Companion Animals: Finding the Perfect Match for Your Pet

Some animals can do very well in pairs. As long as they don't mind sharing YOU, their human companion, getting a friend for your current furry household member can be a good decision.

Hopefully, before coming to this conclusion, you've already done some important assessments of your current situation. Getting a new pet should never be taken lightly. The reasons are compounded when it will also alter the lifestyle of a pet you have already made a commitment to care for. Have you asked yourself if you are ready for the added work involved with feeding, walking, exercising, grooming, and caring for another pet? How well does your current pet react to another animal in your home? Is your pet territorial? Does he/she prefer male or female companions? Is your pet spayed or neutered? Will the new pet be spayed or neutered? Is your pet dominant? Submissive? Easy to get along with? What is the energy level of your current pet? How close in age will your pets be? Will you have time to train another animal?

These questions are very important and will guide you through the steps to find the perfect new addition to your home. And don't think that just because there is another warm body around, this will offer a good substitute for YOU. If a busy schedule keeps you away from home most of the time, you could end up with TWO bored and destructive pets instead of just one. And if one learns bad habits, he/she will likely pass on the same behavior to the second animal.

Temperament Matching

The first step, assuming your pet is a good candidate for welcoming another member to the family, is to determine the temperament you are looking for. Having two dominant personalities simply will not work. Neither will having a pet who wants to sleep and matching it with a pet who does nothing but antagonize him or her throughout the day. Gender may also affect the ability of two pets to live together in peace.

Where to Look

When the real search begins, make sure you bring the current pet with you. It is important to make the first introduction away from home and to see how they respond to each other from the start. This will not guarantee they will get along down the road, but at least you will know ahead of time if they will definitely reject each other.

Animal shelters are always a good start. They tend to have a variety of breeds, ages, sizes and temperaments. And you will be saving a life. Just be careful that this will not expose your current pet to any illnesses homeless animals can sometimes carry.

Another possibility is by going to a private rescue. There are breed rescues as well as those that have pure and mixed breeds. They often keep the animals in foster homes. These tend to have more information about personality traits and will be able to tell you how an animal interacts at home, away from the noise and confusion of a shelter. Both shelters and rescues normally have a period of time when you can return the pet in case of issues at home.

The final possibility is from a reputable breeder. There is a wealth of information out there about where and how to find a good breeder where you will have the best chance of a receiving a healthy, well-adjusted animal. Sometimes, adult pets are also available after a show career or having been returned from a previous home for some reason.

Take your time, be sensitive to your current pet, and understand that it can be a harder match to make than starting from scratch. But also know that in the end, your reward is earning the trust and bond of a second animal, as well as the companionship shared by the two happy pets that you love.

Learn more about this author, Lauren Von Lehe.
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