Should You Get A Dog For Your Dog, Or Is It a Big Mistake?

Should you get a dog for your dog… or are you about to double your stress, noise, behavior issues, and vet bills?

Many pet parents see a bored, clingy, or “lonely” dog (or other pet) and assume the solution is a companion, a boyfriend, girlfriend, sibling, or built-in best friend. But adding another dog doesn’t automatically make life easier. It can just as easily increase barking, trigger resource guarding, amplify anxiety, and create daily management problems you didn’t have before, especially if you don’t actually know why your dog is acting that way in the first place. 

In this episode, veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Malamed, DVM, DACVB, CABC, MBA, breaks down when getting a second dog truly helps, when it backfires, and how to tell whether your dog actually needs a companion or just better enrichment, structure, or training, or time with their favorite person - you!

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
 • What “my dog is lonely” really means and how to assess it correctly
 • The most common ways a second dog makes behavior issues worse
 • The 3-part filter to use before bringing home another dog: capacity, compatibility, and motivation

If you are even considering adding another pet to the family, especially dog number two, pause and listen to this first.

CONNECT WITH DR. RACHEL MALAMED
Website | https://www.behaviordogtor.com
Facebook Group | Pet Psychiatry and Behavior Support for Pet Parents
Instagram | @dr.rachelmalamed

I was a guest on the That’s Good Parenting podcast talking about how to bring a pet into a busy family without turning your house into chaos. Listen here: petparenthotline.com/thatsgoodparenting 

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Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro