Whilst a second dog might seem like the best idea EVER!!! Not every dog wants to share their space, attention or toys. Some dogs prefer being only dogs and some have very conflicting feelings towards other dogs, which would make them very uncomfortable when it comes to sharing their home with a new doggy sibling.
You need to ask yourself, am I doing this for my dog or for myself?
There are a number of factors to take into consideration before committing to a second dog, such as:
Twice the time, money, poop bags, food, treats, toys, chews, brain games, coats (if you use them), sessions with a trainer and attention needed.
Potential annoyance, frustration and fights between the dogs, if one continuously pesters the other and they don't appreciate it, or if they resource guard, this can lead to fights if the other dog doesn't allow the guarding dog enough space.
Twice the walking, play and training as they will need individual sessions with you to meet their daily needs and prevent any jealousy or teaching each other bad habits or even just using the other dog as a security blanket in circumstances that they're worried about. That means solo walks for each dog, 1-2-1 training sessions with each dog, individual play times with each dog (which can lead to the other dog attention barking in another room if they hear it) and one on one cuddles for each dog, so the original dog doesn't feel like it's being pushed out by the new dog.
The older dog can get jealous of the new dog/puppy, especially as puppies require a LOT more attention than older dogs for toilet training, manners training, socialisation, obedience training and play sessions to wear them out. Older dogs require a lot less as they're happier to rest and have longer naps during the day, they have better bladder control (generally) so don't require as many toilet trips. They're also used to a nice, quiet, peaceful life, which is then turned upside down by a bark little ball of (very cute) chaos 😂.
If you get 2 puppies from the same litter, you run the very serious risk of them developing sibling rivalry as they get older. In some cases, this can get really nasty and the only solution is to rehome one for the dogs, to avoid them getting seriously injured from an argument.
You'll need to have some form of management in place such as stairgates or crates, to allow the dogs to have some "me time" away from each other and to decompress after their interactions. Much like us, they need a break from being social to recharge too.
You may see an increased or worsened behaviour after introducing a second dog, as they either feed off of each others energy or teach each other their undesired behaviours. This could be as simple as having a perfectly quiet dog on a walk, then adding a dog that barks & chases cats on a walk, the quiet dog could then learn that they're allowed to chase cats, because the new dog does. Now you have 2 dogs that bark at cats on walks and you have to have your head on a swivel to spot the cats and prepare yourself before they see them.
It can be harder to find holiday cover as some places/people don't look after multiple dogs at a time and if you do manage to find somewhere who will take multiple dogs, it will often cost considerably more than you expect as there's a charge for both dogs, not just a single dog charge and the other dog tags along.
Some dogs prefer the solo life, and prefer to have dog friends that they meet on their walks instead for their social needs, then return home for their personal space and their own personal butler service of their human(s).
There is a common misconception that getting a 2nd dog will make your dog-reactive dog, dog-friendly. This is not the case... In some cases, yes they can learn to live together and make friends, but it takes an awful lot of time, patience, management and knowledge. Even then, there's no guarantee that they will ever get on. Then you have to live with 2 dogs who have to be permanently separated for their own safety for their whole lives, unless one gets rehomed.
Resource guarding is VERY common between dogs in multi-dog households, as they don't want their sibling to steal their precious belongings, bed, treat or human(s).
Younger dogs can develop a dependency on the older dog, which makes losing the elderly dog to old age, a lot harder, as the younger dog can't cope in the world without their friend. They often end up with a broken heart and show signs of depression, which will take them a while to process and recover from.
Again there's no guarantee they'll get on, even with time...
So if you're prepared for any and all of these possibilities,
then a second dog might be for you!!!
