One common reason for getting a second dog is to keep our first dog company.
The hope is that our dogs can spend their days playing together, and draining each other’s energy. When we come home, they will be happy to lie around, be calm, and be mostly 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.
In my experience, having two dogs is a lot more work than having just one, especially in the beginning. My dogs amp each other up, get more excited together, and lead each other into more trouble than before.
This is not to say that getting a second dog is a bad idea. However, I think that getting another dog for the wrong reasons, will degrade quality of life for everyone in the family, both human and dog.
When to Get a Second Dog?
I waited for over 1 year before getting another dog. I wanted the extra 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 we have good control over our 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 hyperactive Shiba Inu company. Now, I am very glad that I did not do so until both Shiba and I were ready. Having two hyperactive dogs, that were mostly out of control, would have been very stressful for everyone involved.
In addition, issues may arise with the new dog. For example, puppy Shania had issues with her leg, had to go through multiple surgeries, and a leg amputation. I do not think I would have been able to deal with all that, if my other dog were 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 my other dog, 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 another. 😀
How to Pick a Second Dog
What type of 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 our existing dog.
1. Size of second dog.
My resident dog, Shiba Sephy, has a high energy play style. As a result, he frequently overwhelms smaller dogs, and they usually stay away from him during play sessions. He has most fun playing with larger, more boisterous dogs. His favorite breed during supervised play groups, is the Pit Bull Terrier.
I carefully observe my dog while he is playing, and try to identify the types of dogs that he likes interacting with most. In addition to fun, I also identify breeds that my dog shows the most positive and least negative behaviors with.
2. Temperament of second dog.
Being a Shiba Inu, Sephy does not do 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. This could ultimately result in a fight.
For a second dog, I made sure to get a puppy that was more submissive in nature.
In addition, the Siberian Husky breed is also known for being affectionate toward people, with a lower protective drive. This balances out my Shiba’s more aloof personality, and his natural watch dog instincts.
In this way, Husky can receive most of the human affection when Shiba is in aloof mode. Similarly, when Shiba alerts to noises around the house, Husky usually just ignores it. Therefore, they complement, rather than amplify each other’s energy.
Husky Shania is also very food focused, and much more interested in doing obedience exercises. After she joined our family, Sephy actually became more obedient because he would come over and participate in training exercises with us.
3. Meeting and greeting a new dog.
How we meet and greet a new dog greatly depends on the temperament of our current dog. In general, it is best for the dogs to meet on neutral territory (e.g. quiet park), so that our existing dog does not get protective over his home turf.
Some things to consider during the meet and greet –
a) Do not force the greeting.
I usually have both dogs on-leash and with separate handlers. Both handlers should be calm and in control. We bring both dogs into the meet area, observe their body language, and how they react to each other. If they seem calm, we try walking them around the park at a comfortable distance.
If all goes well, we slowly bring them in closer together. I observe them closely 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 certain 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 new dog.
I first took Shania home for a test-drive week, to see if she would get along with Sephy.
Most good local breeders and adoption/rescue organizations are flexible with the initial try-out period. In fact, they are usually willing to take a dog back, even when things do not work out in the longer term.
After all, everyone wants what is best for the dog.
Introducing a Second Dog into the Home
After getting a new dog, we want to focus on successfully introducing her into the home. Some of the things that helped my resident dog get along well with our new puppy –
- Positive experiences. I try to create positive experiences when both dogs are together. In this way, they will see each other as allies.
- Group obedience training. I have several group training sessions, where both dogs work together for me and get rewarded together.
- Consistent and fair rules. I make sure that I am consistent and fair with all my dogs. They follow similar rules, as well as receive similar consequences and rewards. I also make it a point to be fair with affection and attention.
- Rest time. Puppies tend to be on-the-go most of the time. I make sure that the new puppy does not bother my other dogs when they want to rest, or just want some peace and quiet.
- No stealing. I supervise my dogs closely to make sure they do not steal 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.
I have a female cockalier. She is the best dog in the world. Laid back although she loves play time. She doesn’t bite. I am looking for a compatible mate….Suggestions???
HI, I am looking for some advice. My boyfriend and I have a 3 year old border collie. We want to get a companion for her so she isn’t alone while we are away at work and so she has a play mate when we can’t match her exercise needs after a long day at work. She is well behaved and is trained plus some tricks. She does have one issue though, she is scared of other dogs. We are working on it and she had shown improvement it will just take sometime. She grew up with a small skipperkie who was not a fan of puppy Vixen, so her fear is mainly directed towards older and smaller dogs. Though very excited dogs make her nervous too. She is very happy to see and meet dogs through her fence, but the moment they are inside the fence or there is no fence she tucks her tail and hides behind dad. There was one exception of this with a husky pup we met on a walk, she wanted to say hi so badly but the owners weren’t too willing for them to meet. She wasn’t being aggressive either, her tail was wagging and she was winning as she tried to go towards him. They did get to sniff each other a bit, we were so surprised as any other dog she saw she wanted to avoid. Since Picky(the skipperkie she grew up with) is a female small older dog we were thinking a calm male dog about Vixen’s age and size would be best for her. There is even one we found who needs a home, but he adores other dogs though he is very calm and sweet with them. We have a meeting set up, but won’t go through with anything until we know with out a doubt Vixen will be comfortable with him. I appreciate any advice you have!
I am looking for some advice. We have an almost one year old Pomeranian. He is great! Adding him to our family was like having another child. We love him so much and most of all, he loves us too. No behavior problems, he’s potty trained, etc. We were thinking about adding another dog to our family so that he could have a playmate. This is because we have observed when my grown son’s girlfriend brings her dog over, he just plays and plays. He loves it, so we are pretty sure he wouldn’t mind another dog in the house. My question though is more of a selfish nature… do any of you think our dog would love US less? Right now WE are the center of his world. Would that change if we got him a brother or sister? Thanks for any advice/opinions!
TESTDRIVE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME! 🙂 Why not try and “babysit” your son’s girlfriend’s dog for an overnight week-end or two weeks, so as to answer your concerns. OR talk to foster animal places about your desires and concerns, they very well may be able to help you as well as you helping them. You may end up adopting the foster dog. Both options allow a test period amount of time…….side note: I write from experience of NOT doing either of those suggestions I gave and my precious Pom became very anxious and depressed and the new pup never got the attention a new dog should receive. So I understand your concerns as well as experiencing the sad out come. In some instances, to undo “damage” is longer and harder in the long run. Pets/animals are more like us than not when it comes to emotions. I try and put “how would I feel” in my actions with them and I end up with better results in interacting with any situation. AND Shibashake’s advice in “When to get a second dog and how to pick the right one” is excellent advice that I plan to use.
Hope all goes well 🙂
It would be cheaper and easier to take your dog to a doggy daycare with an open play environment where they can play with other dogs all day and you guys can keep your good family dynamic at home! It is hard to know how personalities of different dogs will match up until the new dog settles in. We just tried adopting a 2 year old female labradoodle and already have a 4 year old male goldendoodle whom we’ve had since he was a puppy. Our goldendoodle loves doggy daycare and loves playing with other dogs and we were told the same of the labradoodle. We followed all the advice and guidelines about how to introduce the new dog, structure, training, etc. They were fine with each other when they first met and then she started growling and snapping at him out of nowhere. We consulted with 4 trainers who suggested that she was resource guarding (with guarding generalized to anything, me, my husband, the 1st dog eating his own food when she already had her own food, space on the floor – many times we had no idea what it was about) and said that this is very difficult to train out of a dog and may not be possible so there was always an ongoing risk of a serious dog fight. She had lived with other dogs before who were very dominant alphas so this behavior had not shown up for her in the past and no one realized it would show up with us and our laid back 4yo male. We found out also that usually a new female dog will want to take over the household and be dominant over a male dog, which was probably also going on here too. I had no idea how complicated it could be to bring in a second dog, even when you follow all the guidelines and recommendations! Based on the trainers’ recommendations we gave the labradoodle back to the rescue and are going to stick with one dog. One of the trainers noted that it is rare for two dogs to get along without complications. Talking more to friends who have 2 dogs, we found out that they are successful only because of very specific personality dynamics – usually a very dominant alpha with a submissive second dog.
hi,
i have a 2 year old husky, and have been thinking about geeing another dog. i’ve more or less got his issue under control. but not sure how to go about picking out a second dog what will match his energy level which is low – moderate energy.
when we go to the dog park i have notice he gravitates more toward pit bulls and pit mixes and he also prefers dogs that are smaller then he is. or dogs his size that plays carefully and not overly crazy. he also loves any mix breed dog that will chase him and wrestle with him. any advice as to how to chose the right dog to join the family?
Ok if anyone wants to offer me some advice please do!
I got a puppy, a few months after my last dog passed away.
My last dog was a border collie and super obedient, lovely temperament, totally 100% trustworthy around children, babies, cats, chickens (could not be trusted around large livestock but I live in the city so that was no biggie!). He made me fall in love with the border collie breed and swear that it was the only breed for me.
However when I went looking for a puppy, I ended up adopting a mix of some kind of shepherd (either German, Belgian, Dutch or something very similar to these) with something smaller – now at 8 months old she is the size of a female border collie, she was a rescue so we don’t know her parentage and the shelter could only guess she was probably a Belgian shepherd mix. She does look very much like a malinois, except for her colouring (black and tan) and her size. A vet suggested she could be mixed with a collie or border collie and looking at photos of this mix she does appear very similar.
My question is – would a mix like mine be compatible with a border collie?
I’m thinking of getting a purebred border collie in a year or so. They’d be around the same size, have around the same energy level and both be very clever (so they can learn the same commands). Or would they be too similar? Would they put their smarts together and work out creative ways to disobey? I thought that since they’re both high energy breeds I could let them play and wear each other out when I take them out for walks… currently I take my dog to places where there are other dogs so she can play and burn off energy since she loves running around and I can’t run as fast as her! If there are no other dogs around she tends to just trot alongside me and sniff around – she won’t run around on her own so I try to make use of other people’s dogs as much as possible! It’s this, and my love for the border collie breed (I admit I really want a purebred BC again) that makes me consider a second dog.
If a border collie is really too similar what would be a compatible breed to go alongside a malinois? (this is probably the main breed in her – it’s what she’s most like in terms of appearance and personality). I’ve noticed that she prefers to play with smaller dogs rather than larger dogs – so a small dog could be a possibility…
Hello. I don’t know if this is still active or not but worth a try. So the thing is, i have a 8 month old Dalmatian girl. She is very good and playfull we try our best to meet her daily needs and we quite good at it. Long walks,running etc. We used to work and when we only had her for like 2 days,we left her home for the first time 4 hours. She is not closed in a box or anything,free in appartment. We never had any problems with that….separation anxiety or anything else. She is not destructive and is house clean. She knows the basic commands but we yet to have visit the junior school for dogs as we say it here. So now i got a chance to get another dalmatian pup, 2 months old. They giving her for free as the breeder wanted to keep her for herself but saddly has to undergo a surgery and she wont be able to take care of two dogs. Also lil pup got +/- on BAER test which means she hears great on right ear but not so good on left. Now my girl,she is friendly and loves other dogs and children,she is very playfull and enjoys dogs company so much its nuts. What do you guys think tho? Should we get her or not? I know you cant decide for me but i need some advice,ideas. Would that work? We are both still at home,not working at the moment.
Well I have had multiple pairs of dogs. I am also in the position as well. My dog is well mannered but constantly wants play. Take her outside run her but still wants play after that. Scratches at your side for more constantly. We are looking at getting another dog to keep her company. One big thing is I would say make sure the second dog is fixed before first heat if a female. Don’t want to intact females in the house. You are asking for trouble there.
Hello!
So I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on whether or not my family and I should get another dog. Some of my questions have been answered, but a lot of other questions manifested as well. I’m hoping that you can help me figure out the answers!
A little background:
We adopted our dog about 8 years ago from a local shelter.
She is a female and just turned 9 years old.
She’s spayed.
She’s a mutt, but we only know that she is mostly a black labrador retriever.
She’s lived without the companionship of another dog for her whole life, yet she’s very submissive and friendly. She’s also kind of lazy (she will sleep the WHOLE day unless we take her outside, where she gets very excited).
So some of my questions are:
Would it be a bad idea to looking into getting another dog at her age? Would she be hurt if we did get one?
Is her personality compatible with another dog?
Would a male dog be the best bet for a companion?
If so, would there be a lot of humping? (We aren’t too fond of that lol)
Would a puppy be a good addition to the family? Would our current dog assume a mother-like role?
Would she get more exercise with a companion?
When she eventually passes away :(, would it significantly affect the second dog?
Are there more cons than pros in our situation?
Thank you so much for your time! 🙂
Hi there- such an interesting post, my husband and I have a two year old Cavalier King Charles and we’re looking at bringing a puppy from the same parents into our family. Do you have any tips on bringing a puppy into an existing home, with both as inside dogs? Our Charlie is very chill and gets along well with most small dogs and all children so I feel like he would cope well with a puppy with higher energy levels than him – I feel like he needs a buddy around the house, even though I’m home a whole lot for him to play with.
Loving reading all the comments on this post, too – keep up the great work (your dogs are amazing!)
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
my husband & I have a 1.5 year old shiba inu, he is always excited about other dogs out and about and very good with children. He has a goofy, yet calm temperment. We just got our second dog a Puppy shiba and Q attempted to attack him, he also barks at him ( Q is very quiet). if you have any suggestions for integrating the new pup that would be so helpful. I’ve never seen Q like this and i have to admit i am disapointed.
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
I have a15 month old female 25 pound blue heeler terrier ? mix. highly energetc and playful. Have been looking for similarly dispositioned comparable sized dog. Have met two. The one We met today is 6 months was surrenderedyesterday at humane society. she was nervous wth me but then calmed down. So next I brought my dog to meet her. Both were sort of nervous. When my dog tried to greet the puppy the pup snapped so the attendant immediately dismissed their possible compatibility. I didn’ t press though I realy wanted this to worK. Should I try again with the pup? My dog showed mild interest but was mostly distracted by the environment. the previous dog we met also snapped. my dog showed no aggression. She is a sweet thing that wants to pay al the time. thanks fo any insight.
Yeah, it is tough for rescue dogs, especially new rescue dogs because they are brought to a totally new environment, with totally new people, and a totally new routine. This can be very stressful for a dog, which can make them be more nervous.
I really took my time with Sephy. We met with many different dogs over the course of many months for training, socialization, and so that I could get a good idea of which dogs complement him best. With the Chow that I really liked, I spent time alone with him first, walking him and such. In this way, I got to know him first, over multiple sessions, before we did the meeting with Sephy. This helped him to be less nervous because he already knew me.
Don’t rush this. With Sephy we really took our time and we also did a bunch of training sessions at our local SPCA. In this way, we got to know the people there, got to know the dogs there, Sephy became comfortable with the environment, etc.
I have been debating on getting a second dog. My existing dog is a deaf 1.5 year old, male, JRT mix who has no idea he is deaf lol. I am single, live alone, and live in an apartment. So I am wondering if with these factors alone it is not such a good idea to get a second dog. My current dog loves to play and loves other dogs. He is very active and can be a bit of a trouble maker. But he is fairly obediant and knows some signs. Also, he does very well with other dogs. He kind of just stays with the other dog when we are out on walks and stuff. I thought it would be nice for him to kind of have “hearing ear” dog. The dog I am considering is a female, 8 month old (approximated), with what appears to be a similar mix bc she looks just like him. They have offered to let me foster her but I am not sure once I bring her home if I would be able to send her back. I was kind of hoping for some advice from an outside party on whether you think it is a good idea. I am also a little worried about doing everything x2. Thanks so much.
Have the two dogs met? How are their interactions? What is the temperament of the other dog?
For me, I am a big believer in setting my dogs up for success. Therefore, I start by first doing many frequent visits with the other dog. I observe their interactions and temperaments, and see if this will be a plus for my existing dog and also for the new dog. There was a Chow in the SPCA we visited that I really fell in love with, so we visited with him very often. However, after a bunch of play-dates, it was clear that my Shiba was too energetic for the Chow, and he would be pretty miserable having to put up with my Shiba on a continual basis. I would have loved to adopt him, but doing so would not have given the Chow the type of home that he needs. He later got adopted by a couple as a first dog, which I think worked out very very well.
If everything looks good, then I move on to the second phase which is the test period. I think this is very important because it is not possible to tell how things will work out when the dogs are in a different environment, with a different routine, and a lot more together time. I know what you mean about not being able to send a dog back. However, I also believe that keeping an inappropriate dog would only make everyone unhappy, including the new dog. Therefore, I try to be very objective about how things are going and how things will work out in the long-term. For example, with the Chow, he ended up going to a much better home environment. It was difficult, but it was also the right thing for him and for my Shiba.
In the end, it depends a lot on you. I really really wanted a second dog, not just for my Shiba, but also for me. Since I have to do most of the work, that is a very important part of the decision. Do not let other people push you into getting a dog if you don’t feel it is the right time.
I have to spend more time taking care of multiple dogs, walking them, supervising interactions, etc., so I have less free time and less rest time, but that is ok, because it is something that I really want for me. I would only get another dog if doing so enhances the quality of life for everyone in the family – the people, the existing dog(s), as well as the new dog.
Hello!I have a small breed dog -maltese.She isn’t very social when it comes to dogs but she gets along now and then with some dogs,especially the ones that are more calm even if they are much bigger than her.The problem is that there is a stray dog out of our house and we want to keep him.Nobody else is interested and our neighbourhood is not very kind to dogs.So we are his only chance.He is bigger than her…I am guessing around 15 kilos and she is 2,5.She barks at him every time that she sees him.We try to let them take their time but the stray dog is a puppy and chases her and she freaks out and barks.He puts his paws on her body in order to stop her and she get more anxious.I know that is a long shot but what would you reccomend in this situation?How will I make them get along?I have to …
Additional information:The stray dog,bruno is close to our house but no just outside our house so I don’t know if it consindered as her territory.
My dog,Ruby, is two years old.
With my dogs, I set up clear dog-to-dog interaction rules. I supervise closely during play-time, meal-time, and other times of interaction to make sure that everyone is following my rules. I usually put a drag-lead on my new puppy so that I can quickly and easily control her, if need be, and teach her good play manners. I only use a drag-lead under supervision and only with a safe flat collar. Absolutely no aversive collars.
As soon as I notice the start of any anti-social behavior, I no-mark, interrupt play, and redirect. In this way, I redirect undesirable behavior *before* it escalates into a negative experience. Prevention is best. In this way, my dogs know exactly what to expect from each other, what to expect from me, and what I expect from them in return. This creates certainty and certainty helps to reduce stress and conflicts.
The more successful and calm experiences my dogs have together, the more confidence and trust they build, the more positive associations they form, and the better their interactions. Similarly, negative experiences will undermine that trust, set back training, and worsen future behavior. Therefore, I always manage their environment and set them up for success. During play, I throw in many play-breaks to refocus their attention back onto me, and manage their excitement level. I always have safe zones where they can go to, and I stop play as soon as I notice any dog getting overwhelmed.
My dogs are all comparable in size and play style. More strict rules will have to be put in place if there are large size differences. A large dog can accidentally hurt a smaller dog even just in play.
I set up a routine for my puppy as well as consistent rules. I do not let my new dog bother or disturb my older dogs when they want some alone time. I make sure to exercise and play with my new dog separately, so that he has good, structured outlets for his puppy energy. I create positive and calm together time for my dogs by doing group obedience sessions.
I do not leave my dogs together unsupervised until I am extremely sure that there will be absolutely no issues. I use gates, enclosures, leashes, and basket-muzzles if necessary to always keep everyone safe.
More on how I introduce a new dog.
Given the large size difference, I would consult with a good professional trainer/behaviorist on management techniques, so that both dogs can interact safely and positively.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/finding-professional-help
https://apdt.com/pet-owners/choosing-a-trainer/
We have made some progress.They are able to co-exist outside.We take them out for a walk together every day.Although some new problems have come up.First of all,we took Bruno to the vet today,he is six months old and as I had predicted 15 kilos.My existing dog Ruby doesn’t bark at him anymore but now Bruno seems to make some moves towards her(he is on leash when we go out for a walk) that I don’t now if he does that to play or if He is aggressive towards her.So I am a little worried and still I haven’t managed to let him be inside .How will I make this happen?Should I just put him in or should I wait more?How will I do that?Please ,I need any piece of information that you can give me.Thank you very much for your time in advance.
We have a Shiba/ German shepherd mix, best dog ever but she has horrible separation issues she barks when we are gone and sometimes pee’s in her crate. We have tried TV and challenging toys to try and help her. We keep our schedule pretty consistent during the school yr and are around more in the summer. Nothing seems to help her anxiety. We have been looking at getting another puppy but we are unsure if this will make her anxiety worse or if she will pass on the barking to the puppy? Any advice welcomed!
I helped my Shiba Inu with his separation anxiety by slowly desensitizing him to alone time. I start with very short periods of alone time (seconds) and very slowly build up from there. The more calm and successful alone time he has, the more confidence he builds, and the more relaxed he becomes when in his own company. Similarly, panic attacks and negative events will undermine that confidence, significantly set back retraining, and worsen his anxiety symptoms.
Therefore, I had to manage Sephy very carefully and make sure to always set him up for success. If I need to leave for longer than he is currently ready for, then I get someone that he trusts to be with him.
As such, getting another dog will most likely not help, and may make things worse. Before getting a second dog, I made sure to resolve most of my existing dog’s behavioral issues first. In this way, I can focus on training the new dog, and helping both dogs get along. I would also not have to worry about my new dog developing/inheriting behavioral issues from my existing dog. My dogs pick up on each other’s energy, so if one gets anxious or excited, the others will become so as well.
This article from the ASPCA has more on separation anxiety and desensitization exercises-
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/separation-anxiety
Getting a good professional trainer can also be helpful, especially in the beginning, to help with timing, technique, and management of the desensitization process.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/finding-professional-help
https://apdt.com/pet-owners/choosing-a-trainer/
Thank you so much for the great article. There are so many things to consider. My husband and I are thinking about adopting a second, male catahoula as a companion for our first, three year old female catahoula, Allie. There’s a two year old male available at our local shelter. My biggest question is, how do you know that your first dog wants or needs a canine companion? Should we be concerned at all about her being resentful of a new addition?
Thanks for your time!
With my Shiba, it was pretty easy to tell. He loves playing with easy-going dogs. We used to take him for training and structured play-sessions with other dogs at our local SPCA, and he loved it. When he was a puppy, he would not stop playing during puppy class. He is much more dog focused than he is people focused.
Does Allie enjoy the company of other dogs? How are her dog-to-dog interactions like? What type of dogs does she enjoy playing with? What is her reaction to other dogs during walks? Has she met other dogs before in the house? Does she try to guard objects from other dogs? How does she react to new things or changes to her routine?
Now that my Shiba is older (almost 9) he is a lot more picky and it takes him longer to accept a new puppy. However, with proper supervision and management, he sees that the new dog is an enhancement, and accepts her. The key thing with my dogs is to make the puppy experience positive and rewarding. I set up clear dog-to-dog interaction rules and a fixed routine. I manage the environment and supervise all interactions. As soon as I notice the start of any anti-social behavior, I interrupt and redirect. I also do not let the new dog bother my existing dogs when they want to rest or want some alone time.
In this way, all of my dogs understand exactly what to expect from each other, what to expect from me, and what I expect from them in return. This creates certainty, and certainty helps to reduce stress and conflicts.
More on how I introduce a new dog.
With my dogs, there are two important phases to success-
1. Picking the right dog, which I talk about in the article above.
2. Supervision and management during the introductory period, so as to maximize positive experiences and minimize negative events and conflicts. I do not leave my dogs together unsupervised, until I am very very sure that there will be no issues or accidents.
Hi, thanks for this article, very timely and instructive as I am considering getting a second dog I am hesitant because my dog ( a female old boston bull dog) is dominant and can snap at other dog easily ( she was bitten badly shorly after I adopted her by another dog and since then it is hit and miss when we introduce her to other dog she tends to be hyper dominant from the get go) From what I read getting an adult male her size or bigger could be ok, but I am still on the fence.
One thing that really helped with my Shiba Inu were structured sessions with other dogs at our local SPCA. We would take him there for both training and structured play, with appropriate trainer chosen dogs. We did desensitization training first, under the direction of a trainer, and then we would have some fun but structured dog-play sessions.
More on how we did dog-to-dog desensitization exercises with our Shiba Inu.
These sessions also helped us identify what type of dogs do well with Sephy, and get along best with him. It also helped him be more relaxed around other dogs, and to learn good interaction behaviors. After Sephy improved, and we got a good idea of favorite playmates, we started looking for a second dog.
With Sephy, we introduced him to prospective dogs first, and see how they get along. We may do multiple introductions, and I take my time with the whole process so that I get a good match for Sephy, the new dog, and the whole family.
I have a 2 year old male yellow lab. He is a great dog and we want to get him a sibling. We want to bring another dog into our home. Oakley is a great dog, but he gets really excited when he see’s another dog and plays rough when he plays with other dogs. I am worried that once we get a puppy it will be scared or not get along with oakley. He is neutered and has been better with dogs. We want to get a male puppy. Another thing i worry about is that they will fight. The puppy will be neutered once he turns a year old. But in the time before I worry they might fight. I am weighing all the pros and cons of getting a new dog before we get another.
When getting a new dog, I focus on two important areas-
1. Getting a dog with temperament and characteristics that I know will fit well with my existing dogs and with our family’s lifestyle.
2. Setting up a structured home environment that will set all my dogs up for success.
Temperament and physical characteristics
I observe my existing dogs carefully and try to identify the types of dogs that they enjoy being with most. For example, my Shiba Inu likes wrestling and playing rough. As a result, he does not get along well with smaller dogs or even dogs who are the same size, because they usually get overwhelmed and become fearful of him.
I took him for lots of play sessions at our local SPCA, and from there I saw that he gets along best with easy-going playful dogs, that are larger than him. He does not get along with more dominant dogs because if challenged, little Shiba will not back down. When I got a second dog, I looked for a bigger breed, one who also likes to wrestle and play rough, and I picked a more submissive puppy.
Picking a new dog with compatible temperament and physical characteristics will ensure that the integration process goes more smoothly.
Structure, Supervision, and Positive Experiences
The other important part of getting a new dog, is to introduce and integrate him properly with my family (both people and dogs). I set up a fixed routine for my new puppy right away, as well as a consistent set of dog-to-dog interaction rules and house rules. I supervise closely during dog-to-dog interaction periods, especially play-time and eating-time. I make sure that everyone is following my rules, and as soon as I notice any undesirable behavior, I quickly redirect before things escalate into something more.
In this way, my dogs know exactly what to expect from each other, what to expect from me, and what I expect from them in return. This creates certainty, and certainty helps to reduce stress and conflicts.
In addition to minimizing negative experiences, I also try to create as many positive experiences as I can. I do a lot of group obedience training sessions where all my dogs are focused on me. I reward them very very well for staying calm together and for doing work for me. I try to set everyone up for success by managing my dogs’ environment and routine. I use management equipment such as gates and leashes as needed. I do not let my new dog bother my existing dogs when they want to rest or want alone time. I do not leave my new dog alone with my existing dogs until I am very very sure that there will be no issues.
More on how I help my dogs get along.
Big hugs to Oakley! Sounds like he will enjoy a new sibling very much! 😀
I have a 5 year old min pin and am thinking of getting a doberman puppy because I have always wanted to have a big dog I would like your opinion, as I am very tempted
What types of dogs does your min pin enjoy playing with? What is his usual reaction to large dogs? Is he relaxed or fearful?
Big size differences can be challenging when it comes to play, walking, etc. At the dog park, I have seen a Great Dane play with a Pug, so play is definitely possible. However, it is very risky because even a little play tap from the big dog can cause problems for the small dog. The Pug owner later told me that she wasn’t going to allow such play anymore because it was too risky. In fact, in most enclosed dog parks, there is a separate play area for small dogs.
In general, when I am getting a new dog, I look for one that is not too far away in terms of size, and has a temperament that will fit well with my existing dogs, with my environment, and with the entire family’s lifestyle. In this way, I set everyone up for success, and the integration process will go more smoothly.
Hi! I have a Yorkie and have had her for about 6 years. I am eyeing this husky at my local shelter that I like very much, but my Yorkie does not get along great with other dogs. She doesn’t bark or bite or anything, she just gets scared and runs off. I don’t know if she will get along with a much larger dog coming into the home, plus it’s a male. I wanted to know what way you think would be good for introducing a small dog, to a much larger and stronger dog?
My Huskies like wrestling and playing rough. Smaller dogs generally get overwhelmed, and are not a good match. It will be worse for a fearful small dog. Huskies also have strong prey drive and may go after small dogs.
My Shiba is a bit smaller (he is around 32 pounds whereas my Huskies are around 40-45 pounds) but he has the same love of wrestling and he is extremely bold. What he lacks in size he makes up for in boldness and quickness. I also supervise all play sessions, set up clear play rules, and manage the excitement level of all my dogs by using play-breaks.
When I picked a second dog, I made sure to set my existing dog up for success by picking a companion that fit in well with his temperament, size, play-style, etc. I talk more about what I did in the article above.
Hi there 🙂
How have you been? So my husband has finally “allowed” to get another dog. We originally were going to get a Husky but out current home is a little small so we’re getting another Shiba Inu, a female. Do you have any tips for introducing them? Samurai is EXTREMELY possessive over me which is one of the main reasons we wanted to get another dog so he wouldn’t be seen as the ONLY one in the house plus IF we were to have children… we need him to decrease his possessive behaviour. He’s honestly not that bad and once he’s gotten used to another dog… he’s lovely. It’s all just training which I understand but any tips would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Hope you’re all well. Hugs to Shania and Sephy.
Frances & Samurai xo
P.S – the puppy’s name will be Katana 🙂
Hello Frances! So good to hear from you.
We have all been doing well. Just finished with the first round of vet visits, so it is good. 🙂
In terms of introducing a new dog, what has helped me most is to set up clear and consistent dog-to-dog interaction rules right from the start. Some of my rules include – no stealing, no humping, no bullying. I supervise all interactions closely at the start, and teach everyone what the rules are. In this way, each dog knows what to expect from the others, what to expect from me, and what I expect from him in return. Rules and consistency help to create certainty, and certainty helps to reduce stress and conflicts.
During the beginning training period, I put a light lead on my puppy so that I can easily control her and have her close to me. Sephy warmed to my second dog right away, but the third dog, it took him some time to get used to. Therefore, I make sure that my new puppy does not bother Sephy when he doesn’t want to be bothered, wants to sleep, etc.
Sephy is really not possessive over people at all, but my Huskies can be because they actually enjoy people affection. 😀 Therefore, I set up clear rules there to. I let them know where I want them to do a Down (so they are not too close to each other), and I reward well with calm-attention, affection, and food when they stay down and are calm. If they start getting pushy, I no-mark, and direct them back into a Down position.
In general, I want to manage the new dog well so that I not only maximize positive and successful interactions, but also minimize conflicts. I try to manage and prevent before anything escalates. I am usually more strict with my puppy in the beginning, and have more rules. As she learns and matures, I start giving her more freedom as appropriate.
More on what I do when introducing a new dog.
Hope this helps. Big hugs to Sammi! And definitely give Katana lots of hugs from me when you get her. Great name and looking forward to seeing her pictures on FB! 😀
Hi Shibashake,
I currently have a female siberian husky that is almost 3 and wanted to rescue a 2 yr old male about the same size and temperament as her but was unsure if I would have issues with constant humping and lowering that standard of life for my current girl?
Thank you!
Is your female spayed and is the male neutered? What kind of temperament do the dogs have? Have they met? How do they seem with each other?
My female Husky will sometimes try to hump as well during play, so it is not a male-only behavior.
The most important thing with my dogs is to supervise them well during play and to set up clear dog-to-dog interaction rules. For example, there is no stealing and no humping. If any dog tries to hump, I stop play temporarily. Then, we do some obedience commands so that they refocus on me, and have a chance to calm down. Once they are calm, I let them go back to playing.
If the same dog tries to start humping again, then I end the play-session. If the same dog continues to try to hump, I put him in a time-out area temporarily.
In this way, my dogs learn that-
Humping = Play stops,
More humping = Play ends,
Even more humping = Temporarily lose freedom in the house, however
No humping and following rules = Play continues, get rewards, and more.
I am very consistent about humping behavior. As soon as I see my dog starting to make moves in that direction, I stop it. In this way, the behavior is very unrewarding, so it is not something that they try very often.
I also set my dogs up for success by managing their excitement level and throwing in many play-breaks.
More on what I do to help my dogs get along.
I Need couseling PLEASE !!! I have a very playfull and very social nice temperament goldendoodle. She really wants to play so much. She is 38 lb and 1 yr 4 mths old . i want to get a second dog, for her to play with and for my kids (my actual dog is much more bound to me than to ky kids) . it will be better to rescue an adult one from the shelter or to buy a puppy from the breeder? are all puppies playfull? will a puppy learn to play with her in “her way”? will they match better?
A dog’s temperament is going to be partially based on nature (genetics) and partially based on nurture (upbringing). We have more influence on a puppy because we have a bigger impact on his upbringing, however the genetics will also matter. This is why it is important to get a well-bred puppy. Breed characteristics will naturally also play a big role, and affect energy, play-style, etc.
The nice thing about adopting an adult dog is that his temperament is more formed, and we can see what his play-style is like, etc. When my Shiba was young, we did a lot of training and socialization at our local SPCA. In this way, I could see the type of dogs that he got along with, what play-style they have, temperament, etc.
A puppy is going to be a lot more work, and how he develops will depend a lot on us and how much time we put into his training, socialization, and more.
This article compares the pros and cons of puppy, adult, and senior dogs-
http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/article/should-i-adopt-puppy-adult-or-senior-dog
Hey there ShibaShake! Thanks for your blog post. I have a quick question for you. Obviously this post is about having two dogs, but what struck me is that you have a Husky! I have a Husky mix who is almost 1.5 years old. She is a rescue. Very submissive in dog parks, but slightly possessive over toys and bones and pretty active as I’m sure you’re already aware of. I don’t know when we will get a second dog, I’m always hoping for sooner rather than later. Anyway, she’s been sleepier these days after our nice long walks and I’ve been wondering if she would like a companion. She plays SO much with my mother in laws dog who is 3… they are constantly rolling around and running. I was wondering if you had a nice breed in mind that would compliment a husky personality well. I’ve been reading not to get the same gender and to perhaps get a larger male if you have a female to help with dominance issues. What are your thoughts? I know you can’t know the fullness of the situation, but figured I could pick your brain. Thanks!
Steph
Hello Steph,
I got my Shiba Inu (Sephy) first. He is male, and he loves to wrestle, chase, and play rough.
When picking a second dog, I observe Sephy closely so that I can better understand what type of dogs he gets along with. Sephy is a pretty dominant dog, so he gets along much better with submissive dogs. Because of his play-style, he does not do well with smaller dogs or dogs his own size. They get overwhelmed easily and become fearful of him.
He gets along best with larger playful dogs, who are easy-going (e.g. not protective of their personal space, tolerant) and more interested in having fun. In this way, I let Sephy tell me which dogs he likes best, and I pick primarily based on his temperament and preferences.
For a second dog, I decided on a female Siberian Husky (Shania). She is submissive, and loves to wrestle, chase, and play rough. She has a double coat like Sephy, so she can take rough play (in contrast to more delicate and sensitive dogs). She is also bigger than my Shiba, so that helps to balance out his more dominant personality. I still supervise all their play sessions and make sure that there is no bullying, no stealing, etc.
What type of dogs does your girl like to play with? Who are her favorite friends and playmates? Let her tell you what she likes most. 😀
Thank you for this helpful post. You have two lucky dogs! You sound like a very responsible dog owner. I have a young samoyed dog who would love to have a sister dog! But after reading this I will finish his obedience lessons first. We will make sure we are ready for a second dog.
I love Samoyeds! They are absolutely beautiful. Big hugs to your pup and Happy New Year to you all! 😀
My boyfriend and I currently live in Kansas and I am a college student and he works a 40hr a week retail position (he comes home for hour lunches every day). Our days off never line up so that out of a 7 day week someone is home 4 days all day. We picked up a pup for free from a farm who is a lab/german shorthaired pointer mix about mid summer last year. He has just been neutered and turned 6 months this month. His name is Tucker. Tucker is just barely over 50 pounds and if he reaches 70 at full maturity I’ll be impressed. Tucker is easy to please and very eager to please as well. We have issues with lose leash walking, but beyond that (and strangers in the house) he is very well behaved. At the off leash dog park he minds his manners around other dogs. He does not come when called reliably when we are there, unless we are also walking with my mother and her 8 year old surly Cocker Spaniel male. Then he follows the Cocker loosely and stays with us very well.
Obviously we have some more training to do with public walking and new people (never aggressive, actually just hyper pees and gets too rowdy) but Tucker is very submissive and has never snapped or defended food or toys from other dogs or other people. My boyfriend and I are moving across the country this July to attend a graduate school. This will allow me about the same availability I have now, with more evening classes. I was curious if you think it is fair to get a puppy this christmas. I was thinking a Goberian. The higher energy of the husky would keep him on his toes, but the Golden Retriever would also help with the eager to please aspect of Tucker which we definitely want to reinforce. I know I have the time to dedicate to a puppy this spring, and do not know when life will next allow me to spend as much time as necessary with a puppy. I was thinking waiting till Christmas to get a new female pup would allow us the necessary time to work with Tucker’s familiarization with new people and walking. He is so smart and obedient, and a quiet dog (though a litter paranoid of the dark). I don’t want to get a puppy that would encourage him to change his natural assets, but I also know he would be a lovely big brother, and a great example for training a littler one.
I look forward to your response.
Dog behavior is very context dependent, and each situation is different. I only have limited context here and do not know the full situation, so please take what follows with that in mind.
If I were in a similar situation, I would wait until after the move before getting another dog. Moving houses, especially moving to a totally different part of the country, will be stressful for the people and even more stressful for the dogs. All my dogs like having a fixed routine, and they get stressed when there are changes in their environment and routine. The bigger the change, the greater the stress.
Therefore, I try to introduce them to changes slowly and not have too many things changing at once. Moving is already a big change, so I would wait before making other large changes. Also, there are usually unanticipated occurrences after a move, so I would want to simplify things as much as possible beforehand, so that I do not get overwhelmed later on.
My friend says that my dog is used to being the center of attention and that it won’t get along with a new dog
Have 6.5 y/o Pit/Rot/Spaniel mix. Been king of his castle all this time. Been talking about adding another dog for sometime and my wife comes home Saturday w/ two friends of ours, who happen to be breeders of toy & teacup Poodles! Guess who else was with her….? Lois and Larry! 2.5 month old sis/bro toys! Well I was terrified….both for the puppies and what would happen to our big guy if he hurt one requiring a vet visit. Much to our delight, though the first 24 hours was touch and go and the big guy acting very aloof (uncharacteristic), all is going much better. We have showered our big guy (Lloyd) w/ oodles of attention and he’s coming around quite well. We give him his space as he needs it and he interacts well with the little ones. He’s learning he’s still the top dog and that the little new aren’t replacing him in any way. When he’s had enough, we let him go his own way and keep the two little fuzz balls away. When he’s ready, he comes back, plays and so far so good…;-)
Congratulations on your new pups! Glad that everything is working out so well. 😀
Thank you so much for all of the great feedback. Still on the fence about adding second dog.
My boyfriend and I have a 9 month old german shepherd/australian cattle dog mix. She is about 40 pounds and probably wont get much bigger. She is the most sweetest and friendly dog and everyone who meets her instantly loves her. She is insanely smart and was fully trained by four months. She loves every dog she meets and loves to play. She obviously is very high energy and she is at either the marina swimming or thr dog park every day. On the two days that we both have eight hour work days, we have a dog walker come for 30-40 minutes. Every now and then she has a slumber party at the inlaws with their two high energy large breed dogs and they all got along instantly. We do currently live in a smaller apartment, but again we exercise her every day. We are talking about getting a second puppy. but are wondering if it is too soon since she isnt even a year old yet. We keep hearing different things. Some people say get it when shes still young because it will be easier for her to adjust. Others say wait until she is out of her adolescent stage around two years because two puppies would be too much to handle. Also people keep saying different things about which gender to get. Is our apartment too small even with exercising every day? Should we wait until she is older? And should we look for a specific breed?
I think it really depends a lot on each individual situation.
I got a second dog after I felt good with the training and behavior of my first dog. I had a lot of problems with my first dog, so it took me a while to get things under control. I think the most important thing is whether you feel ready, and whether you have the time to devote to a new puppy. 😀
As for gender, here is my take on it-
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog/comment-page-2#comment-100560
As for what breed, I picked my second dog by looking at what type of dogs my Shiba liked to play with, what type of dogs he got along with best, etc. With Sephy, he liked playing with larger, playful dogs, that are not dominant, so that is what we looked for.
What sort of dogs does your girl enjoy playing with most at the park? Big dogs, medium sized, or small? What type of temperament does she enjoy? Who are her best dog friends?
As for size of living space, the only thing that comes to mind is that the two dogs may want to play in the apartment, so extra management may be necessary to either separate them, or to make sure that they have a safe space to romp around in, without getting hurt.
Hope this helps. Good luck and big hugs to your girl! She sounds absolutely wonderful. 😀
Hi! I currently have a 9 year old Husky, australian shepherd mix who is very well behaved, well trained, and mellow. My husband always had two dogs growing up so he really wanted another one. We recently moved into a large, new home with a fenced yard and dog door. I like to run, but my 9 year old recently stopped wanting to run with me. We decided now was a good time to bring home a new dog. We are currently doing a trial period with a husky rescue who is about 1-2 years old. She seems to do really well in our family except 9 year old doesn’t seem thrilled to have her around and last night they got into a fight, teeth barred, barking, biting- bad. My husband had to get in between them and we kept them seperate for the evening. Since then they have had supervised interactions and seem to get along fine but we worry that it could happen again. Our dog has never fought like that before. We want to make sure she is a good fit for our family. Do you think this is something that is normal and we can work on? Or should we tell the rescue it just won’t work out? If it weren’t for the questionable relationship between our dog and her, we would keep her. There are so many great dogs out there though, and I don’t know if we should keep looking. Thanks for any advice!
It really depends on the temperament of the two dogs, the cause for the fighting, and surrounding context.
When I first got my Siberian Husky puppy Lara, my older dog (Sephy) did not get along well with her. This is natural because a new puppy introduced a lot of uncertainty, changes, and stress into his life. Some things that helped my dogs to get along-
1. I set up a fixed schedule and routine for the new dog.
2. I established clear dog-to-dog interaction rules, supervised closely, and resolved any conflicts that occur before they escalate.
3. I try to maximize positive interactions while minimizing negative ones.
More on how I help my dogs get along.
However, dog behavior is very context dependent and conflicts can arise for many other reasons. Therefore, it depends, and getting along will also be based on the temperament of both dogs, past experiences, training, etc.
We have a 8mth samoyed male, we recently got a rescue 4yr old female husky from a neighbour. She however, is really lazy and hasnt played much but they seemed to accept each other fine, he is high energy. I am hoping when she recovers from being desexed (we desexed them both and they are currently recovering) and looses her excess weight as she is pretty overwieght, she will have more energy and want to play, she had never been walked, so isnt all that active. He is full on, bigger than her and very pushy with any dog/person she has been super tolerant and put up with him and we have kept on top of it with a leash and making sure he doesnt mount her or get too pushy, which he is learning SLOWLY, Only had a few snaps when he tries to jump on her, when we have not been quick enough! They usually drink out the same bowl, however today she is day 3 after surgery and she is getting a bit more growly and less tolerant with him pestering her, growled when he went to drink out the water bowl and when he went to mop her spilt food up after she has finished 🙁 hoping it settles when she has full recovered and got more active. I think she hs done well though, he is full on! I was exppecting the husky to ourtun him and a good match!
I have a 5 year old mixed breed female. I had her DNA tested which came back husky finish spitz 25% of each – the other 50% mutt. Lol. Anyways, I am currently fostering. She has dominance issues with other dogs. Food and toys I want to know what I can do to get her to not growl and snap when they come near her. I want to work with her but do not know where to begin. I don’t want the puppies to pick up her behaviors. I mostly do not want to have dogs in separate rooms. I want to be able to get to see me as the dominate female in this house. Where do I stArt?
What I have observed from my Shiba Inu, Sephy, is that he started protecting his food and toys when he began to associate other dogs and people nearby with the loss of resources. To help my dog overcome this negative association, I institute clear dog-to-dog interaction rules in the house, one of which is no-stealing. I set the rules, I supervise, and I enforce the rules in a fair and consistent manner.
I also create positive and rewarding experiences for him, in a structured and safe way with other dogs, so that he learns to stay calm and make better associations.
What helped most with my Shiba Inu is to minimize bad encounters where he feels he has to resort to aggression, and maximize positive encounters where he learns to stay calm and has a rewarding experience.
Here are some things that I do to help my dogs get along-
http://shibashake.com/dog/second-dog-introducing-a-second-dog
http://shibashake.com/dog/dog-to-dog-aggression#desensitize
However, as you know, dog behavior is very context dependent. Therefore, when I was having aggression issues with my Shiba, it was helpful for me to consult with some professional trainers.
http://www.apdt.com/pet-owners/choosing-a-trainer/
Why dogs get aggressive over food and toys.
Dominance and bad dog behavior.
We decided to get a shiba inu on “Thanksgiving” weekend, back in 2002. We have been blessed ever since. Her name is “Jazzy” short for “Princess Jasmine”. Obedience class is key for this breed, socialization with other dogs and humans. Jazz is very affectionate and loves to play. Does really well at the yearly vet visits. She has never nipped/snarled at any dogs, but she is not scared of any “sized” dogs. Off leash recall is scary, we used a shorter leash loose on ground, she doesn’t stray too far except when a squirrel, cat, or rabbit is involved. We have a large fenced backyard. We walk normally 1-2 miles a day, she loves it. Jazz had a skin condition the fall of 2012. She would chew obsessively at her paws, ankles to the point of almost no fur on lower extremities, scratching lots with her back legs. Her coat looked horrible, she looked sick. Her eyes looked “foggy”. She had no hair/fur on chest, tummy, there was no undercoat at all. She would shiver in the summer time, especially on a cool evening. Energy level was less than poor. Could only go for about a half hour at slow pace. Sometimes I had to pick her up and carry her home. After several vet visits and full blood work, all normal results. Thank God!! Had her anal glands expressed for large amt. of secretions, after seeing her scoot her bottom on the floor. She was put on prednisone, for 3 weeks, to help stop the itchiness. All this did was increase her appetite and make her thirsty. After medication was finished the chewing of her extremities started all over again! So to make a long story a bit shorter, I changed her food, again. After “a lot” of researching. I “Doctored” her with invermectin (antibiotic), most farmers have on hand. One dose saved her life. Not recommending this but I believe that I had to do something, the vets weren’t too concerned. I was told that she is a senior dog and there isn’t much that can be done. I was sure that we were going to lose her if something wasn’t done soon. She is healthy again. She is like a 2 yr. old dog again. We have “our girl” back!! Her coat is beautiful and shiny. Appetite is really good, she has put on weight. Her eyes are clearer.
My parents have a 10 y/o Shiba female and I am looking into getting a Shiba puppy. Do you think it would be too difficult for the adult Shiba to accept sharing her territory with a new puppy? Is it even a good idea to have two Shibas under one roof? I love them as a breed but she is not exactly social towards other dogs.
There are many people who have multiple Shibas in their household. How easy it is to introduce a new puppy will depend a lot on the existing Shiba, how well socialized she is with other dogs, and other behavioral conditions such as whether she guards her food and toys.
When Shiba Sephy was young, I did a lot of dog-to-dog socialization with him. By observing his interactions with other dogs, I saw what types of dogs he has the most fun with, and what types of dogs do not fit well with his play style and temperament. For example, Sephy does not like other dominant dogs. He does not do well with smaller dogs because he likes to wrestle and chase, which is almost always too much for a smaller dog.
I decided *not* to get another Shiba because Sephy is a large Shiba and most other Shibas will be smaller than him. He played with a few Shibas during classes and at the dog park. He only did well with one of them – a larger male who also liked to wrestle and chase. The others got overwhelmed and did not want to be around him.
In short, it depends a lot on the temperament, routine, and preferences of the first dog.
If we get a second dog that fits well with our first dog in terms of physical characteristics, temperament, energy, and more, then it will be easier to help them get along. However, in addition to picking a compatible second dog, I also set up a fixed routine, a consistent set of interaction rules, and I supervise my dogs well (especially in the beginning), so that I can enforce interaction rules and manage their level of excitement.
My husband is doing what he can to convince me to get a 2nd dog. We got married for 4 months ago, no kids (but talking about when we want to try), have a beautiful home and full time jobs. I have 4 year old Pom who is so sweet and loves to cuddle and get attention. His behavior is under control.. he’s well trained and gets along with other dogs.
I love dogs and am willing to take care of and pay for what what we need to, money is not the problem… my concern is that..
If we want kids down the road.. Am I going to go insane with all of the chaos in the house?… I am very back and forth on this and I need some advice. I have talked to some family members and the opinions are about 50/50.
Do I want to keep this comfortable routine we have or add a 2nd puppy for more chaos? Any advice?
help.
I think it depends a lot on the second dog and on you and your husband.
My second dog was a lot of work. A big part of it is because she is a high energy dog (a Siberian Husky) and another part of it is because she is a three legged dog. Lower energy dogs will need less exercise and be less work. A well-bred, well-temperamented dog will also be easier to train, and be less of a challenge to manage.
It also depends a lot on how much we want another dog. I really, really, really, wanted another dog, so even though it was a lot of work with Shania, I was glad to do it. It doesn’t seem like a big chore every day because I enjoy walking and playing with all of my dogs.
As for kids, I don’t have any children so I can’t comment on bringing up kids and dogs at the same time. Based on conversations with other dogs owners, it seems that having a puppy together with a baby is very difficult, whereas having a settled, well-trained adult dog with a baby is more doable.
There are so many toy breeds in shelters, because when baby comes along, they don’t do well with them. Having two would be even worse. If your thinking of having kids in the next couple years, I wouldn’t get another puppy. When your out if the house 9-10 hours a day, who will train it? It’s not fair to the new puppy or the old dog.
if your husband helps and takes initiative with household chores then maybe. you may not have high energy levels for months at a time in late pregancy and children are demanding of your time. if your husband isn’t willing to chip in for the long haul, it could be difficult. i say perhaps hold off until you see how husband is when first child is born. think about breastfeeding, sleep interuption and that’s if everything goes well and your baby has no problems i.e. colic. Maybe have kid first and then see how you feel.
Soooo looking for some input. My fiancé and I moved in together 2 yrs ago. She had a husky/wolf mix rescue who was at the time 4 yrs old (kina) and I had a 4 yr old bernese mountain dog who was 5 yrs old (Sephira) both dogs being female.
There were some initial squabbles but nothing at all aggressive (surprisingly) Sephira the bernese was the dominant by far but in a non aggressive manner and kina the husky mix was the baby.
About a month ago, Sephira the bernese unexpectedly passed away in her sleep. By this point they were totally bonded and loving sisters and we had to pry kina away from here. Obviously we are completely heartbroken and devasted all 3 of us.
Over the past month I have noticed that kina is now very clingy. She used to be quite independent around the house but now is glued to us. As cute as it is and as much as I’m loving all the cuddles we both feel like this is something that needs to be addressed.
I can’t say that we are truly ready for another puppy just yet but we loved 2 and seeing as we want to start having kids in about 2 years we are thinking that sooner might be better than later. My question is do you think kina the husky would do better with a male or female puppy? It will most probably be a bernese mountain dog. I have seen her be somewhat protective/dominant at the dog park but not so often with dogs that are bigger than her. Conversely she is a bully to smaller happier dogs lol
I know it’s a whole essay and I appreciate the time take to read it.
Healthy regards
David
I think the common wisdom is that a male and female would get along better. My first dog is a male Shiba Inu so when I went looking for a second dog, I picked a female Husky. Based on what I have read, female + female has the greatest risk of conflict.
However, I currently have 2 female Huskies and they have always gotten along very well. As you say, Sephira and Kina also bonded very closely, so I think that other factors such as overall temperament, management, and training matter a lot more. But all other things being equal, I would personally go with a male-female pair.
Please post me some picture links when you get your puppy. I love the look of Bernese Mountain Dogs. 😀
Big hugs to Kina.
Hi I have just recently got a husky X gsd and was after some advise. I have read that huskies need a play mate to stop them from getting bored and burning some energy and I was looking into getting another dog but I’m not sure what tips of dog and if it’s too soon as we have only had her 5 weeks. X
In terms of getting a good second, it depends a lot on the routine, energy level, temperament, play-style and more of our current dog. I waited 1 year before getting another dog because I wanted the time to train, bond with, and get to know my first dog.
Even though I currently have 3 dogs, my Huskies still need structured time and activities with me, and fairly long daily walks.
How old is your Husky mix? What is her current routine? What is her temperament? What does she like to do? How does she react to other dogs? Does she seem bored currently?
Hello. We have a 2 year old spayed, female Siberian Husky. Shes highly active, loves other pets and love people, kisses and hugs. We want a second dog in hopes to tire her out and keep her fit and company. We’re not too sure what to adopt. Can anyone help us? Please suggest a breed and age
Hello Carmel,
I currently have 2 Siberian Huskies (8 months & 4 years), and 1 Shiba Inu (5 years).
My Sibe puppy definitely tires out both of the adult dogs. After that she is still going and going. Puppies just have crazy energy. 😀
One of the things that I did with my Shiba Inu, before getting a second dog is I took him to a nearby SPCA and let him play (under supervision) with a variety of friendly dogs there. This was great because it helped to socialize Shiba to other dogs, and it also let me observe which dogs matched him well.
It is also a great way to find a dog that will fit in well with the family.
Very sorry to hear about ShaniaInu’s leg. I am kinda getting to like all your dogs including the new ones.
Probably by seeing pictures of them oft in your articles. Recently I saw a VDO of a tiger rescuing a balu (baby monkey) from a hyena.
Cheers!
Yeah it was a big bummer at first, but Shania is a real champ about it and does not let it slow her down. Often I wish she would slow down – at least a little bit so I can catch up. 🙂
“I am kinda getting to like all your dogs including the new ones.”
Hahaha, maybe one day you will get an inu as well. 😉
“Recently I saw a VDO of a tiger rescuing a balu (baby monkey) from a hyena.”
Wow that is amazing. I am afraid to ask but what did the tiger do with the baby monkey afterward? Sounds like it would make an interesting hub.
” … hahaha, maybe one day you will get an Inu as well!” No thanks, Inus are too imposing and too forward and too woofish for my liking.
It’s the Neko’s “ngyaow” that sounds pleasing to my ear! By the way, it’s nearly one year since my Neko went missing. He sprang outta the vehicle on the way to the vet, remember?
As for the baby monkey, he appeared drowsy and went to sleep clutching the tiger. The tiger too stretched out and went to sleep with one arm over the little monkey.
Well as time goes on, I hope there will be a grand cultural exchange between the two. The tiger may even turn vegetarian. (hopefully!) Who knows! Cheers!
Yeah I remember. Is the mama still hanging out in your neighborhood? Your neko has probably taken over another neighborhood just like mama.
“As for the baby monkey, he appeared drowsy and went to sleep clutching the tiger. The tiger too stretched out and went to sleep with one arm over the little monkey.”
That is amazing. If tigers can do that, there may be hope for humanity yet. 🙂
Well I guess these kinda things happen more often unobserved by humans. This could certainly not have been the very first encounter between the two. I believe that tiger was paying back an old debt to that baby monkey! Cheers!
Good advice on getting control of the first dog before getting a second dog. Overall, this is some great information.
When I got my second dog, I knew I needed a puppy and/or a breed which wouldn’t be too concerned about not being the alpha. My first dog Sephi is the alpha and would not tolerate another dog trying to take her place. My second dog Maya is a Lab and Labs are generally laid back. Other than a few minor incidents of Sephi throwing her weight around, Maya has fit very nicely into the family.
I have 2 Newfoundland dogs. My female was 9 months old when we brought home a male newf puppy. It has been interesting as the female has always been very dominant over the male and she is quite a bitch to him at times but for the most part they get along well together. Enjoyed your hub and the pictures of your beautiful dogs.
That is very interesting. My first dog is also the more dominant one. He is the male though and he has two lady Siberian Husky pals.
I suppose when picking a first dog there are fewer constraints so it does not matter as much whether the first dog is more dominant or submissive. However, once there is a dominant dog in the household, the subsequent ones had better be more on the submissive side. 🙂
Interesting pattern though. Wonder if it is true in most multi-dog households.
You should read about the 500 dog rescue from a puppy mill and adopt one from there.The more the merry but make sure you have time and money to look after the dogs.
“The more the merry but make sure you have time and money to look after the dogs.”
That is very true. Dogs are a big time and financial commitment. Vet bills alone can get very large, and if we throw in training, toys, equipment, food, etc. it is a lot of money.
http://shibashake.com/dog/i-want-a-dog-should-i-get-a-dog