Owning more than one dog can be exceptionally rewarding but there are some things to consider before you take the plunge. If you have ever only had one dog in your household, than adding one more will give you twice the benefits as well as twice the expense.

Dogs are naturally sociable creatures. They will relish the company of one of their own to spend their day. The first question that you should ask yourself is how social is your current dog; does he/she spend time in the dog park interacting with other dogs off leash or does your dog spend time at home alone and you’re thinking a buddy would be good for them.

If your dog is already, quite sociable then introducing a new dog to your home will be much easier to accomplish. However if your dog is home alone and rarely spends time interacting with other dogs you can still be successful in introducing another dog to the family it will just take some extra time and training on your part.

For most one-dog pet owners they fall somewhere in between; occasionally having their dog interact with other dogs and their dog spends time home alone. Therefore, that will be our prospective. If you are wondering whether you can reap the benefits of twice the pleasure, the answer is yes. You will have twice the funny looks, quirks, have two heads to rub, and will simply have a lot more fun!

To ensure you reap the rewards and not a problem consider strongly the choice of your second dog. Some dogs more than others do better with having a partner while some are traditionally one-dog personalities so do your research. If taking in a rescue make sure their past-included socialization, it will very difficult for the novice dog owner to try to socialize a dog that is not already.

Try to keep your choice within the same dog breed group that is hound dog with another hound dog. Not necessarily the same breed, just the same group. Doing so will help you with dog training as you are familiar with the instincts already inbred in your dog.

When you first introduce the two dogs do so away from home. Use the local park or even your front yard. Allow the dogs to become familiar with one another then gradually move to the backyard and finally into the house. It would be best to have already purchased two separate dog crates and placed in different locations. This will help begin the process of the dogs determining their hierarchy.

Provided your first dog is well trained as well as slightly older, he/she will keep the new dog in-line and can make dog training a little easier. Two dogs have a tendency to copy one another’s behavior. There will be a “pack” leader issue you are going to have to deal with.  As dogs are pack animals, a choice will be made and who rises to the top is the question.

The pecking order needs to be you as pack leader in the household, next one of two dogs will be dominant, and that may not necessarily be your first dog. However, start with your first dog as dominant by allowing him/her to receive your affection first when come home, be the first given a treat when the time comes, and first allowed to eat during feeding time. This pecking order for the two dogs will help them settle disputes that will arise from time to time.

Dog obedience training should be done separately always using their name with the command. Both of them will accomplish the command without a name. Spend time playing with your dogs apart from one another. At some point, this will be the case and it gives the dominant dog a break.

Besides reaping twice the rewards, you will inherit more expenses aside from the obvious dog food, dog leashes, and veterinary costs but also your time and energy. You will groom two dogs, training both dogs, as well as pick up after them and ensure proper socialization. If you live in an apartment or house with a small yard, you now have two dogs to walk and take to the park.

The rewards far out weight the expenses as those of us who have more than one dog will tell you. As the same principles applied for owning two dogs also apply for owning three and four dogs, this is best left to the experienced dog owner. So, if you think you are ready to take on another dog then by all means go for it – you will not be disappointed.