Should I get a second dog?

The answer is likely no.

I know I know… you think it will cure your other dog’s (insert behavior problem here).

But the truth is… it likely won’t.

What a second dog will do is:

• Double or sometimes even triple the work of caring for your dogs
• Double (at least) the cost of caring for your current dog
• Introduce more change and stress into your dog’s life
• Give you MORE to juggle training wise
• Potentially introduce more behavior struggles into the mix

And a lot of other - not intended things.

This might feel a little harsh, and it is! I see so many clients fall into the myth that a second dog can solve all the problems, and then they end up drowning in things they never expected would or could happen.

So…

Here are my main considerations as a dog behavior consultant when I am working with a client who wants to add a second dog to the family (or myself!).

Are you prepared to care for two behaviorally challenged animals?

Do you have the resources you may need to handle situations like this? Money for training, extra vet costs, management tools needed for your home, time spent away from work and other responsibilities to make sure the dogs are safe and healthy at home?

While it’s no fun to think about the worst case scenario, when you are making a 10+ year commitment to an animal, it is important to make sure that you have a plan for even the hardest situations. 

When I added my second dog, I spent a lot of time researching, choosing, and selecting the “perfect” dog for my home.

And yet, he struggled with aggression, anxiety, and some major fears and phobias that we’ve had to work through through the years. While it was sad to me, and still is at times, I had the resources I needed to handle a situation like this. Not everyone is as fortunate, and that’s okay. It is important to think about and be honest with yourself whether you do have the capacity to take on this extra risk.

Do you feel like the training and care for your current dog is easy or on autopilot?

If your current dogs’ care is feeling overwhelming to you, adding a second dog to the mix is not going to change that. It will likely create a bigger problem instead.

If you are working on a problem like separation anxiety, and you have the work with your trainer down to a habit that feels easy to work on each day, you feel on top of the other needs your current dog has, and you are able to easily handle any surprises with them, adding another responsibility may be easy for you! 

On the other hand, if you are struggling to complete the training that you know your pup needs or your family needs, adding another dog is just going to make it harder to reach those goals.

What need are you hoping a second dog will fill?

Have you always dreamed of having two dogs? Does your current dog really enjoy having a playmate?

Or are you hoping the second dog will be closer to the dog you envisioned when you got your first?

So often I see clients getting more and more dogs because they are wanting a different dog than the one they have. I understand that pain wholeheartedly, but the truth is NO dog is going to fill those expectations perfectly.

Unless you are willing to have multiple dogs that don’t fit exactly what you are looking for, don’t get a second dog.

Do you hope that adding a second dog will improve your current dog’s behavior problems?

For example, do you think having a buddy at home will stop the separation anxiety? Or having a friend to live with will stop the excitement of lunging and barking at other dogs on walks?

I have some sad news for you… not only does a second dog rarely help these circumstances, in most cases it makes the current dogs’ behaviors worse.

I have seen so many clients working with me who got a second dog to relieve separation anxiety or reactivity, and instead of solving the problem, the second dog ended up with them too!

Now the clients have two dogs with the same behavior challenge they were trying to solve.

Focus on your current dog and nail down a good training routine and method that works for you both, and then you can consider adding in a second.

Do you think that all dogs deserve a friend to live with?

While I understand the sentiment and am happy you are so considerate of your current pups’ feelings - there are so many ways to fulfill their social needs that won’t add more to your plate.

Finding a good quality playgroup or friend to get together with a few times a week would do the same thing without the risks mentioned above.

You count as socializing too! Dogs and humans are so connected now that dogs really don’t NEED other dogs to play with. Can it be a benefit? Of course! But spending quality time playing and meeting their needs with you is just as good. 

Now, if you’ve gotten this far, and you have checked all of these questions off or have already intensely considered them, you are okay with the risks, and you are excited to get to know another pup as deeply as your own… then congratulations! You’re ready to start the search for your next pup. 

As a two dog household over here, it really is amazing. But it is not for everyone! 

I am proud of you for taking the time to really consider these points and make sure that you are prepared and ready for whatever a second dog may bring. 

If you have decided against a second dog after reading through this - I am so proud of you too! It really takes a lot of selflessness to think about these things and make the right decision for your current dog and your family. And who knows - maybe in a few months things will be different, and you can add that second furry pup to your family.

I’m here for any questions or processing you might need… simply send me an email at [email protected] and I’m happy to help!