Are you a single-dog family however you’re pondering you may need to get a second canine?
We’re!
Listed here are 5 questions it’s best to contemplate earlier than adopting a second canine. I’ll embody our solutions beneath every tip, in case it’s useful to see a real-life instance.
As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This website makes use of affiliate hyperlinks, which implies I’ll make a tiny fee on merchandise bought by hyperlinks clicked at no additional value to you. This retains us working, so thanks on your help!
So, let’s dig in:
In case you’re eager about getting a second canine, whether or not you’re simply within the early dreaming part or in the event you’re actively looking for one other pup, listed here are 5 issues to think about:
1. How have you learnt in the event you ought to get a second canine?
That is the million-dollar query. How have you learnt if getting a second canine is the best name or not? Properly, the reality is, you don’t.
Nonetheless, you may make an knowledgeable evaluation. Ask your self the next:
- Does my canine get pleasure from taking part in with and being round different canine?
- Can our household’s funds make room for a second set of veterinary appointments, vaccinations, pet food, provides, and so forth? (Try this put up for budgeting ideas.)
- Is everybody in my household on board?
- Do I’ve the time to stroll, practice, groom, and many others. a second canine?
- Is there sufficient time and house in your house for 2 crates or for every canine to have his or her personal separate relaxation time? And 1:1 time with you? And supervised play time?
For us, our evaluation was fairly easy: Penny loves different canine. She desires to skitter with each canine she sees and tries desperately to befriend each canine who stops to smell.
Our complete household is on board as a result of she consistently solicits play from the cats and from the human ladies, who’re all kinda bored with that habits, so having a second canine will diffuse a few of her playful vitality.
And our schedules are extraordinarily conducive to a second canine: Both John or I or we each make money working from home each day, so there’s an grownup right here at almost all occasions.
2. When do you have to undertake a second canine?
Timing issues.
In case your canine is aged or affected by a well being situation, it’s most likely not the best time to undertake one other canine.
In case your pet isn’t absolutely home educated and your work schedules have modified and the family nonetheless wants to regulate otherwise you simply had a child, it’s most likely not the best time so as to add one other canine.
Solely you’ll know when the timing is true, however the solutions lie inside these questions posed beneath the primary level. Everybody, different pets included, must be on board with including a second canine.
For us, Penny solely just lately overcame a few of her larger fears and apprehensions round the home. Whereas her nervousness dominated, it wasn’t the best time to undertake a second canine regardless that Penny loves taking part in with different pups. We would have liked her to be absolutely settled and safe, plus fairly well-trained on fundamental cues, earlier than we might even contemplate one other canine. Now, Penny is these issues and extra!
3. Are canine happier with a second canine?
That is SUCH an necessary query and in addition a tricky one to reply immediately. Why? As a result of all canine are people.
Our beloved Cooper, who we misplaced in 2023, was happiest being an solely canine. He didn’t love different canine usually, and he had no real interest in taking part in with different canine. He simply needed his individuals. If we adopted a second canine in the course of the latter half of his life, he may’ve settled into it or accepted the scenario, however I’m satisfied he wouldn’t have been happier than if he had been a singleton.
Penny is the other. She will’t appear to get sufficient of assembly new canine.
Take into consideration your canine and your canine’s particular character. Does she or he get pleasure from assembly new canine on walks? Does your pup search out alternatives to play with different canine? That doesn’t essentially imply your canine can’t or gained’t be happier with a second canine, however it’s value contemplating.
Quite a bit rests on the character of the second canine, too. Years in the past, after we added a 3rd canine to our authentic herd, I wrote about a few of my multiple-dog-household failings. You possibly can learn that right here.
4. What are the cons of getting a second canine?
You’ll double your pet care prices, in fact.
And also you’ll enhance the period of time you want every day for routine pet care, like feeding, strolling, nail filing, and–most particularly–coaching.
Your canine may want plenty of oversight and administration earlier than they bond–and they won’t ever bond.
If the second canine is a pet, effectively, you get the nightmare of coping with a pet.
In our home, the most important “con” is our cats. Newt and Ripley deserve a say in how issues are run round right here. Newt does an incredible job setting boundaries with canine, however she’s spent her complete life with a complete vary of canine with differing personalities. Ripley had solely ever been with Cooper, who was a really cat-friendly canine. It took her a great 10 months to just accept Penny as a part of our little herd, so an enormous con for us is the upheaval for Ripley. (Though she’ll doubtless respect one other canine taking part in with Penny as a substitute of Penny making an attempt to play together with her on a regular basis!)
5. Am I prepared for a second canine?
That is an often-overlooked query.
How do YOU really feel about adopting a second canine? Are you prepared?
It is a exhausting one for me as a result of Penny is actually my good angel. (She is neither good nor an angel, however she is MY good angel.) A few of my worries: What if she and a brand new canine get right into a battle and she or he loses among the belief we’ve labored so exhausting to construct together with her? What if the brand new canine wants a lot consideration or coaching that Penny feels unhappy or omitted? What if Penny bonds extra with new canine and stops cuddling me each night as a result of that’s my favourite time of day and I’d be so unhappy to lose that? And so forth, and so forth.
Truthfully? That is arguably the query it’s best to spend essentially the most time on as a result of, because the human, all the burden of integrating a number of canine will fall in your shoulders, and whereas your current canine shall be considerably impacted–it gained’t be any greater than you’re.
How does your coronary heart really feel about adopting one other canine?
You’ve determined to carry dwelling a second canine. Congrats! Don’t neglect the 3-3-3 rule.
You possibly can learn the whole put up right here, however the gist:
The primary 3 days are on your canine to acclimate to his or her new environment. That is the “the place the heck am I” and “am I staying right here” part. At this level, your canine isn’t exhibiting his or her true colours due to the overwhelm.
The primary 3 weeks are on your canine to be taught the family guidelines and limits in a loving, form, optimistic approach. It begins your bonding course of off on the best foot (er, paw?) and establishes the inspiration of your relationship.
The primary 3 months are for socialization, coaching, and new experiences. By the top of three months, your canine ought to really feel settled and safe. Part of the household.
Solely, as a substitute of granting this grace to solely the brand new canine, you have to lengthen it to incorporate your current canine, too. She or he shall be going by a serious adjustment, as effectively, so permitting a lot of time and house for each canine to acclimate whilst you stay calm, current, and affected person is THE KEY to success.
How do you select the best second pup for your loved ones?
The place to look? How previous ought to the canine be? Does breed matter? Or gender?
Keep tuned. That’s the subject for subsequent week!
Be a part of me on Instagram to observe together with our seek for the right pup to be besties with Penny!
Seize a free copy of the ebook Optimistic Reinforcement Coaching for Canines of ALL Talents while you be a part of my e-mail neighborhood!
Learn Extra
