by Timmy Duncan

Created on: September 24, 2010

Domesticated animals are often highly social. They enjoy the company of their human owners and may be noticeably sad when their owner is not around enough. For many owners, the solution to a pet who seems down in the dumps due to lack of social interaction is to get the companion animal a companion of their own. Perhaps one of the same species, just someone to keep them company and take the edge off the fact that their human owner leads a busy life. It is often a great idea, especially for highly social animals like dogs, but there are a few things to consider when searching for the right companion animal for your companion animal.

First, decide whether to get a baby animal like a puppy or a kitten or an older animal. The benefit to getting a baby is that it is more likely to be a clean slate and be open to sharing its home with other animals. The benefit of getting an older animal is that you will not have to train it as much and it will probably have energy that more closely matches the animal you currently have. It all depends on how you think your current pet will react to a new face. If you think your current animal will more readily accept a baby due to their small size and non-threatening nature or you think that they would do better with more of an equal.

Also, consider the gender of your new companion animal. Some male animals do better with female companions and vice versa. Other animals do fine with either gender. It really is an individual thing and it can vary from case to case. Use your best judgment and understand that most animals can learn to at least tolerate each other even if they aren’t the best of friends.

Take into consideration also the general personality of your existing pet. If your existing pet has a dominant or aggressive personality, you probably want to search for an animal that has a more submissive and laid back personality. Two dominant personalities often have trouble existing together in the same household. They may fight with each other which defeats the purpose of having a companion for your pet.

Overall, ask yourself if your pet is really in need of a companion. Some animals are better on their own while others thrive in a group environment. You know your pet best.

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