Pros and Cons of Multi-dog ownership?

[Cinder & Smoke]

The good stuff --
unconditional love, never a dull moment, the joy of watching them play together, ect.
All the good parts of dog ownership are still there with multiple dogs!

Oh, YES!!

[Freedom]

Hi! I'm not sure how old your Jenny is, nor can I tell if she is smaller than the fawn dog, being part whippet.

The one time I had 2 dogs, my Princess was about 13 and had suffered a series of strokes, and I took in my grandpa's dog, Samantha, after he died. Sam was about 11, no health issues. Princess had been the one and only all her life, we got her when she was 5 months old. Princess sat out in the porch and sulked for 3 weeks, and refused to come in the house! It took some work to get her to come around. Eventually they got along. Sam was always more active, and they had to be walked separately. Princess was not well and moved slowly, Sam was all over checking out everything and dashing here and there. It was OK when we were home, took a little more thought if we went out to a field or the beach or on vacation. (They both lived to be 16.) They never fought over food or anything, but that may have been because Princess couldn't fight at that point. The vet said Princess recovered better and lived longer having the second dog around.

I would also mention that Boo boo is going to need time learning to be a pet, learning about family life. It's always great to already have a dog present, for the rescue to copy and imitate. She looks lovely, I hope you decide to adopt her. I bet you will find more "work" in helping her adapt, than you will in getting them to get along. I just can't tell if Boo boo can walk at Jenny's pace or if it will be too slow for her. But you can work around that!

[Twisterdog]

I personally can't imagine owning just one dog.

Because I have a busy schedule, I do not feel I have enough time to devote to a single dog. I think that the single dog's people become their pack and playmates to a greater degree that they do for multiple dogs. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing.

My friend Bob, for example, has one dog. That's the way he wants it, because it's just the two of them and he wants Jack to act more like a human and less like a dog. He has the time to devote to his dog.

I, however, don't feel that I have that time, and I want my dogs to have canine siblings to play with when I'm not available. I want my dogs to be less needy, and more self-sufficient.

I've never really had dogs learn bad habits from new dogs, usually the new dogs learn the good habits from the old dogs, for the most part. The notable exception ... males and marking. I've had my dogs pick up marking from foster dogs.

[borzoimom]

I remember when Buddy died. Without his pressence, and the papillion at the time still living at the other home, I felt like the house was deafly quiet. I slipped into depression. Finally I just couldn't take the silence anymore, and got Hottie. Even the work I had to do with his surgery and all, the fact is he needed me so much, his activities pulled me out of the depression. Two months later, I finally got piddles ( the papillion) back, and everything really picked up.
In reflection although any death hurts deeply, having another pet in the home helps you adjust. Nothing can replace what happens, but the unconditional love from the others helped me get through the grief as well.

[pitc9]

I personally, will never have just one dog!
2 is much better!
They always have a playmate!!
But it does mean more money and more time spent taking care of them!