Jack and Jill, Good Idea?

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Archived Message

Jack and Jill, Good Idea?
by Chris and Jack
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Jack and Jill, Good Idea?My wife and I are thinking about getting a friend for Jack and are not sure if it is a good idea or not. Jack will be 2 in June. He is fixed and is a very dominant personality. Both my wife and I work and he is alone for most of the day. We have had no problems with him in the past. He seems very happy to see us when we get home and is not spiteful when we leave. He does not chew, nor does he pee or poo while we are gone. At times (not often) he has lasted up to 11 hours without going out. Has anyone had experience in getting a second maltese after having one for a long time? Do you think it is a good idea. I read the forum every day and hear about some of the problems people are running into, should I leave well enough alone? Any help is appreciated.

DISCUSSION:

Chris, we got our second Maltese when Munchkin was 5 years old. In the beginning, she completely ignored Amber. But now they are the best bodies. They play together all the time. Actually, Munchkin got much more active since Amber came to our home. We are very happy with our decision to get the second one. Good luck and please let us know your decision.
Zeyneb

We brought another Maltese home after we'd had Shelby for three months (Shelby was 2 yrs. at the time and bonded strongly to me immediately). Shelby, although a little girl at 4 lbs., is very dominant! Anyway, she didn't like it one bit when we brought Nikki home (who's almost 6 and deaf). Nikki is a larger maltese weighing in a 9 lbs. Well, after almost 5 months, they're doing fine. I don't know if Shelby and Nikki (both females) will ever be great buddies, although Nikki tries to be, but they do fine together. They are also home alone for long periods of time during the day when my husband is not in his home office (I'm gone daily for 9 hours). I would get another maltese. I haven't regretted it one moment and I really think it's been a positive experience for Shelby too. Kind of like when you have a second human child... the oldest usually doesn't like it but they adjust and it's a good thing for them. PS- We also have another dog named Casey who is part lab and part retriever, who loves her little white furball friends!
Sandy (Shelby & Nikki)

Chris, I think a freind for Jack would be a WONDERFUL idea. You say he has a very dominant personality. Is this with other dogs? Or with you and your wife? Our Baxter was the center of our universe and our baby when I began thinking about another one. You could say he was "dominant", but it was dominance with US. Once we did all the research on two dog families and what gender to get (I wanted another boy), when Baxter was 2 yrs old, we brought home Rudy. He was 3 mos old then and 8 mos old now. Based on all I had read, we were very careful from their first introduction on. Baxter was to remain No. 1 dog (they have since pretty much evened out and they're both comfortable with this arrangement). Baxter has actually shown us a complete new side of his personality that we never knew existed. He used to be standoffish with strangers and very possessive with us. Now he is extremely friendly (competition, I guess). They play constantly and they have become best friends. The only negative "episodes" we've had with him is after about a week of two after Rudy arrived, Baxter peed and pooped once in the foyer (the only place in my house other than the bathroom that isn't carpeted - so he knew what he was doing). And he lifted his leg and marked the corner of our bed about a month ago. He never did it before, nor has he done it since. If you both work, as we do, another one would be so much company for Jack. I would do it again in an instant. Absolutely no regrets. By the way, does it have to be a Jill? A Joe or Jerry would be just as good (or better!). Good luck with whatever you decide.
Marie