Assessing whether your household should have another dog

Life with multiple dogs has the potential to be very rewarding. However, there are things you should ask yourself about your own dog before falling in love with the cute puppy at the shelter.  Is your current dog trained and well mannered?  Behavior problems your dog has now will not be helped by adding another dog.  Instead you will most likely end up with two dogs with a behavior problem. Your dog doesn't need to have perfect manners all the time but if you are not pleased with his behavior overall, hold off on the new addition.

Is your current dog out of the puppy stage? 

It is usually best to wait until your dog is mature (14 months or older) before adding another dog. This gives you time to train and socialize your dog and to see what their adult temperament is.  Dogs close in age usually bond more to each other then their owners which often leads to major behavior problems such as separation problems, difficulty in training, shyness and an antisocial personality.  In addition, two dogs close in age are more likely to fight with each other once they are mature.  For those reasons it's never recommended to bring two littermates home or have two young dogs that are close in age.

Does your current dog like other dogs? 

Of course you wouldn't be considering this if you knew your current dog doesn't like other dogs.  If you are unsure you will need to find out more about your dog's idea of a good playmate.  Some dogs only like certain breeds, sizes or opposite sex dogs.  If your dog hasn't been around other dogs much, bringing him to Playday will give you a chance to see him socialize under the watchful eye of a knowledgeable dog person.

What breed is your dog and what were they developed for?

Genetics does play a role in how likely your dog is to live peacefully with other dogs.  Most breeds that are used as gundogs are generally good with other dogs, as are hounds who hunt in packs. Toy dogs seem to do well with other small breeds.  Dogs which were developed for guarding and some herding breeds can be pushy and dominant with same sex dogs.  If your dog is of a breed originally bred to fight other dogs, he would probably do best to remain an "an only child".  Researching your dog's breed or the breeds in his mix can give you helpful insight to how well your dog may or may not live with others.