You already have one dog but now you want another. It cannot be that hard, can it?

Why not get three, four, five or six? Do not laugh. People do and then they cannot manage, or do not have enough time, or run out of money. If you want to get a second dog, ask yourself why.....

• to keep your first dog company

• you want another dog as your first dog is getting older

• you just want a second dog

Whatever the reason, two dogs are harder to live with than one as they have different needs and need individual attention. Living with two dogs is rewarding if you go about it the right way.

Two dogs from the Same Litter

This is a tough one as both puppies will be learning the same things at the same time, another words this can compound the problems. House training can be harder as they're can be up to different activities in different places in your home. You can only be on one place at once. If they are the opposite sex you do not want any inbreeding.

Separating them is a good start for you and both of the dogs. Two dogs on the loose makes them harder to monitor.

• Maybe consider crate training in separate areas, as with all training its better if it's a one on one session out of sight of the other dog.
• Feeding them separately.
• Separate walks until they have learnt the basic's of walking on the lead and they are focused on the person on the end of the lead. You want your dogs to be dependant on you not on each other.
• As pack leader you need to be very clear on what is unacceptable behavior and what will not be tolerated
• Lots of socialization with other dogs, puppy pre-school and obedience training is a must for both dogs and the owners.
• The other issue is that out of the two, one of them will want to be the top dog, this can lead to fighting for that position and may lead to one having to be re-homed if the situation cannot be resolved.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is essential and that they are focused on you not reliant on each other. Clear consistent and persistent training is essential.
Overall this is a tough situation as it is very time consuming to bet the basic's right.

If you're a new owner and not experienced with raising dogs, I do not recommend bringing home two puppies from the same litter.

Advantages of Two or more Dogs

Two dogs are great company for each other when you cannot be with them. They can also provide each other with much of their daily exercise as long as they are of a similar size. Supervise their play in the beginning because they can get too rough if you are not careful.

It gives them daily social interaction with their own species.

Watching two dogs interacting with each other is better than watching any television program. The antics and they way they communicate with each other is a never ending source of wonder, learning and understanding.

The younger dog learns from the older dog. This can be the good habits and the bad habits as well. Be sure to you have ironed out the bad habits before introducing a second dog.

Tips for Introducing a Second Dog into your Home

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding to bring a second dog into your home. You can make introducing your new canine friend into your household relatively stress free if you put some thought into what you are doing:

• Feeding Time. Depending on the age of the dogs, it is best to feed them separately so no issues or fights arise over food. Many people do feed their dogs without separating them but they do it under supervision to begin with until they know both dogs understand the rules.

• Pack Mentality. When two dogs are together they can ‘pack up’ in instinctual situations, like chasing a rabbit and go in for the kill. You need to understand how this works so you can prevent pack mentality getting out of control.

• Which Sex is Best? The best balance for two dogs seems to be the male and female balance in a two dog household. Dogs of the same sex seem to come to grief, especially two females, through competition for their position in the pack. It all depends on the temperaments of the two dogs as well, so do your research, talk to breeders and go to dog obedience classes to find out what breed and type of dog will fit into the dynamics of your household.

When is the Time Right?

When the time is right is an individual choice but the experts recommend a minimum of two years between getting your first and second dogs. The reason for this is it gives time for your first dog to establish itself in your family and for you to give it a good level of training before your second dog comes along.

Also look at your resources as two dogs are twice as expensive with food, medical needs, and anything else you need to buy for both dogs.

If you do your research and refrain from impulse buying, bringing a second dog home is a rewarding experience for all.