What I Wish I Knew Before Getting a Second Dog
Last Tuesday Georgie ate my sock and acted like I’d wronged him when I took it back. He then proceeded to glare at me from his bed for the rest of the evening, occasionally punctuating his disapproval with a low growl that he thinks makes him sound like a wolf. He’s a Morkie, for crying out loud. A tiny, fluffy, opinionated Morkie. Anyway, you asked about getting a second dog, and honestly, if I could go back in time and tell myself a few things before bringing Teddy home, I absolutely would. It’s not just double the love; it’s also double the chaos, double the vet bills, and double the amount of tiny dog hairs stuck to everything you own.
Prepare for the Alpha Dog Showdown
Okay, so Georgie, my magnificent little wolf-wannabe, has always been the king of his castle. He runs the house, he tells us what he wants (usually with a series of barks that somehow convey full sentences), and he expects to be the center of attention at all times. So when we brought Teddy, a tiny, unassuming Maltipoo puppy, into the mix, Georgie was… displeased, to say the least. I wish someone had properly warned me about the alpha dog showdown that would ensue. For the first few weeks, Georgie was a menace. He’d snarl if Teddy got too close to his food bowl (even if it was empty), he’d steal Teddy’s toys just to prove a point, and he’d actively block Teddy from getting to me or my husband. It wasn’t cute. It was genuinely stressful. I tried all the “positive reinforcement” stuff – giving Georgie treats when Teddy was around, separating them for meals, making sure Georgie got attention first. It helped, but the real key was just time and consistency. Georgie eventually realized Teddy wasn’t going anywhere and that the world wouldn’t end if he shared a couch cushion. But it took weeks of reminding Georgie that he’s still loved and just generally managing his little Napoleon complex. Don’t expect instant best friends. Expect a power struggle, especially if your first dog is as full of himself as Georgie is.
Separate Everything (Initially)
Remember how Georgie thinks he’s a wolf? Well, that extends to his resources. His food, his water, his beds, his toys – they are all HIS. When Teddy arrived, I naively thought they could share water bowls and maybe even some toys. WRONG. So, so wrong. For the first few months, we had to have completely separate everything. Two food bowls, two water bowls, and definitely two distinct sets of toys. Georgie would actively guard “his” toys, even if he wasn’t playing with them. Teddy, bless his sweet little heart, just wanted to play. We tried the “share the toys” approach for a bit, but Georgie would just snarl and hover. What actually worked was buying a whole new set of toys specifically for Teddy, and making sure Georgie had his own stash that Teddy didn’t touch. We got Teddy some softer, smaller Kong Squeezz Tennis Balls, 3-pack for $8 on Chewy, which Georgie, with his superior wolf-like intellect, deemed beneath him. For food bowls, we just placed them on opposite sides of the kitchen. Eventually, they relaxed enough to share a water bowl without incident, but the toy situation is still a delicate dance. Teddy still steals Georgie’s toys sometimes, especially Georgie’s favorite Chuckit! Ultra Ball ($7 on Amazon), and Georgie acts like his life is over. But it’s less intense now. Just assume you need double of everything initially to avoid resource guarding issues.
Training Goes Back to Square One
Georgie is, for the most part, a well-trained dog. He knows “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and he even tolerates “leave it” when I catch him eyeing my dinner. I thought, “Great! Teddy will just learn from Georgie!” HA. Oh, the sweet innocence of past me. No, Teddy did not just “learn” from Georgie. Teddy learned how to bark incessantly from Georgie. Teddy learned how to demand attention from Georgie. But basic commands? Nope. You are essentially starting from scratch with a second puppy. All those hours you put into potty training, leash training, and basic commands the first time around? You get to do it all again. And sometimes, having two dogs means they play off each other’s bad habits. One barks, the other starts barking. One pulls on the leash, the other decides that’s a good idea too. I had to go back to basics with Teddy: small, frequent training sessions, lots of high-value treats (Zuke’s Mini Naturals, $7 on Petco, are Georgie and Teddy approved), and tons of patience. Leash training was particularly challenging because Georgie, while generally good, would get excited by Teddy’s puppy antics and pull more than usual. For Teddy, we started with a simple Martingale collar, but he’s so fluffy it would get lost. We eventually moved to a simple S-clip leash that attaches to his harness. For the harness, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness, $40 on Amazon, has been fantastic. It fits well, doesn’t chafe, and gives me good control without being restrictive. Just remember that two dogs mean two individual training programs, and sometimes, even your well-trained first dog might regress a little with a new puppy around.
The Double-Trouble Vet Bills and Grooming
This might seem obvious, but seriously, double the dogs means double the vet bills, double the preventative meds, and double the grooming. Georgie, bless his dramatic little heart, seems to invent new ailments just to get attention. Teddy, being a puppy, needed all his shots, plus he’s a tiny terror who will eat anything off the ground, so he’s had a couple of tummy upsets already. Heartworm meds, flea and tick meds – it all adds up. And grooming! Both Morkies and Maltipoos need regular grooming to prevent matting. I used to be able to stretch Georgie’s grooming appointments a bit, but with two fluffy white dogs running around, they get tangled and dirty twice as fast. I’ve actually started doing more at-home brushing with a slicker brush ($12 on Chewy) and a dematting comb ($10 on Amazon) to try and extend their professional grooms. It’s a constant battle against the floof. Just mentally prepare your wallet for the increased expenses across the board.
Honestly, getting a second dog is a huge commitment, but seeing Georgie and Teddy cuddle up together (when Georgie decides to tolerate it) makes it all worth it. If I had to do it all over again, I absolutely would.
