You just can’t get enough of dogs and have already considered whether having a second dog would be nice? But before welcoming another one into your home, there are several things to consider. Multi-dog ownership demands certain requirements from you and, above all, does not solve existing dog-related issues. Here’s how to make a good decision and properly prepare for multi-dog ownership of at least two four-legged friends!
Key Requirements for Multi-Dog Ownership
As appealing as multi-dog ownership may be for dog lovers, having more than one canine companion not only increases the fun with dogs. Therefore, before eagerly bringing home a second roommate, you should clarify financial, spatial, and time-related prerequisites.
With a second dog, the following increase:
- Costs for food, veterinary care, accessories, and liability insurance
- Time spent on grooming and dog training such as separate dog training
- Required knowledge for leading a pack
- Space required in the apartment and car
- Limitations in holiday planning, expensive external care
Additionally, consider the following points:
- First, dispel the most common misconception about multi-dog ownership: dogs in a dog pack do not engage with each other on their own! The human remains their most important reference point.
- Consider whether you can share the tasks of multi-dog ownership with someone else, or if you will have to handle everything alone soon. Do you have enough strength and time resources for it?
- Make the decision for or against a second dog as objectively as possible and also consider what’s best for your first dog. Is your dog a loner who is strongly attached to you? Then the second dog could become a problem for him.
Multi-Dog Ownership: Which Dogs Are Compatible?
Not all dogs are made for each other, even though dogs are generally pack animals and very sociable. Whether you opt for a male or female, an older dog, or a youngster should be tailored to your first dog.
Here are some thoughts:
The gender of the dogs plays a significant role in their coexistence – and yours, of course. A male and a female can generally adapt more quickly. If both are unneutered, they must be kept separated during the female’s heat cycle, unless you want offspring. This can be quite stressful in everyday life. The heat cycle or false pregnancy of a female does not always make her care easy. Two females can develop significant rivalries. Walking a male and a female in heat should be well trained to prevent aggressive behavior towards other dogs. This also applies if you have two females in heat.
A young dog can bring joy back to a senior dog’s life, but it can also overwhelm him enormously and be constantly under-stimulated itself. Just as a disabled dog could wonderfully orient itself on a healthy one, so the fit second dog can permanently stress both older and disabled dogs.
Good to know:
Dog experts assume an optimal age difference of up to about three years so that the dogs do not hinder or negatively influence each other in their developmental phases. However, it should be noted that small dogs mature faster but age slower than very large dogs. Therefore, the pure life age is only a rough guideline. The individual nature is certainly more decisive for the compatibility between two dogs.
Extreme differences in size and breed can ultimately lead to the larger dog not accepting the smaller one as its fellow or even (unintentionally) injuring it. A calm character will not cope well with a boisterous dog, whereas a dominant and a fearful dog can become good partners.
Three Rules for a Dog Pack
In multi-dog ownership, training becomes even more important. If you’re adding a new dog to your existing single-dog household, it shouldn’t be a rushed decision. Take some time off for this, as bringing dogs together requires time for necessary preparations and inner peace to thoroughly engage with your growing pack.
Rule #1: Love Goes Through the Nose and Stops at Feeding
Dogs decide who is friend and who is foe through smell. Therefore, bring a blanket or toy of the other dog into your home beforehand and also give the other dog something to sniff. This way, both dogs can become familiar with each other’s scent in advance. Provide separate sleeping places and place feeding and water bowls far apart.
Rule #2: Introduction on Neutral Ground
The first meeting of the two dogs should take place on neutral ground. An ideal location is a low-distraction, fenced area. For the introduction, you need a helper to lead the new dog. Well-socialized and obedient dogs can make contact off-leash. In case of doubt, use leash for both, so you can retrieve them if necessary. Take them for a walk until their excitement subsides.
Before the new dog enters the apartment, remove all food remnants and scattered toys so there are no disputes over possessions during the first visit. When entering the apartment, lead the new four-legged friend while your helper waits with the first dog. Let the newcomer thoroughly explore the home, then invite the helper with your dog to join.
Exercise patience:
It may take more than two weeks for the dogs to settle in and be left unsupervised.
Rule #3: Establishing the Pecking Order
Move away from the traditional notion of “letting the dogs sort it out themselves,” because it’s not the dominant dog that’s in charge, but you as the “alpha” of the pack.
Observe closely how the hierarchy develops in multi-dog ownership. Only accept the dominant position of a dog if the pack does not suffer from it. Make it clear to your dogs what you won’t tolerate and create relaxation by establishing clear rules that apply to everyone and don’t favor anyone. Often, small corrections are enough, such as when a dog fixated on playing terrorizes a peace-seeking one. Then, simply take on the role of playmate for a while or ensure that the active dog leaves the other one alone. Separate sleeping places – if necessary, in different rooms – are preventive because you can send the dogs to their respective places.
Rule #4: Preventing Jealousy
To prevent jealousy in multi-dog ownership, you must devote yourself to both dogs thoroughly – individually and together. Find time and peace to reassure the first dog that you are still reliably there for him. What do your quadrupeds like? One likes playing frisbee, the other has an excellent nose? Then, alternate between the two. And: Find something that both dogs enjoy tremendously. This bonds the pack together!
When the Pack Grows
If you want to keep more than two dogs, repeat these steps. However, it’s about your existing pack accepting the newcomer, which can be more challenging but doesn’t have to be. If you’re unsure, an experienced dog trainer can assess and support the situation.
Multi-Dog Ownership: Further Reading
Feel free to organize more information; it’s not dishonorable. There are seminars and books on multi-dog ownership. And if things still don’t work out, seek professional help! The less negative behaviors become entrenched, the easier they will be to overcome.
