Dogs are very sociable animals and they like to live in packs rather than living on their own.
So if you have enough room, money and time you may consider getting a second dog.
Here are some tips for you: 1.
First and foremost you need to know whether or not your dog would tolerate a second dog in the house.
If he has a history of severely biting other dogs or picking fights with others you need to be very careful about bringing another dog home.
Perhaps you would be happier if you didn't.
2.
Choosing the gender of your second dog If your first dog is not neutered it may not be such a good idea to get a dog of the opposite sex, unless you intend to have your second dog neutered.
Since bitches come in season twice a year you would have to separate them for three weeks at a time.
This may prove to be difficult unless you have some very good friends who will take care of your male dog whilst your female is in heat.
3.
Age difference between the dogs: Never bring home a dog of the same sex and age as your first dog.
Dogs live in hierarchical organized societies.
Knowing their rank is very important to them because it tells them their position and responsibilities in the pack.
A top dog carries more responsibility for the overall good of his family than a dog who lives in the middle.
The dog in the middle or at the bottom of the "pecking order" is expected to follow the higher ranked individuals.
If a strange dog joins an existing group he interferes with the established order and some fighting may be necessary to re- establish the balance.
Since rank is often correlated with age dogs of the same age find it essential to check the hierarchy from time to time by measuring their strength, i.
e.
by fighting with each other.
If they have grown up together they know each other well enough not to fight to seriously but if they do not know each other some very serious fighting may occur.
From this follows: It is always best to get a second dog who is somewhat younger than the first dog.
A big enough age difference prevents rank uncertainty between the canines who are meant to live together.
4.
Always make sure that your first dog comes first.
This way you make sure that the hierarchy between your dogs remains stable.
Many dog owners make the mistake of making a lot of fuss about the new dog whilst neglecting the interests of the older dog.
This leads the younger dog to the assumption that he is more important than the old dog and therefore should also be the dominant canine in the house.
Fighting over the rank will be the consequence of his belief.
You will not want your dogs fighting each other, so make sure to let your old dog come first at all times and advice your visitors and guest to do the same.
Getting a second dog can be very rewarding, both for yourself and for your dog, if you stick to some simple rules.
Your dog will be less alone and you will feel more comfortable when you need to leave home for any length of time.
Looking after two dogs does mean you need to be a bit more alert when on walks but then again, watching your dogs play together will easily make up for that