Multiple Dogs Vs Single Dog | Having a dog at home is the perfect way to relax after a stressful day at work. Whether you are going through a rough patch in life or feeling upset, your dog will be there to cheer you up. A dog can bring so much positive energy and happy vibes to your life, tempting you to get another dog. In such cases, you need to have adequate knowledge regarding benefits and possible challenges that may arise while having multiple dogs at home.
If you are feeling confused whether you should go for a second dog or stick to just one, here is everything you need to know to make the right decision:
Here is the list of benefits of having multiple dogs at home.
Having another dog at home will help your old dog become happier. The two dogs will play together and talk to each other for fun. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about your dog getting bored at home alone as he will have a companion to have fun with. Also, the two dogs will stay entertained with each other’s company while you focus on your other duties at home or outside. They will mimic each other’s behaviors and make it easier for you to handle the two pets. For example, if your old dog doesn’t have a proper sleeping pattern, he may fall asleep when your new dog hits the sack.
Having an old dog who knows how to behave well can ease the process of training a new dog. Your new dog will carefully observe the way your old dog responds when you give a command and won’t face any difficulty in learning responses. Similarly, it will be easier to potty train the new dog as you can place their potty spots in an area and he will follow the footsteps of the old dog.
If you tend to stay away from home for work, there is a chance that your old dog may suffer from anxiety and loneliness. He may wish to see you around when you are not there. With a new dog at home, you don’t have to worry about your old dog feeling lonely as he will have a new dog to look forward to. The two dogs will help each other stay happier, take care of each other’s needs, and remain active throughout the day while you are not there. They can play with toys or even perform their daily exercise together while staying at home.
Having another dog at home is a great way to double the fun and love. You can spend some quality time with the two dogs together and they will shower you with hugs and cuddles that will elevate your mood. With two dogs, you will experience a happier and more emotionally fulfilling life.
The benefits of having a single dog instead of multiple dogs are as follows.
Having a single dog at home means you need to buy food, toys, and other accessories for just one dog. On the other hand, adding another dog would increase the overall cost to keep the two pets. Despite the two dogs sharing their toys, it may require a double amount to keep them well-fed. Therefore, a single dog is more budget-friendly than having multiple dogs.
A single dog will require you to put in the same amount of work every day according to a fixed schedule. However, having another dog may intensify the amount of effort required to care for the dogs. For example, if bathing your dog is already a stressful task for you, you may find it very difficult to bathe your new dog alongside him as he may not be familiar with your ways. Similarly, if you feed the two dogs together then they may urinate or defecate at the same time. Hence, cleaning after the two dogs can be very tiring. In case there is an accident by your new dog on a carpeted floor, there is a chance that your old dog may unknowingly walk all over it. As a result, there will be a lot of contamination all over your home which will be harder to clean and disinfect.
Keeping a check on your dog’s hygiene is easy as you may be familiar with his habits already. Your trained dog may not cause you any inconvenience in terms of hygiene as he is aware of the rules and regulations at your place. When a new dog arrives at your home, it could be hard to determine every detail regarding his habits. Similarly, it could be hard to train him regarding hygiene practices as he may feel distracted in the presence of your old dog, finding it harder to learn about cleanliness.
Having a single dog is easier to handle in case he suffers from an illness. You can simply take him to a vet and follow a course of medication to get him treated on time. However, multiple dogs may create a hassle for your old dog. Since there are several contagious infections among dogs such as canine distemper, canine influenza, canine parvovirus, etc, if one dog catches an illness, it will infect other dogs as well. As a result, all of your dogs may end up having viral infections that can be very difficult for you to take care of.
Keeping all the factors listed above in consideration, you can make up your mind to have a single dog at home or add in more. Before taking a decision, be sure to check your financial standing and see if you can afford to keep multiple dogs at once. Also, you should analyze your situation to determine whether it’s convenient for you to put in the required effort on multiple dogs or not.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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