When deciding to get a second dog, you need to think carefully about how to prepare your first dog for this.
Definitely, the second dog in the house is stressful for the first dog. This article will tell you how to make a choice so as not to provoke hostility between them. In order for the habituation process to go smoothly, the owner needs to show a lot of patience, attention and sensitivity to both dogs. You can never predict exactly how two dogs will get along. There are situations when the first dog became lethargic and fell ill when the second dog appeared in the house.
Useful tips
Therefore, before getting a second dog, it is better to discuss with its owner or the owner of the kennel the possibility of returning it in case of problems with adaptation.
IMPORTANT! If you choose a second dog from the shelter, you can take the first dog with you so that it can take part in the selection.
It is better to pay attention in advance to your dog’s predisposition to other animals. That is, observe which dogs yours treats favorably, with whom she likes to play and communicate. Perhaps it will be a certain breed, or dogs of a certain size, or age. There are many options. Also, pay attention to how your dog reacts to the presence of other pets in his home.
Making contact
It is recommended to organize the first meeting of two dogs on the street. If the dogs meet each other joyfully, there is a chance for their further peaceful cohabitation. But there may be a catch - it’s not a fact that they will behave the same in the house. Therefore, the successful completion of adaptation can be confirmed after two dogs have lived in the house together for some time without conflicts.
NOTE! It is necessary to choose the right time to bring a second dog into the house. This should be done when all contacts of the first dog with family members have already been established.
If you try to solve the behavior problems of the first by bringing a second dog into your home, you may end up with two dogs that will have behavior problems. This is due to the fact that all dogs adopt each other’s moods and over time, even their hormonal cycles begin to coincide.
Basic rules for establishing a good relationship between two dogs:
- When a second dog appears, the daily routine (walks and feedings) of the first one should not change.
- There should be enough space for both dogs so that they do not harass each other.
- Dogs must have separate bowls of food and water.
- The actions carried out by the owner with the first dog must be preserved (for example, when coming home from work, continue to devote time to the dog, stroking it behind the ear).
There are many cases where the first dog silently tolerates the second, allowing it to use its bowls and things, but secretly hating it with all its heart and suffering very much. Hiding his feelings deep inside, over time the first dog begins to get sick.
To determine how two dogs interact with each other, you need to observe them. So, if after the appearance of the second dog, the first one became ill-groomed, stopped washing itself, licking itself, or its nutrition and sleep were disturbed, or there was no desire to play and study, then it means it is bad. She lives in constant stress and, most likely, left alone, the dogs will fight.
So, let's start, of course, with the pros.
1. More communication, joy and attention for you. Everyone knows: dogs are the most faithful friends. They support us, make us smile, warm us, even if we are not in the mood. The dog is always nearby, plays with us, cuddles with us... or lets us hug.
If you have several dogs, you will never be alone. Even if one of the dogs is minding his own business.
2. More communication for your dog. You can't always be there to entertain your dog. Two dogs can always keep each other company and communicate with each other, even when you are not around.
The two dogs will never get bored, which is very important for preventing behavior problems. The dog will not experience anxiety from loneliness, which is important for some breeds. And, of course, playing with two dogs is much more fun than with one!
3. Increasing the degree of socialization of your dog. Socialization of dogs, especially small puppies, is very important for the development of the emotional sphere of the animal. Puppies need communication with their own kind to gain experience, confidence, and acquire the skills to communicate with another dog, and not just with a person.
Naturally, it is better if, to begin with, this experience is acquired with a familiar dog, and not on the street. Although in subsequent education on the street and communication with an unfamiliar dog is just as important.
4. Increase your socialization. With two dogs, you will be able to walk outside more often, meet other people more often, and arouse more interest among others.
Two dogs are more likely to arouse the interest of passers-by or other dog lovers, and new acquaintances can be made.
5. Improves mood and health. A dog not only brings positive emotions into your life, but also improves your physical condition. And two dogs will multiply this effect. Dogs increase your activity, you walk with them, play, exercise. This activity improves your physical condition, and as a result, your emotional one.
In addition, scientists have proven that having a dog or cat at home helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. And it generally improves your mood!
6. The risk of allergies in children is reduced. It is obvious that dogs (and cats) in the house are of great benefit to children, they educate them and teach them love. But, besides this, in homes where there are several pets, the risk of allergies in children is greatly reduced.
It would be better, of course, if it were both a dog and a cat. But definitely more than one. Perhaps it is the frequent absence of pets that has increased allergies in modern cities.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children who were exposed to two or more dogs or cats in the first year of life were less susceptible to common pet allergens at age 6-7. , grass, pollen, dust.
7. Improving the development and upbringing of several children in the family. As we have already said, dogs are very beneficial for children. They teach responsibility, love, develop the emotional sphere and generally bind the whole family with common ties. In families with multiple children, having multiple dogs prevents unnecessary competition for attention and love. At the same time, each child is involved in communication with the animal. When there are several dogs, no one pulls the blanket over themselves and “takes” all the dog’s love for themselves.
Let's move on to the second part, which is also worth reading carefully.
Interesting Facts
- There must be a hierarchy between two dogs. Some of them will dominate in any case, and some will submit. Dog owners usually don't like this, but they just need to come to terms with it and not focus their attention on this fact. The owner must respect this hierarchy, that is, put food first in front of the dominant dog, do not feel sorry for the second dog and do not scold the conflict instigator.
- Quarrels between females occur more often than between males. According to statistics, the most conflict-prone animals are females and it is not easy to stop a quarrel between them. Almost half of the quarrels between dogs occur between two females, a small 30 percent between males and the remaining minimal number of quarrels occurs between dogs of different sexes. Two dogs in a house of the same sex will get along worse anyway.
- The place where both dogs previously lived is of great importance. You can prepare for conflicts if both dogs lived in different homes or if one of them was adopted from a shelter.
- Age is also of great importance. It is better to bring a younger dog into the house of an older dog; there is a chance that the young one will automatically respect the older one.
REFERENCE! Younger dogs may act aggressively during puberty.
In the event that two dogs in your home continue to fight and are getting worse, seek help from a veterinarian or trainer. Perhaps a course of therapy (behavioral or medications) will be selected for them. Usually, treatment is successful, the main thing is that it occurs under the careful supervision of a specialist.
Two dogs in the house
Category: Choosing a dog, Reviews from dog breeders
My husband and I really wanted to get a dog, but we couldn’t decide on the choice of breed. It was decided to buy two dogs . Two puppies in the house - what could be more fun? But everything turned out to be not so simple. Let's discuss all the pros and cons of having two dogs in the same house.
Two dogs means twice as much care for them. According to experts, only an experienced dog breeder can have two puppies at once. Beginners cannot do this. If the first dog is already in the house, it is advisable that it be young and active in order to maintain the playful mood of the other dog. If the dog is old, then it can be very painful for the appearance of another dog and there will be added psychological troubles.
If the first dog has problems with obedience or shows dominant aggression, then getting a second dog is absolutely forbidden. The second dog will most likely accept all the conditions of the game of the first one. Therefore, if your first dog chews everything in the house, then be sure that the second one will not stand aside.
Now let's decide on the gender of dogs. Dogs of different sexes live best of all. They can be a couple. If you don't want to bother with puppies, you can spay the female dog. Dogs are pack animals, so they can make friends with a dog of the same sex. Don’t think that if you have bitches, they won’t fight—they will if you don’t create the right conditions for mutual comfort.
What about the size? It is advisable that the dogs are approximately the same size, since a large dog may not calculate the force of its bite or may simply crush a small one.
Now imagine that you decide to buy a puppy. A normal adequate dog will not offend the puppy, but will also show him his place in the hierarchy. But to alleviate the situation, experts advise wiping the puppy with the urine of the older dog or his thing so that the puppy smells a familiar smell. Time passes and the puppy grows. It is at this moment that the owner must be on alert. Everything in the hierarchy can change and conflict is inevitable. It is necessary to monitor the situation and not allow the conflict to develop.
If you decide to buy a second adult dog, then you need to act a little differently. Experts suggest introducing dogs on neutral territory, when both dogs are well-fed and have been walked. And then, after several meetings, you can bring the dog into the house. From the first steps, try to keep the dogs on an equal footing and always show that the leader in this pack is the boss. If the owner’s leadership is lost for some reason, then it can be returned if you start training the dogs at the same time: at the same time the command “sit”, “lie down”, etc.
When a dog is brought into the house, the first dog needs to be shown that he has not been forgotten. It's like with children. It is necessary to increase the amount of food for the first dog for the first time. If you have a puppy who needs to eat often, then you need to feed your older dog the same often, just by reducing the amount of food. They must eat together. The living space of dogs should not be lame. Everyone should have their place.
You must first train your first dog well, and only then take the second one into your home. If the family has a favorable atmosphere, where everything is filled with love and joy, then your home can accommodate more than just two dogs . Two dogs in the house is great. Now, knowing what awaits you when buying a second dog, you can safely introduce it into your home.
If you have positive and not so positive examples of two dogs in the house, please share with us.
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