Having a dog is one of the best things in life, but what do you do when you can’t spend enough time with your pup? Many people assume that having a second dog will be the answer to their problems. However, there are many reasons why this might not be the case. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some important things to consider before adding another four-legged friend to your family!
What are your current living arrangements like?
If you have a small apartment or house and are barely able to provide for your current pet, adding another will not be feasible. Be sure that there is enough space in the home before bringing in any new members of the family! You can’t afford room for two dogs when you live with roommates and work all day. Forcing them into cramped quarters throughout their lives just isn’t fair.
Jeannie has three cats already but wants more animals because she thinks they’ll keep her company at home while her spouse works long hours on the other side of town as an emergency doctor. Without careful planning, Jeannie would soon find herself overwhelmed by too many pets who don’t get adequate care from one person alone.
It is important to remember that cats and dogs both require a lot of attention, so adding another animal might not be the best idea. Bringing in more pets will only make things harder on your family!
“The key thing about having two dogs is how much time you have,” says veterinarian Dr. Andrew Bernstein, an expert in veterinary behavior at New York’s Animal Medical Center… “If you’re going to work all day every day and spend eight hours with each dog, then it’s doable.” If someone has a demanding job or lives too far from their place of employment they may not be able to provide enough care for even one pet, let alone two. Consider these factors before making this decision; does anyone else help with pet care?
It is important to consider how much time you have when bringing in a second dog. If you work all day, it may not be the best idea for your current pet as well as potential new addition. A demanding job can also impact this decision; if someone only has eight hours available per day and spends four of these on caring for one pup then there might not be enough left over to devote to another animal
How much time will you be able to spend with the new dog each day and what is your work schedule like ?
If you work all day, it may not be the best idea for your current pet as well as a potential new addition. A demanding job can also impact this decision; if someone only has eight hours available per day and spends four of these on caring for one pup then there might not be enough left over to devote to another animal
It is important that people living with roommates plan ahead before introducing any animals because even though they provide company, too many pets will cause problems. The key thing about having two dogs is how much time you have with them. If you work all day every day, then it might not be the best idea to bring in another four-legged friend!
Reasons to get a second dog
- To help with training
- For more company and for when you’re away from home
- If one of your dogs dies
- You feel like it will make the new dog less lonely or bored in a house by themselves so they don’t start chewing on furniture, get fat, etc.
Things to consider before getting a second dog
- What are your living arrangements like (can you afford a second dog)?
- How much time will you be able to spend with the new dog each day and what is your work schedule like? Do you have enough time for both dogs?
- Do you have any allergies or other animals in the house that might not get along well with a new addition, such as cats vs. dogs?
- Is there enough space in the house for two more pets to live comfortably without fighting over territory or food/water dishes etc.?
- What kind of personality do you want from your next pet – outgoing, shy, playful, calm etc.?
- Think about how much attention and affection they’ll need and whether this is something that can be provided by someone else such as friends or family members who visit often if needed.
- If adopting from an animal shelter, do they take specific breeds into consideration when placing them up for adoption. So one does not end up getting another of their own breed which would lead to overcrowding at home due to lack of interest in said breed by potential adopters at shelters because it’s too common already where they currently reside(s)?
How to introduce your new dog with your current one
- Introduce them slowly and let the new dog smell things in your house before letting them explore. If they get scared, try to comfort them by rubbing their ears or patting their chest gently.
- It’s a good idea to keep some treats with you when introducing both pets so that one of the dogs will be less likely to feel threatened by the other this is especially true if it’s been awhile since either has met an unfamiliar animal.
- Watch out for signs of aggression such as growling, baring teeth, snapping etc., and call off playtime immediately if any are seen. When playing/training sessions end abruptly, don’t try to continue right away because that could reinforce bad behaviors from your old pet who might think the new dog is a threat or competitor.
- Toys are also very important when introducing your pets, so if you don’t have any yet get some before bringing your new pet home to avoid fights over toys between them later on down the road!
Tips for bringing home your new pup
Bringing a new dog home can be very overwhelming and tiring, so it’s important to have some downtime. Plan for this when making arrangements with your family or friends who will help you out with the logistics of bringing in your new pet. Before heading over to pick up the pup, make sure there is plenty of playtime at least 30 minutes before arriving because no one wants a stressed-out dog on their hands!
Dogs are just as excited as humans about meeting people for the first time so all that pent up energy could lead them to being over excited which might cause accidents – like peeing inside if they’re too scared by strangers coming into their personal space or jumping around wildly running right past the person at the door.
You don’t want to bring two new animals into your home so soon after bringing a pup back, but you can get their energy out before getting them. My favorite activity for doing this is playing fetch with one of my dogs while on walks or giving treats while they’re running around in our backyard – both things that will tire them out and allow me time to decompress myself as well!
Speaking from experience, it’s also important not to rush through introductions because when we did so with another dog who was living with us previously he became very clingy and anxious about being left alone at any moment, even though he had never been like that beforehand. We’ve now seen him progress greatly by taking more time to introduce him with the new pup and giving them ample space away from one another in order for each of them to grow accustomed to their own set environments.
Finally, before bringing your pup home make sure you have all his/her necessities prepared such as a leash or harness, collar (preferably padded), food bowls, bedding etc. This will save some precious moments when getting back home after picking up your new pet!
What you need when adopting from a shelter or rescue group
When you’re out shopping for your pup be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of aggression or lack thereof. If the dog seems timid and shy they might not be a good match because it will take longer for them to get used to their new home, which can lead some dogs having anxiety around people or other pets
If you are looking at getting a purebred from a shelter/rescue group there may be more restrictions on what breeds are available and if so I would recommend going with something that is less in demand like Shih Tzu’s, Pugs, Lhasa Apsos etc. These smaller breed dogs seem less intimidating but still have big personalities! This also helps open up space for other dogs and cats to find their new homes as well, which is always a good thing
If you are looking for your pup in person at shelters/reports there will usually be a pen with one or two dogs so it’s best not to bring any other potential pets home until the adoption process has been completed. This also prevents some disappointment if someone else adopts them before they get back.
Conclusion
The decision to get a second dog is an important one, and not something that should be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider before making this big commitment. These include the amount of time you have available for dog care, your lifestyle needs, whether or not you want two dogs with similar traits (such as size) or different ones (perhaps one large breed and one small), how much money you’re willing to spend on food/vet bills, if there’s room in your home for another peter which direction you decide to go.