We recently added Teddy (10 months) to our household with our current yorkie Toki (1 year 9 months). I had always wanted to add a second dog since Toki was a little pup but it would have had me pulling my hair out trying to housebreak 2 dogs at the same time.
Definitely don't get another dog just to keep your current dog occupied. Let me just tell you from firsthand experience that you will have TWO dogs bringing you toys and begging you to play with them...so if you are too busy on some days to play with Chewie, imagine having another pup also trying to get your attention. Toki and Teddy play together a lot but they both still need a lot of individual time. They have pretty different personalities as well and I know that when we go on walks, Teddy needs a lot more extra walking time than Toki does (she doesn't have the stamina that he does). It's definitely more time consuming and takes more energy to keep up with 2 dogs (at least for me). While it is more work (and money), I will say that bringing home Teddy was one of the most rewarding experiences for us and has truly enriched all of our lives...it makes me so happy every day to see my pups interacting together and thriving.
If your pup seems kinda bored and you don't necessarily know that you should get a second dog, why not try a doggie day care (that would also give you a chance to run your errands while he gets to have the option to play with other dogs) or doing different activities like swimming, hiking, visiting new trails etc. to keep your pup interested and stimulated.
Good luck! |