Need advice on maintaining a two-dog household
Jack is two years old, and we would like to add another Corgi to our household. We would be getting a female puppy. We are not sure on timing; either this summer or next spring, depending on litter availability (we really hope to use the same breeder we did last time, as we are very happy with Jack).
Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy who has never once gotten in a squabble with another dog, and has no serious behavior issues, so I'm pretty sure he'll be good. We've had another dog in the house visiting, and he was thrilled for the company. I understand how to introduce a puppy to the resident dog. But I have some questions on making sure they continue to get along after the introductions, and I get conflicting info online. Some sources say you should let them sort out their own pecking order, while others say the opposite: you should step in at any sign of growling or air-snapping. Here are my questions:
1) I know to feed them apart to avoid food aggression, but what about toys? Should they be expected to share everything? Or should they each have their own toys? Puppies have special puppy toys that would be kept in pup's confined area, but I'm more concerned about when they get older.
2) When should I step in if there is a bit of a dust-up? Is it ok to allow the occasional "back off"growl between dogs? Or should that be stopped outright? I know out-and-out fighting shouldn't be tolerated, of course, but I am of course hopeful it would never come to that.
3) Should I continue to take both dogs out separately at times so they don't get overly dependent on each other, or is it ok to pretty much take them both out together? (I'm thinking I would want them to get used to going places on their own; Jack for instance does Therapy Dog work, and it would be a couple years before a pup would reach that level of training, if she even has a suitable disposition for it).
4) I have seen it recommended that you ALWAYS feed, treat, and pet the same dog (usually the older one) first in order to not upset the natural order. Is this a good idea?
5) The puppy would be in a round pen during the day when we are not home, and crated at night (this is the method we used with Jack, and it worked well). Jack now has the run of the house. Would it be okay to allow Jack into the room with the crated/penned puppy when no one is home (they could then interact through the wire mesh)? Or would it be best to use baby gates to keep Jack away from that room altogether when no one is around to supervise? (I would make sure they liked each other before I would consider letting him near her alone, even through the pen or crate).
6) Finally, a minor issue, is it ok to use the same brushes on both dogs (assuming they don't have any diseases), or should they have separate brushes. I'm sure they'll be on top of each other all the time, so I would think any contagious things they might pick up would eventually spread from dog to dog anyway, shared brush or not.
I know that is a lot of questions for one discussion, but I know we have several breeders/rescuers here who successfully maintain multi-dog households all the time, so I am sure you all have great tips!
Thanks in advance.
Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy who has never once gotten in a squabble with another dog, and has no serious behavior issues, so I'm pretty sure he'll be good. We've had another dog in the house visiting, and he was thrilled for the company. I understand how to introduce a puppy to the resident dog. But I have some questions on making sure they continue to get along after the introductions, and I get conflicting info online. Some sources say you should let them sort out their own pecking order, while others say the opposite: you should step in at any sign of growling or air-snapping. Here are my questions:
1) I know to feed them apart to avoid food aggression, but what about toys? Should they be expected to share everything? Or should they each have their own toys? Puppies have special puppy toys that would be kept in pup's confined area, but I'm more concerned about when they get older.
2) When should I step in if there is a bit of a dust-up? Is it ok to allow the occasional "back off"growl between dogs? Or should that be stopped outright? I know out-and-out fighting shouldn't be tolerated, of course, but I am of course hopeful it would never come to that.
3) Should I continue to take both dogs out separately at times so they don't get overly dependent on each other, or is it ok to pretty much take them both out together? (I'm thinking I would want them to get used to going places on their own; Jack for instance does Therapy Dog work, and it would be a couple years before a pup would reach that level of training, if she even has a suitable disposition for it).
4) I have seen it recommended that you ALWAYS feed, treat, and pet the same dog (usually the older one) first in order to not upset the natural order. Is this a good idea?
5) The puppy would be in a round pen during the day when we are not home, and crated at night (this is the method we used with Jack, and it worked well). Jack now has the run of the house. Would it be okay to allow Jack into the room with the crated/penned puppy when no one is home (they could then interact through the wire mesh)? Or would it be best to use baby gates to keep Jack away from that room altogether when no one is around to supervise? (I would make sure they liked each other before I would consider letting him near her alone, even through the pen or crate).
6) Finally, a minor issue, is it ok to use the same brushes on both dogs (assuming they don't have any diseases), or should they have separate brushes. I'm sure they'll be on top of each other all the time, so I would think any contagious things they might pick up would eventually spread from dog to dog anyway, shared brush or not.
I know that is a lot of questions for one discussion, but I know we have several breeders/rescuers here who successfully maintain multi-dog households all the time, so I am sure you all have great tips!
Thanks in advance.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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Personally I don't think it is too soon...if the pups aren't born yet and it will be a couple more months and Bear will be 10 months and is well trained...it would be a great time as he will have a playmate but I don't believe that they will form their own pack as long as you can spend some time seperatly with both( but there will be some bonding, not that that is a bad thing)...my 1st corgi Wynn has had to do this several times and he still stays tightly bonded to me but loves to play with the others...actually training should go well to as a new pup can have an example of what to do! I would crate train this one just like Bear so they each have their own space.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on
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thank you all sooo much for the advice.
The pups will be about 8 weeks when I'm off for fall break, so the timing is perfect...i guess i just needed a little positive feedback!
Thanks again, great info here!
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I think it will work well! I think the decision on when to add a second dog depends on how busy you are and what you want to accomplish with your dogs.
If you want a well-mannered pet who listens around the home, then approaching one year for the first dog is likely not too soon to add a second, assuming the first is not a handful.
If you wish to proceed to higher levels of training (obedience, agility, etc) then at one year is when you are just beginning serious training with the first dog, and adding a second might detract from your ability to move ahead as planned with the first.
With Jack, I could not have handled another puppy when he was under a year because he was a high-energy puppy and took up lots of time. WIth a more mellow pup, though, that should not be an issue.
Your first one will likely stay bonded closely to you. Jack is actually on his best behavior now that we've introduced another dog--- I swear he's trying to show her up!
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I did first level obedience with Bear and have implemented most of that training at home, along with a few party tricks. I'm lucky because he's not a high energy dog, I actually call him an old soul - he's very much into his own thing and confident.
When he plays outside with Harley the boxer, when he's tired he goes to the door and waits to be let in - not caring that Harley still wants to play. Also, he's very good off leash. I considered doing some agility with him, we got to play on some of the equipment after his puppy school graduation and he enjoyed it, but I thought maybe I could do that with him when I'm off in the summer. Take new puppy to puppy school one night a week and Bear to agility school another night.
Inside the house, when he wants some attention he stands next to my chair and makes that cute little wuff sound and I give him permission to jump up with me. But a lot of the time he's at peace chewing on his chew toys or taking little Corgi naps.
We go to the dog park a lot when there's time and energy and he does great there, gets ganged up on sometimes and runs under my chair, but the other dogs aren't attacking, there's just too many of them trying to play with him at once and he gets a little freaked out.
Do you have any advice on whether to get another male or a female? All of the reading I've been doing has been contradictory. One says males and females do better, another says two males is even better if they're both fixed (which WILL be) although they ALL seem to say to stay away from two females.
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Sounds like you have an easy-going pup and you've done a great job with him. Honestly, he would probably be ok with either a male or a female. But here is what I have seen:
Jack has a lot of dog friends he sees fairly regularly. He will play well and get along great with male or female. However, with the males he'll run around and wrestle and then they wander off and ignore each other. The dogs he will give kisses to, or lie down next to and hang out with, are all females, with no exceptions.
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