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EPISODE 24

One Dog, Two Dogs, Three Dogs or More?

What to consider when adding multiple dogs to your family. We all know that dogs are great. There is almost nothing like the love, loyalty and joy that comes with canine companionship. What is better than a dog? How about two dogs? Or three dogs? At some point every pet parent begins to ask themselves that most important of questions.

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Should I get another dog? This will be the main focus of  today's episode. And don't believe for one second that there is only one right answer. 

Like many questions, when it comes to pet parenting, it all depends.  On you. On your home. On your family. On the dogs. Jaimee Kelsey, the director of training at my canine center Dog Gone Smart and I will be diving into this topic in great detail and discuss what you need to consider when making this decision. 

Is having more than one dog better?

  • Two dogs keep each other company and provide exercise.
  • The average household in the U.S. has 1.6 dogs. Most people who own dogs have more than one.
  • Does this mean it is better? Are those people happier? Are those dogs happier?​.

Is it a good idea to get 2 puppies at one time?

  • Generally this is not a good idea because the puppies will most likely bond to each other and not to you.
  • Having 2 dogs is much more work for you.
  • There are some advantages: puppies will play together and keep each other company when you are gone so they don't resort to boredom and destructive behavior around the house. 

Old Dog, New Tricks

  • Having an older dog when you get a puppy is a more common scenario.

  • However, adding a puppy to a household that already has a dog has its pitfalls.
  • Once you decide you want to add a dog to your family, there are many things you need to decide as doing this will change things. 
  • To try and get the best fit for both the existing dog and the new dog, there are many things to consider to try and make the new match work, ie temperament, personality, size, gender, energy level, etc.

Have Questions for Chris?

Take advantage of "Ask the Canine Master" where you can submit questions, videos and/or photos to Chris. He will do his very best to answer them for you. Become part of the show! Select questions will be answered during one of the upcoming broadcasts.

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