Thoughts on sharing a dog.

[Alisoncc]

Got a neighbour of similar age to myself - eighty-ish, who like me would like to get a dog, She is not an immediate neighbour, but same complex. Looking at a medium sized dog, collie perhaps or beagle.

Talking earlier today suggestion was raised why not share one. Both of us are of an age that hospitalisations are a real prospect at some point, and having a joint "keeper" would set both our minds at ease about ownership.

So to the logistics. If we shared on a week-a week about, would this lead to a neurotic dog never knowing where it's home is. Or if it slept at one place and fed at the other, would that cause problems. We both could walk it, individually or together. The dog would get more exercise if we walked it separately.

Just trying to think things through for the best way to do things for the dog.

Alison

[OFSO]

Depends on the dog, but an intelligent dog would have no problems. I don't know beagles, but a border collie would be fine and a labrador of our aquaintance likewise. (We can even tell this one, Sophie, which person needs her.) Provided they see you in each other's houses they'll accept it very quickly. I'd suggest food, bed etc in both places.

[OFSO]

Not a Springer Spaniel. Note the Nicola Bulley case in the UK.

[Alisoncc]

Thanks for your input OFSO. Much appreciated.

Alison

[Wodrick]

I think it will be ok as OFSO with a smart dog, My wife thinks the answer would be two small dogs. I disagree double trouble if one of you is hospitalised or worse.

[Karearea]

Think of the co-owners also:
would one miss the dog desperately when it wasn't there, and resent the other party for taking it away?
Blame the other party if something befell the dog, or an illness wasn't noticed in good time?
Would they have different training methods/expectations of the dog's behaviour?
Expenses?
In which household would the dog be registered?
Lots to consider...

[G-CPTN]

Until very recently (sadly, cancer overwhelmed the dog) the proprietor of the local coffee-house owned a golden Labrador.

During the day (when she was at work at the café) the dog 'lived' with the proprietor's elderly mother - and was walked by a young man on a commercial basis (mother used to walk the dog but she is now in her mid 90s).

The arrangement worked well and dog seemed satisfied by the attention it received.

I could imagine that the proposal made by the OP would work equally well.

[PHXPhlyer]

I think it will be ok as OFSO with a smart dog, My wife thinks the answer would be two small dogs. I disagree double trouble if one of you is hospitalised or worse.

I was thinking along the same line as Mrs. Wodders.
If both dogs socialized regularly, maybe with an occasional sleepover, if/when the time came for them to be be homed together, it might make things go smoother.

PP

[OFSO]

Mrs OFSO says a poodle would be intelligent and less boisterous. I knew a Swedish poodle called Ludde that did tricks to amuse us all. Self-taught tricks, too.

[llondel]

Leonbergers are great once you've got them past the crazy puppy stage. Probably a bit on the large side too.

You have to think about what to do if the dog shows a clear preference for one of you - ours all have their favourite person, although they're happy enough with all the family.

[OFSO]

My favourite dog Sophie sleeps on my feet under the dining table during a meal, but gets up to go when her "parents" leave (with a reluctant look at me and my wife.) However, if her parents tell Sophie she's to stay with us, she sighs and lays down on my feet again. Understands everything.

[OFSO]

Any movement towards acquiring a joint dog?

[Alisoncc]

Both of us still looking. Could be problems though, both looking for different varieties. I would prefer a bigger dog, my friend a smaller one.

[k3k3]

...and the third one was just right!

[OFSO]

I was leaving the house of masseur Sabrina T. last week, when I felt a dog twining round my leg, and looking down saw her Border Collie #2, the Sociable Dog, looking up in the expectation of ear rubs. Which naturally were immediately forthcoming. Despite being a Cat Person, I do like Border Collies.