This is a part of our crew – There’s Kurious on the left with Precious trying to chew on her beard, and Kaptain (our only male) on the right hand side.
Together, with my daughter’s dogs, we have 5 – four miniature schnauzers, and 1 Westiepoo mix. I have both the oldest and the youngest and my daughter and her husband have the 3 middle children! LOL…I am, more often than not, together with my daughter and son-in-law.
What a riot and a great time, but before you adopt more than one dog, there are some things to bear in mind and understand prior to jumping in!
A friend of mine, Jason, wrote me this article to help others understand this curious issue:
Owning More than One Dog
Even if the dogs are around the same age and size, owning more than one dog can be a challenge for any dog owner. As with many other specie of animals, dogs are inherently pack animals. Puppies learn pack behavior from their mothers and littermates and even interactions with the father or other male dogs in the pack. Males are dominant in pack societies, and the most dominant dog is considered to the alpha dog, however females can also be the pack leaders. In wild packs, the most dominant dogs eat first, use the natural resources available first, and have the greatest likelihood of surviving to reproduce.
In house kept dogs, pack behavior is instinctive. Male dogs will compete with other male dogs for the right to breed, although a female dog may not be anywhere around. Likewise, intact female dogs will compete for their place to be the first to breed with the most dominant male dog. If you are a dog owner with two or more dogs, you will discover that either the intact male or intact female dog can be the dominant dog. In addition, if there are two intact dogs present, the male intact dog is normally the dominant dog, assuming that the female dog is not an aggressive dog or the male dog is not of docile temperament. Spayed or neutered dogs are usually subordinate to an intact male or female dog. Moreover, the younger a dog is, the more likely the dog will be subordinate to the older dog. In their prime years, older dogs will be less dominant to their younger counterparts. This is the case whether the dog is intact or not.
There are several things to consider when housing two or more dogs. The majority of house kept dogs will demonstrate dominance by growling, strutting and showing their teeth. You should be aware when caring for dominant and subordinate dogs in a group. For instance, you should never single out the subordinate dog in front of the dominant dog for treats or praise in the dominant dog’s presence. When you bring a new dog home among a group of dogs, it is wise to allow the new dog to socialize slowly, while monitoring the interactions of the other dogs with the new dog. If you detect aggressiveness among the dogs with the new dog, then you should reduce contact among the dogs.
Moreover, to eliminate the majority of aggressive and dominant behavior, a dog owner should spay their dogs as soon as the opportunity presents itself. When breeding, it is not advisable to house two or more intact dogs of the same sex while breeding. Be aware of the aggression levels of the dogs that you own. Pair neutered male dogs and spayed female dogs with other neutered and spayed dogs that are less aggressive. In addition, try to avoid pairing very large and very small breed dogs together, particularly when the there is an aggressive smaller dog involved. It is also wise to monitor multiple dog groups to make certain that the dogs in question are socializing properly.
Content written by Jason Richards of ohmydogsupplies.com, search for current specials on dog seat covers online.
(Thanks, Jason!)
Great information! That’s for sure…
For more Information on Terrier Breeds, be sure to check out my daughter’s website, TerrierLover.com!
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I hope you enjoyed this Pets Information on Ingrid Turner Today! Until next time…
Ingrid 
P.S. If you’re thinking of adopting a miniature schnauzer, they’re the most amazing breed in my eyes! Find out more about them:
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