We all have this thought at one point or another, whether you are a new dog owner or seasoned veteran. You got a dog, things are going well, a routine has been made and your lifestyles have synced up beautifully. Then you begin to wonder, are they lonely? You know you can’t be by their side 24/7 like you would hope, there are going to be times when they are alone. As you watch your dog sleep comfortably on their bed you question if they would be happier with a brother or sister to expand your four-legged family, this way they will never have to feel lonely! While there are many benefits and fun times to consider when contemplating introducing a new dog, there are things to be aware of and questions you should ask yourself before committing to double the mouths, double the fur, and double the vet bills.
Where Is Your Dog Emotionally?
One of the first questions you must ask is where is your dog at emotionally? I don’t mean are they happy or sad, but where is their confidence level? Are they fairly obedient? Have they completed formal training? Before you introduce another mind into your mix, it is best to know that your current furchild is in a comfortable routine with you, and is responsive when you need them to be. When you add another dog/animal you are adding a new distraction, and a new temptation. Dogs speak their own language much better than they speak humans. Much like two children talking with each other, it is more fun and more tempting than listening to the adult in the room. Hearing and acting on the temptation given by a sibling is usually more difficult than the standard distractions your dog has already potentially mastered in the home and outside. Getting even basic obedience fully handled with your first dog is crucial before considering a new one. Doing so will solidify when you need to step in and work through situations with your dogs. You can put more focus on the new one that is learning and put more faith into the veteran dog who should know what you want without always being told.
How Social is Your Dog, Really?
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are NOT pack animals - at least not in the way we think of a pack animal. In the wild, they may form small packs out of necessity for survival, but this isn’t the standard we should be looking at. When you look at wolves, they tend to keep to a pack in the same sense of it being a family unit. What was once considered an “alpha” is really just a parental unit with their pups, forming a strong family that doesn’t always welcome outsiders. This is the standard we should be considering, not the dominant alpha, but the strong family. Dogs are much the same way, now fully domesticated to be with humans - even our most primitive and ancient breeds. Humans are the natural pack that a dog searches for when given the option (and barring any trauma).
The vast majority of dogs, especially within certain breeds, are not what is commonly considered as “dog friendly.” Instead the colloquial term is “dog selective.” A dog can functionally have one or two canine friends and be perfectly happy, even less in some cases. Dogs not bred to work in a group (i.e. herding dogs, livestock guardians, hounds) are usually much happier as lone dogs, monopolizing the love and attention of the owners that they were bred to serve and bond with. Anything beyond that could be perceived as a threat to their most precious resource, you, if not handled properly.
What Age is Your Dog?
Another factor to consider is your dog’s age. Is your dog still young and spry with a breed known for its longevity? Or have they reached full “adulthood” at five or six years old? Dogs, like people, tend to do better with like-aged individuals, with the exception of certain outliers to the norm. Getting a younger dog or a puppy for your older or senior dog can be a fun idea, but will likely spell trouble. While a lot of us like to imagine and have likely seen videos of a wise, older dog teaching and bonding with a puppy as they coach the new introduction through life - the reality is older dog’s lose steam fast. It may be
entertaining, and funny watching the two try and keep up with each other, but remember that the stress threshold and the tolerance levels of an adult dog is much lower when compared to a puppy or adolescent who may still be learning boundaries and appropriate behaviors. A similarly aged dog would ideally understand when their new sibling says “I don’t like when you play like this” or “I don’t approve of this behavior with me” and respond accordingly. It is important to consider what your dog at their age is willing to tolerate to help you decide whether to find a puppy or maybe a calm, older dog just to keep them company. If you do still choose a puppy, take more steps in helping the new dog understand the rules of the house and advocate for your older dog, helping them when needed and not relying on them to work naturally together. Giving the adult dog somewhere else to go away from the younger one may be a useful solution as well until the puppy matures more.
Can You Afford It?
Easily one of the most important questions on this list, can you afford another dog? The potential fun and excitement of having a second dog is great, but there are additional finances beyond the purchasing or adoption of a dog. Another dog comes with another mouth to feed, another set of vaccinations, more training classes, more routine vet visits, more grooming visits, more. Depending on the size of both your current dog and the size of the new one, that price adds up quickly! Along with this, contrary to most individual’s goals when considering another dog, it is also twice the energy you have to give. Now you have to exercise and make sure the physical and emotional needs of two dogs are met, not just one. While many people are more than capable of this, if your original goal was to get another companion to exercise and entertain your first one for you, then you may want to reconsider. Those who go into it imagining that half of the work would be done for them, are in for a rude awakening. Dogs can and will tire each other out, but the amount of time that is greatly increases - since play is a mindless activity. Dogs are built to move for long spurts of time typically, and when left to act on instinct and not conscious though, they can go for hours without tiring.
It is also important to remember that two dogs are two different individuals. Just because it was smooth sailing with the upbringing of your first dog, does not mean that the path is already paved for your second one. If you are looking at a breeder, a good one will help give you guidance and maybe even tools on smooth sailing and advice on the breed you are getting. If you are considering adopting, this means the background of your dog is either unknown or potentially traumatic. The adjustment period will be different for your new dog, how they learn may be different, how they understand and pair concepts may be different, even if you get the same breed. They are NOT your first dog, they are their own individual pup. While your first dog never needed to be crated, they always slept through the night and never destroyed anything when you left. Your new one may have anxiety and need more work and maintenance to get to that point, if they can get to it at all. Understand and have patience that you are going to be putting in more work to get both dogs to a happy, healthy, well-adjusted point together before just getting a dog and hoping for the best.
If you read any of these and were confident in your responses, you may be ready to introduce a new member to your family unit! Introducing and acclimating your new dog will be a fun adventure for you and your first pup. Final Call Dog Training is more than happy to help with the process of introducing and giving your dogs neutral grounds to learn and work together as you work to make sure everyone is comfortable in the home and the transition from “only furchild” to “sibling” goes as smoothly as possible.
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