July 13th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Owning a dog is a big responsibility, you are directly in charge of another life that you need to feed, shelter, love and care for so sometimes the thought of handling more than one can be quite daunting but at the same time, you wonder if your furry friend wouldn’t like a friend to keep them company especially if they have periods of times when they are left alone while you are working. Well, this can be a great idea since dogs are social creatures by nature however, it is a big step and you also want to ensure that it’s not only the right move for you but for your pup too. So here are some things to consider if you are considering getting another dog or getting two dogs at once.  

Why You Might Want to Get Another Dog

There are quite a few reasons why you might want to get another dog, or if you know other than having multiple dogs you might just be wondering what the logic behind their decision was – after all surely that’s a lot of hard work, right? Well here are some of the main reasons people have more than one dog:

Companionship

Most pet owners make the choice to add a second to their home in order to keep their beloved pet company – unfortunately, very few of us can be with our dogs 24/7 no matter how much we may want to and since they are social animals when they are left alone they can suffer from separation anxiety or feel border and lonely. By giving them a friend to keep them company not only will they not feel lonely, but they can keep each other entertained too. Pups are less likely to suffer from separation anxiety too if they have a friend, so it will help to relieve the stress caused by anxiety and prevent undesirable behaviours that this can cause such as excessive barking, chewing, lack of appetite or general bad behaviour.

While you can be just as successful in adding a new dog to the family later down the line if the thought of two puppies is too much – it may take a little longer for them to adapt to each other’s presence and just like humans have their own personalities so do dogs and sometimes they just are not compatible with each other. This is why it is sometimes more beneficial to raise both from puppies this way they will grow together and form a stronger bond.

Playtime

As mentioned dogs are social creatures and they are very active, they need mental and physical stimulation to really thrive so having a canine buddy to run and play with. This is good new for you too as you won’t need to exhaust yourself trying to keep up with boisterous pups since fellow dogs will be able to keep up with each other much better!

Training Opportunities

To provide training opportunities. If one of your concerns is how well-behaved either dog will behave when left alone at home by himself/herself, adding another animal could help address this issue by providing extra stimulation through interaction between them during those times. Introducing a young pup to a home with an older one can also make training somewhat easier as the older dog can help to train the pup with learning by example.

How to Pick A Dog That Will Get Along with Your Current Pup

Now if you have already made up your mind to get a second dog, your concern may be more related to picking a pup that is compatible. While there is no sure-fire way to know if two animals will get along with each other there are a few things you should consider.

The first thing to think about is how your current dog reacts to others, are they curious? Do they show signs of aggression? Are they playful? Or do they seem disinterested? This is important because you want to find a companion who will match their personality – if your dog shows aggression or is territorial then it may be worth considering getting some training classes first to get them used to socialising and also consider getting the opposite gender as in most cases they will get along much better as there is less likely to be competition to assert dominance over the other.

If you are looking to add a young pup to the family, then it is worth noting that most breeders recommend doing this no later than your older dog is one or two years old. For very old dogs they may not be able to keep up with the energy that a new puppy will have and they may lose patience or show disinterest.

However, if you are looking to adopt a rescue that is also around the same age as your dog then this should be fine, but again you want to consider their personalities. With adoption, most agencies will tell you how well they react to other dogs or even some background from previous owners whether they live with other dogs etc. This can be much easier to find a suitable companion and also provides the opportunity to give an older dog a second chance at a happy home.

How Do You Introduce Two Dogs?

The tricky part comes with introducing the dogs to one another, if you are lucky this can be a breeze and there will be no issues especially if both dogs have friendly and sociable personalities. However, here are a few tips to make the whole process a bit easier.

Where possible try to introduce your dog to the potential new pup a couple of times before bringing them into the home, that way they will already be familiar with each other and it may help to prevent either from feeling threatened.

While introducing them for the first time, be sure to keep both dogs on a leash as this will make it easier to separate them should they begin to fit, it can also help to keep excitable dogs under control too. You should start introducing them slowly allow them to get to know each other bit by bit, and keep them separated with a fence or pen where possible gradually increasing the period of time they spend together.

Most importantly is to ensure that both dogs are treated fairly, feed them at the same time, praise and pet them in equal measure and make sure to always treat both at the same time. This will prevent them from being competitive with each other and will also help to relieve any anxiety your older dog may feel by the addition of a new member – be sure to always show both that they are equally loved.

Important Factors to Consider

Now that you hopefully have a better understanding of the benefits of having two dogs and how best to go about introducing a new pup into the home, there are a few other important factors to consider too after all it is a large commitment.

Consider the responsibility

While owning two dogs comes with so many wonderful advantages to both your and your pups – it is also a huge responsibility too. The time commitment required by each individual animal will increase dramatically when adding another member into the mix; this means more walks per day as well as additional playtime during which both dogs get the exercise you will also need to consider whether you have the room to accommodate another dog. This is not a decision to be rushed into after all you are putting an extra life in your hand so it is vital you ensure you are up to the level of responsibility such a decision requires.

The Cost

The cost of two dogs may be more than what you were expecting. If one of them gets sick or needs veterinary care, that could add up quickly! Plus, there are food and supplies that need regular replacement (or upgrading). You might want to make sure that your budget can handle having two pets before making any decisions about getting another pet in general.

We hope you've learned a little more about how to get a second dog, and whether or not it's right for you. If you're still unsure, don't worry! We understand that there are many factors involved in making this kind of decision so the most important thing is to be certain, be rational and take your time.