Old Trainer: When should you add a second dog to the household?
Dear Old Trainer: Harper, my 6-year old Blue Heeler, has been the love of my life since the day I rescued her. She had a traumatic life before, but is very happy now. I found a 1-year old Blue Heeler male with a back story similar to Harper’s and want to adopt him, but I worry it might cause stress for Harper. It would break my heart if a new dog made her feel unhappy or unloved. What do you advise?
Maggie, Syracuse, NY
Old Trainer: Add the second dog. I say that with no reservation. I’ve done it so many times I lost count and so has every other trainer I know. We all have anywhere from eight to 14 dogs, and we have a steady, endless stream of dogs we rescue and add to our packs until they find a permanent home (and sometimes that home is with us, which is how we wind up with so many good dogs).
I never had a negative experience adding a new dog and neither has anyone else I ever talked to. There are biological reasons why it always works.
Dogs are pack animals. If all humans die tomorrow dogs will immediately form up in packs. That deep genetic desire for community is why canines are always at the top of the food chain in the wild.
All dogs love canine companions and Harper will too. The new dog will bond with her and comfort her and interact with her in ways no human can.
No reason for you to worry about it, you’ll be happier too. You have the experience from rescuing Harper and changing her life, and it’s easier when you add a second dog. A new member of a pack learns the routine by watching the old ones, so training is easy. You get twice as much love with little additional work, plus have fun all day watching the dogs interact.
The two dogs have to sort out all those little things the canine mind considers important, who goes in and out the door first, who sleeps where, who gets to drink first, but Harper will be so happy to have a packmate they’ll work it out in a day or so.
Whether Harper ranks number one is up to her and the new dog. I don’t let any of my dogs bully any other, but I allow the dogs to determine their own rank within the pack. I do it because it’s the only way they will ever be comfortable, but certain things — don’t eat your packmate’s treats, don’t steal anyone’s favorite toy, the old timers get their special perks — I, as the leader, explain and then enforce.
The one thing you don’t do is try and make the new dog yield to Harper on all things. That’s not the way canine psychology works. That just makes them both uneasy and insecure. Let them decide the little things for themselves unless they need you to rule on a point of pack law.
All you have to do is love on them and enjoy them and use your skills as a leader to make them both happy.
Rest assured you will love the second dog the same way you do Harper and get the same satisfaction of saving a dog and giving it a wonderful life