angelamarie
Posted : 4/24/2006 12:43:03 PM
Hi Random,
To your question, Has anyone gotten a second dog and then regretted it? I am going to be very honest and answer yes.
I have a 1.5 year old toy poodle (Misty) that I am very strongly bonded with. She had some major leg surgeries during her first year and I think that made our bond even stronger. She has always gone everywhere with me and she is calm and loving and easy to live with. I love her more than I have ever loved a dog before. She is my soul mate.
Then I got OBSESSED with getting a second dog. It was difficult to find the right one to fit in, as my little Misty couldn't have a young dog that would run her around too much. Well, we did find what is the perfect match, and here he sits with me right now. He is a six years old small mini poodle and is my first second hand dog.
I do regret getting him.... he has had some transition problems that we are working on with him and this has been alot more work than I thought I was going to get. We all love him and are giving him a wonderful home. My husband adores him and takes him on long walks every day. He is hugged, patted, pampered, is going to obedience school. He is treated like a king, with limits, of course, just like Misty is treated like a queen with limits.
He has simply brought alot more work into the home than we needed at this time. And, he has some quirks that presently make it difficult for him to fit into our busy, active household. I think this was just like the "straw that broke the camel's back," with so much going on in our house (son going off to college in fall, very active daughter in 10th grade, some health problems on my part, and husband working alot).
All that said, I would NEVER give him up. He is settling in here nicely and living here is like dog heaven for sure. I would never ask him to make yet another transition. I do not like the extra work, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and this guy came into our life just when he needed us desperately..... and we must need him too, the reason is simply not apparent at this time.
A second dog can be alot more work, depending upon your lifestyle and temperament and the dog's temperament. Do not make this decision lightly.