Thinking of 2nd dog

Question
Mr. Kelley,
I currently own a 2 1/2 yr old Yellow Lab named Opal, who we adopted at 18 months old. She is perfect in every sense of the word. I am now looking into adopting from a rescure shelter a 18 month old Yellow Lab named Molly.  A number of people have raised a number of valid issues why I should not get a 2nd dog. I have a house and fenced in back yard. However, both dogs would be "inside" dogs. Is it possible they could be good for one another?  Please help. I live w/my wife who is retired.

Answer
Hi, Anthony,

Thanks for the question.

Without knowing more about the two dogs I can only answer in the most general terms. So here goes: as a rule all dogs are happiest when they have an opportunity to interact in a harmonious fashion with other dogs as well as people. That doesn't mean there won't be friction. There might be, but that would depend a great deal on the nature of the two dogs, and in how YOU allow them to play, yet unobtrusively supervise their play sessions together.

If I were you I'd ask the rescue people if it's possible to set up an outdoor meet-and-greet between Opal and Molly. Do it in an open space to see what the chemistry's like between them.

LCK