Please help me....... (kpwlee)

kpwlee

birdy like this

That was SOOOO cute! 

priorities are tough -- but honestly, Bugs really isn'g going to be in a place where he *can* tolerate a newbie for a good long while.  And recovering financially is a big deal.

But boy -- you like those laid-back, couch potatoes don'tcha??  whooooo boy.  A GSP??  phew --

David and I both like Danes, and I got an email today from Dave Pustek about a dane with demodex down in Miami.  And there's just NO way.  My house is the size of a postage stamp and the ONLY way we can do "four" is because all you do is step over Kee Shu.  A dane just would *not* work in my house for sq ft reasons. 

Davids and my priorities are completely different than yours -- but the really ***HARD*** one that I've totally had to come to grips with in the past two years is that I can *NOT* take in any more dogs that are even 30 pounds.  From here on out it's gonna have to be well under 25.  Simply because *I* can not lift them.

I can't bend over the bathtub to bathe them -- it's gotta fit in the kitchen sink.

You oughta see Billy Mr. Perfect fold all 30 pounds of himself up to fit in the kitchen sink so I can bathe him while *I* sit down on a chair in front of the sink.  It's a darned good thing Luna doesn't need to be bathed often or I'd be scr$wed. 

But I hear you -- Bugsy likely would be better with a sibling to chase -- as long as it was a dog he would get along with.

Karen -- fwiw -- before we took Tink the foster mom and I exchanged scent boxes.  I literally dropped a cheap washcloth into each dog's bed at night.  In the morning I folded each one up and put it in a sandwich ziplock bag.  I also put a cheap pair of pillow cases on Davids and my pillows and sealed each of those in ziplock bags.

Marie did the same thing -- she took a raggedy towel and put it in Tink's bed and ziplocked that -- we traded "stuff" so mine had a couple of days to investigate Tink's scent and she had a couple of days to investigate all of ours.

When we got there to pick her up she literally launched herself into my arms from SIX FEET AWAY.  She greeted David and I like long lost kin.  And when we got home here -- the meetings with the other dogs went the SAME way.  "Hey -- I KNOW YOU!!!!"

It was "family" from second #1. 

Now -- notice I said this was stuff I put in everbuddy's BED.  It was "sleep scent" which in the dog world means **PACK**

But I tell you -- it was a superb lesson I learned in how to take on a dog into my *existing* pack absolutely seamlessly.  And the more I investigate it the more convinced I am that using sleep scent was absolutely the way to go.  Because somehow they all got the idea they'd shared pack sleeping and it was awesome.

So if you do wind up doing this, Karen -- particularly with Bugsy's physical challenges -- that's gonna pick up on scent.  But if it makes it any easier with your husband - I wouldn't do a puppy.  I would do a dog roughly the same age as Bugsy.

NOW THE **DOWN SIDE** to that is they both age at the same rate.  You get old dog expense at the same time.  You potentially get dogs that can age, similarly and you can lose them at the same time which can be tough.  BUT -- you've got an overly physical dog and having somebuddy to mutually wear them out might help.

Then again -- you could adopt a pixie pug in training.  She manages to wear Luna out completely -- would Bugsy mind having a pug attached to his ear 24/7?? 

Nah -- Luna would miss her (and so would we *grin*).  But she WOULD wear the boy out!!

Karen, we have the same problem right now.  We were at the pet store and saw a sign for a free 5 year old Boxer, great with kids, cats, and dogs.  My DH has always wanted a Boxer.  In fact, when we got Coke, we were originally getting a Boxer but when we got there someone had already claimed him, so we looked at the GSD and he didn't get along with Kenya, and the third dog we looked at was Coke.  We wouldn't trade Coke for anything but man DH wants that Boxer!

Karen, right now just isn't the right time to add another dog. 

You already have a very high energy dog who needs to be calm & laid back while he's recovering from a major surgery.  You can't honestly tell me that Bugsy is not going to be absolutely, psychotically excited with another dog in his house, can you? 

Do you think that Bugsy will deal well with a new addition, while he's being confined?  From his point of view, he's going to see a new dog in his house, who gets to go running with his mom, while he's stuck in a room or in a crate when he can't settle.  From his perspective, you've replaced him with a new dog who deosn't have a bum knee, & can run & play. 

I don't mean to piss in your cheerios, but you did ask.....

BEVOLASVEGAS

Do you think that Bugsy will deal well with a new addition, while he's being confined?  From his point of view, he's going to see a new dog in his house, who gets to go running with his mom, while he's stuck in a room or in a crate when he can't settle.  From his perspective, you've replaced him with a new dog who deosn't have a bum knee, & can run & play. 

When I say stuff like this my husband looks at me, shakes his head and says "YOU .... my wife ... are a dog! -- to think that much like a dog you must BE one!"  But in this case, Amanda's right -- that IS how Bugs would feel.

BEVOLASVEGAS

I don't mean to piss in your cheerios, but you did ask.....

You do have a way with words, you know that?

Then again ... I have this story about trying to use Cheerios to 'reward' a demodex=y pug getting a bath in a motel bathroom sink during the 4th of July holiday 2008 -- and to be perfectly honest she was only 4 1/2 months old and her look said something pretty much just like that only it was more like "piss ON your cheerios lady!"  Yep, Amanda ... you definitely have a way with words.

kpwlee

DH is 100% against a second dog and with Bugsy rehabbing it isn't a good time.

I agree with the others about not getting a new dog. Even if by a miracle you are able to convince your husband. Bugsy's issues are a huge red flag that says "I dare you to do it and then you will be in B-I-G problems"

Right now your focus is on the good side of the coin, flip it over and write in a piece of paper the cons and maybe you will actually end up canceling your internet service hehe

I too know how you feel. I am really, really, experiencing puppy fever right now. Shimmer, my youngest, is turning three in a couple weeks, and because of how I grew up, I'm at a point where I'm almost expecting another puppy to raise. But I can't right now because I have three, two of which I admittedly am very busy with in agility, and I have to respect their own needs. I really do have my hands full, but at the same time I have this huge emotional heartstring pull towards another dog, and I know which range of breeds it would be already (I say range because there are different breeds I want at different points in my life). It's a really hard thing to live with, that feeling.

But I would agree, this time is time that Bugs needs you to focus on him. He needs your support, your time, love, and devotion, and he needs it all from you right now - he's probably not looking to share at this time of his recovery.

 I agree that Bugsy should be healed before you bring in any new additions. Him not feeling his best is not a good time to introduce a new dog into the family. It is too bad rescue would turn away a good foster just based on the fence issue :(

 Leis - FWIW I have found it extremely hard to bring adult dogs into my group once I had more than a couple. Boxers are notorious for same sex aggression and GSDs tend towards that too. Most same sex aggression happens between dogs in the same household, once they are established, so it is impossible to tell if it would be a problem when you bring a new dog in. IMO you'd be asking for trouble bringing a 5 year old  Boxer into a multi-GSD household. Depending on where you are though, there is an interesting way your DH could get a Boxer fix. Pilot Dogs in Columbus uses Boxers and always is looking for puppy raisers :)

 Thank you all, much good advice given and appreciated - and don't worry I am always ruled by my head

As luck would have it DH was actually open to the idea - dear Lord help me be strong.

I know that bringing a grown dog into our home now would be way too much for my boy - by that I mean he would he too overjoyed to allow himself to heal. AND a new grown dog would take too much attention and time right now that Bugsy needs and deserves.  AND I know that once cleared for activity I will have to invest a lot of time re-training and socializing him.

I will admit that a teeny part of me thinks an 8-10 wk old pup is doable  I had in a moment of weakness emailed that breeder in IN and he has four male liver pups ready just about the time B will be cleared for activity.  I am working very hard on making the list of negatives

AgileGSD

 Leis - FWIW I have found it extremely hard to bring adult dogs into my group once I had more than a couple. Boxers are notorious for same sex aggression and GSDs tend towards that too. Most same sex aggression happens between dogs in the same household, once they are established, so it is impossible to tell if it would be a problem when you bring a new dog in. IMO you'd be asking for trouble bringing a 5 year old  Boxer into a multi-GSD household. Depending on where you are though, there is an interesting way your DH could get a Boxer fix. Pilot Dogs in Columbus uses Boxers and always is looking for puppy raisers :)

It's absolutely not going to happen.  For one I don't like Boxers and don't want one, and since I do 99% of all the dog work (that's not including the specialized training I do with my dogs), I have the most say.  DH works all day now and some evenings and he already has Coke, who luckily is very low energy and low drive.  Nikon is dominant, territorial, and aggressive with other adult dogs not already in our pack.  If he really really wanted to adopt a Boxer he had his chance!

The more likely scenario is that I take a puppy from my breeder to do some basic training, crate work, and socializing.

kpwlee, I totally get your itching for another dog, and I love GSPs as well.

You're asking for negatives, so here's one, lol. I know you want a GSP really, really badly but I think it would be much more enjoyable for you if you waited until Bugsy was back to 100% normal. It's like, you could get one now, but a little tinge of guilt may linger in your mind,  you know? The whole experience of finally adding a 2nd dog would be tainted. So why not wait until you're 100% sure it's the right time, and then there will be no bad feelings or anxiety over it?

It'd just be another reason to look forward to Bugsy's full recovery.

kpwlee

I will admit that a teeny part of me thinks an 8-10 wk old pup is doable  I had in a moment of weakness emailed that breeder in IN and he has four male liver pups ready just about the time B will be cleared for activity.  I am working very hard on making the list of negatives

 LOL not going to help with the negatives - I have always found young puppies to be far easier than bringing home adult dogs.

kpwlee

I am working very hard on making the list of negatives

Housebreaking. In January. 'Nuff said :)

 the thing is that some of the negatives I would normally associate with a young pup as opposed to having an established dog are already in place due to his surgery.  We currently have a room set up as a dog room, we have to take him in and out to pee and poop, a young pup can't do a ton of running, etc. (he can't NOW), we will have to redo some training, an 8 week old can't violently wrestle or zoom ha ha ha

and lest anyone worry I understand some of these are very superficial and I am still not going to get a second dog right now.  But I DO think a pup might be doable

Karen, I totally understand.... I think everyone here does.... Java is on my wish-list, but reality is another thing.

Bugsy's recovery is the easiest reason to say "hmm, gotta wait" since as soon as he sees another family member to play with, your $3k investment will be shot.  Having everything set up and your routine in place is good ammunition to show your husband that you're more than capable of bringing in a pup some day.  I planned on getting a senior male "some day", when Gracie was born at the shelter, so... things happen whatever way they're supposed to, esp with the dogs that choose us.  Your dog or pup will come along when he or she is supposed to, and you don't have to rush.