Benefits of a second dog

I'm currently in this position. I have a 13 year old Britt and a 5 month old GSP. It's not bad if you have the time which I do. Currently staying home raising our year and a half boy so I said this is the perfect time to raise a pup as well as I will be with her all day and have time to train her every day. So it is crazy at times but it will work out in the end I hope. So far so good with the training
 
We currently have three in the house (one non-hunter), and that is one too many. The real problem is that I only have two hands, but there are three dogs shoving and squirming for attention. I try to trick one by petting her with my forearm while I scratch the head of the next dog over, but they know... they know... If I'm sitting down, sometimes I can get away with scratching one's belly with a foot while I pet the other two, but it's just too damn stressful trying to keep all these ladies happy.:eek:

Two is the limit... Unless your wife also has two dogs of her own, or your kids maybe have two dogs of their own.... Then I guess you could go as high as two dogs per person. My wife isn't really a dog person, so the reasonable limit of dogs at my house is 2.

When, by unfortunate circumstances, our dog herd gets reduced to 2, I don't plan to take it above that level again. I'm not saying it's torture having 3 dogs or anything like that, but it is too many for me. 2 hands, 2 dogs... It's simple math.:D
 
I like hunting over a pair of dogs but what seems to work best for me is to hunt a puppy solo for at least one season. I think it gives them a chance to develop some confidence and associate hunting with me not another dog. I have four dogs and the plan is to hunt a pair in the morning and a pair in the evening and occasionally let all four out together.
 
Dog Gun Time said:
.....to hunt a puppy solo for at least one season. I think it gives them a chance to develop some confidence and associate hunting with me not another dog. .....
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That is what I do as well. May not be a whole season, but until I feel the dog understands whats going on and can do it on his own.
 
The more dogs the better! Your timing couldn't be better with haveing a dog at 5 you are bringing a pup in at a great time, so when your older dog is slowing down you have a young dog all ready to take over the majority of the hunting duties and offer some relief for the older dog. It is an addiction though so be careful, I started with 1 hunting dog and 1 dachshund and somehow have worked my way up to 6 total :eek: and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
 
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