Quote: Carolyn Pike Roman

Hi Ethan,

I apologize in advance because this is a little gloomy, but if you get two puppies at once, there's a chance that many years down the road they will pass away around the same time. I know, no way to tell the future, but having lost both of my "first dogs" (that I adopted as a pair and were about the same age) within a year and a half of each other, that part really, really stinks.

In my opinion, definitely space them out by two or three years... besides, puppies are nuts and need lots of attention plus all of the reasons in other posts.

Best of luck-

Yes, I also mentioned the 2-3 year Spacing in Age difference & for the same reason, also lets one puppy Mature & Settle a bit before getting another pup

A tangential observation from one who has lost several good friends over the years, and one looking at the three friends arrayed around me as I type.

It seems as though every one and a half or two years I lose one of my good friends. I have never thought of the age delta between my dogs as a qualifier for taking the dog into my home.

It is a most difficult occasion, the losing of a friend and companion. I have had dogs I thought would be with me for several more years leave, and dogs I thought were on their last legs stay with me for more than a year. When each left, it was a time of painful sorrow.

But I would not have traded their time with me for anything. And in time the sorrow is replaced by smiling nostalgia and joyful memories.

I have an expectation of the longevity of Kai and Titan and Sam, as I did for Muskie, and Wolfgang, and Gus, and Maximus, and Freya, and Brio. But my expectations are not plan-able, and several did not conform with my expectations.

Gus died at six months, and Freya was almost 15.

I respect the concerns for attempting to manage the sorrow, that will surely come, by spacing the age of dogs. But it is an attempt, probably more of a hope. And at the end of the day, it is in the memories I find my solace.

My thoughts are tangential. I mean no disrespect to anyone.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

There's also a big difference between 2 dogs and 3. 3 dogs is a pack, and requires an owner who understands how to live harmoniously with a pack of dogs. (In my experience, adding dogs beyond the third was much less of a lift than the jump from 2 to 3.) I'm at 6 now and feel like nothing is much different once the "pack of 3" dynamics were nailed down. I'd be interested if other multi-dog households would agree.

So good to see your name here, Tracy!

Yep. Going from two to three is major -- I agree.

 Quote: Mike Arnold

A tangential observation from one who has lost several good friends over the years, and one looking at the three friends arrayed around me as I type.

It seems as though every one and a half or two years I lose one of my good friends. I have never thought of the age delta between my dogs as a qualifier for taking the dog into my home.

It is a most difficult occasion, the losing of a friend and companion. I have had dogs I thought would be with me for several more years leave, and dogs I thought were on their last legs stay with me for more than a year. When each left, it was a time of painful sorrow.

But I would not have traded their time with me for anything. And in time the sorrow is replaced by smiling nostalgia and joyful memories.

I have an expectation of the longevity of Kai and Titan and Sam, as I did for Muskie, and Wolfgang, and Gus, and Maximus, and Freya, and Brio. But my expectations are not plan-able, and several did not conform with my expectations.

Gus died at six months, and Freya was almost 15.

I respect the concerns for attempting to manage the sorrow, that will surely come, by spacing the age of dogs. But it is an attempt, probably more of a hope. And at the end of the day, it is in the memories I find my solace.

My thoughts are tangential. I mean no disrespect to anyone.

No offense taken, Mike

In June of 2014 when I adopted Adobe from Dobie Rescue, she was approximately 2 years old -- Nine months later in March of 2015 when I adopted Adonis also from Dobie Rescue, he was approximately 3 years old ... They're both estimated to be the SAME age, so you can see that I broke my own rule "Ya gotta DO what ya Gotta do, when it comes to giving dogs-in-need a Home, LOL.

I've more often then not as at the very least two dogs at a time and often3 and occasionally 4.

Yes, the dynamics can be a big deal, especially when one passes on.

Even though we all are the leader of the packs we have, the one that passes on doesn't guarantee the rest of the pack order will just move up in line with the old order.

I've had #3 become top dog just as easily as #2 moving up. this can be a huge factor in you as the pack "leader" seeing what's going on and understand it. I'm down to one dog for the first time in many years. I would LOVE to bring in a new puppy but My wife deserves a break. She's always been super supportive of my to many hobbies so the next dog after Trooper, probably my last, will be pretty much her choice. Scary huh!

Huh! What's so scary about this? Sign of a good husband, if he can see and respect both sides.

Agree!

!!!

If you would have asked me a year ago which dogs I would still have today, I never would have thought that just Toni would remain of the 5 I had then. Drift was only 10 and I expected her to make it to 12 at the least...

You never can predict - that is why each day is so precious....

I typically have at least 3 dogs and when one leaves us it is always a shakeup in the pack and management is changed up a bit until the harmony returns..

Well said Kelly!