LITTLE ROCK — I have a 2-year-old poodle mix and I’m crazy about her. Her name is Bella. I’m worried about her being an only dog and think maybe I should get a second one. But I’m kind of on the fence. Any advice?
How many dogs you can handle is a decision only you can make, but there are some tangible issues to ponder.
Having enough love for one more dog usually is a given, but people thinking about adding another canine family member need to consider whether they also have enough time, money, commitment, family support, patience and physical space.
Dog behavior consultant Pat Miller addresses dog-lovers’ sometimes irresistible desire to add to their pack in an article in the June issue of Your Dog. The happy feelings that accompany bonding with a new dog should be tempered with reality, she says.
When you add another dog, your relationship with each dog changes.
“When you have one dog, he’s your whole canine world, and you are his,” Miller says. “When you add a second, your time, attention and affection are divided, and so are your dog’s.”
Miller speaks from experience not only as a trainer and behavior consultant but also as the owner of five dogs: a Pomeranian, corgi, Australian shepherd, Scottish terrier and a Scottie-corgi-poodle mix.
When deciding to become one of the 24 percent of dog owners in the United States who have more than one dog, Miller suggests considering:
Expenses: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates the average annual cost for caring for a dog is $580 to $875, depending on the size of the dog. Double this when adding a second dog, then add to the total the one-time costs for spaying or neutering.
Exercise: A tired dog is better behaved than one struggling with pent-up energy. Make sure you have time for daily exercise and play sessions, plus that you’re willing to invest the necessary time in obedience training and mental exercise.
Training: The more dogs you have, the more vital training becomes because “it allows you to direct and control multiple dogs’ movements and behaviors.” Training also “creates structure, which reduces stress and minimizes the potential for aggressive behaviors.”
When you add a dog, your expectation is that everything will go smoothly, your dogs will bond with each other and you and your combined lives will move merrily along. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes dogs don’t get along.
You can increase the odds of all going well by thinking carefully about what kind of dog would fit best into your family. VeterinaryPartner.com says you need to consider the same things you would if choosing a first dog: activity level, size, grooming needs, genetic tendency to make noise and matching your training ability to its training needs. For a second dog, you’ll also need to decide whether you should get a male or female.
“For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death,” according to VeterinaryPartner.com. “The dominant of two males will become more dominant (toward other dogs, not humans) than he would have otherwise been, and the sometimes submissive one will be pushed into more submission than would have otherwise been normal for him.”
When people think about getting a second dog to keep the first one company, they need to realize that they can provide companionship themselves through regular play, visits to dog parks, play dates with friends’ dogs and activities such as agility and training classes.
If you’re leaning strongly toward getting Bella a companion, play dates and trips to the dog park let you observe how she interacts with others and will give you a better idea of whether she’ll accept another dog in her life. But be prepared for the possibility that she prefers her status as the one and only.
Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]
Family, Pages 31 on 07/21/2010