Introducing a Second Pet Dog To The Home

To many dog owners, one dog in the home simply isn’t enough.However, before you go ahead and choose another dog there are a number of issues you must consider before hand.

First, you may want to consider your dog’s nature.To avoid fights, you should seek to pair your dog with a dog of a dis-similar nature, that way they should be able to establish which dog is the most dominant.If two dogs with a similar nature are paired up then the battles could be ferocious and the dogs will struggle to bond. If your dog is very submissive, you may 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.

Size is the next consideration.Try and adopt a second dog with a similar breed to the dog already living with you.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 who 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.

Do you have an un-neutered female dog? These dogs often are upset when another female dog enters their domain. You really need to think about neutering your female dog before you add another female to the mix. After neutering a female can still be aggressive to another female so a male puppy may be a wider choice.(Of course if you do pair a male dog with a female you need to make sure one of them is neutered or it won’t be long before a new litter of puppies arrives!)

Age is another consideration and if you have a old dog adopting a puppy might not be a good idea.Your older dog may be less active than when he was a pup himself and may not be interested in playing with a puppy.If your dog is old then you should strongly consider adopting a young adult dog.

Breed is your next consideration because whilst some dog breeds do get on others certainly do not.Small, toy dog breeds can be spoiled, jealous and excitable. 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.Larger and more notoriously aggressive dogs like pit bulls or rottwilers may not mix well at all and if your dog shows signs of occasional aggression it may be advisable to stick with just one.However, these are extreme circumstances and may dog breeds mix really well with each other.

Finance is the final optionYou will need to find money to pay for dog food, vets bills, accessories and more.

Tags: , , , , ,

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Netvouz
  • DZone
  • ThisNext
  • MisterWong
  • Wists

Post a comment