Would 2 Dogs Be Better Than 1?

Is 1 dog ever enough for a dog lover? Would 2 be better? These are common questions for dog devotees. Before you decide to add another dog to the family, there are some important considerations about your current dog that you need to think about.

Matching Up Personalities

First, what's you current dog's personality like? Your canine companion loves you, but how does it feel about sharing you? Is it sweet, servile and submissive? A new dog could bully your first dog and turn his life into fear and despair. When you already have a submissive dog, never accept a puppy that refuses to let you cradle it upside down in your arms. A puppy that lets you hold it as you would an infant is willing to be submissive.

If your dog is a bit of a bully with other dogs and the new dog shares the same trait, ouch! There are major battles on the horizon, until they sort out which is the alpha in-charge dog. Sometimes, with equally dominant personalities, the battles never really end. After a few skirmishes and trips to the vet, you'll be regretting the second pooch.

Your best chances for adding a new dog to the mix are when you have a balanced and confident pet. Dogs that are neither overly dominant, nor submissive, are more likely to accept and survive the addition of another dog in the household.

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Your next consideration is the size of you dog. If you have a little terrier, you may not want to purchase a Golden Retriever pup. A large, energetic puppy can accidentally injure a small dog over and over before it's aware of its superior strength. On the other hand, if you currently own a full-grown Golden Retriever, which undoubtedly has a terrific temperament, you may be able to bring a small terrier, or some other small-breed puppy into the family.

You'll just need to be prepared to watch the dogs closely in the early days when they're together. More than one German Shepard or Siberian Husky has become the devoted protector of an iddy-biddy lap dog.

If your dog is an unaltered female, she may become very displeased when another female dog enters her domain. She may need to be altered before she will accept a second female in the pack. She may still show some aggression even after being spayed. A male puppy might be a wiser choice. Besides, unless you're prepared to suddenly be the proud owner of a half-dozen more dogs, you'll have to alter at least 1 of them.

If your dog is older, you may want to reconsider buying a puppy. Older dogs often have aches and pains and are more impatient than they were when they were younger. Instead, consider adding a mature dog to the family. It will be an easier adjustment on your older dog while it's learning to love 1 that isn't teething and chewing up its favorite toys.

Toy lap-dog breeds tend to be spoiled by their owners and are jealous of other dogs. Establishing a new puppy with child-like demands on your time is not going to bring out the best from your #1 dog that has grown to expect your undivided attention. A pampered pooch can be a bit of a challenge. The more aggressive breeds, such as Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, are also likely to have problems.

Some dog breeds simply don't adjust well to competition -- ever. Like people, however, dogs are all individuals with independent personalities. Depending on your dog's nature, you should know best whether a new puppy would be welcomed.  

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