Should You Get Another Dog?
Do you ever find yourself wondering what life might be like if you added a new dog to the equation?
Whether it’s from scrolling through ads, browsing rescue pages, or eyeing those “Puppies for Sale” signs, we’ve all felt that little tug on our heartstrings from time to time. However, it’s important to remember that a new dog will inevitably bring a lot of change to your home and lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at some important considerations first!
Why do you want a second dog?
Examine your motivations before welcoming a new pet to the family.
One common reason people might consider getting another dog is so their dog can have a friend. There is a lot of media influence out there that implies that dogs need dog friends or need to live in a pack to be happy or fulfilled – this is simply not true! Modern dogs have been heavily selected for companionship to humans. In fact, there are plenty of dogs who do not enjoy the company of other dogs and would much rather spend time with their humans.
There is also a widespread misconception that adding another dog might somehow improve the behavior of the first dog. In reality, what you end up with is double the energy, double the work. (Also, if the new dog is a puppy, you can go ahead and triple that!)
Ask any trainer and they can tell you that they have heard it a million times:
“We got the second dog hoping it would tire out the first dog.”
Sometimes the fantasy of that new dog just doesn’t turn out the way you might have imagined it, so it’s important to take a step back and look at things from a practical standpoint. If your new dog ends up needing a lot of help adjusting to your current lifestyle, are you ready to commit that time and energy into making things work?
How well-trained are your current dogs?
Before adding a new dog, you want to make sure your current dogs are solid – really solid – with their training.
This is not only so that your attention can be focused more on the new dog, but also so the dogs, who now outnumber you, don’t start picking up naughty behaviors from one another. When two dogs start feeding into each other’s naughty behaviors they can be doubly difficult to manage.
If you’re not sure your current dog is ready, reach out to a trainer in your area for some help. They may even be able to give you some insight into what kind of dogs will be compatible with your lifestyle!
Will your current dog(s) accept a newcomer?
Ask yourself:
- Is your dog social when greeting new dogs, or are they simply tolerating interactions in a polite way?
- Does your dog seem to enjoy playing with other dogs and get along with most dogs they meet?
If you find that the answers are not in your favor, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get another dog, but it does mean you have your work cut out for you while integrating a new dog into the home. You will need to plan in advance and be prepared to do a lot of management and supervision for a while. Be aware that this decision can cause a lot of stress in your household for an unknown amount of time, and stress can lead to emotional, behavioral, or health issues in all of the dogs involved.
If you do think your dog may really like having another dog around, you should still consider whether their individual personalities will be compatible. Like people, some dogs just don’t jive well with each other. If your dog is social, you should observe their reaction to other dogs and keep track of which types of dogs, genders, and play styles they respond to. A dog that has a history of responding poorly to dogs of the same gender, bigger size, or different age group is not likely to change that outlook overnight. When two or more dogs really don’t get along, it can even become a risky situation, so you will want to weigh that risk-to-benefit ratio carefully and be selective about what traits you’re looking for in a new dog.
Do you have enough time?
A new dog will need a lot of your time to adjust to the new environment.
No matter how perfect they may seem in their online bio, any dog is going to need dedicated, individual attention and training time with you. It’s difficult to know exactly how much time is needed until you bring them home and they have had time to decompress. Everything from potty training, to walks, to staying quiet overnight while the household is sleeping may take time and effort to achieve.
Dogs who are not getting their needs met on a daily basis are more likely to develop behavioral issues which creates an even higher need for training and management, so if you don’t feel like you have plenty of extra time to help a new dog succeed, it may be best to hold off and invest time in your current dog(s) instead!
Do you have small animals or children?
It is crucial to be particularly discerning if you have children or small animals in the mix.
You cannot rely solely on the biography or ad that was written online to determine a dog’s level of friendliness. Dogs may behave differently in new environments or when they are feeling insecure, and also may not have had the same level of exposure to small animals or children that they will have with you. It is important to factor in the energy levels, sounds, smells, and activities that typically occur in your home.
Also, consider whether or not the children in the home can behave reliably and trusted to follow the rules that you set for the dog. It may sound fun to give your kids a puppy as a gift, but a dog is too big of a responsibility for a child to burden alone. Always plan on being the one primarily responsible for the new dog. If the new dog needs extra help adjusting to your children or small animals, consider whether you are up for the challenge of managing the household or pursuing training to help them fit in.
What is the backup plan?
Do you have a backup plan in place if the dog turns out to be a poor fit for your home or family? Once you take a dog home, options may be limited, depending on where they came from. Often, the original owner, seller, or rescuer may not be willing or able to take the dog back right away. That can put you and the new dog in a difficult situation, so make sure you know your options ahead of time. If you truly don’t have any backup options, you may want to plan a little more before proceeding.
If you are worried about a new dog fitting in, here’s a great alternative: try fostering a dog through a reputable rescue! Fostering can be a great way to see how adding a second dog affects your lifestyle without making a long term commitment. Check out our recent post to learn more about the process!
Do you have the finances?
A dog is a big financial commitment!
Sometimes when we are excited about an idea, we forget to consider the logistics. Even if you are already used to having a dog, it’s important to think about how a second dog will affect your finances. Everything is doubled: double vet bills, double boarding costs, double feeding costs, double the training – that stuff adds up!
If you find that finances will be a challenge, maybe hold off and save up for your future dog, or, once again, consider fostering a dog in the meantime. Many rescues will provide support for their foster families, including things like food, collars, leashes, vet bills, etc, so you can really just focus on the dogs without worrying about the financial commitment up front!
Is this really the right time?
Raising a dog is a long-term commitment.
Dogs can live up to 15-20 years, and having a dog will undoubtably affect your lifestyle. Although it is very difficult to predict where you will be in a decade, you should still think about how having a dog might change or limit your options for the future and make sure you’re prepared for what may come.
For example, if there’s a chance you may need to rent an apartment or a house in the future, be aware that many landlords don’t allow certain sizes or breeds, or have restrictions on how many pets you can keep.
Having two dogs may seem really doable before you start working longer hours, before you have kids, before you begin traveling more, etc. Yet after those big life changes, having a second or third dog can really exacerbate things going forward, and you don’t want to set yourself up for trouble by not planning ahead now.
Ask yourself the tough questions!
It’s easy to see the positive reasons to get a new dog, but it is important to really delve deep and look at things objectively before making a final decision.
Remember, there is no need to rush! There will always be plenty of amazing dogs who need homes, so you can always wait for the right time or the right dog to come along. In the meantime, you could try fostering dogs for a while to see what it’s like to have a second dog as you search for that “just right” fit!