You probably already know that Labrador retrievers are high maintenance, mainly due to the excessive amount of energy and great need for exercise. In addition to their need for exercise, Labrador retriever dogs are also more prone to separation anxiety, which means they can become destructive when they are left alone, especially if you choose not to crate train them. Therefore, you may wonder if it is better to get two Labradors instead of one so they can keep each other occupied while you are gone. However, due to their high maintenance nature, is it just more work to have two?
Attention and Interaction
One of the greatest advantages of having two Labrador retrievers is their ability to entertain each other. However, you cannot expect them to do so all of the time. They will still each require your interaction at times. Since you will have two of them, this is twice the work. You can’t always spend time with them together. They will each battle for your attention individually, as well as jointly. When you must leave the dogs home while you go to work or run errands, they are less likely to experience the separation anxiety one Labrador may experience. You must also keep in mind that two labs can be twice as destructive as one as well, though. Therefore, it is still best to crate them when you leave.
Activity
The activity and energy levels of Labrador retrievers is quite high. Because they require at least an hour of exercise per day, daily walks and romps in the yard are a necessity. When you have two Labradors, this is still a requirement, but the good news is they can exercise together. You can unleash them both in the backyard, given you have a fenced in yard, and let them run and play together. However, they will still need interaction from you at times. While they can easily help each other burn off some their abundant energy, it also means you will have twice as much energy to deal with.
Noise
Labrador retriever dogs are very vocal dogs. No matter what they are feeling, they will let you know it with some sound or another. When you have just one Labrador retriever, the noise can be bad enough. However, when you have two, the noise becomes that much greater. In fact, the two dogs will often egg each other on, making it difficult to teach them when they need to be quieter. This is definitely something you need to consider before you get more than one dog, especially Labradors.
Training
Another important aspect to consider when you are thinking of getting two Labrador retrievers is the training aspect. Training one puppy can take a lot of time and effort on your part. If you tried to train two puppies at the same time, you are asking for more than twice the trouble. If you get two puppies from the same litter at the same time, the puppies are far more likely to pay attention to each other instead of you. This makes it much more difficult to train them, taking even more time and patience on your part. Therefore, it is often best to get your dogs one at a time, training the first one completely before you add another to the mix. This makes it much easier to train both of them.
The choice to get two Labrador retrievers is a very personal one. However, you need to know that having two is harder in some ways but easier in others. The two dogs will help each other burn off energy and stay occupied, as well as keeping each other company, but they will require more training, more attention and more money to care for them. If you can afford it and are willing to provide the training, attention and exercise, getting more than on Labrador retriever can be twice love.
