05/12/2025
There’s this idea floating around that if you want another dog, you should just go for it. Follow your heart. YOLO.
“Life is short. Follow your heart. Just get the puppy.”
I disagree.
Not because I don’t want people to have dogs (I absolutely do).
But because *YOLO also applies to the dog you already have*.
Your current dog only gets one life.
One chance at the daily walks they love.
One chance at the training, the attention, the enrichment you give them.
And adding another dog before they’re ready can make their world much smaller.
I see it all the time in my career ...
People add a second (or third) dog too early.
Their first dog is still reactive, still struggling, still learning basic skills…
And suddenly the household becomes harder to manage, not happier.
Walks become separate.
Training becomes doubled.
The original dog gets less attention, less exercise, less calm time with you.
And the human feels guilty - because they didn’t expect this to happen.
This is the part few consider:
Most dogs are not truly “done with training” in under two or three years.
Almost no professional trainers I know add dogs quickly.
Most pros wait three to five years between dogs.
Not because they don’t love having multiple dogs… but because they know what it takes to give each dog a full life.
I’m not trying to discourage anyone from having dogs.
I’m trying to discourage having so many that nobody in the family (including you) can live their most fulfilled, calm, happy life together.
If bringing in another dog makes your first dog’s world smaller, then it’s not the right time.
Not yet.
You only live once.
And so does the dog who is already counting on you.
