Sunday I had a wonderful conversation catching up with my friend Ann. Ann works for Labs 4 Rescue as an intake/placement coordinator. About four or five months ago Ann adopted/rescued a little black lab named Walter. Ann knew that Walter would be her last puppy as there comes a time when we all know we just can’t handle the energy of a puppy anymore. 🙁
When Ann and I adopted Walter and Delilah, we already had dogs. Good, well-trained dogs. Ann and I got to talking about the training struggles we were having with Walter and Delilah; and it dawned on me; we are dealing with 2nd dog syndrome. I compare this to having your 2nd child.
With your first child you put a lot of time and energy into them; you take pictures of everything! Their baby books, and scrapbooks are up to date. You anxiously wait for every new discovery, and meticulously document it; you see life through their eyes.
By the time the 2nd child comes along; you’re tired. You no longer have the energy you had with the first; there are more things that need to be completed; you aren’t as meticulous with documenting their progress….with taking pictures. You sometimes miss the beauty of the world as seen through their eyes.
The same is true when you get a 2nd (or third) dog. Time is a factor; you have another dog to take care of, a dog who has come to rely on you. You forgot what kind of work you put into that first dog….work that made that dog an awesome dog. Somehow you expect this new being will automatically know what you want from them and what they need to do. But they don’t. It’s easy to become frustrated with your new dog because they don’t seem to be learning as fast as your first dog.
You look at that sweet, perfect first dog and say, “What am I doing wrong?”
Step back, take a breath and refocus. Take a minute to look at life through their eyes. See if you can fit just 10 minutes of training in per day, it will make a difference.
Don’t fall victim to the 2nd dog syndrome; grab a bag of treats or your dog’s favorite toy and get training!
This is SO true!
I thought so!
Very good advice!
Thanks!
This is so, so true. And when we adopted Toby as a companion for Leah, he was already 11 months old – so he even looked like an adult. Leah was so well behaved, and we expected so much of Toby that I got frustrated with him a lot. But really, he was still just a pup…
It made sense to me. Especially when I started really thinking about it. 🙂
The vet said she thought Delilah was 18 months when we got her, but I think that might have been generous. She was definitely still a pup.
How long did it take you?
Great post! I think that is part of my fear with getting a second dog. Will I have the stamina to go through all the training again and continue Sophie’s training. In addition to how does my only fur kid adapt to having a younger sibling. Right now I am leaning toward waiting another few years, when Sophie is six or so before I add another fur kid.
It is definitely tough and there are times I really feel bad for Sampson, because we don’t do the things we used to. 🙁 But for all that she brings so much laughter and joy. 🙂
This is great advice!
My own experience has been a bit different; I got my first dog 15 years ago when the training methods that were in the air were pretty bad, and certainly their implementation didn’t have good effects on my troublesome little cattle dog Tashi!
I’ve actually enjoyed taking on new foster dogs in the past couple of years, and trying out new training stuff as learn it. Nothing like a fresh-from-the shelter ball of fire to inspire training innovation!
I have one you can train Kirsten. 😉 Bless you for what you do; I don’t think I could.
Love that picture of Delilah. How could sweet innocent Delilah be any trouble at all?
Oh NO Big Al, not sweet little Delilah. 😉
Good post Jodi and great observation 🙂
Thanks Misty. Glad you liked it!
What a clever insight. And it’s easy to expect too much from our second dogs because we don’t remember the early days with our first dogs.
That’s one great thing about blogging–you have a record. Someday, years from now, you may find yourself wondering why your new dog can’t be as good as Delilah. 🙂
Now THAT will be something! LOL A dog that isn’t as good as Delilah!! I hope my next rescue will be a bit easier, or maybe it will be easier because I am more experienced? Hmmm that’s something to ponder. 🙂
Thanks for the comment!