Torn About Second Pug

[Funaek]

Hello! I've been a bit MIA on PV recently since I've been so busy here, but I wanted to pop in to hopefully get some good feedback from everyone on a question.

So I'm interested in adopting a 3 year old female pug from a nearby rescue. But some of my family members have advised me to stick with just Sunny since she's so easy, well-behaved, and happy. They note that having an extra pug will be extra work on a daily basis, in addition to extra costs and difficulties if I ever want to travel.

I'd love to have a second pug for myself and a buddy for Sunny but I can't tell if she'd be happy having a buddy or if she'd miss having me all to herself. The extra costs aren't a concern for me but I do worry if a second pug would be that much additional work/effort since it's just me here. And while my parents happily watch Sunny anytime I have to travel (since they love her!), I worry that they wouldn't be so accommodating with another pug. As for Sunny, she seems happy and she loves having all of my attention, but when we go on walks she loves meeting and playing with other dogs. Even though she'll be 8 later this year she's still very active and sometimes I think she would like to have another dog to play with.

So now I'm a bit torn and I'm always horribly indecisive anyways. What are the pluses and minuses to adding a second pug to your home? Do you think pugs generally enjoy, or learn to enjoy, having doggy companionship? I just want to make sure that I think this decision through carefully before doing anything so I'd be grateful for any input, information, or anecdotes to help me make this decision!!

Oh and here are some recent photos of Sunny:

[Pugs-R-MandyBait]

My thought is ... your Family Members are not the ones who are going to incur the extra work or costs. You are. I have always observed dogs were happier with other canine companionship to live with.
We tend to give our dogs far too may Human feelings - I don't think your sweet girl is going to feel any differently about you or 'miss having you to herself' ... she is going to have a companion when you are not there, a playmate when you are.
Make yourself and Sunny happy ... everyone else will adjust. ;-)

[Tinker's mom]

If I could afford it, I would have a second pug in a heartbeat! If you can handle the extra work and costs, I say go for it!
Darling pics of Sunny, she is such a cutie!

[Lola's Mum]

I agree w/ Jackie! I often think about getting another pug, maybe it's because mine is so young still, but I can't imagine taking on all that extra work (and it's just me here, too, like you).

Something I have thought about, maybe when my dog is around a year old, is to try and start fostering...would be a good "test"...and would give a playmate to my pup!

[Pugs-R-MandyBait]

**but I can't imagine taking on all that extra work (and it's just me here, too, like you). **

It can be done ... 4 doxies, 3 big dogs, 8 cats, the horses, work full ++ time ... and have a smidgen of a social life ;-)

[Pat's Crew]

it can be done
2 pugs and a bulldog here and just me..
they do get along great together and if I am in and out like I am sometimes......lol it is nice to have company for each other
i say go for it
the family is not the ones that do the additional work
on the other side one pug or two......is close to the same amount of work...
they take up the same amount of space too..lol beside you at all times..

[Wonka & Nilla]

When we were looking for a second pug to add to our family (Wonka came first and he was an easy, well-behaved, happy pug) we fell in love with Nilla's face on petfinder and contacted the rescue. We hoped that a second pug would be a companion for Wonka, wouldn't be all that much more work (I do have TWO hands afterall) and I really wanted a girl dog (never had one!). Well, I don't want to go into the whole story again here, but it's enough to say that Nilla had major issues that we (and apparently the rescue) were unaware of and those first few months were H*LL. I cried many times, wishing I hadn't brought all of this into Wonka's life. I felt so guilty about how abruptly his happy little life turned into constant stress and fear. Nilla has really come a long way since then and Wonka and Nilla cuddle up and nap together occasionally, they sometimes play together, but it's still not what I originally hoped for. SO, due to personal experiences, I'm one of the few people here on PV who might side with your family.... having two pugs IS extra work, extra money and does make it harder to travel. Even if they second pug is a little joy and Sunny loves her right from the start, you need to remember that everything is doubled.... both will want your lap and attention, both will need to be walked... and in a best-case scenario, you get DOUBLE the LOVE back!! I've heard many, many people say that having a second pug is not really that much more work.... but it depends SO MUCH on who the first and second pugs are - personality, level of neediness, etc. You are right to give it serious thought and not jump into the decision. Most pugs do seem to love having a companion, but many are perfectly happy as only-dogs.

[MopsMeister]

Dear Funaek,

I have had 2 pugs for about 6 years. The second one was a rescue and came home to live with me and Kiska who had been the sole pug for around 3 years. Their interaction with one another is wonderful and I think it allows both pugs to act on their natural instinctive behavior regarding gender, "pack" hierarchy, etc. The only negative thing I have experienced (besides the added expense) is the way they compete for my attention. When I sit down in my man-chair (a big, deep, dark green, wing chair) they push, prod, butt-bump and sometimes even bark assertively to be the lucky winner that might get to sit on my lap while I read or watch TV.

They will of course have a companion when you are at work, etc. Pugs don't eat much (unless you let them) so food costs shouldn't be prohibitive but one thing to keep in mind (I'm experiencing this right now) is that as they age they will become more and more expensive when it comes to Vet care, geriatric medications and the need to make things more accessable like steps to help them get up on a bed, etc. Glucosamine, SAM-e and other such goodies can pose a challenge for those on a tight budget.

I wish you and your pug(s) the best of luck as you make your decision.

[pug love]

I dont really have an advice to give like everyone says it really does depend on the dog. I wish I could have another pug :). Anyways just wanted to say sunny is beautiful! I thought those pictures were the pictures of the new dog you wanted to adpot and I was instantly like GET HER lol. Good luck with whatever you do.

[Cheryl7777]

I have 3 Pugs. Two boys and a girl. I got Gus and his sister when they were 8 weeks old so that was a lot of work, but they got along great and all was fine until I lost Abby to PDE at 18 months. Gus was so lonely and sad that I adopted Benny who was headed to the dog pound by his previous owner. I had spent so much time house training, crate training, and all of that with my puppies. Benny came in totally unsocialized or trained and scared of his own shadow, so that really sucked after all the work I had put into my Pugs. But after the first day or so, Gus and Benny became fast friends and we fell in love with Benny too, so the extra work he causes has been worth it. Then I saw Gracie May in the dog pound in another town a couple hundred miles from me and sent my daughter to go rescue her. She has been a little different. She is snippy with the boys and doesn't like to play much with them. I think she was an only dog before she came to us and doesn't cuddle much with the others or anything. She is getting better, but she didn't just fit in after a day or so like Benny did. So I guess I'm saying like everyone else it really depends on the dogs involved. I have also heard that 2 females sometimes have problems because females have a tendency to be dominate. Before I made the arrangement permanent, I would test Sunny and the rescue candidate together and see how they got along. If they got along ok, I would go for it. I can't imagine Benny or Gus being only Pugs. Good luck with what ever you decide.