How to Choose a Second Dog

Last week, I posed the question: Should I get a second dog? I suggested five questions to ask yourself before making a final decision.

This week, I’m going to assume your answer is YES and explore how to choose a second dog for your family–because you want to make sure you find the right match!

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How do you choose the right second pup for your family?

So, you’ve decided you have the time, space, ability, and budget to add another pup to your family.

Congratulations! How exciting!

Exciting, and maybe a little overwhelming, too. Where to look? How old should the dog be? Does breed matter? Or gender?

Let’s dig in, shall we?

Here are two questions to consider when choosing a second pup:

1. What type of companion would be most fulfilling to your current dog?

Think about your dog’s personality. What traits or characteristics in a second dog would be most complementary?

For example, if you have a high-energy dog who loves to play, it might not be in his or her best interest to add a couch potato to the family. (I say might not because, well, it might. See question 2.)

If your dog snarls and growls and lunges at every big dog you pass on your daily walk, well, a big dog probably shouldn’t be on your list of potential playmates.

Sometimes this question can be hard to answer because you can’t talk it through with your dog. What you can do is observe your pup and his or her preferences and reactions. You can give your dog lots of time to meet other dogs (like at adoption events or through short-term fostering) to assess what is the right match.

In our case, Penny is a calm, gentle dog. She loves to walk but not run. She ADORES nearly every dog she meets and tries to skitter with them on trails and sidewalks and at our neighborhood bus stop. Because she’s so easy-going, it feels like we have more options, which I suppose we do, but it also means we need to be extra cautious so that we don’t get a dog who walks all over her or pushes her around. So, that means that I’m looking for a puppy–and I am NOT a fan of puppies! I would much rather adopt an adult dog, but, again, the companion who would be most fulfilling to Penny is probably a younger dog.

2. What type of pup best fits your family’s lifestyle as it is–or as you want it to be?

Take an honest look at your family’s lifestyle AND at your family’s lifestyle goals. Do you want to spend more time outside? Are you taking up running this year? Do you hope to beat Tears of the Kingdom before summer? Planning lots of plane trips–and you want to bring your pup along?

It might help to grab a scrap of paper and write out what your lifestyle is like right now and what, if anything, you plan to change.

For frequent fliers, a tiny dog that fits in a TSA-approved carrier should rise to the top of your list.

If you’ve been a couch potato but want to take up running, an energetic dog might be the key to your motivation. (It’s true.)

If you’re going to get to 100 percent on Tears of the Kingdom, that’s something like 200+ hours in front of a screen, so a high-energy dog would not be the best fit for you. Unless you want to balance the couch time with running, in which case you gotta take that into consideration, too.

There’s no judgement here, but you do need to be honest with yourself!

Now, let’s consider a couple more factors when choosing your second dog:

Do not worry about gender!

This is one of the biggest myths out there, filled with lots and lots of anecdotes but no actual scientific data. So, here goes: Aggression in dogs, regardless of gender, is complex and multi-factorial.

Here are some issues that matter more than gender:

• Early socialization: Dogs properly socialized during puppyhood are less likely to develop aggression later. Is this always true? Of course not. But there is a TON of actual research to back this one up.
• Individual temperament: For instance, some dogs are naturally more prone to guarding resources or territory. And some of those issues come from early socialization (or lack thereof).
• Training: Consistent, science-based training reduces the likelihood of aggression.
• Environment: A stable environment with a dog kept inside the home (versus outside on a chain) reduces the likelihood of aggression.
• Underlying health problems: Pain, sickness, or discomfort can make dogs more reactive. Aren’t we all when we feel crappy?
• Sex hormones can play a role, but it’s not the whole story. However, spay or neuter your dog AND the dog you want to adopt. It’ll reduce the likelihood of any hormone-driven aggression.

Focus on individual dogs, not just gender. These generalizations can be dangerous and can keep you from meeting a really great dog. If you work with a shelter or rescue, they’ll help you carefully assess dogs and help match the right friend for your pup.

Adopt or Shop?

I’ve spoken with so many people recently who have said that they’re afraid to adopt because “you don’t know what you’ll get.”

I hate to break it to them/you/anyone else that, even if you purchase a dog from a breeder, there are no guarantees.

That said, if you are committed to a specific breed or want to show your dog or have an interest in that world, do your research. Find a good, solid, reputable breeder. Check his or her references. Talk to people who have purchased dogs from them before. Dig as deep as you can. The number of unhinged doodles living in a three-mile radius of my house is, yes, purely anecdotal, but a good reminder that just because some charges a fortune for a cute puppy does not mean you’re promised anything about that dog.

For us, we are an adoption-only family. If you’re interested in adopting a dog, there are so many paths to take, but all should lead back to one thing: Make sure your dog gets a chance to spend time with the potential pup prior to adoption.

Here are a few avenues you could try:

• Animal shelters
• Breed- or condition-specific rescues, like a senior dog rescue or a Golden Retriever rescue
• Foster dogs through shelters, humane societies, or rescues, which is a great way to get to know a dog well before you commit!
• A foster-based rescue where the dogs are all in foster homes awaiting adoption, which is a fantastic opportunity to get to know a lot about a dog and their habits and routines before adoption without having to commit to fostering
• Adoption events hosted by pet stores or community events

Congrats on adding a second dog to your family!

Multiple dogs can be so much fun. They can be playful, silly, cuddly, and the best of friends! Of course, choosing the second dog is only step one. Next up is introducing and integrating another dog to create a harmonious multi-dog household.

(Would a post on that be helpful? Let me know in the comments, if so!)

If you have a multi-dog household, how did you find your next pup? If you’re looking, what criteria are you using? Let us know in the comments how your family came together!

As for us, stay tuned on Instagram… we might just have some news coming pretty soon… (;

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