The Best Time To Add A Dog To Your Pack

Do you want another dog? Have you wondered when the right time to bring a second or third dog home to your pack is? These factors all play a role in the success of integrating your new furry friend into your existing pack. Adding a dog to your family when you already have a dog often causes anxiety to the existing dog. However, dog behavior is dependent on socialization and pack hierarchy that you may not be aware of, so to ensure compatibility, we need to do a bit of research before we get the new, often younger dog. The transition to a second dog is going to take effort on everyone’s behalf. I think it is worth it, though, and the research does say that dogs are usually happier with a canine companion. Anecdotally, all the dogs I have had had became more playful and seemed happier and calmer when a second dog was added.

Lifespan

The hardest thing any pet owner faces is the loss of their pet. Dogs live on average from 5–20 years. Larger breeds tend to have much shorter life spans than smaller breeds. Great Danes live very short lives compared to most small breed dogs. Researching the breed you want before you bring it home can help you understand your pet’s life expectancy. Mixed breeds are often less susceptible to disease and illness and live longer lives. The breed is just one factor, of course. Nutrition and the overall healthiness of your pet also play a role in a pet’s life expectancy. Why does this matter when you are considering bringing home a new dog? Many trainers recommend getting your pet trained and acclimated to your home before bringing home another pet, as one pet is much easier to train than multiple untrained pets. Depending upon your dog’s breed and life expectancy, getting another dog at the halfway mark increases the likelihood that you will not have two senior pets that may cross the rainbow bridge at about the same time. For example, most dogs have a life expectancy of about 10 years. So, the 5-year mark can be a good time to bring home a puppy from an age perspective. Having dogs that are similar breeds and sizes a few years apart in age is what you generally want to shoot for. There are other considerations besides age, though.

Personality and behavioral issues

Another factor is that personalities change in dogs as they reach maturity. A puppy is easier to integrate with an existing adult dog because the puppy will not come into the home taking charge of the household. However, that is not to say that puppies are easy. They require a lot of attention and training. An older dog that has already been trained to some extent can be much easier if you don’t want to deal with housetraining and basic obedience. Many well-trained dogs end up in shelters. Your existing dog is used to being your sole companion. If you add another dog, the incumbent dog may become jealous- especially when the new dog is a puppy who will race around wanting to play on their territory. The established dog may feel threatened by the encroachment on their territory by this new intruder. If you have an older male dog with a history of aggression, it is better not to add a new dog, as the older dog will probably become very aggressive and fight. If you were planning to bring a new dog into this situation, you would need to keep them well apart for a long time. If you have an aging female dog and introduce a younger dog, it will probably work out fine, but do it gradually, not all at once; take a few weeks. Some, but not all, female dogs have strong maternal instincts and will welcome a puppy into the home. Some will be annoyed by the commotion. If you are not sure how your pet will respond to a new dog, try fostering the new dog in your home for a few weeks before committing to adopting. You will have a good idea within a few weeks whether or not you wish to go forward with adopting a new dog.

Puppy care

Puppies are adorable. Everybody loves puppies. Many puppies also are surrendered to shelters around the one-year mark because puppies are a lot more work than most people expect. They cry at night, they will pee and poo in the house if you don’t train them to go outside, and they will put everything in their mouths. They aren’t born enjoying leashes either and can chew through a leash in under a minute or choose to lie down rather than be walked on a leash. All of this is normal for puppies. They are babies. If you work away from home for long hours during the day or have a very hectic schedule, a puppy may not be your best choice. Puppies are a considerable commitment. They also can’t go out to parks and public spaces for the first few months until after receiving all of their puppy vaccinations. You will need to ensure that the existing dog is still getting plenty of attention and some individual attention to avoid jealousy towards the puppy.

Age differences

A few years apart for similar breeds is preferable to adding a dog that is the same age as your existing dog. They tend to get along better, reducing the likelihood of both dogs passing around the same time. Younger dogs are easier to train if you already have an older trained dog that they can follow. The older dog will model the desired behavior, making it easier to train a younger dog or puppy. Older dogs can learn new tricks from younger dogs, too, so if the new dog has some habits that you don’t like, focused training is key. If your heart can take it, adopting a senior dog and making sure their golden years are good can be a gratifying task. Many senior dogs are surrendered to shelters because the owners want a more active dog or are afraid of potential medical bills as the pet ages. Many of these dogs need a safe, loving home. Most are housebroken, leash trained, and calm.

The gender factor

Opposite sexes tend to get along better than same sex dogs. This doesn’t mean you can’t have the same sex in both dogs, but you may encounter more jealousy and competition between two dogs of the same sex. Neutering and spaying them reduces this factor.

Size and breed compatibility

Ideally, dogs of similar sizes and compatible breeds will get along the best. Disclaimer: I have a border collie and a teacup chihuahua, and they get along well. The chihuahua is more vulnerable to injury because of its diminutive size. They prefer to play in very different ways too. It can work. But two border collies would be able to race around the backyard much better than my two mismatched dogs. Two chihuahuas would be more compatible as well. Many of us will add dogs to our family because there is an unusual situation, making it work. I started with a border collie, and when my mom passed away, I promised to care for her chihuahua. We make it work. Because of their size and breed differences, I monitor their playtime and dinner time to avoid fighting or injury.

Senior pet care

An older healthy pet can really enjoy the company of a new pet. However, an ill pet will not want a puppy jumping on its head or pestering it. This is a case where you need to evaluate your pet’s energy level and try to match it with a similar energy level for the incoming pet if possible. If your pet is very ill, it may be better to give your existing pet the attention and peace that it needs and postpone adding a pet.

Steps in Choosing a Second Dog

- Consider cost. Dogs require healthcare. Can you afford a second dog?

- Do you have time to train a second dog?

- Do you have small children? A medium-size gentle dog might be the best choice — but not too small. The tiny dogs are more likely to be injured by small children. A tiny dog that is dropped can suffer broken limbs or serious injury.

- You may need help from other family members. Check to see if they want another dog.

- Is your existing dog obedient and well-trained? Are you prepared to do it all again?

- Does your current dog get along well with other dogs?

- If your current dog old and sick, it may be better to bring in an older, less energetic dog that won’t annoy your dog.

- Does gender matter when choosing a new dog? Yes, you would normally select a dog of the opposite sex to your dog. Dogs have a pack hierarchy mentality, and if you have one of each, they won’t constantly be vying to be top dogs, creating less rivalry.

- Is the specific breed important? Yes, it would be best to have a dog that will complement your dog’s characteristics and match their energy levels and typical personality traits.

- If your dog is highly anxious, choose a calm, happy dog to balance the dynamic — a dog with good medium energy levels.

Introducing The New Pet To The Existing Pet

Introducing your new dog should be done on neutral ground, at the park is good (unless the new pet is a puppy that hasn’t had all of its vaccines yet. They can’t go to the park until after all vaccines).

Take them home and show your new dog around your house. Many experts recommend erecting a baby gate between the two animals so that they can sniff one another. Keep the gate in place until you feel confident with their interaction. Keeping both dogs on a leash can increase anxiety as many dogs are reactive on leash. A gate allows them the freedom to roam and sniff through the gate safely.

Don’t expect an instant friendship between the two dogs. Allow them time and space. Having them sleep in separate rooms or individual crates will keep them safe while you sleep — especially in the first few weeks.

Canine Health

Changes in your household like introducing a new dog can trigger anxiety in your old dog, and the anxiety can manifest in many different ways.

Sometimes this also happens when you bring home a new baby, and the crying will upset the dog.

However, if you have a new younger dog and it is causing anxiety in your older dog, you will need to minimize anxiety levels. Many factors may have upset the dog, like disruption to routine, noise levels, and increased activity. Take both the dogs for walks 2–3 times per day. Walks help with your bond, and it will reduce stress for both dogs. Watch for signs of guarding food, toys, or people. These behaviors can easily escalate to fighting. If the dogs fight, adrenaline is released, and it can take a day or two for the dogs to calm down due to the adrenaline rush. Separate them anytime that they fight and keep them separated with baby gates or separate rooms. Don’t rush, allowing them together without barriers. It is better to go slowly and avoid fighting.

Sustained eye contact with a stiff posture is considered aggressive between dogs. If your dogs are doing this, they need to be distracted and separated.

It is common for a new dog not to eat for the first day or two in a new home. This is completely normal. Your existing dog may start guarding its food. It is safer and calmer for both dogs to be fed separately. The safest way to feed them will be in different locations separated by a baby gate or putting one in a crate or different room. Avoid leaving food out for free feeding. This can cause fighting.

Socialization in Dogs

If your new dog is trained to the leash, you can do some things to aid in socializing an adult dog. Leash training is a priority. If your new dog pulls excessively, training them to walk nicely will benefit everyone. You will enjoy walking them more, and they will get more walks.

https://youtu.be/6MqQYB4-9Vo

- Take both dogs for 2–3 daily walks on leashes. If you have friends nearby with friendly dogs, doggy play dates are wonderful ways to socialize your new dog. I don’t recommend off-leash dog parks because the risk of injury and illness is too great.

- Invite friends over to see your dogs.

- Try not to get too hung up on the process. It will take time.

- If you find it tricky, get professional help.

- This could take 6 months to 1 year to achieve a good result.

Another way to socialize your dog is to attend a weekly dog class, the dog will really enjoy other dogs’ company, and you will learn how to train a dog properly. When you have trained a dog, don’t let it dominate you; remember you are in charge and issue the commands. For everything to run smoothly, the dog should learn to obey your requests.

Pack Hierarchy

In a traditional dog pack, there is a dominant male and female that lead the whole pack. Within a group or pack, these dogs all perform slightly different roles. The leader is often an alpha male but can be a female. Whoever it is, they are the boss of the pack. So really, translating to your household situation, you are the leader, and you need to show your dogs that you lead and provide a safe environment for them.

Some things to do to assert your lead status.

- Eat before you feed your dogs.

- Walk ahead of your dog, ask him to heel.

- Greet your family, but ignore your dogs for a few minutes when you come home. This is hard to do when the dog is the one waiting for you at the door. But this is a huge step to take to help your dog, especially if they suffer from separation anxiety. Don’t make a fuss when you leave, either. If you do make a big deal when you leave and again when you return, it will make separation anxiety worse for your dog.

- Take your dogs on a walk daily on their leashes as their pack leader.

This all sounds a bit over the top, but it is good behavioral best practice training for dogs, as there is nothing worse than a dog that runs the household, so don’t let that happen to you. When you take the lead with your dogs, they don’t feel like they need to control the situation and relax, knowing that you have everything under control. When you don’t take the lead, many dogs will feel like they need to step up, and this can show up as aggression, overly protective behavior, and anxiety.

Dog Behavior and Compatibility

Once your socialization training is completed, you have really done a lot of the hard work. Sometimes you will need to establish a few rules for your children to follow around being a dog owner. Children will often try to feed the dogs under the table, especially the food they don’t like, and it may not be good for the dogs.

- Teach the children that the dogs are fed after family dinner, with special dog food.

- If you are feeding a toddler in a high chair the dog will clean up the surrounding floor, but this shouldn’t be encouraged.

- Don’t allow the dogs to sleep on the children’s bed unless your child has special needs and requires a service dog.

- Dogs need their own dog bed and their own kennel or laundry to sleep in, and puppies require a lot of sleep. Leave your pet alone while they sleep and teach your kids to respect your pets’ quiet time in their beds or crate.

- Dogs of all sizes require good nutrition, to support bones and teeth. Your vet will make recommendations about diet.

Dogs are usually very loving and embrace family life. Your dog will be an excellent companion, and if you live alone, they make a great friend. Take a look at the American Kennel Club Website to get an idea of the dog breeds’ characteristics that will best suit your family.

- Pick a dog that will suit your family. If you have space and love being outside, get an active breed to keep up with you. I love to hike, but my teacup chihuahua can sink neck-deep in a thick layer of leaves. He is not a good running buddy either with his tiny legs. I make accommodations, though. We can still do many fun things together. But if I want to go for a run with my dog, I leave the chi at home and take my border collie.

- If you suffer from allergies, don’t adopt a shaggy dog, a Poodle may be a better choice.

- Collies, Corgis, and Sheepdogs require a lot of physical exercises and mental stimulation. If you are sedentary, you will require a less active dog. Herding dogs may actually nip children, as they will try to round them up at the park.

- Small dogs may not be suitable for a robust family as miniature dogs like chihuahuas are easily injured. These dogs are better companions for adults or quieter households.

- Mixed breed dogs can be wonderful dogs that exhibit traits from the parent dogs combined to create mixed breeds.

- If you choose a Labrador, check out to the Blind Society, as not all their dogs graduate, and the dogs that don’t qualify for the program go to good homes. Not everyone has the time to train a dog, and this is an excellent option, as they are actually really well trained but not suitable as guide dogs. Contact the guide dog school to get an application. They make a great second dog.

Dogs make such a wonderful family pet that investing the time into their training is well worth it when introducing a second dog into your household,

The dogs will bond with one another and will play together when you are not at home. They so quickly become family members that you can’t imagine being without them.