with us as well.  It really didn't change that and in fact they are always trying to beat the other one to my lap.  It is twice everything though and traveling with them isn't really any harder, but sometimes it would be nice to only be keeping up with one dog.  I wouldn't change it for the world though.  Your dog may be trained though and you have to be ready to make adjustments to your routine and adjustments to how you do things b/c you are basically starting over with a new dog, and it may take some times to teach a new one some of the things your existing already knows about the rules.     

Maybe try fostering a dog to get the feel of having 2..

I'm a one dog person for sure . . . . for two reasons.  1) we have a very small house . . . . its already too small for Winston.  Fortunately we have a VERY large yard for him to run though.  2) and this is the most important reason I think . . . . I simply don't think that I would be able, let alone want, to divide my attention between multiple dogs.

I agree with Denise... I want a second dog someday but right now my boyfriend and I both have some reservations about whether that would work for Russell, whether we really want a "sibling" for him, etc - so until we feel sure we're going to wait on it. We have the rest of our lives to have dogs, it's not like having human children where there's a biological limit to when you can have another....

i just wanna add a few of my experiences to the wise words already said[]
in the beginning after i got jason, i had a hard time, not because i was jealous for moca's attention, but because i always felt bad for the other dog, when i was giving attention to one. i eventually got over that, but it took a long time...
also, yes, some days i do regret getting a second dog (for obvious reasons, i'm not bringing up the whole china issue again). another thing to consider is finding someone to take care of them, in an emergency case people who agree to take care of one dog, don't necessaryly agree to tking two. for example: this summer i had to attend my grandmother's funeral and had to take a flight the same day i got the call. i was very lucky to have a friend who was just dying to take my dogs for a few days. in the future it might not be as easy..
oh, and besides possibly being jealous, you have to be prepared to have them distract each other just about ALL THE TIME, when you need their attention. (moca's poop time suddenly went from 3 minutes to 15-20 minutes!!)
 
good luck with the decision...[]

It sounds like you're  having some serious doubts and concerns, so for that reason I'd have to say stick with one dog for now. I've periodically thought of getting a second dog, but I'd have to make absolutely sure first that the dog and Max would get along - otherwise it would be very unfair to both dogs.
 
Joyce

i would love to adopt every shelter dog on the planet, unfortunatly i cannot. i already have a dog, i have 2 kids, and not the time nor space to devote to yet another needful creature. i like it this way, if i had two dogs i would always feel like i was doing more for one than the other. i do plan on having more than one dog someday, but not today. i think i will know absolutly without a doubt when that time comes. i think if i tried to get another with big doubts and previous experiences looming over me, i would only be giving myself an outlet to say, this is too hard, i was right i cannot handle this. i want to be confident and secure when i finally decide to, so the only thing i will be thinking is how great it is to welcome a new member into my family, and looking forward to all the wonderful memories will come of it.

I am a 1-dog person and have no desire to have 2 whatsoever. I have time for 1 dog, can walk one dog easily, can financially care for 1 dog (and 4 cats), feed one dog, etc.
I never feel like I'm missing out on anything either. Sure I see plenty of dogs I would love to share my home with - but realistically I know it wouldn't work so why do it.
Just having to ask the question, to me, says it's something you probably shouldn't do.
when in doubt....don't

Thank you for the helpful replies. As for the comment below, that isn't exactly the nicest way you could phrase things. I didn't just go "shrug, you didn't work out, guess I'll return you". It was something that I struggled with for weeks and just about broke my heart giving him back.

ORIGINAL: luvmyswissy

Just by reading your conserns I would say "no".  You can't keep getting dogs and then giving them back like a bad CD when it isn't easy. 

Why do you want another dog?

Boney Jean- Your reply made me feel much better. I truly don't mind the dogs playing together, in fact that's one of the big reasons for getting another dog! But what I would not like is if I they stopped snuggling with me and just spent all of their time with each other.

As far as why I want another dog, I think it would be nice for Gingerbread to have a playmate. I think it could be a lot of fun having two; I would like having two to sleep with at night, to snuggle, and be part of my life.

I imagine having another dog sometimes.  At one point we came *very* close to adopting a second dog.  We decided to wait a few more days to see if he found another home.  He did, and I took that as a sign!  I was a bit sad at first, but I've realized that it's really for the best.

Here are my main reasons:
 
- space.  Not sure I want 2 huge beasts underfoot.
- I don't want to have to deal with 2 dogs that don't get along, and there's no guarantee that this would never happen.
- potential behaviour problems.  Chase is very well-adjusted and I don't want to extra stress of dealing with behaviour problems like aggression, resource guarding or separation anxiety. 
- It's easy to find someone to care for one dog for a few days.  We're also welcome to bring him with us when we visit friends.  Not sure that people would be so thrilled if there were 2 of him. 
- Premium food, vet visits, dog walking, et insurance, training classes, etc is affordable for one dog because we have made it a priority.  Having 2 dogs would require a change in lifestyle to keep up financially. 
- The time required for 2 dogs (training, playing, exercising, socializing) would also be a burden, while the time spent with one dog is a joy. 

All that to say I'm a one-person dog!

Honestly, if you're really unsure, then just don't get the puppy!  Why do you want a second dog?  When I asked myself that question, the answer was that I wanted Chase to have somebody to play with.  I decided that that was a very silly reason, especially after I thought about all of the other things that I just mentioned.  Chase has us to play with.  He lays with other dogs at the park.  He's a very happy, well-adjusted dog.  Why change that?

Pets do NOT need pets! 
 
(edited because it was way too long and I didn't think anyone would actually read it all the way to the end!  [])