I have had several calls and emails this week from people who are either getting, or thinking about getting, a second dog for their home. A few of these brave, dog-loving souls actually got their first puppy at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and are feeling like adding a second puppy to their family over the holidays! This got me to thinking about the challenges we face in multi-dog households, both those where there is a young, resident dog when the new puppy arrives, and those where there is an older dog in residence when the newcomer joins the family. So, let's talk about multi-dog households.
First off, the only reason to add a second canine family member is because you, the humans, want to do so. Never feel like you need to add a second dog for the benefit of your first dog. While dogs are indeed social creatures, and many do enjoy playing with other dogs, there is no reason that they can't get in their desired amount of socializing and play with other dogs at daycare, playdates, and the dog park. The truth of the matter is this...dogs don't necessarily like to share their resources with other dogs. If you add a second dog to your family, your first dog will be competing with that newcomer for your time, your attention, the treats, toys, etc. While you may feel that you have enough love to go around (and plenty of treats and toys!), your resident dog may feel otherwise. For dogs it really isn't about being equitable or fair; it's about garnering resources for themselves. Dogs are competitive, it's a fact. So, if you are adding a second dog, be ready to deal with those two dogs competing for your love and your attention.
There are definitely things you can do to make this new situation get off to a good start. First, crate train your new arrival. Crate training means your resident dog will get breaks throughout the day while your puppy naps, and at night. These breaks are good for recharging batteries and for getting a bit of extra attention for being such patient older dog "sibling." Don't hesitate to put your puppy in a crate or x-pen for a time out if he or she is relentlessly pursuing your resident dog; while most dogs are quite patient with puppies, they will get fed up if their warnings aren't being heeded. And some dogs will put up with a ridiculous amount of hassling by a puppy and can really use your help to get a break in the action. And do let your resident dogs correct those puppies; puppies need to learn boundaries and that's part of your resident dog's role in the raising of this new puppy. Remember to feed your resident dog first, give them the treats first, and attend to them first as is their due as the first dog in your home. Puppies take a lot of time and resources to raise, but you certainly don't want to neglect the needs and desires of your first dog.
It is also important to really think about the specifics of the second dog you are adding to your home. If your resident dog is female, then best to add a male as your second dog. It isn't that two females (or two males, for that matter) can't get along, it just means you are hedging your bets. Two dogs of the same sex will be more competitive with one another as the resources they consider most valuable will be the same. Thus, male dogs tend to be more concerned with their territory, and thus might feel extra competitive toward another male on their home turf. Female dogs are more concerned with their tangible resources and thus two female dogs might get into a squabble over the best spot to lay on your bed.
If your resident dog is quite a bit older than your newcomer, the addition of a puppy might indeed perk them up a bit, but it will also be a lot of work for them to compete on that level. Be sure to give your older dog access to areas the younger dog can't go so that your older dog can safely and comfortably rest without disturbance. Even if you have an older puppy and you're adding a younger puppy, that older puppy will still need some alone time with you to work on training, expectations, and boundaries that are age appropriate to the their needs as well.
Which brings us to my next point. If you will have two dogs within the 12-18 month range of age in your home at the same time, you must train them separately as well as together. They need to train together so that they learn to work under distractions. They need to train separately to make sure they know their own names, what the tasks you are asking them to do actually mean, etc. Observational learning is a big component of learning in dogs, and you want to make sure that what your new puppy observes and imitates is what you want to have happening long term!
And if you have a resident cat and you're thinking about adding a dog, keep the following in mind. While it is the case that, for the most part, dogs and cats can get along and coexist successfully in the same household, there is a small percentage of cases where they simply do not get along, regardless of what you do. It definitely works better if that cat is in the house first before the dog arrives. And research shows that kittens and young cats are more accepting of puppies than are older cats. Obviously, if you have a rambunctious puppy constantly chasing an older cat, this is a relationship being built on anxiety and contention. Put your energy into making your older cat feel more comfortable with the new dog by confining the dog or keeping him on leash more thus allowing your cat more control over the "getting to know you" process. And if your cat is food motivated, don't hesitate to break out the good snacks to reinforce coexistence with the new dog. Cats should also be provided with plenty of vertical escape routes to get away from the dog.
Finally, just because your resident dog is super-playful at playdates etc. doesn't mean he wants to play 24/7 at home with a new puppy. As dogs move through adolescence to adulthood, play becomes less important. In fact, adult dogs rarely engage in play with dogs they don't already know and the play they do engage in is short in duration. Thus even a 3-7 year old, active young dog will be less than thrilled to have to babysit and entertain a puppy under a year of age day in and day out.
Your success with adding a second dog to your home will depend on a number of factors including the age, sex, temperament, breed, and training of your resident dog. While adding a second dog is a bit more complex, it isn't impossible to do. I myself like living in a multidog household and have for more than 30 years. I work with my dogs as individuals on their training and they each have activities that they do with me all on their own. They share dog beds, toys and water bowls without issue and yes, they do vie for my attention daily. I make sure they both get what they need. Do I think Desi was excited about getting a puppy when we got Ozzie? Not in the least, but he and Ozzie are friendly and have an amicable relationship. Do I think that either Desi or Ozzie were thrilled when my daughter got her young smooth collie? Not at all. They definitely saw him as a competitor as was evidenced by all the pushing, shoving and grumbling that went on in order to establish rules with the young smoothie. But now Ozzie and Westley are buddies that enjoy running and playing together. Desi doesn't enjoy those activities at all and simply removes himself if it gets too rowdy.
Just remember to take the introduction of your new puppy to your resident dog slowly. Introduce them on neutral ground if you are worried about your resident dog being territorial on meeting. You can put the puppy in her crate or in an x-pen in a common room and let your resident dog move around that crate and pen at their leisure and comfort level to learn about the new arrival. This also allows your new puppy to get their bearings and learn to trust your resident dog and you to make sure that this new relationship gets off to a great start.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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