Bringing a second dog into your home: is it a good idea?

More and more dog owners believe that if one dog is fun and makes them happy, possibly two would be better. Most dogs enrich people’s lives. So why not bring someone else into your life?

There are 3 things to consider when bringing a second or third dog into your life.

1. Get the right mix
2. Size and breed
3. Your current role as dogs

There are very few dogs that cannot live with another member of their species. What type of dog companion will best suit your current rover?

Get the right mix

Obviously, the most important factor is how well the dogs will get along. If you mix 2 confident and dominant dogs of the same sex, they will not get along very well. This means that there is a higher probability that there will be some conflict. However, a more dominant dog will show great tolerance towards a dog that immediately submits to it. Even dogs of the same sex can get along once they determine which one is dominant. Until the role is determined, conflicts can arise.

Size and breed

Size or breed does not determine what order in the hierarchy it will assume. There are many small dogs that can and will play with much larger dogs. There are also larger dog breeds that will be brought down to the level of a smaller dog to play with. Once again, the dominant role must be established. If you have a second or third puppy that is the same breed as the first, they will generally have the same activity level and exercise needs. This will help you determine the type and behavior of the dogs, since you already have one. There is no guarantee that once the dogs are together, they will play happily together.

Your current role as dogs

No matter how old your dog is, if your current dog is experienced, well behaved, and self-confident, they will most likely welcome a shy or insecure new addition. Your dog will feel like a hero, a role model so to speak. The original canine feels that he must maintain his position in the family. In fact, they can become more active and participate more in family life. They may also develop paternal feelings that help raise the new dog or puppy. If your dog is misbehaving and not well established, you may want to think twice before bringing in dog number 2. If you think your older dog may be overwhelmed by the presence of another dog, you may want to reconsider. Or at least choose a dog that is older and calm, and has no problem being submissive to his original dog.

In any case, your dog must possess good obedience skills and his training must be at least reliable. It should have gone through the early stages of development as well. There are many people who have 2 or more dogs and they adapt very well. The ideal pair of dogs can only be decided on a case-by-case basis.