Owning Multiple Dogs

Tips to Make Owning Multiple Dogs Easier for You

Owning multiple dogs can be both challenging and rewarding. More dogs means more love to share, but it can also mean more problems. You may find yourself with more than one dog if you are fostering, if you are caring for puppies until they can be adopted, or if you have visitors who bring their dog(s) with them. You may also be considering adding more dogs to your home on a permanent basis. Whatever the reason, just remember that as you add new dogs to the mix, the social dynamic changes. Owning multiple dogs can be challenging, but there are things you can do to make the situation better.

How to Make This Situation More Manageable for You and the Dogs

The key to living in harmony with multiple dogs is to understand the dogs’ needs and motivations, and to understand the group dynamic. If dogs are left to their own devices to establish their own rules, the playing field will not be level for all dogs. Sharing and fair play is not something that dogs naturally do. Instead, they will be vying for the same resources – food, space, toys and human companionship. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips to make owning multiple dogs easier for everyone.

By setting the boundaries early on, you will be creating a better living environment for all. If you have trouble training any of your dogs, always seek professional help.

To learn more about having too many pets, read our article, Understanding When You or Someone Else Has Too Many Pets.

To learn more about owning multiple dogs, read our article on How Many Dogs Are Too Many?