Adding a Second Dog to Your Family

Many dog lovers enjoy inviting multiple pets into their homes. When you already have one dog in the house, it's important to consider his needs along with those of the humans in the household. When my husband expressed an interest in bringing a second dog into the house, we had to consider the health and personality of our existing pet. Our first pet's happiness was an important factor in determining what type of dog to bring into the house.

Human Family Preferences

Before adding a new dog to the family, consult with the other members of your household. If a family member has an issue with adding another dog to the family, it's best to know before you get one; this will avoid potential heartache, especially if your home contains children who can become attached to pets.

You should also seek your family's input on the type of dog you'd like to bring into the house. While I love the look of long-haired dog breeds, I'm terribly allergic to them. In consideration of my health and comfort, any dogs in our household need to have short coats.

Temperament

Each dog has a personality of her own. It's not fair to your first dog to bring another dog into the house if their personalities are incompatible. Consider what type of personality is compatible with that of your existing pet.

Our pit bull Ockee was in our household first. She's affectionate, stubborn, dominant and willful. When my husband selected a second dog, he chose Odin-a playful, docile Boxer. Odin was the runt of his litter and easily takes orders from the rest of our pack.

As a result, both dogs get the socialization they need, but they rarely have conflicts with one another. We treat both dogs equally but always reward calm and submissive behavior first.

You must also consider the personalities of the human members of your pack. If you have children, ensure that your new dog has a compatible and patient personality.

Gender Matters

To ensure compatibility, it's always best to select the opposite gender when you're adding a second dog to your family pack. Since our first dog was female, we chose a male dog as the new addition.

Additionally, you can reduce potential aggression between your two dogs by having both dogs spayed and neutered.

Size Consideration

For the safety of your pets, it is helpful to select a second dog that is near the same size as the first. While you should always supervise the dogs when they are out of their crates, it's easier to prevent an injury when two playful pets are equal in size.

When it comes to pet socialization, there are no guarantees. If possible, introduce your pets on neutral territory so your first pet does not feel threatened. As long as you consider the compatibility of your pets' personalities and monitor socialization, your pets will learn to live out their daily routines within the harmony of your family pack.