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Have you had people tell you that you should get your dog a dog? Before you get a second dog, you need to be ready for it. It will not make your life easier.
I’ve just recently added a third dog to the pack. This was not a decision I came to lightly, although adding a third dog was much easier than adding a second dog.
When my first husky suffered from bad separation anxiety, a lot of people suggested getting him a canine companion. Huskies are considered pack animals, and you can tell me that research is dated all you want, but seeing how huskies are with each other, I can say that they really do prefer a pack. But yes, humans can become part of the pack.
Back to my husky, though. He needed someone to help him when we were gone. And it’s not like we were gone all day. I work from home, so really, I would leave for a couple of hours to get errands done or go to the gym.
Getting him a husky friend seemed like the way to go. I didn’t want a puppy, so I looked at shelters and then I turned to the breeder I got my husky from in the first place. He was retiring an adult female, and that seemed like a great solution. She already had experience with other dogs.
Of course, getting a second dog could have led to problems, and I went into the decision knowing the problems. They may not have got along (something I didn’t worry too much about) and they could have each made separation anxiety worse. Fortunately, the second dog was just what the first one needed and everything calmed down. But I didn’t jump into getting the second dog lightly.
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Here are five considerations you need to make before you get a second dog.
It costs a lot more to get a second dog
When you add another dog to the house, you’re adding more bills. That means more food, more vet bills, more items to buy at the pet store. It’s just more of everything.
Are you in a financial position to get the second addition to the home? What will you do if both need vet treatment at the same time, which is sure to push up the costs further? Will doubling up the expenses* break the bank? If it will, then this is not the time to get another dog. That doesn’t mean it will never be time.
It’s okay to say no for financial reasons. You want to offer the best life for your pets.
Make sure your other dog gets along with four-legged friends
Not all dogs will get along with another dog, especially another dog in the house. Make sure you know how your dog will react to no longer being the only puppy in the house.
This could depend on the age of the dog. If you’re getting a puppy in the house with a senior dog, it’s likely to be too much. The senior dog won’t have the energy to keep up with the puppy. The puppy can become too boisterous and annoying, leading to issues.
It could also be upbringing. If you didn’t raise them as a puppy, you may not know what their full backstory is. Talk to previous owners, or ask friends if you can dog sit so you can find out what the temperament is to having another dog in the house.
I knew mine loved having other dogs over. He was constantly socialized, so it wasn’t something I worried about. I just also knew I didn’t want a puppy. Getting a slightly older dog was the right choice for mine—and it’s been the right choice getting a third dog.
A second dog will take up a lot of extra time
A lot of people think that getting a second dog* will free up some time. Your dog has another dog to play with. The truth is the opposite is going to happen.
You’ll have more vet trips and more grooming trips. You may even need to do double the walks if you can’t walk both dogs at the same time—I know someone with two rottweilers that she has to walk separately purely due to their size. There’s also the training for the new dog, especially if you do decide to get a puppy.
Do you have anything major coming up in life? Will you be moving soon? Do you have a new job? If you have a lot going on right now, don’t get another dog. That doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to add one but do it when you have the time available.
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Make sure you’re ready for more fur!
Dogs shed. I have huskies so I have a lot of it, but other dogs are bad for shedding as well. It takes a lot of time to keep a place clean. I’ve got a robot vacuum and I still have to spend a long time getting rid of fur from around the house. Our professional home cleaners in Ashford can give you back the time in your life.
Are you ready for that? If you already begrudge the amount of dog fur that is around your house, you won’t want to get a second one. You just end up adding far more fur to the space.
This could be a small inconvenience to some. Once I got one husky, I knew I wasn’t going to have a fur-free house. I just accept it. Not everyone is me, though!
Check on the space for dog no. 2
Do you even have the space? That’s something that you need to seriously consider. This isn’t just about where you’ll put a second dog bed*—if your dogs are like mine, they don’t even care if they have a bed or not! They’ll sleep anywhere.
This is about space in general. Do you have space for their toys? Do you have space for their bowls and belongings? What about for them in general? I used to live in an apartment, and I couldn’t imagine having a second dog in that space. Now I’m in a townhouse, I can manage it more. I have room for all three dogs, but they still get under my feet now and then!
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Are you looking to get another dog? What’s playing on your mind? Or what would you recommend to others looking to add another dog to their pack? Share in the comments below.
