It’s coming to that time of year where parents across the United States are looking at which breed of dog would be suitable for their family. For many children, getting a dog on Christmas makes for a memorable experience, and they truly are the gift that keeps on giving for years and years to follow. So how could such a gift be made any better? Having run a puppy store NJ for some time now, we’ve witnessed first-hand just how social dogs are. As their provider, we must do everything we can to ensure they have the best quality of life. Is having two dogs better than one? That’s a question many people ask and we’re here to help answer.
Purpose
Dogs have lived alongside us now for thousands of years, and over that time most dogs had a clearly defined purpose in their community. Whether it’s hunting ducks or rats, or helping to transport supplies across a snowy tundra, they’ve been there for us. Nowadays though, many dogs are bound to their home and their owner’s wishes, with their original purpose forgotten. This has led to a huge influx in anxiety, depression, and neurosis among all dog breeds, especially those working breeds such as collies.
Biological Function
An undeniable fact of life on this planet is the further survival of the species that we are a part of. Whether it’s a dog, a human, or even a plant, we all share the biological function that is creating descendants to carry on our heritage. By getting a male and female puppy of the same or similar breeds, you can ensure that they will partake in serving their biological function, which in itself may help to alleviate the inadequacy created by their lack of purpose in the modern world.
Companionship
As stated at the beginning, dogs, much like us, are incredibly social creatures and appreciate being around other beings, whether they’re other dogs, humans, cats, or even birds. Although the best companion you could possibly get for your dog is something which looks, acts, and thinks just like them. While we may not fully understand how they communicate with each other, one cannot deny that they do, whether it’s through body language or a series of different growls and barks.
Home Alone
Another major factor in the modern mental health problems that many dogs face is being left alone for extended periods of time. While it may not be entirely the owners fault, dog’s suffer massively from extended lonely periods, and will often act up by destroying furniture or attempting convoluted escapes. While having a second dog is not a substitute for quality time with their owner or family members, having a second dog can provide some sense of company. Still, we highly encourage all pet owners to not leave their pets alone for large chunks of the day. Wondering how long you can leave your puppy alone? Read more here.
Multi-Kid Households
A common question which we’re asked at our puppy store NJ is how to stop a dog from attaching itself to only one of the children. This can understandably leave the others to feel somewhat rejected. While this behaviour can be guided, it’s not so much the dog’s fault for making a choice like that, and it may be hard to truly snuff out that bond. Instead, by having two dogs there’s a much higher chance that time with the dogs can be shared more evenly, which can stop arguments before they even happen.
Exercise
Most dogs want to play all day. While this is perfect for families with younger children, it can become difficult to make time to ensure they’re getting ample play and exercise each day. Depending on the size of the dog, they may need as much as an hour’s walk each day, which can be an exhausting prospect after an 8-10 hour shift at work.
Backyard Antics
By getting a second dog and allowing them to spend their days together in your backyard, you’ll ensure that they get plenty of stimulating play throughout the day which can help compensate for their exercise needs. You can also invest in a number of different toys which your dogs can learn to play with together, helping them develop their social skills and greatly improving their quality of life.
Is having two dogs better than one?
Another common question in our puppy store NJ is how to ensure the dog is getting enough exercise without paying for expensive dog daycare or dog walks every working day of the week. With the average dog daycare costing around $40 per day, 5 working days a week, for 36 working weeks per year, that comes to an annual cost of around $7,200. Whereas a dog is estimated to cost between $1,400 and $4,300 per year. By having another dog in the house you can save on these expensive bills by setting up your backyard as their own personal daycare. So to answer the question, is having two dogs better than one? We think so, the more the merrier!
