Is having 2 dogs easier than 1?

Well, the honest answer is…yes and no. Dogs are social creatures and are typically happier around other dogs, but a second dog can never make up for negligent, disengaged, or overly busy owners.

In the end, you must decide whether getting a second dog is the right thing to do for you, your current dog, and your family. However, to aid in your decision-making, here are some factors to consider.

Whoa! Allergy benefits? According to the National Institute of Health, children raised in multi-pet households before the age of one may be less prone to developing allergies. “The striking finding here is that high pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass,” says Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).

Both my husband and I are dog people. Our dog, Mac, is actually, thoroughly his dog. It’s not that Mac doesn’t like me, because Mac does. However, I miss having a dog that is exclusively mine. When my husband and I watch TV at night, Mac wants to sit in his lap and be petted, and I miss having my own furry friend to cuddle with. I would adore having another furry friend around the house because of this.

You’ve probably heard it a million times by now, but exercise is essential for a dog’s physical and mental health. When there are multiple dogs living together, there is frequently a lot of chasing, playing, and fighting. Your dog would wrestle, roll, and then collapse into a resting position. Even if you still want to take your dog on at least two daily walks, they will have played together and expended a lot of their energy.

Of course, the most common justification for owning multiple dogs is that the owner loves their first dog so much that they want to increase their enjoyment of it. Overall, there are more benefits to having multiple dogs than drawbacks. Once you’ve experienced the joy of having several dogs, you might never want to live in a home with just one dog again. I know I won’t!.

I once heard a friend say, “If you have one dog, you have a dog.” If you have two dogs, you have half a dog. Three dogs is the same as having no dogs at all. I laughed at the time, but I completely disagree with him now. See, he had one dog and I had two.

Reasons NOT To Get a Second Dog

You might want to postpone or reevaluate your decision to get another dog if any of the following circumstances apply to you.

If you’re expecting a baby. Both babies and dogs require a lot of time and it’s just not fair to either the new baby or the new dog to have them both arrive in your house at the same time, or within weeks of each other. You’ll have enough on your plate adjusting your existing dog to your new baby.

If you can’t walk both dogs together. Unless you’re retired or unemployed, if you can’t walk both dogs together then walking them separately will take up several hours every day, which is hard to fit in around the demands of work and family.

If money is tight. The cost of purchasing your second dog is just the start. All of your ongoing expenses for your first dog have now just doubled: pet food, boarding fees, unexpected medical expenses leashes…perhaps even buying a car big enough to accommodate your family and both dogs.

If you work long hours or travel a lot for work. A second dog will not necessarily make up for your absence—in fact you might just be doubling your trouble, with two dogs who pine for you and become destructive when left alone.

If your first dog isn’t ready. If your first dog is still not well-trained, or is suffering from an illness it’s really important to get that sorted first so you have the time available to train and settle in your second dog.

If your other family members are not on board. A second dog, regardless of age or breed, is extra work and you’ll need everyone in your family to help both dogs adjust to the change.. A second dog, regardless of age or breed, is extra work and you’ll need everyone in your family to help both dogs adjust to the change.

A lot of fun, but also a lot more work, comes with having more dogs. It’s critical to control puppy fever before bringing a dog or several dogs into your family. Consider carefully whether your dog will want to live with other dogs and whether you have the resources to provide for their needs and wants. https://www. akc. org/wp-admin/admin-ajax. php Get Your Free AKC eBook.

Additionally, having multiple dogs comes with safety considerations, especially when the dogs are of different ages or sizes. It’s crucial to make sure that the more energetic dogs can meet their needs without bothering the calmer dogs when you have dogs with different levels of energy. Avoid putting dogs in a situation where they must resolve issues among themselves. Instead, refocus the more animated dog to avoid upsetting the calmer dog. Similarly, you should take extra care to watch over small dogs living with large dogs.

Beyond money, having enough time for multiple dogs is the biggest challenge for many people. Even though many dogs enjoy interacting and playing with other dogs at home, each dog still requires and deserves the same amount of time from you. To keep another dog company, some people decide to bring a dog into their home. Sometimes this works. However, if you already have one lonely and bored dog and spend a lot of time at work, getting another could result in you having two lonely and bored dogs.

You can avoid any resource guarding by feeding dogs in designated areas of the house or in crates. Making it a habit to give expensive treats to dogs in different parts of the house can also help to prevent disputes between dogs.

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FAQ

Is owning two dogs harder than one?

Every dog requires daily individual focus, consideration, play, and training in addition to routine grooming. When you have multiple dogs, you must spend more time each day working and playing with them to ensure that they are all receiving enough attention.

Are dogs happier with a second dog?

Dogs are social creatures and are typically happier around other dogs, but a second dog can never make up for negligent, disengaged, or overly busy owners.

Why is it easier to have two dogs than one?

Toys, beds, grooming supplies, water bowls, bigger bags of food, and treats can all be shared by two dogs. Safer for you and your furry family members. Two dogs protecting the home are better than one. Additionally, if you have two puppies, they will look out for one another.

Do dogs go better in pairs?

If you have two dogs, they will keep each other company and stimulate each other physically and mentally. That can assist in preventing obedience issues when you only have one dog. Many dog owners question whether having two dogs is preferable to having just one. The answer to that depends on your abilities and needs.