Getting a Second Dog

If I have a really hyperactive first dog, perhaps getting a second dog will help solve my problems.

After all, the dogs can spend their days playing together and tiring each other out. When we come home they will be happy to just lie around, be calm and be totally well-behaved. Since the dogs have each other, there will be less need for us to play with them, walk them, or otherwise keep them engaged.

Reality however, is quite different from this idyllic picture.

After getting a second dog, I have found that -

• Two dogs ≠ less work than one dog; instead
• Two dogs >> work than one dog; in fact,
• Two dogs > double the work of one dog (especially in the beginning) because they get each other excited, and get into more trouble than they would singly.

Two dogs also mean double the grooming, double the food, and double the vet care.

This is not to say that getting a second dog is a bad idea, but I do think that getting a second dog for the wrong reasons will degrade the quality of life for everyone in the family, both human and dog.

I waited for over 1 year before getting my second dog because I needed the time to bond with my first dog, properly obedience train him, and make sure I had most of his issues under control.

Only get a second dog when you have good control over your first dog, and have ensured that he is mostly well behaved.

During the first year I was very tempted to get another dog, as a way to keep my crazy hyperactive Shiba Inu company, but I am glad I did not do so until both Shiba and I were ready.

Having two hyperactive dogs, that are mostly out of control, would have been very little fun for everyone involved.

In addition, issues may arise with the second dog. For example, Shania had issues with her leg and had to go through multiple surgeries and a leg amputation. I don’t think I would have been able to deal with all that if Shiba Sephy was misbehaving at the same time.

I had to spend a lot of time with Shania during her recovery, and did not have as much time for Sephy, but he was totally ok with that for about 5 months.

Therefore, give yourself enough of a time, energy, and financial buffer. If you are starting to feel like you have way too much free time, and that your first dog is sleeping too much, then it may be time to get a second dog.

What type of second dog should we get?

It is always important to get a dog that fits in with our lifestyle, temperament, and energy level. In general, we want to get a dog that has slightly lower energy than we do, and that will enjoy the types of activities that we enjoy.

In addition to all that, a second dog will also have to get along and fit in with the temperament, lifestyle, and play style of your first dog.

Shiba Sephy, for example, has a high energy play style and tends to overwhelm smaller dogs. I have brought Shiba Sephy to several daycare centers and supervised play groups. The small dogs usually stay away from him, and he has most fun playing with the larger, more boisterous dogs. Shiba Sephy’s favorite breed during these sessions is the Pit Bull.

Carefully observe your dog while he is playing with other dogs and try to identify the types of dogs that he likes playing with most. In addition to fun, also identify breeds that your dog shows the most positive and least negative behaviors with.

Shiba Inu Sephy does not usually mix well with dominant dogs. He likes dogs that are as goofy as he is, and is more interested in playing than in exerting dominance. While Sephy does not try to dominate other dogs, he will not back down if other dogs try to dominate him. As a result, it could ultimately turn into a dog fight.

For a second dog, I made sure to get a puppy that was more submissive in nature.

The Siberian Husky breed is also known for being very affectionate towards people, with a lower guarding/protective drive. This balances out my Shiba’s personality very well because he is usually aloof and alerts to noises around the house.

In this way, Shania can receive most of the human affection when Sephy is in aloof Shiba mode. Similarly, when Sephy alerts to noises, Shania usually just ignores it and they don’t amp each other up.

Siberian Shania is also very food focused, and much more interested in doing obedience. After I got Shania, Shiba Sephy actually became more obedient because he would come over and participate in obedience exercises with Shania.

How we meet and greet a second dog greatly depends on the temperament of our first dog. In general it is best for the dogs to meet on neutral territory (quiet park) so that the first dog does not get territorial over his home turf.

Some things to consider during the meet and greet -

a) Do not force the greeting.

Just bring both dogs into the area and observe their body language and how they react to each other. If they seem calm, try walking them around the park at a comfortable distance.

If all goes well, slowly bring them in closer together. Observe their body language while doing this, and do not force a greeting if there is extreme stress or signs of aggression.

Like us, dogs are individuals and may not get along with some other dogs.

Before getting Shania, I looked into adopting a Siberian Husky and had a couple of meetings. However, the rescue dogs got spooked by Sephy, and became stressed around him.

b) Test-drive the second dog.

I first took Shania home for a test-drive week to see if she would get along with Sephy.

Most good local breeders will let you do that, and most adoption/rescue organizations are also flexible with this. In fact, they are usually willing to take back the dog even if things do not work out in the longer term.

After all, everyone wants what is best for the dog.

After getting a second dog, we want to focus on successfully introducing her into the home. Some of the things that helped my first dog Sephy get along well with puppy Shania include -

1. Positive experiences. I try to create as many positive experiences when both dogs are together so that they will see each other as allies.
2. Group obedience training. I have several group training sessions where both dogs work together and get rewarded together.
3. Consistent and fair rules. I make sure that I am consistent and fair with both dogs. Both dogs follow the same rules and receive the same consequences. Both dogs also receive the same amount of affection and attention.
4. Rest time. Puppies tend to be on the go almost all of the time. I make sure that new puppy does not bother my other dogs when they want to rest or just want some peace and quiet.
5. No stealing. I supervise the dogs closely to make sure there is no stealing of resources (food or interactive toys) from each other. Stealing can encourage food aggression and resource guarding issues down the road.

Good luck with your second dog and feel free to share your experiences and questions with us below.

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