Dog Community

New puppy-old dog....how to make it work

Posted : 4/2/2006 12:49:39 AM

Hi Everyone! I am looking for advice and here is my what I am up against. We have a 12 yr old golden retreiver/yellow lab mix female that we got from the shelter when she was 5 mths old. She has truely been the best dog I have ever known. She is a therapy dog, works in a medical office and goes to 3 nursing homes. The patients light up when they see her and she goes to greet each and every one. She has several dog friends in our quiet, rural neighborhood and makes the rounds to visit them each morning and then returns to her yard where she stays the rest of the day. She is a very happy and gentle soul. My husband and I have said, a million times, that we don't know how we got to be so lucky to have gotten her and we certainly would not want to do anything that would really stress her out or change her in any way. However. some friends of ours recently got a beautiful chocolate lab (female also) and all 3 of their children are terrified of his adorable little 12 week old puppy. They want to give the puppy to us and the sooner the better. (Let me throw into the mix that we also have 4 cats ranging in age from 9 to 18 yrs, but they will take care of "puppy training" themselves).
Does anyone have any advice as to how to make this situation work well? Are there any techniques for making the introduction go smoothly? Is this whole idea even realistic? Do I need to seek psychiatric help for even considering it? I do not want, under any circimstances, to make Bailey feel that we are replacing her or lessening her importance in our lives.

Mic

Posted : 4/2/2006 12:59:13 AM

If YOU can handle another dog...this pup will likely extend your older dogs life by years. The main thing you need to decide is if you want another dog. Be careful not to personify your current dog. Dogs do not feel replaced, or angry, or a whole list of other "feelings".

There are tons of techniques for introducing them, but I would start by taking the two of them on a few walks together. Keep them moving and focused on the walk, and at the END of the walk let them say hi to each other. See if they get along. If all goes well...I say go for it. Two dogs is no harder to take care of than one.

Just make sure you are ready for the whole puppy deal. Potty training, chewing, biting, barking, jumping, crate training, obedience training, etc.

Good luck...I hope this helps.

Lyn Donahue

Posted : 4/2/2006 2:23:12 AM

Thanks Mic. It does help. We have much to sleep on. Many questions we need to figure out, Lyn

loveukaykay

Posted : 4/2/2006 3:24:44 AM

Dogs dont feel replaced or angry? Do they feel jealous? My moms dog Boudreaux was 12 when we got Kayla (she was 6 mos) and he hated her. He would go under the bed when she was around, looked at my parents with this look on his face like 'why are you doing this to me?', growled at her if she came near him. Just acted very sad, slow, tired, pissed when she was over. They did not live together but were together a lot.

I am not real sure about this, but Boudreaux was getting old and starting to have joint problems and all, and suddenly was seeming better and stabilizing, and then Kayla. He acted as I descrbed before and quickly declined.. and was put to sleep. I believe he was 13, about 4 -5 months after we got Kayla... and had gotten so bad he was thowing up, couldnt walk, not eating and all those things that let you know its time. This was very hard on my mom and she always wondered if Kayla being around had upset him so much he got worse. Or maybe it was just a timing coincidence... but I do know her coming into the picture effected him greatly.

Bailey was just added to our family with Minnie who is 3 and Lucy who is 2 1/2, and they seem fine with her, so maybe its just an old dog thing...?

Sandra TH

Posted : 4/2/2006 7:43:58 AM

I got a puppy when my older dog was around ten. They are the best of friends. Now that Tank is eleven, I see that he is starting to slow down a little, so we just adopted another young dog to play with the now one-year-old pup. We also have four cats.

I find the more the merrier! I also believe that dogs are happiest with thier own kind (unless they are a breed or temperment that doesn't do well with other dogs). I think they get something from other dogs that people just can't give them. Just a theory...

luv_my_3_labs

Posted : 4/2/2006 9:06:47 AM

I have a yellow lab rescued from a shelter after our Rottie passed. I have had him now for 6 years. I'm like you...How did I get so lucky to have two great dogs in a row? Then came Molly. She was one day away from a shelter. She is a great little dog and she is a very low maintenance dog. Then came Tank.. a Chocolate lab. My sons teacher begged us to take him. He will be two years old in April. We got him in Last October. He came up to the house to VISIT just to see how he gets along with the other two. He moved in two hours later. I did have to spend a lot of time training him. He spent most his time in a create. I have less room in bed and higher vet and food bills but other than that he is perfect. I just wanted to share my story with you. Good luck on what ever you decide.

dasher

Posted : 4/2/2006 9:47:48 AM

When my SO and I met 10 years ago, we each had a dog, I had my dal, Reese and he had a black lab, Lille. They were only 6 months apart in age and got along great for 10 years. Then Reese passed away about 1.5 years ago. Lille definitely was depressed a bit at losing her life long friend. After about 6 months we decided we were ready for another dog. We got Dasher (JRT) as a puppy. He was/is a little hellion [8D] At first Lille (11 at the time) was not too thrilled, but after she put him in his place a couple of times with a growl and a roll they get along great. I think Dasher has breathed new life into Lille and they will occasionally play the chase game in the yard. Lille used to chase Reese and now Lille will chase Dasher which he just loves!![

] Now I will say that we do have to keep Dasher in check when he gets too hyper as he will bother Lille by jumping near her face, but when I tell him to "leave it" he does. But I think Lille like the companionship. (We also have 2 cats, but Lille could care less about them)

Tara

Posted : 4/2/2006 10:38:03 AM

We have a 15 year old dog and an 11 month old puppy! They don't get along the BEST but that is just mainly because the older one is a pretty grumpy boy! He just play growls at him all the time, but doesn't want to play! lol. Dakota (the 15 year old) was really lethargic before got our pup, Foster. He wouldn't greet you when you came home, just layed there and din't even wag his tail. He couldn't walk too well because he has arthritis in his hips, but now after getting Foster he actually RUNS around with him! He doesn't even have to take pills for his arthritis anymore. It was like a miracle! He also likes being able to assert being top dog towards another dog. It was a long decision process to determine if a puppy would do him any good, or just stress him out. He was a bit nervous around him for the first two or three days, but they sleep together now, and everything is fairly well! Just introduce them slowly and make sure they will get along and that there won't be any fights of jealousy. Good luck, hope this helps!

He is The Boss

Posted : 4/2/2006 2:23:33 PM

My dog was about 19 months old when I brought my puppy home. They've been here together now for about 3 months and they are doing good. The thing I made sure I did was make sure that it didn't change my dog's routine when I brought puppy home.

I have 7 cats in my house. Some of them like the dogs, some of them poke their eyes out. But they handle their own.

You're not crazy for thinking about getting another dog. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and there must be reason the chance has come along for you to take this puppy into your home.

Good luck.

Lyn Donahue

Posted : 4/2/2006 2:45:42 PM

Thank you all for your input and for taking the time to help. Good news!! This has resolved in the best of all ways. The family that lives next door to us wants to take the puppy. They are very good friends of ours and have 2 kids ages 8, and 6. Their two elderly cats recently died and they were looking for a pet. Bailey half lives over there and their kids half live over here so Bailey will be able to have as much or as little exposure as she wants (except for those weekends when we will be dog sitting, of course). Our neighbors are hoping that the puppy will learn good behaviors from Bailey. This way Bailey can get all of the potential benefits of being around a puppy, but she will remain secure in her status in our lives and avoid the problems. We know they are big animal lovers and that puppy will have a great life in a loving home with children who respect and love animals. Whew ! Thank you all again for sharing your experiences and for your helpful advice. Lyn