Should I Get a Second Dog?

The reason that matters most

Of everything in the check, the most telling answer is why you want a second dog. People who want two dogs and have room for two dogs are in a good position. People adding a dog to solve something often are not, because the problem was never the number of dogs. University of Melbourne researcher Dr Diane van Rooy says another dog may help a dog that needs any company to feel secure, but not one that needs a particular person or animal, and that you might end up with another set of problems.

If your dog seems lonely, test the cheaper options first. The RSPCA Knowledgebase lists excessive barking and digging among the signs of a dog anxious when left alone, and recommends daily exercise, plenty of physical and mental stimulation and company from friends or family, which can show you whether company was really the missing piece. Our separation anxiety guide explains how to tell boredom from distress.

Where the check flags aggression toward other dogs or resource guarding, take it seriously. The RSPCA Knowledgebase says aggression can be caused by underlying fear and anxiety, recommends talking to your vet, who can refer you to a veterinary behavioural specialist, and warns that punishing the dog is likely to make aggression worse. Its greyhound guide lists resource guarding and dog-directed aggression among the signs that call for a qualified veterinary behaviourist or certified applied animal behaviourist.

How to introduce a second dog

Before you adopt, expect the rescue to want both dogs to meet: RSPCA WA requires it before an adoption is finalised, and AWL NSW runs a supervised dog-to-dog introduction. After that, the RSPCA Knowledgebase describes a staged introduction:

1. Prepare. Make sure both dogs are up to date with health checks, vaccinations, worming and parasite control; give each dog its own retreat with a bed, toys and water; and put away high-value items such as toys, treats and food bowls in shared areas.
2. Swap scents. Let each dog smell where the other has been before they meet.
3. Meet on neutral ground. Walk both dogs on lead outdoors, each held by a different person, starting apart and rewarding calm behaviour.
4. Short supervised sessions at home, in a neutral area rather than where either dog eats or sleeps, with breaks if either gets overwhelmed.
5. Unsupervised time only once you are confident the dogs enjoy each other's company.

Feed the dogs apart: the RSPCA's greyhound guide advises completely separate areas with no physical or visual contact at mealtimes. RSPCA Victoria suggests separating the dogs when no one is home in the first couple of weeks, and RSPCA South Australia says not to expect instant friendship. If conflict persists, the RSPCA says to seek advice from a vet or veterinary behaviourist. Our guide to a rescue dog's first weeks covers settling in step by step.

Check your council's dog limit

Many councils limit how many dogs you can keep without a permit. Two examples from councils' own pages, read 11 November 2026: Brisbane City Council says you need a permit to keep more than 2 dogs, and the City of Whittlesea in Victoria says you need a permit to keep more than two dogs. Other councils set different limits, so check your council before you apply, and check your lease or strata rules if you rent or live in a unit.

Costs add up too. Dog-owning households in Animal Medicines Australia's 2025 survey spent $2,520 on their dogs in the 12 months to March 2025 (a reference figure, not a quote). The dog cost calculator gives a rough monthly picture, and our guide to adopting a dog in Australia covers fees and the process.