MollyDogs - Shichon Puppies - Adding a Second Dog

Thinking about a second dog?

Thinking about a second dog? It can be a good idea, dogs are very sociable pack animals and it can be a great experience for you and them, however, there are also questions and things to consider. We hope to try and help you through the thought process on this issue. If we have missed anything just email us and let us know and we will try to address it for you. If you are looking for information on getting two puppies at once we have addressed that in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of the website.

First, consider the following:

Why do you want a second dog? Is it for companionship for the first dog? Is it to have another pet to love, or is it simply that your home just “feels” like it should have another dog?

Expense, is it affordable? There are the extra vet bills, the extra grooming costs, extra food, toys, leashes, collars, beds, boarding when you travel. All of these costs double when you add a second dog.

Is your first dog fully trained? If your first dog is fully trained then it will actually be quite helpful when bringing a second puppy home, as the young puppy will watch and learn from the first dog.

Is everyone in the family on board with a having a second dog around? Everyone should be on the same page in regards to this and be ready to accept a new dog into your family “pack”.

Is your first dog already spayed or neutered? Ideally he or she is, then it won’t matter which sex you add, the second dog should be spayed/neutered as well. Intact dogs are very difficult to home together whether they are the same sex or different sex.

The age and temperament of the first dog should be considered as well when contemplating adding a second one. If the first dog would not tolerate the antics of a young puppy, perhaps the second dog should be one that is through the puppy stage or a mature dog. At the same time, as annoying as a young puppy can be to an older dog they do develop their own relationship and will become buddies as dogs are naturally sociable and pack animals.

Time, will you have time to walk, brush, and care for two dogs that, depending on their size, and coat type, could have very different individual needs?

Our thoughts on the subject:

Our thoughts and recommendations are based purely on our own experiences and the experiences of our MollyDog families. We love to see families add a second dog, as we find that our dogs are so sociable and playful it is great for them to have a buddy that can play with them in a way that only another dog can. Also, our families that have two dogs report back to us that their dogs get along very well with other dogs of all kinds because they are used to being around dogs and having another dog to play with.

I think the first thing is to know the dog you have, whether it’s one of ours or a black Lab, Pomeranian, etc. What is the temperament of your dog. Some dogs really are meant to be the only dog for their family, while others love the company of other dogs and do great in a multi pet situation.

You may feel it will benefit your first dog to have another dog around so that it does learn how to be approachable and friendly around other dogs. If you feel that adding another dog would be beneficial for your pet, then by all means, do so taking into consideration the above points.

I always tell my families that as great as we humans are with our dogs, no one can play with a dog like another dog. I see it all the time when some of our dogs come back to be boarded. You can always tell the ones that are well socialized with other dogs and are used to being around other dogs. They hit the ground running, playing with our dogs, running, chasing and interacting. The ones that never see other dogs have a bit harder time adjusting to being here, they don’t know how to react when the dogs come running to greet them, they don’t remember about sniffing, and chasing. After only a day it is great to see them playing and interacting with the other dogs, and the difference in their demeanor is obvious, it’s like “oh yeah, I remember this!”. Even with our Molly, bringing Gabby into the house has kept her young and playful.

Our dogs are great with bigger dogs. We have many families that have dogs like Golden Retrievers, Labs, etc and we always get photos of the dogs lying together or playing together.

Some Suggestions

When introducing the dogs we like to see the introduction happen in a neutral spot. The dogs should be on a leash so there is some control but at the same time the dogs should be allowed to sniff and prance around each other in the “getting to know you” dance that dogs naturally do. We should never force the situation by trying to make the dogs interact with each other. Just let them get used to being around each other and then let them start to interact on their own time and schedule.

The most important thing is to let the dogs work out their own “pack order”. I find the worst thing we do as humans is intervene too much with a puppy and an older dog. Let the older dog teach the puppy manners, teach the puppy “hey, I was here first”. What happens many times is an older dog will curl his lip or snarl at a puppy saying “back off” and the family will scold the older dog and pick up the puppy and say things like “poor baby”. That is the worst thing you can do! Stay out of it, unless the older dog is literally picking up and the puppy and hurting it. The puppy may squeal like it’s been terribly hurt, but it is hurt feelings. The puppy is used to being the star of the show. So allow your first dog to set the rules for the new puppy.

Also, when you give treats to your dogs, always treat your first dog first. This reassures your dog that they have still retained their place in the family and the pack, and it also teaches the puppy that he/she comes AFTER the first dog. The puppy must learn to respect the first dog and its position in the pack. This is a very important lesson. It also applies to things like going through the door, you first, then the first dog, then the puppy; putting leashes on, everything, everything you do with your dogs should always be done by pack order.

When you first bring the puppy home, don’t leave the two of them unattended until they have had some time to adjust to each other and get to know each other, just in case. Crate your puppy or place them in an exercise pen when you have to leave so there are no worries about the puppy annoying the older dog.

The most important thing we can tell you about having two dogs is to realize that each dog needs individual attention from you. It is important for the dogs to bond separately with family members and also to learn how to be apart from each other. They need to have their own identity and be able to be alone if need be. When you go for a walk, one time take one, the next time take the other, then take them both, or have different family members walk them separately. The same with car rides, alternate trips and share trips.

As you can see it is a big decision with many different areas to consider. We have tried to touch on many of them and hope this has given you food for thought. If you have any additional questions or concerns about adding another dog to your family please email us and we will be happy to help you make the best decision for your family and your pets.