Should I Get Another Dog?

i struggled with this for a long time... i have had my best friend in the world for 12 years (named kona), and i felt she was a one-dog-person kind of dog, but she was getting older and i wanted to introduce a young presence in her life; i wanted that young presence to get some kona influence, too. so i got a puppy about a year and a half ago.

the puppy (stella) is now bigger than her much older big sis, and engages kona in puppy play.... kona's old eyes are much brighter in those moments, and now she sometimes instigates play with the puppy! i had hoped that would happen, and it is awesome to see.

and just yesterday i gave kona (the old one) a bath, and for the first time squirmy, immature stella actually watched as her big sis just stood there patiently and got rinsed, etc.... wouldn't you know it, i decided to wash stella next (who has always run like hell from baths... and run and run and run), and she stood there and let it happen, just like she saw kona do minutes before.

long answer to a short question... getting another one was the best thing i could have done (for the dogs AND the dad.)

alex

I think your pup would adjust fine if you added a member. Might have a hard time initially..but may not.
 
Casey was my only dog for 10 years before I got Diego (she did have a kitty friend)!!! I was really apprehensive about getting a pup but Shelties tend to get along with one another. Casey was very upset and jealous when we brought the puppy home! We brought her outside to meet and it was like she new that this was a part of the family and not just a random, strangers dog. She was so upset with us that she wouldn't even be in the same room as the puppy. We would make such a big fuss of Casey too...but she's such a "girl". LOL..very sensitve!
 
She slowly started to hang out in the same room and act like herself again. But she would charge and growl at the puppy. I was really concerned for awhile! Alas, that was short lived. Once Diego got a little bigger and i didn't have to worry about Casey hurting him accidently I could relax a little.
 
They are BEST BUDDIES now! They play and chase each other..Casey really enjoys his company! It took a couple of months..once some rules and boundaries were in place..
 
However, I can leave with Diego and it doesn't faze Casey. If I leave with Casey..Diego freaks out! Diego LOVES her.
 
I've heard of some dogs taking almost a year to accept a new dog. I guess it depends.

Wow! You have the SAME feelings as I have.. I even posted a similar thread because I didn't see your post. The only thing is my pup's 3 1/2. But, I've thought about everything you're thinking about. Will he be jealous, will I be jealous, will we have the same bond, etc.? But I love dogs and animals and I wanted him to have a pal. My vet said that dogs like having another dog around because there are things they can do with other dogs that they can't do with humans. Whatever that means? hee hee I'm at home a lot too and my pup is attached to my hip! He's like my baby. It's comforting to know I'm not alone and have this site. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. lease write if you get another pup. Thanks for the thread. []

Sorry, I'm still getting the hang of this site, but my reply above is really to "Twin".