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If you have a dog, you might find yourself wondering at some point whether your four-legged friend would like to have a friend of their own.
At first, the pros of getting another dog may seem to outweigh the cons, but you should think carefully before taking any action.
Two dogs may be double the joy, but they are also double the cost – for everything from food to their healthcare to their insurance.
Your household circumstances should be considered, too.
“You should have enough space and enough opportunities to spend time with the animals,” says Rolf Franck, a behavioural consultant who runs a dog training centre in Germany. “The more dogs you have, the better you have to train them.”

Timing matters, too. The first dog should be properly trained by the time a second animal moves in, “otherwise it will be difficult with the second”, says Franck.
Do not hang your hopes on the idea that two dogs will be able to teach each other to behave correctly.
“It doesn’t work at all,” warns dog trainer and author Petra Fuehrmann, because “little problems then become big ones”.
She says any issues that you might have with your first dog should be sorted out before the arrival of the second, “because it usually gets a lot worse afterwards”.
If, after that, you still want another dog, you then have to decide whether to get the same breed as your first dog or not.
“With a Great Dane and a Chihuahua, there are practical risks,” says Franck, such as one inadvertently injuring the other. But that does not mean that getting dogs of different breeds and sizes cannot work.
I don’t allow any swapping [of food] – not even of a chewing bone
Petra Fuehrmann, dog trainer and author
Fuehrmann has four dogs herself – including a German shepherd and a Chihuahua. She recommends seeking the advice of an expert before getting a second dog – they might, for example, think that your dog is better suited to being the only pet in the household.
Fuehrmann does not consider it helpful to base this decision only on the characteristics of individual breeds, as every dog is different.
Even if this hurdle is overcome and a second dog has been found that gets on well with the first, there are still many things that can go wrong.
“The biggest mistake is to treat them the same,” says Fuehrmann.
Even with uncomplicated dogs, there are points during which an owner should intervene, like if a puppy is constantly bothering a good-natured, older dog.
“Then I can definitely say to the newcomer, ‘You leave him alone now!’” says Fuehrmann.

When it comes to food, “it’s important that everyone gets their own. I don’t allow any swapping – not even of a chewing bone,” says Fuehrmann.
“You have to be aware that every dog has specific needs,” adds Franck. These can vary greatly, even if the animals are of the same breed.
Age also plays a role. If you choose to get a puppy as your second dog, you have to plan for a lot of one-on-one time with it, especially during its first year of life. You have to work towards developing a close relationship with the puppy – but this can be a tricky balancing act, because your first dog should not be neglected during this.
“He still has to be given his due and also be able to have his rest,” says Franck.
Franck adds that when animals are annoyed or feel harassed, they do not always show it by being defensive; they can also react depressively.

From his own experience, Franck knows that multi-dog owners can have particular problems because a special group dynamic can develop between two dogs.
Take, for example, a dog seeing a squirrel and deciding to run after it. This kind of chasing and hunting is a self-rewarding behaviour that releases endorphins, or feel-good hormones.
“There’s nothing better than doing [that] together,” says Franck.
But the opposite can happen when two dogs do not get along.
“In most cases, though, this can be resolved surprisingly well,” he says. “Peaceful behaviour in the pack should always be encouraged.”


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A man tends to his two dogs in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. While getting a second dog can feel like double the fun, it can also be double the trouble. Photo: Sam Tsang

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The writer’s late mother strokes the family cat Mr Puss. Among adults already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, pet ownership was found to have a positive effect on daily living function, mood and mental health. Photo: Anthea Rowan 

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At this luxury pet rehab centre, cats and dogs get hot stone massages and laser therapy

A veterinary physiotherapist performs laser therapy on a cat at Walking Paws Rehab in Colorado in 2024. The speciality vet offers holistic treatments, such as acupuncture, for its patients. Photo: TNS

A cat receives treatment at Shanghai TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Neurology and Acupuncture Animal Health Centre, which specialises in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for animals, in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

A dog receives electroacupuncture at a clinic for pets in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE

Year of the Snake 2025 predictions for Dogs, from lucky colour to money and romance

The Year of the Snake will bring good luck for Dogs. Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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The lucky colour for Dogs in 2025’s Year of the Snake is green, as seen in this dress by Faithfull, available from Net-a-Porter. Photo: Llewellyn Cheung/Jonathan Vit

Lifestyle

Family & Relationships

While getting a second dog can feel like double the fun, it can also be double the trouble. Two experts explain what you need to consider


While getting a second dog can feel like double the fun, it can also be double the trouble. Two experts explain what you need to consider.


Animals