What I Wish I Knew Before Getting A Second Dog
If you’re considering adding a second dog to the family, congratulations! Not only are you doing a good thing for your current pup, but it’s also an opportunity to get one of the best types of friends around: a canine companion. However, bringing home a new dog is not as simple as picking out a puppy and bringing it home. You need to plan ahead carefully if you want things to go smoothly when introducing them to each other. Here are some things that I wish I knew before getting my second dog—and that anyone who’s thinking about getting two dogs should know:
Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Before you get a second dog, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. If you want a new pet and think getting a rescue is an easy way to do it, think again. You don’t have to be rich to get a second dog (although it can help). However, if your spouse or significant other wants one and isn’t willing to compromise on anything—like whether or not the dogs will share toys—it’s probably time for him or her to get his/her own dog.
You should also ask yourself why you want another dog in the first place. Are you just bored with your current pet? Is having two dogs going to make him happier? There are lots of reasons why people get more than one pup at once but they can often lead down some pretty rocky roads later on down the road when things aren’t working out as planned
Bring home a puppy first.
- Puppies are easier to train than adult dogs
- Puppies are easier to socialize than adult dogs
Get them to know each other on neutral territory before bringing a new dog home.
My first dog was an adult when I adopted him, and he had already been around lots of people and other dogs. He had a lot of experience with the world and knew what to expect from it. This made life easier for both of us when I brought my second dog home as a puppy.
However, if you’re getting another dog later in life or adopting from a shelter, don’t despair! There are ways to introduce them slowly so they can learn to love each other just as much as you do.
Step one: Let them get used to each other’s smells before meeting in person.
This is especially important because most dogs use their sense of smell more than their eyesight when trying to figure out who someone else is (unless they’re visually impaired). So let your new pup smell his crate first before introducing him properly outside its confines—and do the same with your current canine companion!
Go slowly with introductions.
You may have learned in your first training book that you should bring the dogs together in your home or yard, but this is not always the best idea.
In fact, it’s often better to introduce them in neutral territory—the area where neither dog has been before. This is because each dog has a unique personality and may react differently when meeting another dog for the first time (or any time). One might be shy and cautious while another is outgoing and friendly. Some dogs are territorial, so they need space to get used to each other without feeling confined by fences or walls; others feel more comfortable when there’s nothing else around them except their new friend!
So how do you know if your pooch will react well? Start by introducing them outdoors on leashes so you can keep control of their movements if necessary. The less distractions there are outdoors—especially other people—the better chance both dogs have at getting along peacefully!
Let your older dog decide if it’s “let’s be friends” or “leave me the heck alone.”
As an older dog, your dog may not be as enthusiastic about the idea of a new dog in the family. However, some dogs do take to a new companion right away and others need time to adjust. When you bring home your second dog, you’ll have to watch for signs of discomfort or aggression from the older one.
If your first dog seems uninterested in playing with the new pup, it may be because she’s feeling territorial over her territory (you and your attention). This could also be caused by fear; if so, try giving her more attention and praise when she tries to interact with the puppy. Don’t put any pressure on them at this point—they will probably figure out how they want their relationship with each other to go naturally over time!
Separate them when you’re not around at first.
Separation anxiety is a real problem. It can lead to destructive behavior and even aggression, depression, and fear. If you’ve never had a dog with separation anxiety and aren’t sure what it looks like, here’s an example of some destruction caused by separation anxiety (note: this is not from my own experience):
People often think that dogs are just being “puppy” when they chew through their door or destroy the couch or bark for hours on end; but in fact these behaviors are not “cute quirks.” They’re signs of serious emotional distress: your dog isn’t feeling safe or comfortable in its environment without you there. This distress can cause your dog to become aggressive toward others, including people he loves dearly (like his owner).
If they need to be separated, make sure it’s safe and comfortable for them.
If you decide to cage your dogs, make sure that the cages are large enough for the dog to be comfortable and not feel confined. The rule of thumb is that if a dog can’t stand up in the cage, it’s too small for him or her.
If you have more than one crate and your dogs are aggressive toward each other, use those crates as well so they can still see each other but aren’t able to fight.
If your dog is anxious or easily stressed out by being alone in an unfamiliar place (such as when they’re boarded), don’t keep them in separate crates! It might seem like a good idea because it keeps them apart from each other; but since these dogs have already been introduced and bonded with each other, keeping them apart only serves as punishment for doing nothing wrong. It will upset both dogs when they realize what’s happening—and then make things worse when they get together again later on!
The best option is always just leaving them together in their normal living space without anything separating them unless absolutely necessary (i.e., if one needs medical attention).
Don’t get discouraged if they seem mad at you at first. It won’t last long.
While your new dog will be excited to be with you, they may feel strange and uncomfortable in their new home. Dogs are territorial animals, so they’ll likely try to stake their claim on the space around them by marking it with urine or feces. They might also become upset when they see you spending time with your other dog rather than them. This can lead to growling and snapping—and sometimes even biting.
This is normal, and it won’t last long! Just give them time to adjust (and maybe increase their walks or play sessions) and they’ll get used to each other quickly.
Give them time to adjust to each other’s routines and quirks.
It’s important to give your dogs time to adjust to each other’s routines and quirks.
They might not be able to instantly become best friends, but with some patience and understanding, you can create a strong bond between them. This will take time and effort on both your parts, but the payoff is worth it!
Don’t bring home a new dog until you’re ready to put in the hard work of making sure they get along together.
Some people might tell you to bring your dogs home together and let them figure it out. I am here to tell you that this is a terrible idea. My dogs did not get along at first, and it took me months of hard work to help them learn how to live in harmony with each other. If I had known then what I know now, I would have made sure my dogs learned how to get along BEFORE bringing them home, rather than waiting until they were already living in the same house together.
Give yourself time to adjust, and focus on how you can make the new addition a happy one.
