Before settling on a breed, think about the gender of the dog. For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same-sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death. Those who work out a dominance order may not fare much better.
By nature, dogs are social and thrive in group environments. Therefore, there are many advantages to adopting a second dog, such as: They can keep each other company. Both dogs will be able to entertain each other and get exercise together.
Two alpha females can get along just fine if the owners are true leaders or they may fight if the owners are not. On the other hand even two submissive-follower type females can begin to fight if the humans are weak pack leaders. Dogs can also begin to fight if the humans allow the pack to become unstable.
Heat cycles and pregnancy affect hormones and intensify the odds of such fights even between two previously friendly females. In a natural environment a particular female breeds with one male and the other female will accept this breeding right humbly or move away to form her own pack with another male.
What's the age of your current dog? Many breeders recommend that your first dog be at least one-to-two-years old before you add a second to the family.
If you want to have another dog and your only hesitation is the fear that you won't love them the same as you do your first dog, let me tell you this: you will not the love them the same - you will love them differently, but equally.
Second Dog Syndrome
As humans, we are bound to forget all of the time and effort it takes to raise a puppy right. All too often, a second dog joins the household and the expectation is that they will behave as the existing dog in the home does, so they are often given the same freedom right off the bat.
After getting a new dog, you may find that they quickly become jealous after you bring them home. Finding a new forever home can be a very emotional time. Sometimes, a newly adopted dog becomes jealous because they crave your attention, touch, and voice as a comfort during this time of change.
Some dogs are happy to be sociable, while other prefer their own space and will be more comfortable with dogs who can respect their boundaries. If your dog displays anxious or aggressive behaviour around other dogs, we would recommend getting in touch with a qualified canine behaviourist for help.
Before settling on a breed, think about the gender of the dog. For the happiest dogs and the safest household, opposite sex dogs almost always do best together. Many same-sex combinations of dogs will fight, sometimes to the death. Those who work out a dominance order may not fare much better.
While many female dogs do get along peacefully, adopting two puppies of the same sex can sometimes be like playing Russian roulette, their future may be a question mark.
There isn't research for dogs, as there is for cats, that show how long it takes dogs to adjust to each other. Phifer, however, says that two to four weeks is usually enough time to know if dogs can be friends.
Not all dogs will be comfortable with another dog in the house. Depending on their past experiences, their temperament, age, and health, adding another pup might be stressful--for both your dog, and for you. Training two dogs can be tricky.
Experts recommend adopting a dog of the opposite sex if you add a second dog. While you should consider the gender of the second dog when adopting another dog, it's not the only thing that matters.
It's good to have a friend
Dogs are social animals; generally speaking, they like having friends. While every dog should be able to take part in some relaxing alone time, many would appreciate the company of a canine pal.
But the truth is, owning two dogs doesn't have to be more work – in fact, it can often be easier. And as for the cost, it will cost more money than one but not twice the amount. This is because dogs will often share toys, beds, etc.
Recently, psychologists performed a study on dog behavior and learned without a doubt that dogs do get jealous. Whether it's jealousy as humans experience it, or an offshoot of deeply ingrained dog behavior like resource guarding or redirected excitement, dogs do feel envy.
Drastic hormone changes can adversely affect a female dog's mood and can predispose to acts of aggression even if she has never been aggressive before. These hormone changes cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain during ovulation.
Male dogs are not more aggressive than females, but their competitive tendencies might bring them into conflict with their owners more, which may result in aggression if not handled properly. WILL NEUTERING MY DOG MAKE IT LESS AGRESSIVE? This really depends upon the reason that your dog is aggressive.