Big Love: Tips for Living in Multi-Dog HouseholdsAdding another dog to your household will definitely increase the fun factor at home, but it may also add challenges. With that in mind we've created a series of handouts to help ease the transition. These are community resources so feel free to share them far and wide!
Choosing a Dog to Add to your Household Bringing a new dog home is an exciting and important decision. Before you take the plunge, take time to think about what kind of dog will be best for you and your family. Never feel pressured to make a hasty decision about bringing a dog home – responsible rescues or breeders will take the time to give you a dog who will be a good fit for your family in the long run. Be honest and upfront with the people helping you add another dog – they are there to help make a good match!
There is a lot to love about living with more than one dog – what’s better than hanging out with two (or more) dogs who are the best of friends? The downside to multi-dog households, however, is what we call “The Rule of Multiples”: Any behavior problem in one dog will multiply by the number of dogs you have. In other words, the more dogs you have, the worse an individual dog’s problems can become. Here are some tips to help keep the peace if you have more than one dog under your roof. Fight! How to Cope when Dogs Clash Scuffles can happen between any dogs of any breed, even if they’re friends. When a fight occurs it can be more traumatic for the humans than the dogs – so if you’re feeling a bit shaken up by one, you’re not alone. Here are some pointers that will help prevent fights and aid you in getting through one. |