7Do You Have the Space for a Second Dog? iStock.com/Ivar Østby Simonsen
Space is a unique concern for each and every dog parent, and the question of whether or not your dogs have enough space will differ greatly depending on where you live, how big and how active your dogs are. For instance, Dr. Liff says, “Great Danes are huge dogs, but they’re super lazy, so they maybe don’t need as much space as a Golden Retriever, who’s not lazy and will want to run around.”
No matter what, however, you should get another dog only if you have enough space to give each of them a place that’s theirs and theirs alone.
“When you’re still getting to know the dog and he’s still getting to know you, every dog should have a safe space that’s just their own,” Smith explains. “And you certainly don’t want either of them to get territorial and take it out on each other.”
It’s also crucial that you think ahead when it comes to space. “One of the things to consider is what your living situation will be in 12 months and whether that will be easy to achieve with two dogs instead of just one,” she says, pointing to cities like New York, where it’s often difficult to get approval for one dog in a rental building, let alone two.
2 Does Your Dog Get Along With Other Dogs?
OK, so your dog’s well-trained when you’re alone together. But how do they act when another pup enters the picture? Even the most well-behaved dogs can be averse to furry company, says Dr. Stephanie Liff, DVM, owner of both Pure Paws Veterinary Care facilities in New York City.
If your dog doesn’t regularly interact with other pups, Dr. Liff says, take them to a dog park or doggy daycare to find out how they react to their fellow canines. If they allow other dogs to approach and say hello (aka sniff their behind), you’re probably in the clear. But if they show signs of aggression or fear, you may have some socialization training to do with your current dog before you add another pooch to the fam.
If you’re still unsure, fostering might be a good idea. “If people are not sure how their dog is with other dogs and they’re really committed to getting another dog, I usually recommend that they foster and try it on for size,” Dr. Liff says. “That way, they can foster a younger dog or an older dog and get a sense of how that fits in their life while also saving that dog’s life, so it’s mutually beneficial.”
If I were to get another dog right now, she would be from a shelter. Although the adoption fee covers all of the necessities, there’s always the chance that a new dog will get sick, have a congenital condition that wasn’t immediately noticeable, or need dental work. All of these things can lead to some pretty hefty vet bills. That is just not something we are currently prepared to handle financially. I refuse to be one of those people who adopts a dog, particularly a sick one or a breed known to have health issues, knowing that I could not afford the vet care, and then having to rely on the compassion of others to donate to cover my vet bills. That’s taking advantage of a system that was put in place to help people in need cover unexpected costs for their dogs.
About Meghan Lodge: Fits the Aquarius definition to a fault, loves animals, and is always pushing for change. Loves ink, whether it’s in tattoos, books, or writing on that pretty sheet of blank paper. Proud parent of Toby (cat) and Axle (dog). I’m a former quiet nerd who’s turned bubbly animal-obsessed advocate.
I think it’s important to recognize the responsibility that comes with having a dog, particularly in adding another one to a multi-person, multi-pet household. I find no shame in admitting that I have no time in my life right now for another dog, despite the grief some people give me for not taking in more dogs. And I’m pretty sure Axle is very content in staying the only dog!
As for time, my husband and I both work outside of the home. We’ve been able to work our schedules so that the animals are never home too long by themselves, but a new dog would mean that even a short amount of time away would still be too much, at least in the beginning. If the dog was younger or had not been inside before, that would mean sacrificing my lunch break to drive home and take them outside to better facilitate house-training. Additional time for one-on-one training would also have to be set aside, which means time taken away from something or someone else in my life.
I also don’t wish to adopt another dog because there’s the very real possibility that we could become a multi-dog home overnight — and not just because of a shelter dog making puppy eyes at me! We have agreed to be a home for my Nana’s Chi-mix, one of my mother-in-law’s dogs, and a senior Labrador mix that we dog-sat for a while over the summer, in the event of those owners becoming ill or moving, or some other issue that might arise. Of course, none of these dogs are strangers to my household, so the adjustment wouldn’t be too much of an ordeal.
GETTING A SECOND DOG? PROS AND CONS – ADVICE ON HAVING 2 DOGS
Our household currently consists of two adults, one toddler, one dog, and two cats. Being involved in the dog community and with shelter animals, I’m often sent pictures of dogs needing homes or asked to take in another one. I recently worked an adoption event where I was extremely tempted to bring home a senior dog whose owner had died. Although many of these dogs pull on my heartstrings, we’re staying a one-dog household for the following five reasons.
Having a multi-pet household is hard work. Currently, we have one dog, Axle, and two cats, and they all get along fabulously. They’ve accepted my daughter into the fold, even tolerating bows in their hair and being “tucked” into bed. Bringing a new dog into the family would be asking my current pets to not only adjust to a new family member, but also to accept a reduction in the time and attention they receive. It would also mean temperament testing and increased vigilance when my daughter is around them, as if I could possibly be any more of a helicopter parent!
As for time, my husband and I both work outside of the home. We’ve been able to work our schedules so that the animals are never home too long by themselves, but a new dog would mean that even a short amount of time away would still be too much, at least in the beginning. If the dog was younger or had not been inside before, that would mean sacrificing my lunch break to drive home and take them outside to better facilitate house-training. Additional time for one-on-one training would also have to be set aside, which means time taken away from something or someone else in my life.
If I were to get another dog right now, she would be from a shelter. Although the adoption fee covers all of the necessities, there’s always the chance that a new dog will get sick, have a congenital condition that wasn’t immediately noticeable, or need dental work. All of these things can lead to some pretty hefty vet bills. That is just not something we are currently prepared to handle financially. I refuse to be one of those people who adopts a dog, particularly a sick one or a breed known to have health issues, knowing that I could not afford the vet care, and then having to rely on the compassion of others to donate to cover my vet bills. That’s taking advantage of a system that was put in place to help people in need cover unexpected costs for their dogs.