Multiple dogs - ideal age gap? - Page 1

Just curious if there are 'better' age gaps than others as far as play, training, behavior, etc.  We're not planning on adding any dogs in the near future, but always plan to have dogs.  I like the idea of getting a puppy at some point, but always seem to go back to rescue or shelter dogs, (both of our dogs now were given (rehomed, I guess) to us)

Currently, we have two dogs, 6yo and 3yo.  We hadn't planned to get a second dog when we did, but she needed a home and we've not regretted it one bit.  That being said, we notice that the three year age difference poses some....issues as far as energy level and types of play.  The older one has mellowed considerably (although, she behaved exactly the same way when she was younger) and while she still likes to play, she's more about the focused fetching and when she's done, she's done.  The younger one has energy to spare and really *plays* - desperately tries to get the older one (or us) to chase her, steals the older one's ball, tries to be dominant, etc.  There haven't been any problems between the two - other than the older one being mildly annoyed and the younger one being bored.  They do play together sometimes and the 6yo will chase the 3yo, but it's not as often as she'd (younger) prefer.

So I'm just wondering if there's an ideal age gap to strive for if getting two pups at the same time isn't an option.  Is getting two pups together ideal?  Is getting one the same age as the one you already have preferable?  I'm interested in other folks' experiences.  Thanks.

its more of a training gap, then an age gap.
when the first dog is well trained, then another can be added..

well trained - depending on the owner and time in training can be anywhere between a year and 14 years..LOL

Unless your goal is to have the dogs entertain each other rather than yourself, it shouldn't matter the age.  "Age difference" in itself is not the leading contributing factor for an inability to cohabitate nicely.  Some dogs might naturally prefer their alone time, and aging dogs in pain would certainly prefer their space.  Bullys and fearbiters can also cause problems.

It can get a little more complicated and not so easily stereotyped, as well.  I have a lot of same-age dogs, and they know to get along or I'll knock some heads together, but any altercations that have ever spun out of control have been over possession of a highly prized toy (resource guarding), or in irritated response of the incessant pecking from others utilizing their herding instincts.  Although their food drive is also very high, they respect each others meals, and never find cause to contest over it, because of the privacy I've enforced during their eating.

Every situation can be unique, and depends on the individual dogs (temperament & drives) and their environment.  And at all times, the inclusion or exclusion of a single dog into or from a group can dramatically affect the dynamics of the entire situation.  But I have never owned a dog that would rather spend more time with other dogs than it's handler, and would have no use for any that did.

I think one of the biggest things to think about when considering age gap is senior and end-of-life issues.  Senior care can get expensive and losing a dog you love can be painful.  If you have two dogs the same age you run a high risk of losing two right around the same time, or having to make decisions about care based on finances that might be easier to make if you were only caring for one senior instead of two.  

I second the end of life comment, as i just lost 3 dogs in 6 months and added one.
My 2 senior female Am bulldogs were 13 and 14, the girls were showing signs of old age.
Ive went first with what i believe to be liver cancer. All the test pointed to it. Meds no longer kept her comfortabe, she stopped eating and was looking very unhappy. She made it clear it was time to go.
Maggie was just shy of her 14th birthday when she took a sudden turn for the worse. Time to make the final call.
Luther killed himself by eating green bamboo in the yard. Thus getting an impaction and not showing symptoms until things were too far damaged to bring him back. He was a month short of his 9th birthday.
In between Ivy passing and Luther's death I got a new puppy. Which helped me greatly in my grief. But Maggie always hated puppies so they could not be allowed together.
I still have another older female Gladys that has been the puppy's "Auntie" and love to play with her new puppy.
Gladys is Luthers littermate and is now 9 years old.
Once Gladys goes I'll be looking at adding a new male. But in the furture i hope to just have 2 dogs.
Because 3 or 4 seniors gets expensive and it breaks my heart when they go.
Plus i perfer to have a few years between them so i can work and train just one dog at a time.
Best of luck with your dogs.

3 years.