Custom Trained Companions

25/06/2024

🥰Our 3 furry musketeers taking in some morning light & birdsong.
😺Byron & Foxxy-Freyja haven't always gotten along, but since the day we brought him home, our only goal was neutrality. If we got more & they became "friends" great, but I know Foxxy-Freyja is not a huge fan of most dogs. (And that's normal).
🐶Since puppyhood, Byron wanted to be her buddy, but he was pushy, in her face & would try to chase if she panicked (her 1st instinct was always to run.)
☯️We've created a safe, learning space. One where Byron learns that certain signals/ body language from Foxxy-Freyja means she wants space. Sure, we could've let nature take it's course, hoping him getting scratched in the face would be all it would take, but there are multiple problems with that method:
1️⃣Foxxy-Freyja would no longer feel safe & protected in her own home by the Guardians (us) who she has come to trust.
2️⃣For a BMD, Byron has a solid prey drive & barring losing an eye, which we don't want-he wouldn't stop. In fact, without further intervention, his behavior would've escalated, causing further issues for them both.
🏡
WE humans/Guardians are responsible for each & every animal we bring into our home. That means WE are responsible for being the adult/parent & TEACHING the "kids" how to get along-at the very least-how to live together in peace and harmony.
😻Byron is now 16 mths old and for quite some time, every morning he gives Foxxy a morning nose bump/kiss until she says she's had enough. I'm always there to intervene or remind him & he gets a food reward for listening to Foxxy-Freyja's requests for space.
❓️Are you advocating for ALL of your furry companions?

21/06/2024

Been one of those weeks. Hope you're all staying cool while Cooper enjoys soaking up this beautiful heat & Byron soaks up the ice- cold air inside🤣

18/06/2024

🥰Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing dads out there!
🐶
Keep showing up and bring your amazing selves!!
Remember, they're looking to YOU for fulfillment, guidance, love and compassion.

11/06/2024

😻Happy Purrific Tuesday!
Foxxy-Freyja is officially still!!
Her weight is back up to a chunky 10.3 lbs and we've been continuing her daily steroids & chemotherapy every 3 weeks (instead of weekly.) She's eating like a champ & taking up a storm.
🤔
Actually, one of the fantastic side effects of all of this...
She's more curious and exploratory than she's ever been (& I've tried everything from plug-in hormones, confidence boosting play, etc. since we rescued her from ) She now loooves to try new foods, even though she still gags at some items in the most hilarious fashion. In fact, she's been asking for more foods, less processed foods-raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh, etc. (which I love because it's better for her overall health, especially while fighting cancer and dealing with chemotherapy.) She used to be so picky.
🐈‍⬛️
Did you know that 70-80% of your cat/dog's immunity starts in the gastrointestinal tract?
This is why gut health is so important (for them & for us.) Having a healthy biome of 'good' bacteria can make all the difference in your pet catching certain viral/ bacterial diseases, as well as, their ability to fight off & maintain health throughout a health crisis such as cancer or autoimmune issues.
🍗🥩
The closer your pet's overall diet is to natural (raw, cooked with very low heat, freeze-dried, low-to processing) & species specific, the healthier the gut biome & stronger the immune system will be. Most importantly, it has to be a which can be complex to create . Hence, why I chose NOT to make their food, but use more convenient, already prepared options, while also supplementing with all natural ingredients. Even the 'treats' we feed are 98% natural, single-ingredient, beneficial to their health with little to no carbs/sugars & added unnecessary/flavorings. Every once in a while they get something more processed.
🐱❓️
How is your kitty doing?

10/06/2024

🎉Another fantastic is in the books!
We all spent our Sunday with The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of the Fingerlakes. Such a wonderful way to learn more about this amazing breed, meet breeders, new people and their wonderful pups!
🐶
Of course, our Mini Cooper did well and made sure everyone behaved.
🗒
BERNER = Nickname for Bernese Mountain Dogs
❓️
Are there any in ?

10/06/2024

Does your dog trust YOU to protect them?
Check out the YouTube link below.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0a7VqmhAc4hZ8qi4SNYPZQH5SecEzkgXbI4Jwo114XefNCJO6nkUEGtUc_aem_AUPpzK0xcKsseVFnJzjI2Avm39H5whRq89QeYxz6vhEdfenm4DclRPdZHOPe84b9DPrl5qjO7Rygr_4N3DLQpTXm&v=tHDDIFUHCuI

06/06/2024

🤷🏼‍♀️I choose Honesty over being Impressive...
🐕🐩But...sometimes you can be both!
🤗
I'm so proud of these pups & their Guardians. Although our 1st group PAWS & TAILS class was small (I only allow 6 client dogs per class,) it was the perfect size & our location was extremely busy (it never used to be this busy.) So, we stuck to the edges at first to help everyone acclimate/decompress.
🐶
started with me about 3 years ago. Her Guardians did the responsible thing & signed up for training the second they saw they could use a guiding hand. Poor Wanda had been bumped around with her siblings from a very young age (during that ), & they found her at a rescue. She was a ball of relentless energy & love, but her reactivity threshold was so low that even a dog a block away could set her into a spin/highly reactive state, which made those walks a true challenge in the city. She also has a lot of food & environmental allergies & hip issues that were contributing discomfort, keeping her threshold & tolerance for anything new quite low.
However, she loves to 'work' and please her people, so we addressed all of that & used her strengths to help her be her best self.
🎉
Her Guardians stuck to the training, give her what SHE needs to be her best self (i.e. non-allergenic diet, daily physical & mental stimulation, downtime to do nothing, guidance as needed, structure, boundaries and of course loving her for who she is.) They continue to attend our P&T because the 'training never ends & as I learn new things, I share them with clients. The learning never truly ends for us or our dogs!
🐩
Akamaru AKA Aki, & his Guardians also did an amazing job! They contacted me as soon as they thought of getting a new puppy (it was months before they found Aki.) So, we were able to start building a foundation from Day 1. Unfortunately, due to some genetics & a couple of unfortunate experiences, he began to display towards kids & other dogs. As a pro groomer who wants to bring her pup with her to work & other places this presented challenges. Reactive dogs tend to also decrease their Guardians' confidence, in some cases causing a form of PTSD, in which the human may be triggered by the sight of whatever sets their dog off. So, it's important we help the Guardians rebuild their confidence & overcome any fears they're experiencing as well.
👍🏼👍🏼 Thankfully, I believe working with Aki has helped her understand some of her client's dog & how to handle them as well.
🎉
They all did amazing last night with so many potential triggers, it could make the most confident dog feel overwhelmed. There were kids running towards us, around us, etc. other dogs and so much more that could've set him off. I advise all clients to muzzle condition, but especially those struggling with reactivity. In most cases, it's more about building the humans confidence. Obviously, it also provides some added protection if someone sneaks past and tries to pet or confront the dog, as safety is always priority #1. A muzzle doesn't = a bad/dangerous dog. They have many uses of which have nothing to do with aggression.
🥰
All of the Guardians were successful because they:
✅️Advocated for their dog's space & thresholds
✅️Had the skills to communicate clearly in a highly distracting environment surrounded by potential triggers
✅️Asked questions that helped them be a better leader for their dog & to help their fellow Handlers
(How much space do you need?)
✅️Have been working on all of this consistently, when we're NOT together.
✅️They were prepared when they arrived to prevent beginning in an anxious state of mind (humans are affected by 'Trigger Stacking' as well.)
🐾💜
Keep calm & Train on
You're not just a client.
You're part of our Pack☯️

05/06/2024

Are you interested in helping science?
The link below will take you to some of the current canine trials your dog may qualify for.

Thank you for considering enrolling a pet in a clinical trial at Cornell. By participating, you are helping us to advance the health and well-being of animals and people.Join our mailing list! Sign up to be notified of new clinical trials.

04/06/2024

🤗We're ALL excited that it's finally arrived! "The Forever Dog: Life" book is filled with longevity tips; healthy recipes, natural pest control (instead of those nasty pesticides) & so much more!

🤑No, I don't receive kickbacks or money for sharing on here. I don't have time to be an influencer lol. I just looove to share with clients, the products I like, use and trust.

🐶Plus, you can never go wrong learning more about a subject that benefits our furry companions & helps them live longer.

🗒On that note, it even helps to compare controversial opinions, find as many research studies you can about the topic, & to talk with other professionals to gain a well-rounded knowledge about that specific subject.

⬇️
Let us know if you got one also!

04/06/2024

Among being very busy with clients, home improvement projects and the usual, these boys are ALWAYS LEARNING & so is your dog!
📲🖥
Whether YOU are distracted or giving your dog your FULL attention-they're learning. The boys will often lay on Place, a space on the floor, dog bed or laying on the desk (Cooper) if there's space. They've learned the 'Art of doing nothing.'

❓️Are YOU reinforcing the behaviors you want to see more of?
🦫Some behaviors like jumping, barking, digging & chasing wildlife can be SELF-REINFORCING. This means it increases those happy hormones & makes them feel so good that they want to do it with more frequency & intensity.
🧀
If you're competing with natural (primary reinforcers,) YOU need to know how to up the value of the reward you're giving to make them actually want your treats over nature's rewards.
🐕Your dog determines what is of low or high value NOT YOU!
🐕Your dog determines what is aversive/punishment & if it's enough to make them stop a behavior NOT YOUR EMOTIONS!

❓️Are YOU preventing the behaviors you want to stop or that are dangerous?
🚪Too many dogs & behavior issues stem from too much freedom too soon & too little guidance from their Human Guardian AKA YOU.
✅️When unable to actively supervise
➡️Crate or pen them off to prevent practice
The more they practice the harder it will be to change.
Like those nasty habits we humans have that aren't healthy😉
🐩Separation from your dog IS HEALTHY & can prevent severe Separation Anxiety. But you also need to make it a good thing when you're gone. Speak to a specialist for details.
🐶
Our boys are NEVER left outside alone together, yet!!
Actually, due to the size difference, we didn't even leave them in a room together alone until I was 100% positive that Byron could handle it if he got excited & wanted to play, but mom/dad weren't in the room to advocate or step in if needed.
We also have our entire home setup, so if Cooper needs space or to get out of the way quickly-he has easy access to those spaces in every single room.
Byron has his crate that he loves & Cooper is never even allowed to sit in front of it, let alone go inside unless Byron is out of it. This is showing respect for his "safe space" or room
Cooper has one as well, but doesn't use it as often. Byron has no issues if Cooper wants to go in while he's in there. However, WE discourage it to respect that Byron may want space at that moment.

❓️Are you going with them (i.e. outside to potty/play, in another room where they get into trouble)?
🤔If not, YOU'RE part of the issue.
WE are responsible for TAKING THE TIME TO TEACH our dogs how to behave in human culture otherwise your corrections & punishment are unfair & inhumane.
👩🏼‍🏫
Treat every interaction with your dog as a learning opportunity for you BOTH!
🥒🥕
Give them the fulfillment & enrichment they need to be their BEST SELVES.
For some it's more physical activity, but ALL breeds & mixed benefit from mental stimulation & learning 'The Art of Doing Nothing."
Your dog needs to learn how to be chill. How to just go lay down when they're not 'working/perfoming/training.'
This is up to YOU to teach them. 🐾💜

03/06/2024

😊 Happy Marvelous Monday!
🐶Mack the Berner, Cody the Corgi & Perry the Poodle are all making strides towards becoming the best version of themselves!
👏🏽Change can be challenging, but I'm so proud of the changes their Guardians are making. The hardest part is sticking with it, but I know YOU CAN DO IT!
🥰
As you can see, these boys are each very different, not just in size, age, breed & color, but also in temperament & their needs for fulfillment & feeling balanced.
✅️This means that one approach may not look the same or work for each dog.
✅️Their "high-value" reward may be different.
(ex. while food may work for some of the dogs, the others may, require a toy as that $1,000 bill 🤑.)
✅️The leash handling that is excused by some of the dogs, may not be sufficient for the other dogs. Some dogs need more direction.
(ex. while some dogs may be more forgiving if you don't walk tall & confident, others need this energy to feel secure with your guidance.)
✅️Some dogs may pick up 'new' tricks/behaviors quicker than others. This can also depend on the technique & energy you use. This doesn't make THEM slow/stupid, in fact most times it's the HUMAN'S approach or technique, because we all learn differently. If YOU get frustrated, they may get more confused & even a bit nervous.
( ex. Teaching "leave-it" beginning with food in your hand when dealing with a very food-motivated dog can seem like they're a slow learner. However, if you start with what they consider a 'low- value' toy, they seem to pick it up quicker. Then, you can graduate to food.)
✅️Different breeds & temperaments work better with certain personalities & lifestyles.
(ex. High-energy working breeds & highly intelligent dogs struggle in a home that is sedentary & what personality tests call "neurotic/highly emotional." This doesn't mean they can't be successful, but the HUMANS will need to provide the mental/physical stimulation into their DAILY routine, which can pose challenges.
✅️Just like us, each dog is an individual. This can pose a challenge for multi-dog owners...UNLESS...
➡️Spend one-on-one with each dog working on their obedience & YOUR BOND TOGETHER.
➡️Fulfill each dog's needs DAILY.

29/05/2024

It's or Vet Day🤷🏼‍♀️
🐶The boys & I had a busy morning prepping some frozen treats and for those hotter days, waiting in the car while I'm in lessons or when this mama is too exhausted for more exciting enrichment.
🐕‍🦺
Byron is now 16 months old and 91 lbs. He finished up his vaccine boosters today. We split them up into 2 sessions, so as not to overwhelm the immune system. We spread them 2-4 weeks apart and do a detox in between with immune boosting supplementation.
🦮
Cooper is nearing 3 years young (time flies) and is now 3.3lbs (my lil chunk.) He has fully recovered from his a**l gland ruptured.
🥰
We're so grateful to the medical team Brewerton Hospital For Animals in helping us keeps these boys in optimal health. The boys love the staff and they work well with us and our training to help make their job with them easier!

28/05/2024

A client is selling their never used, only charged once ET-800 The Boss with 2 remotes and long contact points. The dust is superficial and can easily be wiped off.
💰
They're asking $325. This is an amazing deal for this entire system and case!

*Serious inquiries only!!
Comment below if interested. Then, I'll let the client know.

26/05/2024

It is very important to get pain under control right away. Pain control happens in approximately an hour when the prescription is customized to your dog. There is no one-size-fits-all pain relief.
Make sure the medications are fully controlling pain from dose to dose with no break-through in pain. Continued feedback to your vet is vitally important until the pain medications have been properly adjusted for your dog. Learn what meds are normally prescribed https://dodgerslist.com/pain-medications/

25/05/2024

Interesting read on why dogs jump. Byron will get up on his hind legs with full strength and gently place his front paws on my & Josh's shoulders for hugs.
We only allow this with us & ONLY if he is calm & collected. We also learned his father (who is a Grand Champion) also does the same with his handler at the end of a show.

✅️Click this link to read.
https://www.learningaboutdogs.com/approval-or-attention/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=each+weekly+&utm_campaign=Weekly&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0MGa2Q1fU4HBZY0e5Pl36fjGg0oKwD3VzchFBvJnH-WIXBA-ouPA3dxzk_aem_ARcEkO3sNCE8_HfJmLeEG7_LWadf_QJvGi_1Ye8yD7q8ne4DgerjESuIQ4f7wiTEZT76yZIEZyi_gdLgtdwVZzIF

25/05/2024

🐶🐩

Recent data suggests that noise sensitivity in dogs may be based upon genetic and physiological factors and may also predict separation anxiety, fearfulness in novel situations, and even some age-related changes in stress responses.

23/05/2024

Just one of many reasons we AVOID ALL Pedigree & Purina foods.
If you're unsure what to feed your dog, contact Shani or Kaylin over at EarthWise Pet Clay !

https://nypost.com/2024/05/20/lifestyle/pedigree-dog-food-recalled-because-it-may-contain-metal-pieces-fda/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR32s3CcJZBNlOy0dpUH6xBXFQq6Y07Sx7OZ56mTl2XLk9doTvKymnmwGXo_aem_AZbB65ppuna2cKYFO9WO_4TvLiQfv25fpW5wgwMe_gEPM0ng8pqrAIykdilsc-aIb66qNVTd8zEkCKS7Xxl_-FSj

21/05/2024

Happy Terrific Tuesday!
🌞Looks like it's going to be a scorcher the next few days.
✅️So be sure to keep your pups hydrated.
✅️ALWAYS check the pavement with bare hands for 5 SECONDS, to see if it's too hot for paws 🐾
✅️Walk/exercise early & late before & after sunrise/sunset to prevent heat stroke. Or stick to a leisurely sniffers in the shade or by the water
✅️Great time to check out Mexico Point & other shores for different adventures to keep your pup cool
✅️Dog pools & sprinklers are another great way to keep them cool & work those busy minds.
❓️
What is your dog's favorite summer activity?

15/05/2024

💩How does YOUR dog's p**p look?
❓️
How often don you check it?

Did you know that your dog's p**p colour and consistancy is the fastest way to guage the current health of his gut, and how well he is digesting his diet.and the functioning of his digestive organs?

"How often do you check out your dog’s p**p? It might seem like a funny question, but it’s actually really important. Our furry friends rely on us to monitor their health, and one indicator of their well-being is the color of their p**p. "

To find out what p**p colour says about your dog's health, you can read the full article in the link provided under the first comment.

15/05/2024

‼️Please read if you're thinking of adding another dog!
🚫If you don't have the time to read the entire post, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A NEW DOG & it shows a lack of commitment/resources (time) before even getting the dog.

It's Springtime and that means that there might be folks considering adding a new dog to their family. Before adding a new dog and making your home a multi-dog home, understand about the need for dog compatibility.
Even if you are only temporarily fostering a dog, you still need to pay attention to the temperament of the foster dog. Don't needlessly turn your home into a war zone because you added the wrong dog for the wrong reason.

Thinking Of Adding Another Dog To Your Family?
by Margit Maxwell

Before adding a new dog and making your home a multi-dog home, understand about the need for dog compatibility. Even if you are only temporarily fostering a dog, you still need to pay attention to the temperament of the foster dog. Don't needlessly turn your home into an ongoing war zone because you added the wrong dog for the wrong reason.

Every day dog owners contact me with questions about how to fix behaviour problems between dogs in multi-dog households. Most times the problems are caused by the addition of an incompatible dog to the household. While it is true that every new dog addition will bring with it some issues related to the re-adjustment process, when you choose the right dog as your new addition, the adjustments and the adjustment period will be very minor. Adding a new dog does not have to turn your house into an active war zone, you just have to know how to pick the right dog for your family.

Where To Begin

Before you commit to bringing home a new dog, you should really sit down and have a good heart-to-heart conversation with yourself about why you want to add another dog to your household and whether it is realistically a sustainable plan.

Do you have the space to comfortably add another dog?
Do you have the time to put into training this new dog?
Do you have the time and energy to manage a multi-dog household?
Do you have the patience or the skill set to be able deal with issues that will most likely arise with the addition of this new dog AND any issues that may arise in your existing dog(s)?

Frequently, the subtle behaviour issues of your existing dog may go unnoticed to the untrained eye but as soon as you bring in another dog, ka-boom! … your existing dog suddenly begins doing his best Cujo impersonation.

5 Incredibly Unsound Reasons For Wanting To Add Another Dog

In my many years of working with dogs, I have heard some incredibly unsound reasoning for wanting another dog.

1. I have always wanted to own a (insert name of breed here).
Since there are temperament differences from dog to dog within every breed of dog, getting a certain breed of dog will not guarantee that the dog you get will be like your neighbour’s lovely dog or even like the one you had as a family pet years ago. See the dog for who and what he is before committing to bring him home. Place more emphasis on the compatibility between the dogs rather than on the dog being a specific breed, colour, or s*x of dog.

2. I want a dog that will be my very own.

Thinking that you will have your own private dog in a household that contains other people and other dogs and thinking that ONLY you will train and interact with the dog is not sound thinking. Having different rules for different dogs and relegating different people to different social rules (this is my dog, this is your dog etc.) is setting the stage for colossal behaviour problems.

The reality is that all human family members have to be an active part of the training process and they all have to be part of the active social hierarchy. That cannot happen in a partitioned or divided household. All humans must assume the leadership role with all the dogs and all the dogs must have the same rules and the same expectations of behaviour placed upon them. If not everyone in the household is on board with the addition of the new dog it is best not to bring in another dog into the household.

3. I want a playmate for my other dog.

Yes, but does your dog WANT a playmate? Not every dog wants to share their home with another dog. Also, far too often when I hear people use this reasoning I know that it is actually “code” for:
I want to get another dog so that the dogs will play and entertain each other in the back yard together. This way I won’t have to walk the dog for exercise because the dogs playing together will replace my need to exercise them. I won’t have to spend as much time dealing with the dogs because they will have each other.

Wrong, wrong, WRONG!

In order for dogs to follow your cues, they have to form a Trust/Bond Relationship with you. Spending time with your dog, walking them, training them are all necessary parts of the relationship building process. When dogs are relegated to the back yard to do as they please and to only bond with each other, you will quickly find yourself relegated to the being the outsider in the relationship. If you have no bond with these dogs, you stand no chance of having any control over them.

There is no problem with adding a second dog as a playmate and companion for your existing dog as long as you understand that this second dog is not a substitute for good responsible dog ownership and leadership nor will a second dog train your first dog for you. Dogs can help to model good behaviours for other dogs to follow but this is still not a placement for obedience training. Add a second dog ONLY after your first dog has been successfully trained.

4. But if I did not take this dog they were going to put him down.

This is a tough one because no one wants to see a dog be put to death. And sometimes these kinds of adoptions do work out in the long run but at the same time, many do not work out.

Second dogs need to be added on the basis of compatibility with your existing dog and not based only on the need of the dog you are adopting. If you add an incompatible dog to the household, you run the risk of turning your household into a chaotic and aggression filled place making your life miserable, your existing dog miserable, and in the end the other dog won’t be happy either.

Please, for this issue, you really need to think with your head and not just with your heart. And if you do go ahead and adopt a dog that comes with a lot of baggage please make sure that you have given a lot of thought to a sustainable plan of how you are going to keep the two dogs separated should the situation arise that they cannot get along. It is absolutely unfair to your existing dog to place him in a situation where he is in constant danger of getting attacked by the new dog who most likely has no social skills and lots of fear and aggression issues.

5. And lastly, the Grand Daddy of all bad reasoning, I want another dog because my dog has bad behaviour problems and we are tired of him biting and jumping on us. We want another dog in hopes that this re-directs his energies and we won’t get bitten and jumped on. We are also secretly hoping that the new dog will teach our dog some better manners.

There are so many problems with this line of thinking that I barely know where to begin. Before you add another dog to a household, make sure that your existing dog is fully trained and has virtually no behaviour issues. Adding a second dog to live with an unstable or untrained dog will only serve to exacerbate the behaviour issues of both dogs. It will result in both dogs cyclically triggering each other’s bad behaviours. Adding a second dog is not a replacement for training or a lack of strong leadership from the owners.


The Right Reasons For Adding A Second Dog

• I have room in my heart, in my home, and my life for a second dog.
• My existing dog is stable, balanced, and well trained.
• I have the time and patience to dedicate to helping this new dog.
• I am dedicated and fully prepared to work on any problems that this new dog may have not matter who long it take or how much effort it takes.
• I have watched this dog interact with my existing dog on several occasions and the two dogs are of compatible energy and drive and they get along with each other.
• I am prepared to give this dog a forever home.

Does It Really Matter What Kind Of Dog I Bring Home?

Absolutely, yes it matters. In order to have the best success for a happy well adjusted group, thought and planning must be given to a number of issues before agreeing to bring home an additional dog.

*Puppy, Adolescent, or Adult Dog?*

It will matter to your dog what kind of dog you bring home. What kind of playmate or companion does your dog prefer to spend time with? Is he intimidated by a more mature dog? Does he do better with younger dogs? Does a pushy or domineering energy set him off? Set your dog up for success by bringing home the most compatible dog for him. Even when bringing home a puppy as the second dog, observe the puppy beforehand to identify its temperament before committing to bring it home.

An over confident puppy, without proper guidance, will often grow to be an over confident mature dog. Two domineering energies will produce constant tensions that you will have to continually address and manage.

I observed our new addition, Skylar, for several weeks to make sure that his temperament was very laid back and naturally chill. As a result, I had absolutely no behaviour problems to contend with once Skylar came home because all of the dog’s temperaments are compatible.

*The Energy Level Of Your Current Dog*

The dog that you bring in should ideally be of slightly lower energy and drive than your current dog. If your existing dog is the higher energy more domineering dog, then your current dog will trigger fights because he resents another dog taking over his household. If the new dog coming in is the domineering energy this will cause fights because he takes over the environment. This is not a very compatible match.

Also, age should be taken into consideration. A much older dog will be less tolerant of a young bouncy puppy or a cocky adolescent dog. To be compatible there should ideally not be a huge age difference between the dogs.

*Opposite S*x Dogs Usually Make For A More Compatible Match*

Two females may fight each other especially if their energies are too similar. Two males with similar energies can be at a high risk to fight also. Two unaltered dogs together will almost always guarantee constant fighting between them. But the bigger indicator of compatibility is the energy level and temperaments of the two dogs, not the s*x of the dogs.

*How Stable Is Your Current Dog? *

If your current dog has issues with separation anxiety, is a nuisance barker, a fence fighter, shows aggressiveness, is a resource guarder, shows leash reactivity or anxiety, you had better be very careful about the energy and the problems that second dog may have. Sometimes, a very laid back dog can help another anxious or fearful dog by modeling appropriate behaviour but the second dog can just as easily trigger the first dog into launching attacks turning your house into something resembling a war time demilitarized zone. You do not want the dogs mirroring each other’s bad behaviour. If your current dog is unstable, adding a second dog may not be advisable until the first dog's problem behaviours have been addressed.

If You Are Adopting, Make This A Forever Commitment

Remember, it can take 6 months or longer for a new dog to fully adjust to his new home. Add to that another 6 months of consistent training and bonding with the new family members, learning new cues, and learning the new rules to the household. This is a long process. Please make sure that you can dedicate the time and energy to this process.

Returning a dog because he did not work out in your home is very hard on a dog. The constant loss of permanence and lack of predictability caused by the constant changes in his environment causes dogs to become anxious, fearful, neurotic or aggressive. Do not further contribute to a dog’s issues by making a hasty or ill advised decision.

So please, give careful thought to the dog that you are bringing into your household. Have a realistic and sustainable plan in place before you commit to bringing home that new addition to your household. With careful planning and good compatibility, you can have a new multi-dog family that adds pleasure to your life, not drama, chaos, struggle and tension.