If you are a dog lover, you may feel that one dog is not enough.However, before you add a second dog to your household, there are a few important points you should consider.
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 you ignore the personalities of the dogs you are really setting yourself up for an unhappy pairing between the animals. Conversely, if you do own a quiet and submissive dog you should avoid homing a very dominant second dog as it will more than likely bully your existing pet.The ideal situation would be to have two dogs with a similar, placid nature that is neither dominating nor submissive.
Size is the second important considerationIf you have a Yorkshire Terrier, you may not want to buy a Boxer puppy.A big, rowdy puppy can hurt a small dog quite a few times before it realizes its own strength.If your dog is one of the larger breeds then you should only ever add a smaller dog to the home if you are certain that your dog has a gentle nature.
Gender is another consideration. For example, if you own a female capable of reproducing she may be very anxious if you introduce another female. It may be wise to neuter your female dog before adding another female. A male puppy may be the best partner for a neutered female because even after the operation a girl dog can remain aggressive towards other females.(Of course, you will have to alter at least one of your dogs unless you want to suddenly be the proud owner of 6 or 8 dogs.)
Age is another important consideration and you should avoid pairing a very old dog with a puppy.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.Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and other breeds that have problems with aggression may have problems, as well.Happily, there are many dog breeds out there that mix well, so do some research first and you should be able to find a suitable partner for your pooch.
Lastly, think about whether you can actually afford a second dog.A responsible owner will make sure they can afford to feed their dog a good quality dog food, plus pay for all medical expenses and dog related accessories.