by Hege Nabo

Created on: February 21, 2011

So, you have a dog and are thinking about getting another one? There are many good reasons to have two dogs, and if you select carefully both you, your family and your dog can enjoy the new family member without much stress. Sometimes, having two dogs might even be easier.

Many things can go wrong. Some dogs simply can’t accept each other, or there might be constant fighting over food, toys and your attention. Below are some tips to find that special someone that can be your dog’s best friend instead of its enemy.

Be a matchmaker

The most important factor to dogs getting on well together is how well they fit together. See yourself as a matchmaker who wants the two to have a long-lasting relationship. Just as a matchmaker you want your dogs to have personalities that match and similar interests.

Say for example that you have a boisterous male who wants all the attention. If you get another dog with the same disposition, there is a risk they will fight over who gets it. At the other extreme, if you have a frightened, shy dog and add another of the same, they might feed off each others fears and become even more unstable.

You want that second dog to add to the character of your current dog. If your dog is frightened, consider getting one with a good self-esteem and a bold disposition.

All dogs can be narrowed down into two broad definitions; dominant and submissive. If two dominants are put together they might find it harder to establish who is what in the new relationship. Combine one dominant with one submissive and there is less reason for argument.

Get the sex right

The common advice is to have two dogs of opposite sex together. Get the personalities set right at first. Have the dogs spayed or neutered and there is even less reason to worry. Many dog shelters are able to mix genders in kennels once they are neutered, and then the concern is mainly about the above factors.

Speak the language

A dog that is properly socialised speaks doggy language fluently, and so should you. Learn to recognise your dog’s calming signals such as licking her lips or sniffing the ground. It will be useful for both of you to know this language because knowing when a dog starts to get stressed enable you to avoid further confrontation. A dog who understands the language, in turn, will be able to know when the other dog tells it to back off.

Consider adopting

There are many reasons why an adopted dog is preferable as the second dog. First of all, you will be able

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