105 Million Americans own dogs and most of them own more than one! 
In fact, reports show that multi-dog homes are growing at a faster rate than any other segment of the pet industry. Though, to many pet parents, the idea of owning more than one dog is a dream, it doesn’t always work out the way we would have hoped. Managing a multi-dog household is not a piece of cake and often requires quite a bit of finesse to get right!
They start simply enough, perhaps your new roommate also owns a dog or you decide it’s time to simply expand your fur-family. Whatever the case may be, often one dog has previously been well adjusted to a single-dog domain and a new “sibling” or roommate can be a tricky change for our pooches!
The best thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to prepare!
Learning about canine body language is an important first step to this transition. We know how important it is to be able to tell what our dog is feeling but that is only amplified when we add two (or more) dogs into the mix! This is a crucial tool for maintaining harmony within the household, afterall, not only will our dogs now be interacting with us but also one another for the entire day. Recognizing and understanding these body language signs of communication will help you keep an eye on everyone’s feelings and boundaries, allowing you to step in and interrupt anything that may result in negative exchanges.
It is also important to remember that, along with the new added stress, access to various resources can become a point of contention between dogs in the same house. These resources could be food, beds, toys or even you and your affection! Therefore, ensuring that each dog’s individual needs are being met is critical. This can look like each dog having their own bed / safe zone, toys being picked up when not in use, dogs having their own individual bowls, and a fair spread of attention and affection from you! By giving both dogs equal access to everything important to them we set them up for successful interactions with one another.
Exercise is another great way for our dogs to adjust to one another as well as thrive in this new environment! Play and mental stimulation are helpful ways to enhance the bond between your new fur-friends and spend some of the energy they may have otherwise used towards less ideal choices or behaviors.
Other important factors to consider are things like the added financial cost of a second dog within the home, from kibble to vet bills, as well as the physical demands a new dog will pose. 8 dirty paws are more exhausting and time consuming to clean than just 4, and walking 2 dogs certainly is more complicated to handle!
Along with these new responsibilities, you also will have to be vigilant and consistent in your training between both dogs, while remembering that each of the dogs will have their own individual challenges that they face and overcome. Keeping realistic expectations for both of your pups will keep anyone from feeling frustrated while working together! Each of them will have their own personalities, energy levels of varying intensity, motivators, insecurities, limitations and strengths. The better we understand these about each of our dogs the more successful we will be supervising and enriching their lives.
Sharing your home (and heart) with more than one dog can be infinitely rewarding but it does come with its own set of unique challenges. If you think this lifestyle is for you then do yourself a favor and prepare, prepare, prepare!
Happy Sibling Day!
Love & Tail Wags,
I Said Sit!
