1 dog vs 2

[Lindsey]

I tried to get some input on YT but didn't get many replies so I thought I'd try here since some of you have two dogs!

Scott and I have been thinking about getting Layla a little companion. I love her so much and I try to spend as much time with her as possible, but I do work all day and sometimes at night she'll just lay there and not want anything to do with me! Sure we'll play for awhile but then she'll just go lay down by herself. Maybe a sibling would make her more active and maybe she'd be a happier dog...

On the other hand, it would be harder to go to the dog park unless Scott and I both go together so we could each keep an eye on one dog. Traveling would be a lot harder with two dogs in the car instead of just one. When I go away and can't take Layla, I'd need to find someone who would watch both instead of just one. If there was an accident on the floor, I wouldn't know which dog did it, so training might be harder...

I have found some cute little dogs in the shelter, and I've also been in contact with a girl who wants to rehome her 9 month old little girl yorkie. I would prefer a girl dog I think just because it wouldn't be lifting it's leg to pee, and I depend on pee pads! I know there's ways to get around it but I just feel it would be easier with a girl. I read an article yesterday, however, which said never to get two dogs of the same gender because they may fight to the death Especially if they're females.

Any input? It's not something I just want to jump into without REALLY weighing all the options. I would love to put Layla in doggy daycare so she'd be socialized all day but I just can't afford that! For now we're making a point to take at least an hour straight every evening to run around and play with her and give her 100% attention, no matter how tired we are. But some people have also told me they "guarantee" I will have a much happier dog if she had another dog to play with all day.