Excitement Levels

An important issue to consider before bring another Jack Russell into your home is the excitement levels that two dogs will create.

Even if neither dog is a "barker" or generally noisy or excitable, simply putting two dogs together may increase the excitement level so greatly that they just can't help themselves. They may only make noise when they're playing, but it can still be very irritating unless you can control/ stop it.

Jealousy and Fighting

Be prepared to deal with the problem of your existing dog being jealous of your new addition. Ensure that your first dog is confident in the knowledge that he is important and don't just suddenly stop paying attention to him/ her as this can produce jealousy and subsequently create aggressive behaviour and anxiety.

Who's the boss?

Remember that there is no equality between dogs. Your present dog should be at the top of the hierarchy and you should reinforce this hierarchy by:

• Showing him/ her affection or attention first when the new dog is around
• Feeding him/ her first
• Letting him/ her go through the door first (though not ahead of you)

Don't panic - your new dog will not suffer a psychological blow if you give your first dog more attention.

However, there are certain things that you shouldn't do:

• Do not let your present dog think that the relationship is up to his discretion.
• Do not force the new dog on him, but make sure he understands that he has no room to question your actions. You brought the new family member into the home and he must accept him. Even if the present dog does not want to interact and build a friendship with the new addition, he must cordially tolerate the existence of the newcomer.

Training

Before even entertaining the idea of getting another dog, your present dog must be well trained. To clarify this sweeping statement, in particular, they must know that you are the boss and must respond to your commands. Also, they must be "house-broken".

The reason for this is quite simple; the new dog will copy the existing dog behaviours and this includes understanding that you are the leader of the "pack".

Pack Behaviour - Adding a third dog to the family:

If you have two dogs and are getting a third, it is a possibility that the two will gang up on the new addition. If this occurs, intervene immediately as there is the very real possibility that the situation could become dangerous.

If you establish yourself as the leader they'll learn that the best thing in the world is to look to you for guidance. When the dogs know that you make the rules, they'll live by your standards. They will work out a pecking order among themselves, and they will continue to respect your authority. Make sure they see you as master before they spend extended time alone together.

Age

Getting another dog of a different age will generally make things easier. If both dogs are adolescents, they can be quite unruly. Although there are no set rules, some trainers suggest that the best age difference is around three years. This difference seems to make the balance of dominant and submissive positions evolve naturally. The development of friendships can be more difficult with a larger age span.

Owning two puppies

Training one puppy takes hard, dedicated work. Training two puppies is twice the work. If you know that you want two dogs, it is recommended to get one dog and raise him with all of the manners that you would expect your little canine buddy to possess, and then add another. The older dog may demonstrate the proper way to earn your attention and admiration, and your new little charge may learn the ways of your home more quickly.

Introductions

If your JR is possessive (and alot are!) bringing a new dog into your home "cold-turkey" could provoke a reaction! Therefore, it's a good idea to introduce the dogs in neutral territory.

When they do meet for thr first time, make sure that you're present - don't just let them "get-on-with-it". Supervise the interactions and be patient and cautious.

At Home

Provide them each a place to feel secure and unintimidated. Make sure that your first dog can relax in his spot without worrying that he needs to protect it. At meal time, feed at the same time but in separate areas of a room. If you're having problems it may be a good idea to separate them with a gate.