You’ve decided that you are ready for a new pet. You can afford another pet, you’re set up for another pet, you understand the extra time and effort that will be required to integrate a new pet into your household. If you have a roommate, spouse, children, seniors living with you—everyone agrees. You’re even fairly certain that the pet or pets you already have will be at least okay (if not enthusiastic) about a new family member. Now . . . how do you pick the new pet?
Another dog?
If you already have a dog, the worst reason to get another dog is to keep the first dog company. If your dog needs company because there are never any humans around the house, you don’t need another dog! If you had the time to acclimate the dog you already have to your family, if you had the time to train that dog to be a good family member, if you had the time to spend with that dog to keep it exercised, groomed, supervised, and happy, but you no longer have that time . . . another dog is not going to solve your problems. In fact, adding another dog to an already too-busy household might mean lowering the quality of life for the dog you already have. Is that what you want?
If you already have a dog, the best reason to get another one is that you and your family have greatly enjoyed the dog you have, that you have liked raising it and training it, that you have appreciated the time you’ve spent with it, and that you’re confident that having another dog will add to the enjoyment for all concerned—including the dogs!
What dog do you pick?
If you have a female dog, consider choosing a male dog, and vice versa. It’s standard dog lovers’ advice that you’re less likely to run into “personality” conflicts between dogs if they are the opposite sex from each other. Since you’re going to spay or neuter your new pet, too, why not?
If you have a big dog, consider picking a smaller dog, and vice versa. Two dogs of roughly the same size may be more likely, again, to have “personality” conflicts. By picking a size of dog that’s different, you may also be shooting for a different breed or combination of breeds, which may also help cut down on potential friction between the dogs.
If you have a very furry dog, consider picking a dog that requires less grooming, and vice versa. If you’ve only had short-haired, smooth-coated dogs, be sure you understand the additional time and effort needed to maintain the grooming of a dog with much more fur.
If you have an older dog, considering picking a younger dog, and vice versa. Yes, that’s right—consider an older dog! There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t adopt a dog older than the dog you already have, if you are prepared to deal with the issues of an aging pet sooner rather than later. Many wonderful senior dogs are abandoned or given up to shelters every day. There are now rescue organizations that concentrate solely on senior pets. Remember, with an experienced adult dog, you may find that the housebreaking and destructive phases of development are long over. You may end up with a dog who adjusts to your home and family much more easily than a younger dog would. Adopting a younger dog when you have an older dog is also common sense. You’re thinking ahead to the time when your first dog needs more time, attention, and probably veterinary care. It’s never easy to have two dogs with aging issues at one time. It’s expensive and it can be heartbreaking.
One caution: it is never wise to adopt litter-mate puppies. It may be equally unwise to adopt two adult dogs that are litter mates, especially if they have been given up by their previous owners because of “lack of time.” Two dogs together from birth tend to become more dog-oriented than people-oriented. They may prefer the company of their brother or sister dog to the company of their humans, and that usually creates problems for both the humans and the dogs. If you adopt two young dogs that are litter mates, you will have double everything, including veterinary expenses and training. And if those two dogs survive, they will enter doggy old age together—again, double everything for seniors.
Another cat?
Interestingly, the rule for adopting litter mates does not apply to cats! In fact, cat behavior experts often advocate the adoption of two litter-mate kittens at one time. True, the expenses and care issues will be bigger when you have two going through the same life stages, but with cats, it seems to turn out much better than it does with dogs. Cats provide companionship for each other in a way that can’t be duplicated by humans. By picking two young cats that already get along, you’ve likely made a good choice both for the cats and for their future with your family.
If adopting two young cats at one time is not practical for you because you already have a cat, consider choosing, as you would with dogs, a second cat that is the opposite from your first in sex, at least, with the hope of lessening the possibility of conflict. Cats can take a very long time to warm up to each other, especially if they have been “only” cats for a while. You cannot necessarily expect their aloofness to another cat to change overnight—if ever.
A different kind of pet?
You have a cat and want a dog. You have a dog and want a cat. Either of these situations could turn out great . . . or horribly. Most animal shelters and reputable rescue organizations screen dogs and cats for “issues” with each other. Obviously, if you already have a cat who is terrified of dogs, adopting a dog may not be your best (or at least easiest) choice. If you have a dog who sees cats as prey, a cat may not be safe in your house. Remember that good animal shelters and rescues will allow you to return an adopted animal if you discover it’s simply incompatible with your existing pet population. Not that you should “try out” pets the way you test-drive cars, of course—but should you suddenly discover that Fido wants to kill Fluffy, it’s best to get Fluffy to a safer situation, pronto.
You have a cat or a dog and you want to adopt . . . a fish, a hamster, a snake?
Safety first.
Whatever new pet you choose, make sure it’s set up to survive in your home. That means an environment of its own, separate from pets not of its kind, safe from any “interest” shown by other pets or even family members. For example, if you have a cat, your aquarium needs a top!
Some pets will never interact with each other, and that’s not a bad thing.
Some pets will surprise you. I adopted a ferret, a pet I’d wanted for many years, when I had two golden retrievers. From the moment I walked in my front door with that carrier, those two dogs were silly-excited, and I knew them well enough to realize that it wasn’t because they thought the ferret would be their dinner. They were genuinely jazzed to have him in the house!
However, it was some time before I allowed the dogs and the ferret to interact directly. It’s been almost a decade now that I’ve had dogs and ferrets, and I’ve never had one single incident that leads me to believe they’re anything but friends. That doesn’t mean I leave them together unsupervised! They romp and play with each other (in an escape-proofed pet-friendly area) but never without me.
You adopt a second—or third or fourth—pet to add to the happiness of your household. Do your research, your due diligence, before you pick that pet. Take the time to integrate the new pet into your household safely and serenely. Give the new pet the attention it needs, but don’t forget the pets you already have. Your goal is a well-integrated family of pets and people, all happy together.
