Getting a New Dog

[DenverDogLover82]

Hi everyone,

I've always only had one dog at a time, but I'm very interested in adding a second one to our little family. Is there anything I need to do in order to help my resident dog accept a new companion? Do I need to consider factors, such as age or breed when rescuing another dog? My dog is a five-year-old Cocker Spaniel, so I was thinking that a dog around her age would be a good choice. Is there anything else I should consider?

 

[Vinny]

Great question and here are some tips:

Decide on a breed like you mentioned and do a bit of research for things like shedding and activity levels. Most will suggest picking a breed that fits into your families lifestyle.

What I always suggest is adopting a dog and not rushing into it. I find that many adopters rush into adopting and for the wrong reasons go home with a dog too quickly. From my experience I see a better success rate with the slow approach. Look around and meet the dogs if you feel it's a good fit bring your dog along next visit or the rest of the family. Do a proper meet and greet according to the body language you are observing from both dogs. If one is not familiar with body language or behavior hopefully the rescue or shelter will have some staff on hand to help out. I have been hired or helped out as a trainer/behavior consultant with adoptions therefore a professional can be another option.

My number one rule is always "Never get a dog for another dog". What I mean by this is that I have met so many potential adopters that want to get a dog for their other dog for various reasons. The biggest reason will probably be a playmate. My biggest concern with this is; What if the dogs don't get along?

I find going slow and finding the right match for the family and your other furry friend is the best approach for success. Now when you bring them home lots of micro managing until you get a great idea of how they will live together. eg. space management, toys ,food...

Some input on what seems like a simple question but has many variables

DoGGie ResidenCe has some great info on some of the topics mentioned above and adding more weekly...

 

[DenverDogLover82]

Thank you so much for your reply. These are fantastic suggestions.

It's a great idea to bring my resident dog to the shelter for a meet and greet. I think that will help in finding the right dog for our family.

I want the best for both my resident dog and for the new dog. I will take things slow to make sure I find the best fit for our family. I really appreciate your advice.