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Calling all dog lovers!

Dogs are amazing, aren’t they? They are better than humans in every way and those ten years without a dog in my life were dark and sad (yeah, really!). And you love your dog so much, you might think why not get a second dog, right? Twice the dog equals twice the fun and love, eh?

While we only ever had one dog at a time when I was a child and teenager, the thought of getting a second dog started to come up again and again in 2019. Neala, my big collie girl, is very sensitive and isn’t a fan of close contact, so it’s always been ‘interesting’ to meet other dogs. She adores gentle, friendly and sensitive dogs though and loves to play and run with them.

So I knew there wasn’t any rushing into making a decision. Ups and downs, crushed hopes and plans (thanks Covid19) and magical coincidences (thanks Covid19) finally turned my dreams into reality: in August 2020, I was able to pick up little Dana.

Now there are two collies that bring so much joy into my life. As I’m often asked ‘Would you do it again?’ ‘How are they getting along?’ ‘Is it much work?’, here’s what getting a second dog taught me.

1 Trust your dog, trust your gut

It’s as simple as that. I knew Neala was an amazing dog, a kind, caring, clever, smart, friendly soul. But still, I questioned her. 'What if…?’ ‘Some people told me…’ ‘I heard you should do this and that when getting a second dog…’. Yes, take it all into consideration, realise where it’s coming from, reflect, work on yourself and then trust your feeling. Trust your dog. They are so much better than us humans and they will do you proud.

2 Train your dogs according to their temperaments and talents

Everyone is different, even dogs. Neala is shy, super smart and needs a calm and quiet environment to work best, Dana is always super relaxed and doesn’t care about loud noice, other people or stress. Neala loves tricks and exploring with her hooman, Dana already shows so much potential for sniffing/tracking and working ‘away’ from her hooman.

There are things we can do together, like dog walks, exploring and playing, but apart from that, it’s my responsibility to train them (each) according to their preferences, temperaments and talents.

3 Twice the costs - but it doesn’t cost that much more

Good news: you can double your cuteness and love without doubling your finances. Yes, there are costs that double, like vaccinations, vet check-ups and food, but besides that having two dogs at the same time doesn’t cost that much more than having one dog.

Dana and Neala share many supplies, including toys, beds (using Neala’s old crate to help Dana sleep) and water bowls are just a few. Dana is wearing Neala’s old harnesses (I already had to change to the next bigger one - how are they always growing up so fast?). We use the dog harnesses from ruffwear (amazon) and collars our dog trainer recommended back in Neala’s puppy days. You could share treats, too, but as Neala doesn’t like treats, Dana doesn’t have to share - yay. What both love is their doggo pool, especially in summer. I bought this doggy pool last year and it’s still great, big and with an anti-slip coated floor (amazon).

4 Getting a good dog trainer is so worth it

One of the best decisions (or let’s call it luck) back in 2016/2017 was to get a dog trainer when Neala was still a puppy. I hadn’t had a dog for the past 9 years and it felt like my first ‘own’ dog, so I wanted to be sure that I did everything right. Life in a town is far from life in rural West Cork, so I thought why not try and find someone who can help me with it all. I was lucky enough to meet Carola, who’s not only an expert when it comes to sheep dogs but also such a wonderful, kind, positive human being filled with so much knowledge. I’m forever grateful for her and everything she taught me and I can still use her knowledge now with Dana. She has moved to Munich since, so if you’re into fun, games and adventures with your dog, be sure to check her out at Dogulent (not sponsored).

5 Playtime is so much more fun now

What can I say - twice the fun, twice the laughs, twice the happiness. Two maniac collies is all I need.

6 Puppy training is easier

I read and heard a lot about that and yes, it is true. Knowing the group rules is essential for a happy and relaxed group (= hooman + dogs) and Neala helps me a lot with teaching Dana the rules. ‘See, that’s when we sit down… and now we lay down so that chances are higher she’ll hurry up with making our dinner…no, we don’t go there and no, we don’t jump up on the hooman table…’ Can you imagine what it’s like?

7 Leaving them alone at home for some time is easier when they keep each other company

Not that I had to leave the dogs alone at all in 2020 (yay!!), but I wanted Dana to know what it’s like when I leave the house for 5-10 minutes. You’ll never know when you’re going to need it and it was easier to train it now with her being still a puppy. Neala usually lies down right next to her crate as soon as I leave the house and stays there until I come back. What a great auntie.

8 Walks are now easier, not trickier

I had expected walks to get trickier (two dogs, two leashes, two temperaments), but instead it became easier. We’re really walking as a group now and I love going for walks with both.

9 Double the love is amazing

Neala brought so much love and joy into our home, especially in such a hard time for me back then. There’s nothing better than to be surrounded by two amazing dogs now.

10 And again: trust your dog, trust your gut

See 1.

Yes, having two dogs can feel like a lot of work sometimes. Especially in the beginning I was lacking sleep and felt exhausted. For me, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. And it’s better for the mental and emotional health of you and your dogs, too.

What getting a second dog taught me