“Should I get a second dog?” is a question single-dog pet owners often ask. Before bringing home a new furry friend, consider the following things first:
Are Dogs Happier with a Second Dog?
You may wonder, “Will my dog get jealous if I get another dog?” Some pooches will quickly get on with their new furry buddy, whilst others may become very territorial. For this reason, bringing a second dog home should be thoroughly thought over.
What are the Pros and Cons of Getting a Second Dog?
Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of adding a second dog to your brood is one step closer to answering the question: “Should I get a second dog?”
Doing so will help you assess if you are ready for this new responsibility. So let’s take a look at the probable positive and negative consequences when you bring home a new companion dog for your current dog.
Pros of Having a Second Dog
- Your pooch will have a constant companion at home. Dogs are pack animals and they can get lonely if left alone often. Adding a second dog to the family will help ward off loneliness. However, if you own a dog with separation anxiety, bringing home a second dog may not improve his condition. In fact, there is a high chance that your new dog may also develop this behavioral issue.
- Most dogs are energetic and love to play. Welcoming the second dog in your home will cut down the time you spend exercising your pooch. Both dogs will keep each other busy and tire themselves out.
- Humans and canines have long been with each other’s company. More than a thousand years, in fact. Thus, dogs have a natural affinity for humans. If you own 2 pooches, then be prepared to receive twice the love.
Cons of Having a Second Dog
- Owning 2 canine companions means your pet expenses will become more costly. You will need to pay twice as much as before for food, medical care, and other basic dog necessities.
- Bringing home a second dog in your home means the amount of work in caring for them will be doubled. As the number of dogs increased, you will have to put in more time and energy. Hence, you will need to work twice as much in making sure they maintain a good quality of life throughout their lives.
- Going on vacation trips with pets will become more tricky and stressful. And if you chose to leave them at home, it can be difficult to find a trustworthy pet sitter who is capable of caring for 2 dogs.
4 Important Questions to Ask Yourself before Getting a Second Dog
When thinking about the question, “Should I get a second dog?” there are a lot of things pet owners need to consider. Here are some of the most crucial questions you need to ask yourself before bringing a second dog home:
1. Is your first dog completely out of puppyhood and fully trained?
Raising and training a puppy is hard work. Adding a second dog in your home when your current pooch has not yet fully matured takes 3 times more.
Aside from dog training and supervising your puppies closely, you also have to train both of them to live together. It is not right to think that the dogs will be able to take care of each other’s needs by themselves.
You have to spend time with each dog individually to create a bond between you and your dog. Ensure that your current pooch is well trained before adding another so that they are less likely to learn bad habits from each other.
This way, the experience will not be overwhelming for you.
2. Have you been able to meet his walking/recreational, grooming, and feeding needs?
Have you been able to exercise your current pooch regularly? Have you been able to spend time playing with him? How often have you enlisted extra help to care for your canine housemate?
A dog whose needs have been satisfactorily met is a well-adjusted and secure pet. He is better disposed to having a canine buddy and can live with one harmoniously.
If your current dog socialises well, is confident of your affection, and looks happy and healthy, then you can say that you have done a good job.
3. Is your dog in good health or is he suffering from an illness?
It is not a good idea to get a second dog if your first pooch is sickly. If you introduce the dogs to each other, the process can be very stressful and may worsen the condition of your first dog.
Adding a second dog right after your pooch has recovered from his illness is not recommended as well. He may suffer a relapse or suffer from another health issue due to stress.
The right decision would be to let him fully recover before getting a second dog.
4. Do you know what your current canine companion likes and dislikes?
Do you know what kind of dog would suit your first pooch? Your preferences should not be the only consideration in deciding to add a new canine addition.
Take note of the age, temperament, and sex of the dogs that your pooch likes to interact with, especially during your walks. How he relates with other canines in such situations will give you enough clues.
Temperament and age are important considerations. Some dog breeds simply do not make good bedfellows on paper and in real life. You can use our dog breed comparison tool to learn more about it.
However, there may be exceptions, and that is where your observations in actual dog interactions come into play. Naturally, puppies or dogs with high energy levels are not suitable companions for older dogs.
If your current dog is advanced in age, you should consider adopting a mature or calmer rescue dog. Puppies are better paired with adult dogs. That’s because full-grown pooches are more open to having a canine companion, unlike senior dogs.
5 Most-Asked Questions about Getting a Second Dog
“Should I get a second dog” is not the only frequently asked question of pet owners who plan to bring a new pooch home. Here we have compiled and answered other common inquiries about this topic:
What is the best age to introduce a second dog?
According to many breeders, you will need to rely on the age of your first dog. Ideally, he should be at least 1–2 years old before you add a second dog to your home.
2. Is it better to have 2 dogs of the same gender?
It may be better for your new furry friend to be of the opposite sex. Some owners have found male-female partnerships more harmonious than same-sex pairings.
This may be because a pack typically has an alpha male and alpha female. Having dogs of the same gender may trigger competition for the top spot.
3. Is it okay to raise 2 littermate puppies?
It is not advised to care for 2 puppies from the same litter. Chances are the 2 will develop stronger bonds than with you. This is called littermate syndrome.
It can be problematic, as it will impede their ability to adjust to their new home. They may become extremely anxious when they are away from each other, leading to behavior issues.
4. Should I get a second dog of the same breed?
Yes, it is a good idea, as some dogs get along better with dogs of the same breed. According to science, this could be because they have the same communication skills and therefore understand each other better.
Consider getting a second dog of the same breed if you have a small pooch too. Tiny dogs are prone to small dog syndrome. It is a behavioral issue that causes them to become combative with larger dogs.
By housing 2 small dogs together, you will prevent this problem in the future. Caring for dogs of the same size is recommended too, as pairing small dogs with large ones can heighten the risk of injuries during playtime.
5. What is the best age to get a second dog?
Rather than age, it is your commitment that will mainly determine the best time to get a second dog.
So long as you are fully prepared financially, emotionally, and physically to care for 2 furry companions, you are ready to add a new dog into the brood.
Dog Ownership Considerations in Future Tense
Rehoming dogs, whilst a humane option, is a sad event for both canine pets and owners. As such, it is best to avoid this decision as much as possible.
Taking your future outlook into consideration before bringing a second dog home is one way to do that. These questions should clarify your multi-pet ownership decision further.
Can you afford the costs of a multi-dog household?
If you think of foregoing some of the necessary expenses in properly caring for another pet, like veterinary visits and essential dog gear, then you are probably not financially ready for a new canine addition.
The same is true if you lack “disposable income” that you can allocate for the care of your furry friends. On average, the annual cost of keeping a canine companion is about £1,700.
This includes expenses on toys, food and water bowls, vaccination, insurance, and other accessories. This does not include the initial costs of acquiring one. Consider whether you can allocate this kind of amount for the entire lifetime of the second pet.
Are you going to be busy in the coming months?
You will have to postpone getting a second dog if you are going to have more professional or personal responsibilities.
It will be unfair to both your pet and your commitments if you are unable to sensibly juggle your responsibilities.
Start on the Right Paw: Introducing Your Second Dog to Your Resident Pooch
After ticking all the boxes to getting a second dog, introducing your current dog to the new one is your next challenge. That is because first impressions do matter with dogs.
We will share some handy tips to help you introduce your new pooch to your current dog:
Tip #1: You can start by bringing both your second dog and your first dog on neutral ground. The venue should not be inside your home or back garden as territorial issues may arise.
Walking the two dogs is a good way to start the introduction. Both pooches will be able to sniff each other, but their senses are also engaged in other interesting stuff around them.
Have a friend or family member help you, and choose a place with only a few people to keep your pet from becoming overstimulated. The end location of your walk should be your home.
Tip #2: Bring the 2 dogs to the back garden. Whilst on a long lead, let them observe each other.
Take note of their body language. If both dogs show a relaxed and happy stance, let go of the lead and allow them to interact closely with each other.
Tip #3: Keep your second dog separately from your resident dog in the early stages of introduction. Avoid letting them share the same space as it can trigger territorial behavior.
Make sure to remove any items such as toys that your resident dog will be protective of. This will make it easier for both pooches to get along in their first few days together.
Tip #4: Once they are comfortable with each other, slowly bring out the toys that you have hidden away.
Let your second dog enjoy playing with your resident pooch to strengthen their bond further. Make sure to add more toys if there are only a few to avoid fights from erupting.
Your second dog should have his own daily necessities too, such as bedding, collar, and lead. Never allow both pets to share the same belongings, especially food bowls, as this is a recipe for disaster.
Tip #5: It is inevitable for disagreements to happen between the 2 dogs. So make sure that they are supervised to stop dogfights amongst them.
Be on the lookout for changes of body language that hint that a dog is about to attack. Some aggression signs that you need to be aware of are: rigid body posture, growling, baring of teeth, and yawning.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Assistance
Introducing your second dog to his new home is a challenging task. You can enlist the help of another person for this, as each dog must have his own handler during the introduction.
It could be the previous owner or a local trainer. This will improve the chances of your pets forming a strong bond and becoming best buddies for life.
