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 take into account earlier than adopting a second canine. I’ll embrace our solutions underneath every tip, in case it’s useful to see a real-life instance.
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So, let’s dig in:
If you happen to’re eager about getting a second canine, whether or not you’re simply within the early dreaming section or if you happen to’re actively looking for one other pup, listed below are 5 issues to think about:
1. How have you learnt if you happen to ought to get a second canine?
That is the million-dollar query. How have you learnt if getting a second canine is the proper name or not? Nicely, the reality is, you don’t.
Nevertheless, you may make an knowledgeable evaluation. Ask your self the next:
- Does my canine take pleasure in enjoying with and being round different canines?
- Can our household’s price range make room for a second set of veterinary appointments, vaccinations, pet food, provides, and so forth? (Try this publish for budgeting ideas.)
- Is everybody in my household on board?
- Do I’ve the time to stroll, prepare, groom, and so on. a second canine?
- Is there sufficient time and area 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 canines. 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 uninterested in that conduct, 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 do business from home each day, so there’s an grownup right here at practically 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 proper time to undertake one other canine.
In case your pet isn’t totally home skilled 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 proper time so as to add one other canine.
Solely you’ll know when the timing is correct, however the solutions lie inside these questions posed underneath 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 greater fears and apprehensions round the home. Whereas her nervousness dominated, it wasn’t the proper time to undertake a second canine though Penny loves enjoying with different pups. We would have liked her to be totally settled and safe, plus fairly well-trained on primary cues, earlier than we may even take into account one other canine. Now, Penny is these issues and extra!
3. Are canines happier with a second canine?
That is SUCH an vital query and in addition a troublesome one to reply immediately. Why? As a result of all canines are people.
Our beloved Cooper, who we misplaced in 2023, was happiest being an solely canine. He didn’t love different canines basically, and he had no real interest in enjoying with different canines. He simply needed his folks. If we adopted a second canine through the latter half of his life, he may’ve settled into it or accepted the state of affairs, 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 canines.
Take into consideration your canine and your canine’s particular persona. Does she or he take pleasure in assembly new canines on walks? Does your pup hunt down alternatives to play with different canines? That doesn’t essentially imply your canine can’t or gained’t be happier with a second canine, but it surely’s price contemplating.
Rather a lot rests on the persona of the second canine, too. Years in the past, once we added a 3rd canine to our unique 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 improve the period of time you want every day for routine pet care, like feeding, strolling, nail cropping, and–most particularly–coaching.
Your canines may want loads of oversight and administration earlier than they bond–and they may not ever bond.
If the second canine is a pet, effectively, you get the nightmare of coping with a pet.
In our home, the largest “con” is our cats. Newt and Ripley deserve a say in how issues are run round right here. Newt does a tremendous job setting boundaries with canines, however she’s spent her complete life with an entire vary of canines with differing personalities. Ripley had solely ever been with Cooper, who was a really cat-friendly canine. It took her an excellent 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 seemingly respect one other canine enjoying with Penny as an alternative of Penny attempting to play along 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 laborious one for me as a result of Penny is actually my excellent angel. (She is neither excellent nor an angel, however she is MY excellent angel.) A few of my worries: What if she and a brand new canine get right into a combat and she or he loses a number of the belief we’ve labored so laborious to construct along with her? What if the brand new canine wants a lot consideration or coaching that Penny feels unhappy or neglected? 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 might be so unhappy to lose that? And so forth, and so forth.
Truthfully? That is arguably the query it’s best to spend probably the most time on as a result of, because the human, the entire burden of integrating a number of canines will fall in your shoulders, and whereas your present canine shall be considerably impacted–it gained’t be any greater than you might be.
How does your coronary heart really feel about adopting one other canine?
You’ve determined to convey house a second canine. Congrats! Don’t overlook the 3-3-3 rule.
You possibly can learn the complete publish 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” section. 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, variety, constructive manner. It begins your bonding course of off on the proper foot (er, paw?) and establishes the muse 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 an alternative of granting this grace to solely the brand new canine, it’s worthwhile to lengthen it to incorporate your present canine, too. She or he shall be going by a significant adjustment, as effectively, so permitting plenty of time and area for each canines to acclimate whilst you stay calm, current, and affected person is THE KEY to success.
How do you select the proper second pup for your loved ones?
The place to look? How outdated ought to the canine be? Does breed matter? Or gender?
Keep tuned. That’s the subject for subsequent week!
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