Getting a 2nd Dog

If you are a dog owner, you may feel that one dog is not enough. However, before you add another dog to your household, there are a few important points you should consider.
The first fairly obvious point is your dog’s nature. If your beloved pooch is a bit of a bully or a real Alpha Male and the new dog isn’t submissive, there are going to be some major battles before they sort out which dog is in charge. If, two dogs are equally dominant, then these battles may flare up again and again. By the time you’ve paid a fourth or fifth vet’s bill to get their battle scars treated, you may regret the purchase of a second dog.

If your dog tends to be submissive, you could also have problems, as the new dog could bully your first dog and make his life miserable. Hopefully, you have a dog that does not lean too far in either direction. When you have a submissive dog at home, never buy a puppy that refuses to let you turn it over and cradle it upside down in your arms. When a puppy lets you hold it like you would hold an infant, it is a sign that the puppy is willing to be submissive.

Next, you should consider your current dog’s size. If you have a Yorkshire terrier, you may not want to buy a Boxer puppy. A big, rowdy puppy can hurt a small dog quite a few times before it realizes its own strength. If you currently own a big dog that has a great temperament, you may be able to add a small breed puppy to the family, but you will have to be prepared to keep a close eye on the dogs at first when they are together. More than one German Shepherd or Doberman has become the devoted protector of a tiny lap dog.

Do you have an unaltered female dog? These dogs often are upset when another female dog enters their domain. You may need to alter your dog before she will accept another female. She may still show some aggression after being spayed, so a male puppy may be a wiser choice. (Of course, you will have to alter at least one of your dogs unless you want to suddenly be the proud owner of 6 or 8 dogs.)

If you have an older dog, you may want to reconsider buying a puppy. These dogs often have aches and pains and are less patient than they were when they were younger. Instead, you may want to consider adding a more settled and mature dog to the family. After all, it will be easier on your older dog to adjust to a dog that has finished teething and chewing. However this is not always the case, some older dogs find a new lease of life when a puppy is introduced to the home. You should be the best judge of your dog’s temperament and be able to gauge how the older dog will react.

Finally, some breeds of dogs have more trouble accepting a new puppy than other breeds. Some of the toy breeds become a bit spoiled and jealous of other dogs. If you have a pampered Yorkshire terrier or Miniature Pinscher, you may find that introducing the new puppy can be a bit of a challenge. Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and other breeds that have problems with aggression may have problems, as well. However, each dog is an individual and some dogs who are members of these breeds have no problem accepting a new puppy.

Terry King runs pets2home.co.uk/ Parcel Pets, a leading UK pets2home.co.uk/ pet supplies web site and has had pets all his life. He lives with his wife Louise, dog Sam, Cat Sabrina and 5 fish!

Tags: pit bull, rottweiler, yorkshire terrier

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Tags: pit bull, rottweiler, yorkshire terrier