Adopting a Second Dog
Many dog lovers feel that one dog is not
enough. It is important to consider a few things before adding
a new dog to your home.
First consider the temperament of the dog in the home
currently. If the dog is a bit of a bully and the new dog is
of the same temperament there will be fighting until the dogs
decide who the alpha is. By the time veterinarian bills are
paid for the fifth time, the new dog may be a source of
regret.
If the dog at home is overly submissive there could also be
problems with the new dog bullying the first animal and making
its life miserable. It is best to have a dog that is neither a
bully nor very submissive. Anyone that has a submissive dog at
home should not purchase a puppy that refuses to be turned
over and cradled like a baby. When a puppy allows a person to
hold it in this manner it is a sign that the dog is willing to
be submissive.
Second, consider the size of the currently owned dog. If you
have a Toy breed it may not be a good idea to buy a large or
even medium sized breed. A large puppy can easily hurt a small
dog inadvertently. If a large dog with good temperament is
owned a small dog may be a possible addition. It is important
to keep a close eye on the dogs at first to see how they will
interact. Many large breeds will become a devoted protector of
a smaller dog.
Unaltered female dogs may be upset if another female enters
its territory. It may be necessary to alter the current animal
before it will accept another female. A female may even show
aggression after being spayed, so a male addition may be a
better decision. Obviously in this case one of the animals
would have to be altered if puppies are not wanted.
Those with older dogs may want to reconsider buying a puppy.
An older dog will often have a shorter temper span than it did
when it was younger. A better decision would be to add a
mature dog to the family because it will be easier on the
older dog to adjust to a dog that has grown out of the puppy
phase.
Some dog breeds have more problems accepting a new puppy than
others. Toy breeds many times are spoiled and easily become
jealous of other dogs. Anyone having a pampered Yorkshire
Terrier or Miniature Pinscher may find introducing a new puppy
challenging. Large dogs such as Pit Bulls that have aggression
issues may have problems with a new puppy as well. It is
important to remember though that all dogs are different and
many dogs who are members of more aggressive breeds have no
problems accepting a new puppy.
Back to: Dog Bits
|
