Having more than one dog in your household can be a real joy for you and your dogs. Being pack animals, dogs prefer company. Since you may spend a considerable amount of time away from home your dog would probably love a companion.

There are many reasons to own more than one dog. While you are away from home your dog certainly won’t be as lonely and possibly resort to undesirable behaviors such as chewing on the furniture. Dogs can spend hours together wrestling, or playing “chase me” games. Having a companion in the house can reduce your dog’s over-dependence on you. Your dog’s stress can be reduced when you leave the house if he knows he will not be left alone.

While more than one dog in your house can comfort and occupy your dog, do not expect a second dog to solve your current dog’s behavior problems. Just as your present well-behaved dog can teach the new comer all the preferred behaviors, so too can a poorly behaved dog teach “bad” behaviors to the new dog.

If your dog is exhibiting negative behaviors, such as excessive barking or inappropriate chewing, you must solve these problems before you obtain another dog. Let your new dog be a companion for your first dog, but not responsible for changing all her undesirable behaviors.

One of the best ways to help keep peace in your new pack is to adopt a dog that is different from your present dog. This means getting a dog or puppy that is the opposite sex, a different size, smaller or larger, and one that is a different age. The more different your dogs, the more easily they will establish their positions in the pack.

You can help this process by first introducing your dogs on neutral territory. If your dog is accustomed to going to a park and playing with other dogs, this will be a great place for them to meet. Do not force them together or keep their leashes tight. Allow them to investigate one another naturally, approaching in their own time. If things have gone well you can bring the new dog home. Once the new dog is in your home, continue to allow them to work things out for themselves. They will have to establish their territories. Your first dog may have to give up some of her special toys or sleeping areas to the new dog. Remember, they are establishing a pack hierarchy and every subtle exchange leads to a peaceful resolution. It is important that you stay out of their interactions. Things may not seem fair to you, but the canine world operates very differently than ours. There will be no sharing. So while things may seem unfair, this is between your dogs not you.