[meg's mum]

Hi, as you all probably know by now, we have meg who will be 2 in July. she is ex 'puppy farm' so a bit hyper at the best of times ! she has a lot of health problems and is on a special diet for colitus. she gets tons of love and loads of mileage walks and everything is great. however, .... i feel so guilty when we leave her on her own and go out. this is only about 3 times a fortnight and is only for 2 hours or so. actually there are times when i feel i bit house tied and would like to go off out more, especially as the kids are gettong older and dont need me around.

so .. was thinking of getting a companion for meg,we have so much love to give another one but are bit concerned about managing with 2 of them.

lots of people say its better with 2 as they occupy each other but just wanted to know what you all thought ?? how many of you had one for a while, then got another one and how did it go ??

thanks

 

[Joe Johnston]

2 are always better than 1 Beagle. Beags are very social. Another Beagle may reduce some of the separation anxiety that Beagles tend to develop when young. Also, Beagles will become creative when they get bored and want something to do. Sometimes that creativity will be the destruction of furniture, toys, bedding, walls, carpet, doors, pillows, cages, flooring........

And besides it always nice to have a friend.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

I vote for 2!! 2 are better than 1. We had 1 Beagle for 14 years. He was wonderful and several times during his life we thought about adding a companion for him, but never did. He had a wonderful life being an only dog though. When Sam passed away, we got 2 Beagle pups at once, Sadie and Pooh Bear. They have each other and are each others best friends. When we go to work they have each other, if we go out they are not alone, they have each other.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I have many times thought about getting a second Beagle to keep Jersey company. She has separation anxiety and it has been suggested many times that another dog will help ease that. I just worry that I'll end up with two dogs crying and barking when we leave instead of one.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I vote 2 as well. I would have loved to get another Beagle to keep Chloe and me company, but I just cannot afford it at the moment and my apartment is not enough for another one.
When I get the chance though, you can count on me getting another pup.

 

[DaisysMom]

When I was leaving training at PetSmart yesterday, the resuce shelter was arriving and they had a Beagle. I was so tempted as he/she was probably at least 2 years but Daisy is all I can handle right now. Maybe when she's 2 or so.

 

[beaglesmom]

As the owner of a beagle "tenpack", I vote for two - they DO keep each other company - tho you're STILL the alpha in the pack - the "kids" all love each other - but I'm still "mommy" to each of them. Sometimes a little "sibling rivalry" erupts, but for the most part they're all great together. As already stated, beagles are pack animals and get lonely when they're alone.

 

[beagletails]

We have 2 beagles and a beagle/lab mix and I wouldn't have it any other way. They keep each other fit and give us lots to laugh about.

 

[Toby & Lucky]

Well, I will let you know my vote in a few weeks after our second beagle arrives!!!!

It was always my intention to get a buddy for Toby. I certainly didn't mean for it to take so long (Toby will be 8 this year). I can't wait for Lucky to be part of our pack!

Maybe if you can find one past the puppy stage, it could save you some of the hard work??

 

[BookerMoose]

I vote for two (or three or ten)!! Booker was an only dog for a few years after we adopted her (and before) and although she didn't have separation anxiety I still could tell she was so much happier once she got Moosie as a companion. And I agree that if you rescue a young adult or an older beagle the work will be much reduced as compared to getting a puppy...

Walking two (or three) is definitely LOUDER than walking one, though... the pack mentality definitely does show up when they are out and about!

 

[Zookeeper]

We have 3 dogs and will always have at least 2. They really do keep each other company and not only does it relieve their boredom, but it gives them a playmate to get some of that energy out!

The labs are really old and don't play as often as Duke would like, so we have my stepson bring his pit pup over to play with Duke and boy does that make a difference. He is wiped by the end of the day.

With 2, they seem to get in less trouble because they play with each other instead of finding things to get into. Though I do think 2 beagle puppies at the same time would be a chore. With the labs, we waited until Roscoe was 1 and well trained before getting Cassie. That way, he helped train Cassie and they both helped train Duke.

 

[meg's mum]

yes , thanks for all the advice and thoughts, i think she would love a playmate. i have offered to help foster beagles here for the uk beagle welfare as they are desperate for foster homes. i thought that this way as well as helping another beag, i could see how it is in the house with 2. However they wont let me foster as they say it's not fair on meggie, as she will get used to having a friend around and then will miss it when it goes. i suppose they are right. when we come back from holiday and we go to collect meg from our dog minder, although she is sooooo pleased to see us and be home, she does appear to miss the company of other dogs for a week or 2 until she settles back down again. As i said, we dont leave her alone much so she doesn't suffer from anxiety in that way, its just that i think it would be nice for her. But like Chloe's mum said, it's the cost of 2 insurances and 2 lots of boarding for when we are away and 2 lots of vets bills. We could skip our holidays to help with costs, but i dont think im ready to give them up just yet !! oh well. will keep on thinking about it
x

 

[Murphys Dad]

Well, in case you do decide on going for a rescue, we have out own pack member that is looking for a home for her 3 amazing beags. you can also contact her, Hellen Louise. Here is her post about it .

 

[Pack Leader]

Although 2 dogs are lots of fun, I'm happy with 1 right now. I raised my 2 English Cockers who were about 3 years apart, and make no mistake, 2 dogs are more work than 1. Henry's the first 'only' dog our family's had for a long time, and we really enjoy it. I'd love for him to have a companion sometime, but right now I feel really good about giving him lots of attention and socialization (he was a rescue). I think I'd feel guilty if I got a 2nd one and didn't get to spoil it quite the same way I have Henry...or if the new doggie was lots of work and Henry felt slighted. Plus I spend too much on my hound as it is! LOL

 

[threedognight]

I give a second to BookerMoose!! Two beags are a little awkward at first, but later you will wonder why you never had two before! After my third joined us I was like, WOW!! I never ever in my wildest dreams imagined I would be owned by THREE dogs! I enjoy the experience very much and wouldn't trade it for anything. Walking all three at once is akin to a moving game of "Twister!" /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/gaah.gif

 

[Spencer's Mum]

I vote for 2 as well (I would get a 3rd if I could). I you are set up and ready, GO FOR IT!!

 

[martiknox]

I vote for 2. Brandy and Cecil are such company for one another. I think if I had it to do over, I would get 1 pup and train her before I got the second pup...maybe about six months apart or so. I don't think I could get any work done with just one always wanting my attention. I can't imagine not having the two. I often think of adding another, but hubby nixes that idea.

 

[MrsNix]

Kioko will eventually have a companion, though it will most likely NOT be another beagle. You see...I have always wanted a beagle and my husband has always wanted a Rhodesian Ridgeback (we met one and he fell in LOVE). When Kioko is a good citizen and fully socialized/house-trained, which at the rate we're going will be at about age 2 or 3 (ha ha), my husband will choose a companion to raise with Kioko.

It will definitely be a hound...but probably not another beagle.

 

[fauxpasta]

I echo the sentiment that 2 is better than one, but I can also relate in wishing there was a little more space between when we got our dogs. Training Bones has gone more slowly because I didn't make it as much a priority as I did with Spock. That being said, she is learning quickly now, and she and Spock are thick as thieves and keep one another company while my boyfriend and I are at work. They have fun together and are lots of fun to be around, and I believe they do keep one another out of trouble - it's been ages since either one has chewed up anything important lately (such as mommy's glasses).

 

[PFR]

Well we have two beagles and one mixed breed. We tried to go to one dog and ended with 3.

As Eve said they do help each other to stay out of trouble...