If you are like us, adopting one pet is pretty exciting. It’s an amazing feeling to bring home a deserving fur friend who needs our love, attention, and good care for a wonderful life. So, naturally, it would seem like adopting two dogs would be even better, right? After all, they will keep each other company. The more, the merrier!

There are some great benefits to adopting two dogs at once, but there are also some challenges. The team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital is here to explain these reasons and to help you prepare for bringing home two amazing adoptable pets (while keeping it real!).

When You Adopt Two Dogs at Once

There are a few scenarios that you might encounter when you choose to adopt two dogs together.

1. Bonded pairs. These dogs already came to the shelter as siblings or best friends who have a history of being together. In many cases, these dogs are only adopted out as a couple to ensure their best life and the familiarity of their bond. Lots of times, these pets come to shelters after an owner has died or when the family can no longer care for them. In this situation, it can be the ideal one because they have already been together for some time and have “ironed out” issues between them, including establishing alpha behaviors.
2. Shelter mates. These friends have already shared close quarters during their time at the rescue. Because of this, they are deemed to be amiable to other dogs and sometimes even enjoy the company. Dogs housed together in a shelter are usually those who are comfortable with other dogs or are puppies who require socialization.
3. Single dogs with unknown backgrounds. These shelter dogs have been housed alone for various reasons, including to ensure health and safety. It’s best to speak with an adoption counselor to get a good gauge on the dogs’ backgrounds and whether they have been around other dogs. Observe your potential adoptees together a few times, so you know they are good with one another.

Important Things to Consider When Adopting Two Dogs

There are many advantages to adopting two fur friends together. They can enjoy each other, get more play and exercise, keep each other company when you are at work, and have more snuggles. Bonded dogs are often better socialized and able to deal with new experiences, since they are more confident and comfortable with their “pack”. 

The downfall to adopting two dogs is that you have double the fees for adoption, food, veterinary care, pet supplies, and so on. You have to allot more time for exercise, attention, and training. There is a misconception that having two dogs somehow lightens up the load on your own time because they entertain each other. Not so. Their interaction, while wonderful, doesn’t mean they don’t need the usual daily walks and exercise that a solo dog needs.

If you understand the commitment and dedication required for taking on two dogs, what a great and heartfelt service you offer to two sweet pups. This incredible bond not only extends to you and your human family but can also be shared between your new dogs. It can be a heavenly match that gives both pets a greater sense of confidence, security, and love.

We are here to answer any questions you have about adopting two dogs together. We look forward to seeing you and your new furry loved ones at their first wellness exam with us.

The post Double Trouble, Double the Fun: Adopting Two Dogs at Once appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

People in serious relationships tend to make grand gestures. They make introductions to their family members, take each other to work events, and even move in together. 

A common next step for significant others is to adopt a pet. It’s not as huge of a life changer as having a child, but it shows a certain level of commitment – to one another, and to the pet. It’s a beautiful symbol of love, but this type of decision doesn’t just affect the human relationship. 

Before you adopt a pet with someone (even if you love them), it’s important to take time to consider all the possibilities.

A Big Leap

Caring for a pet together can be an incredibly beautiful opportunity to see one another in the best possible way. To see your significant other become even more nurturing, responsible, and dedicated is a gift. If you adopt a pet with someone like this, that’s one lucky pet!

Wait… This Is Like, Work!

Whether it’s with human relationships, or human-animal ones, there’s always a honeymoon period. Once the excitement fades a bit, new pet owners are in for a real wake up call. Even if you fully anticipate how needy your pet is, it’s hard to prepare for how those needs impact the relationship with your significant other.

Who’s In Charge Here?

Let’s say you and your partner see eye to eye on everything related to your shared pet. You jointly take part in all of the pet’s mental and physical needs, share all the financial responsibilities (and there are a lot of them), and proudly balance all of the other demands in your lives. Still, assign daily chores so there is no confusion about who walks, feeds, or picks up waste on any given day.

All in the Timing

What about the timing of your adoption? Do you have travel plans or major events coming up that would make it difficult to care for your pet? Remember that cats can easily live up to 15 years, and depending on breed, dogs can live an average of 12 years.

Housing

If you and your partner live together in a place that one of you owns, your pet has a better chance at a stable life. Pet-friendly rentals are not always easy to come by, and they may not be for the long term. Secure a long term environment for your pet that serves all of their needs. 

Where will you live if things don’t work out between you? Is joint custody something you could even fathom? An exit strategy might be helpful before you adopt a pet with someone else.

Bringin’ Home the Bacon

Aside from all of their daily needs, like high-quality food, toys, bedding, gear, and more, pets need routine veterinary care, parasite prevention, vaccinations, dentistry, training, and grooming (among other things). 

Do you have a job that takes you away from your pet for long hours at a time? This is where doggie daycares come into play, or you could hire a dog walker or pet sitter to visit. 

Adopt a Pet With Someone You Love

We understand the impulse of wanting to adopt a pet with someone you care about. While the experience can bring people closer together, it can also bring to the surface behaviors or character traits that you never saw (or overlooked) before. 

If you have further questions about adoption or ownership, Shiloh Mobile Veterinary Hospital is always here for you.

The post Should You Adopt a Pet With Someone You’re Dating? appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.