My husband has been thinking of adopting another dog (a re-home - owner is joining the military). The dog up for adoption is a 20-month old altered male Maltese/Shih Tzu mix. We have 21-month old male Shih Tzu (Mochi) already. We live in a small-ish flat (we think we have the room) and am wondering if it is a good idea to have another dog so Mochi can have a playmate. Sould we let the two dogs meet on a neutral territory to see if they will even like each other first? It is very tempting and Pebbles is very cute.
Any advice?

I started out that way- they do like company but you know your dog better than anyone......I have 4 now - its been rough but I cant stand not rescuing-

you got it though- meet on neutral ground- in fact the more you do that and if all goes well the better it will be.......I had the task of having the 1st dog not like ANY dogs- so its been a real treat here LOL

Make sure you can cover all vet expenses-as time goes on that is one thing people seem to forget- I just started my own fur fund where I am putting money away each month for emergencies just for the dogs

Originally Posted by 4paws-up

I started out that way- they do like company but you know your dog better than anyone......I have 4 now - its been rough but I cant stand not rescuing-

Same here, we just adopted our 4th dog.

Def meet on neutral territory and I'd suggest outside (possibly a park) Dogs have a natural tendency to want to live in packs. But an un-socialized dog can sometimes be hard to train to get used to other dogs. So the question is, is if your dog is used to other dogs and if this other dog is as well. Not necessarily living with other dogs, but just being used to being around other dogs, playing with them, interacting with them, etc.

[wishbone]

That would be a goof idea to let them meet to see how will interact with each other. Try on dog park, don't forget yummy treats and some toys for them to play with.

Thanks guys for the advises (wow 4 dogs in one house!) - yes Mochi has been socialized to other dogs (my two sister-in-laws have 3 dogs bwtn. them1 and the 4 furbies has a play date every Saturday at grandma). Mochi likes other dogs in general but if I dare to pay too much attention to one of his friends while we are out walking he does get jeolous LOL and I do notice that when the other family dogs come visit at our house he'll bark at them =(
Guess we will see how Mochi does on a neutral territory with Pebbles and then invite Pebbles over to our place. I must say I do live in a very dog friendly neigborhood - about 80% of my neigbors have dogs and the shops leave out water dishes for them =)

When we adopted Koby, the meet and greet at the humane society went just fine. But once we brought him home all of my girls had a look on their face like "Uhm, he was fun to play with....but he's STAYING!?" After about two days ago all was peaceful.

One tip is just make sure that your dog has a nice quiet place that is just hers. Say a kennel, bed, etc. And make sure to still play plenty of attention to your current dog. Everytime I brought in a new dog, I would put the new dog in a kennel for about 30 minutes a day and give personal attention to my other dogs.

10 years ago, I had a cattle dog mix 1 year old and decided on a spur of the moment to adopt a hound mix at an adoption fair. The rescue society said I could return the hound at the end of a week if it didn't work out. At first, Libby wasn't so sure about this new upstart. She would grab his leg and pull him off my lap and insist that she get attention first. But, by the end of the week, she had decided that the upstart could stay but that it was HER dog--she would even hold the his leash when we went outside.

Fast forward 10 years. Libby goes to Rainbow Bridge and Sabastian (the hound) and I are left without a significant member of our pack. After about two months I adopted a cocker spaniel, Tanner. Sabastian ignored the new dog at first....then decided that he was okay...especially since toys reappeared in the house (Libby was a toy destroyer). Sabastian is deaf now and arthritic but when I'm training Tanner and giving treats Sabastian wants some,too. He has relearned to give his paw and --when it doesn't hurt to do so--will sit. When I groom Tanner, I have to groom Sabastian --he used to hate that! When I give Sabastian his pills, I have to give Tanner a lick of peanut butter, too. I let them work out their sleeping arrangements--generally I'm wedged between them nice and warm and snug.

Wow, lots of people have 4 Dogs. I find 3 more than enough.

I would say though that two Dogs is great. When we got our second it actually made for an easier life. They played together a lot and it helps to burn off what woud otherwise be a lot of pent up energy.

It actually leads to better behaved Dogs.

We live in a small-ish flat

Just how smallish is your flat? If they're to be housedogs, tons of exercise will be needed!

Originally Posted by the three dog blogger

Wow, lots of people have 4 Dogs. I find 3 more than enough.

I agree, although if I didn't agree, it is moot because where I live, our city ordinances only allow residents to have two dogs at most. Any more than two requires a kennel license.

At first it will surely be hard for the your dog to socialize with the new one, but overtime they will surely be playmates and best buddies, I'm sure of it, I had lots of experience in adopting pets even cats and dogs can stay together..

Originally Posted by miachue

My husband has been thinking of adopting another dog (a re-home - owner is joining the military). The dog up for adoption is a 20-month old altered male Maltese/Shih Tzu mix. We have 21-month old male Shih Tzu (Mochi) already. We live in a small-ish flat (we think we have the room) and am wondering if it is a good idea to have another dog so Mochi can have a playmate. Sould we let the two dogs meet on a neutral territory to see if they will even like each other first? It is very tempting and Pebbles is very cute.
Any advice?

you and your husband has thought a good thing go ahead and do it I am with you and your husband bcoz I also already have two puppies they r so cute and beloved to me

[CorkyMax]

As I was reading through these posts---I kept thinking--where do 'you all' live. Where I live only 2 dogs are allowed--in small village in Wisconsin--not sure, but think it is a state 'law'. I guess I am glad I can only have 2 'cause I know I would have a hard time resisting getting more--can't afford another one and I have a very small house (I think it is 864 sq. ft) and I live alone. But sure love these dogs and I'm sure whether I can afford one or not, when these 2 have 'departed I will have another--but probably only one--I'm retired now and getting older so one dog will be enough next time lol as long as I don't see another one I can't resist!