Pointing Dog Pointers: Room for One More?

One dog in the house should be enough, right? Or, according to some spouses or parents, one dog in the house may be more than enough – just plain one too many!

But for us confirmed dog lovers, one dog in the home may not be enough. And we have what we consider good reasons, like “Gunner” needs a buddy to play with so he’s not lonely. Or, life with Gunner has been so rewarding that having another Gunner will be twice as much gratification. Or, as is the case with many of us, bringing a youngster into the family fold will ease the inevitable loss of our beloved older dog when the time comes.

Whatever the reason for getting a second dog (and it should be a good reason), it’s a decision not lightly made. Having one dog, or two, is a lifetime commitment to time, training, care, and expense. If your current dog is still quite young, having another juvenile in the house can be fun, but more likely, chaos will reign. If the resident house dog is older, he may be less apt to welcome an intruder into his comfortable and established life. It will be your job to make sure that both dogs, and you, survive and thrive in the new arrangement.

Some things to consider:

 

Proper Meet and Greet

This is a crucial encounter that can leave a good or bad lasting impression. Much depends on the age of the new family member being introduced.

Most adult dogs are tolerant with young pups of either sex, but they will want the opportunity to sniff and observe the new arrival. This initial meeting should be done in a safe manner and setting, with one person handling each animal and with both dogs restrained on leashes. A safe area in your yard works well, with enough room for each dog to come together to sniff and then walk about on lead while observing and getting used to each other. Of course, the pup is likely to jump on the adult dog, so restrain pup to friendly, nose to nose contact at first. Often young pups will roll over and be submissive to the older dog upon meeting them. Don’t allow the older dog to be aggressive. Be calm, matter of fact, and watch for the reactions of both dogs to guide your actions. Inside the house, the puppy should be confined to his crate while the older dog has a chance to get used to this new scenario. Even when the older dog completely accepts the pup, don’t let the pup pester the older resident to distraction.

Maybe you are getting an older pup, say 9-12 months old – one that is nearly full grown physically, and of the same sex as your older dog. This situation will require a similar introduction as above, but with even more care and management of both dogs while they become used to each other. Don’t be tempted to let them loose together in a fenced yard or the house to “get to know each other.” Dogs of the same sex may end up in an aggressive situation or actual dogfight and you don’t want this. It may take longer for them to accept and acclimate to being together in the house and yard. Care should be taken during this introductory time to keep the dogs separate in the house – with the new dog in his crate as the older dog gets used to the younger, but bigger, pup. We have a gate in our kitchen which we can close to keep two dogs separate from each other and yet give them each some freedom.

Your older dog was “here first,” and should always know and be reassured that he remains the “top dog” in your home and heart. This will help him to accept and even learn to love the new family addition.

 

A Place for Everyone

Whether the new family member is a young puppy or an older youngster, he will need a crate to call home. The crate is the key to easier housebreaking and provides a safe den area for pup to sleep in. The crate also serves as a “playpen” for a young pup, keeping him safe while you are busy. The older dog can sniff at and get used to the new arrival through the crate wire and not feel threatened. The crate should never be used as a tool for punishment – pup should regard his crate as his safe place and feel secure and happy there. An easy rule for housebreaking is to take pup outside immediately after he comes out of the crate, and right before he goes back into the crate. Pup shouldn’t be left in the crate for too long a period of time either – about 3-4 hours is tops. He needs lots of play and exercise and will require constant supervision when out of the crate.

The older dog likely has a bed of his own and maybe a crate he still likes to use too. The older dog generally tolerates a baby pup napping on his bed or exploring the older dog’s crate, but if the new family member is a young dog, watch for signs of possessiveness and jealousy, and keep the new arrival away from the resident’s spaces until they are buddies and have established their pecking order.

If, like us, you have outside kennels, it’s good to be able to put the new youngster in an outside run for several hours on nice days. You and the older dog get a break, and the pup is happy outdoors watching all that’s going on. Be sure the kennel is safety proofed and pup has no way to escape or get cut or otherwise hurt.

 

Feeding Time at the Zoo

We’ve always made it a habit to feed our house dogs separately until we know they get along well. Feed both dogs at the same time and let the newbie eat in his crate. It’s not a good idea to put a bowl of food down and expect both to eat from it.  A pup may gorge himself on self-feed and the older dog may not get his share, or even vice versa. Or, quite possibly, a fight over food could ensue. If pup is eating two or three meals a day, divide the older dog’s daily portion so that he can eat something when the pup does. Snacks and treats should be dispensed equally too.

 

Setting Boundaries/Separation

Until our English setter was about two years old, she spent a lot of time in the kitchen area, front paws hanging over the gate to the living room – peering enthusiastically at her “buddy,” our older English pointer, sleeping in the recliner. Because of her energy level, we limited the time she and our pointer spent together. Though he liked to play with her, he also liked his chair naps and quiet time. Eventually she settled into the routine too. It just takes time and sensible control while pup is growing up.

As your older dog and pup become used to one another you can let them safely run around and play together outside too, but always with supervision. This will keep the older dog fit and wear out the youngster. If your yard isn’t fenced, have a way to control both dogs by letting each one drag a line.

 

Training

If your older dog is well trained, this is a good influence on the new family member. But if your older dog does not mind well, he may teach the young pup or dog bad habits. Chaos results when two undisciplined, untrained dogs share your home. Make sure both dogs receive age appropriate, separate training lessons. The minimum lessons that both dogs should know or learn are to come when called, to whoa (stand still), and to heel (walk nicely on a lead).

During the time that you are training your young dog, it’s important to remember that management is key. Lessons aren’t learned overnight and pups need to grow up and mature before they react and obey like their older housemate. So, it’s important to keep pup in his safe zones – his crate, a gated area of the house, or in an outside kennel run for several hours – when you can’t supervise him.

Field training is a whole other issue and should be done separately with the new youngster. Don’t be tempted to let your new pup hunt with the older dog and “learn” from him. This is asking for trouble. You can, however, let the pup run with his older, trained buddy in the field for fun and exercise.

Remember, you are the one in charge so watch for signs of problems and nip them in the bud by sensible, controlled management.

 

Health and Safety

Like your older dog, pup should have all his shots, worming checks, and regular heartworm and flea/tick medicine. The safety of both dogs should be paramount. Have them ride comfortably in their crates when you go on road trips for fun or exercise, and later, for hunting together. Always make sure you have a means of enforcing control with both dogs – a training collar and checkcord, or an electronic collar that has been properly introduced to your dog and that he responds well to with no intimidation.

Two dogs are twice as much fun as one, and give us immeasurable joys and rewards. We hope these tips will help you successfully introduce a new pointing dog to your family and give you years of pleasure.

 

Pointing Dog Pointers features monthly training tips by Bob and Jody Iler, who operated Green Valley Kennels in Dubuque, Iowa, training pointing dogs for 50 years. Bob and Jody have written many articles for The Pointing Dog Journal.