Alright. I'm slowing chiseling away at my parents and the little fella that my friend adopted has just about pushed them over the edge. Now they want proof. So let's see it.

Are two (or multiple) huskies better than one? My argument regards loneliness and that they're a pack animal. They're argument is that Sitka will get jealous of the attention that the other dog gets.

I want links, personal stories, experiences, facts, you name it. Just make sure that there are a couple valid and justifiable sources in there.

Let's get me another puppy!!

-Chad

They're freakin' bred to be in a pack. Google it. It's a well known fact that all sled dogs share one communal brain. By having more than one sled dog, you gain that much in portion of the shared brain.

Oh, forgot you wanted a footnote laden thesis. Sorry to disappoint, I have no sources other than breed history and my own experience with my dogs. There are always tense moments and conflict at the beginning of integration. My solution was attitude crushing exercise in vast quantities. Even though Huskies have been tossed aside for speedier dogs in competitive racing, these guys still have the program in their brain. I use that drive to run endlessly forward as a balance against the anxiety of entering into a new home. All of our add on dogs spent time in a crate at night until they were firmly set into our routine. Six months of cautious management and observation seem to follow each new dog. Within days you'll have an idea of what (if any) triggers the dog has and how to avoid major conflict while desensitizing. For me, a dog is not integrated to the household until it sleeps out of crate and barely opens an eye when another dog walks by (Tambi being the only turd dropper, piddling crate sleeping exception).

This next part is absolute wild eyed speculation:

Dogs are social creatures that when left to nature, tend to group. Much like pods of whales, flocks of birds and most primates. If you dig around some parrot training information, you will most likely run into social learning theory. Using model/rival dynamics, talented bird trainers can achieve amazing results. Proof

Buried beneath endless online chatter about Cesar Milan and all of the alphabet soup credentialed experts like McConnell and Dunbar, hides a curious finding...

Quote:

McKinley and Young (2003) applied the model-rival method successfully to dog training, determining that it is just as effective as operant conditioning in training a dog to 'fetch' a specific object. Source

Anyone who has ever plugged a fresh sled dog into an already functioning team knows exactly how this form of social learning works. I feel that my using model/rival techniques with the pack, along with normal training and regular exercise, helps to fulfill more of the natural functions of being a dog. For this, you must have at least two.

I have never considered anything that I might want to label "jealousy". I'm bringing another dog in, you're a dog and have no choice. But do remember to give each dog one on one time often at the beginning.

Chad,

Sitka is 3yrs right? would you be bringing in a puppy or adopting a 1-2yr old husky? now Sitka has always been an only dog right? I'm not sure if it makes a difference or not and Eddy had a ton of good points about them being pack dogs, but I can only speak about our two. We got Sierra who grew up with a ton of other dogs and after the 2 or so weeks of her adjusting to her new home we knew she was happy but not totally happy being an only dog. that is when we decided to get another husky to keep her happy and for them to play. we adopted Jack that was an only dog then throne into a pack of dogs to be adopted to a family with one other dog. the two of them love each other and it is so great watching them interact with one another and us that I don't think I will ever own just 1 dog. I have grown up with always having 2 dogs and I truly believe they are happier that way, in a pack. if we had room for one more crate we would have 3. I think bringing in another dog now would be good as he is still young and the age difference will not be that large. I don't think we crated Jack the first few nights we had him as they got along right way, we did create Sierra the first few nights we had her. I think the meeting and interaction between the 2 would be the most important and to let Sitka know he is not being replace, maybe have 1 on 1 walks with him and have special treats for him as well. I say GO FOR IT and adopt if you can!

Sitka is 4 and it'll be a puppy. So it'll have to be crated for a bit so it doesn't piddle on Sitka and I while we're sleeping.

I liked the info Harrise gave and I'll be using that when I talk to my parents.

http://www.pet-net.net/dogs-puppies/articles/multiple-dogs.php

That's a link my friend sent me. Thoughts?

Crap!!! I woke up five minutes before I'm supposed to be at Cosmo's!!!!


I'll be back.


ETA: That link seems a bit simplistic, but for the most part I agree with it. One thing to keep up on is the possibility of the good dog picking up a bad dog habit. With Huskies, if you have one already and have the dough/sanity to add another, why not?

.

Chad- if YOU want another dog, why are you trying to convince your parents? Aren't you almost 30, living on your own and paying your own bills? Enlighten me here...

Woah- when did this happen? wtf? Boy- where'd you go? You don't text me anymore...

School... only working part time... come on!

Plus, I probably won't be able to take Sitka to UNC next year. So yeah, it's a choice they have to make.

So what happened? is there another pup for christmas?

Don't know. My mom wants one. My dad... he's hesitant. It'll be a long, drawn out battle.

.

Trust me. I realize that once I go off to UNC Sitka will no longer be mine. This thread is more about finding out whether 2 dogs together is better for the dogs than being the only dog.