7 Reasons Why You’re Ready For a Second Dog
1. You’re financially stable - You would think that owning two dogs would be double the money but somehow it ends up being way more than that! Estimate all your new puppy costs + plus what you usually spend a month on your first pup and make sure you’re ready to cover that and more! We’ve had to spend more on training with Sadie than we ever expected! But we’ve had to pay more vet bills for Finn than we ever expected! You really never know what will happen!
2. You have the time - You may think if you have the time for your first dog, you’ll just add the second into those activities and have the same time for the second! Nope! It’s extremely important that each pup gets adequate time alone in a variety of situations! Something that has helped me is planning out time alone and time together, the month ahead on a calendar!
Fun fact: Dogs close in age and/or anxiously attached to the other can get Littermate Syndrome as well, they don’t have to be related by blood! This is also why it’s important they each feel confident spending time away from their sibling
3. You have help - It doesn’t have to be a romantic partner, but make sure you have someone to help you take the load off when you need it!! For me this looks like splitting the responsibility of the dogs with my boyfriend Cameron! Financial responsibilities, picking up poop, training and exercising, he helps me SO much! I truly don’t think I would have a second dog without a partner, although it is important to keep that thought in mind if you plan on keeping both dogs in case of a break up or worse.
There are other ways that you can have help! This might mean your friends and family dog sitting when you’re out of town, hiring someone to take them on daily walks, investing in their trainers, splitting responsibilities with a roommate etc.
4. Your dog gets along well with other dogs and would benefit from having a sibling - It can be hard not to be selfish and just get a second dog when you want to even if your first dog is not ready. Really think about your pup’s relationship with other dogs and if they would benefit from having a sibling!
Yes get a second dog example: Finley has always had an excellent temperament and has gotten along with any dog he meets. He often seemed bored during the day would try and initiate play with me constantly when I was working and unable to play with him. He isn’t overly jealous and allows us to give affection to other dogs. He also is respectful towards puppies and not overly obnoxious.
No don’t get a second dog (yet) example: Your first dog lovesss being an only child and soaking up your attention. They don’t get along with most other dogs and seem content spending their life with you!
5. Your First Dog Doesn’t Have Anymore Naughty Traits You Want Passed On - It is true that your second dog will learn all the good behaviors and tricks faster because they have an older sibling to help teach them! BUT they also will learn all the naughty behaviors. Really get strict and consistent with your training before the second pup comes home! Having a routine in place will not only make the adjustment process easier for you but it will also benefit both of your dogs greatly!
I WISH we had found our current training facility before Sadie came home! I think things would have been so different and Sadie possibly wouldn’t have the issues we encounter with her now. Luckily she didn’t pick up on any of Finn’s naughty behaviors and only learned good things faster because of him, but if we would have been more consistent and strict with training before she came home, she may have never developed unwanted behaviors in the first place!
6. You’ve Found a Dog That Is a Perfect Fit For Your Family - It’s important to consider your first pup’s personality when considering who your second pup should be! Are you looking to get the same breed? Are you rescuing? Can your dog meet the puppy before you decide to officially bring them home? We knew we wanted another Australian Shepherd to share the drive and energy level that Finn has! He also has quite a submissive personality, so our breeder suggested a more dominant personality for a second dog. Although she said basically any girl we would get would establish dominance eventually. I like to think Finn lets Sadie think she’s running the show. If your dog has low energy levels and likes to chill at home most days, you won’t want to get a working breed unless you’re prepared to take on new working breed activities and activity levels! In a best case scenario, your first pup would be able to meet your second before bringing them home. This way you can see how they interact and if they are comfortable with each other! You can also bring something home with you that smells like the new puppy, and make a plan for the pups to meet in a neutral outdoor space!
7. You’re ready for your heart to burst 1 million times a day because the love you feel looking at your first dog is only multiplied by ten when you see them both loving each other - there is no greater feeling. It’s worth it all.
If you can relate to these 7 reasons, you may be ready to bring that new pup home! It is a huge responsibility, that will be more than worth it!
