Should You Get a Second Dog? 3 Pros & Cons of Having Two Dogs | Pupford
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Should you get a second dog? I will say that getting a second dog is no easy decision... there are pros and cons to adding another pup to your home!
You might wonder, is it worth it? Will it be hard? What are the pros and cons of getting a 2nd dog?
In this article, we'll break down 3 fascinating reasons why you should get a 2nd dog and also 3 reasons why you should NOT get a 2nd dog.
Let's do it. 👇
Related Reading: How to Introduce a New Puppy to Your Dog
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Should You Get Another Dog Overview
I'll say it again, you shouldn't make this decision lightly. Bringing another dog into your home is a huge commitment.
Here are 3 pros and cons of having two dogs ⤵️
PROS
- Your dog will have a playmate
- Your dogs will be less bored
- Double the puppy love and cuddles
CONS
- Double the expenses
- Dog-dog aggression and resource guarding
- Behavior mirroring
Now, let's dive into each benefit of having two dogs.
Related Reading: How to Train Multiple Dogs
3 Reasons You SHOULD Get a Second Dog - The Benefits
It may seem like a crazy idea, but sometimes getting a 2nd dog can really be a good decision!
Here are three reasons why you should get a second dog.
Your Dogs Will Always Have a Playmate
Puppies take a lot of effort, energy, and time. It seriously can feel like they have unlimited energy...
When you add a 2nd dog to the mix, it can help!
When we got our 2nd puppy, our 1st puppy was SO much happier. She had someone to wrestle with, play with, bother, AND bite besides us humans.
You really can't beat your dog having another doggy friend that is always up for a play date.
Your Dogs Will Be Less Bored
On a similar note, when you get a second puppy, both dogs will likely be less bored.
This goes back to having someone to play with, but I also think it comes down to dogs LOVING other dogs (in most cases).
Does your dog get extra excited when they see another dog on a walk? Most likely they do!
And THAT is why your pup will be less bored. They'll always have a friend around, even when you aren't at home.
You Get Double the Puppy Love, Cuddles, and Fun!
I mean... how can you beat having 2 dogs to cuddle with at home? (Well you can get 3 like at my house... but that's a topic for another day 😉)
And honestly, some of the most hilarious moments I've had that involve dogs have happened at my own home.
The weird wrestling. Pushing each other out of the way for pets. Both chasing their tails at the same time.
Come on. You can't beat it.
But there are some downsides to getting a 2nd dog... 👇
🐶 Whether you're training 1 or 5 dogs, sign up for the 100% free online class 30 Day Perfect Pup. Get started here! 🐶
3 Reasons You Should NOT Get a 2nd Dog - The Downsides
We can't only talk about the positives... because truly, there can be some challenges when you get a 2nd dog. And one vs two dogs is a whole new ballgame...
Here are three reasons you may NOT want to get a 2nd dog.
Double the Expenses
Money should be something you consider when getting a 2nd dog. If you aren't able to adequately provide for two dogs financially, then you should not get a 2nd dog.
In my honest opinion, it's better to be able to treat one dog really well than to spread yourself thin financially by getting a 2nd dog.
Food? Double it.
Treats? Double it.
Vet expenses? Double it.
Leashes, harnesses, collars, bowl, etc etc etc? Double it.
Take a good hard look at your financial situation and double all of your dog expenses and see where that leaves you!
Again, spreading yourself thin financially just to get a second dog is not recommended (by me at least).
Related Reading: Pet Insurance 101 - How to Choose Pet Insurance
Dog-Dog Aggression and Resource Guarding
Here is a tough one... resource guarding.
Luckily, I've never personally dealt with my dogs being aggressive toward each other, but resource guarding does pop up from time to time.
Every time we give a tasty, long-lasting chew, we have to keep a close eye on the dogs.
Mealtime? We keep a close eye.
Resource guarding is quite common in dogs, especially so in multi-dog households.
Again, you can mitigate this challenge by using baby gates, crates, etc. but it is something you should think about before getting a 2nd dog.
Related: Canine Ladder of Aggression Chart
Behavior Mirroring
If your current dog has bad habits (impossible though, right? 😇), your new dog will likely pick up on those habits.
And think about this... if your dog's bad habit is bursting through doors, imagine that times two!
Struggling to wrangle in one dog's bad jumping habits? Times it by two.
Oh and don't even get me started on leash walking with multiple dogs...
When you get a 2nd dog, you're going to have to dedicate training time to each dog individually. There is NO way around this in the beginning.
So, in the same vein as doubling your expenses, you often have to double the time invested in training, leash walks, playtime, etc.
Of course, this can be applied to the flip side.
My 2nd puppy bit and nipped WAY less than the 1st. Our 1st puppy showed her the ropes on many "good" behaviors, but also taught her some bad ones! 😬
🐶 Whether you're training 1 or 5 dogs, sign up for the 100% free online class 30 Day Perfect Pup. Get started here! 🐶
If you're willing to put in the time and effort for training, you'll be fine.
But seriously, do NOT underestimate the trouble that 2 dogs can get into 😅
Recap of Getting a Second Dog
Overall, adding a 2nd dog to your home should be a decision you make very carefully.
It can bring about a lot of fun and joy, but also a lot of stress at the same time!
My own personal experience & opinion, I couldn't imagine my life without multiple dogs. But that's just me! 😉
Again, here are 3 pros and benefits of getting a second dog:
- Your dog will have a playmate
- Your dogs will be less bored
- Double the puppy love and cuddles
And of course, here are 3 drawbacks of getting another dog:
- Double the expenses
- Dog-dog aggression and resource guarding
- Behavior mirroring
Are you considering getting a 2nd dog? Or do you already have two?
Let me know your experience in the comments!
🐶 Whether you're training 1 or 5 dogs, sign up for the 100% free online class 30 Day Perfect Pup. Get started here! 🐶
46 comments
Leave a CommentThis is a really helpful article for me as I’m seriously thinking about getting a second pup. Not sure I want the downsides as Bo is just getting manageable although he still has bad habits. If I do get a second dog it’ll be a female as my previous experience has been that dogs if same sex can cause further issues!! PS please keep these helpful articles coming. They are very helpful
I am Dutch so my English will not be perfect. I have three dogs, two small ones of 5 and 6 years old and last July I got a new puppy in my household. She is 6 months now and a vey big and lively one. I fully agree with you, my two older dogs are reliving their puppyhood, playing around with the new member of the gang. But it is also a lot of work. Leashwalking is still a real project but luckily I live in a neighborhood with lots of places where dogs are allowed to walk free like woods, dunes and the beach. I follow your Pupford academy and even though I have had dogs for over 50 years I am still learning and enjoying your tips !
I agree with everything you said in the article. Mostly. We have anot quite 15 yr. old mini golden doodle. I decided I wanted to get another dog to be a companion when husband is away. (a lot) We have had terriers for more than 30 yrs. usually two at a time never getting both at the same time. We found that two dogs were happier than one especially when left. Either at home for a few hours or at the kennel for longer times. We always had females. Never had and issues with guarding or jealousy other than the standard both want the same toy even though there are two identical toys.
We decided on a Havanese and a puppy because friends adoptions were hard to find because of everyone deciding to get a dog while they were at home much more during the shutdowns. We were willing to wait for a puppy because we would know how long we’d be waiting, etc. I’d decided I wanted something small (our mini goldendoodle is now about 46 lbs) that I could pick up and bathe if necessary and that would just plain be easier to handle. We decided on a Havanese. She is now 7 months old and the older dog has been the apple of her eye since they first met. Sadie the older dog doesn’t see very well and hears almost nothing. She has seemed to perk up since the puppy joined us but she is also glad of some time without puppy attention. She is so gentle and patient that she has never done anything to put the pup “in her place” so the younger one doesn’t know when to stop. It is quite a challenge to get them both together with the older one nonresponsive because she’s oblivious that we want something unless we can touch her and the younger one is running rings around us. Food is also and issue here. Puppy food for the young’un and Adult for the elder. Of course they each want to eat the others food and neither will eat if we try separating them. (that has changed a little. The pup will eat her dinner in the puppy pen as long as she can see she’s not alone.
I would recommend considering the different needs of each age and how they can be managed before adding a dog of another demanding stage of life.
What is “litter mate syndrome”? We adopted two Westie sisters who are now 12 weeks old, and they are inseparable! They sure love us humans, though!
I wondered about adopting an older dog. Your article refers to puppies. What are thouu?