Adding a second dog

You'll be bringing home an 8-10 week old puppy to the house right?  You shouldn't have any problems...its been my experience that the older dog(s) are curious about it, then aloof with it.  They generally don't want to be bothered by the nuisance (I say that lovingly ) so you'll need to watch them to make sure pup can't annoy too much.  IME, dogs seem to have this built in radar that the newbie IS just a puppy and they generally let it have "puppy rights".  When the puppy gets bigger and older, the older dog will start to teach "manners". 

Pup will blend right in soon and you will simply fall into a routine.  Just keep them separated when unsupervised and make sure that the older dog doesn't get too rough or too snarky when the pup wants to chew on him, crawl all over him, etc. 

Again, all said here has been my own personal experience with my dogs...I'm sure others have had different experiences.

Yep! I'm going to be doing the smart thing and start crate training from the first day so it'll be easier to give Maze her space when we're not home.

I've just never owned more then one dog at any given time.. So I'm a bit nervous and the bitch isn't even preggo yet.. Lol. 

I don't know,I guess we never made an issue of it. Anytime we were ready to get another dog, we got it and it went in the car with whoever we had at the time, and we never had a problem. I was worried about Maizy when we got Sammy, but I think she so missed Charlie, that she welcomed another playmate. For suppossedly as territorial as a Dal is supposed to be, she is great at welcoming any or anyone's dog into our home. Never any problems with food, as they all have their own bowl and each has their own bed,of course Maizy sleeps anywhere SHE wants too. 

What kind of dog do you currently have? What breed is the new one and how old is your current dog?

 Maze is a lab/border collie and she'll be 2 in two weeks.. The puppy would be lab/rotti/ border collie.

Err...if I were you, I would either adopt a pup from a rescue or find a reputable, experienced, professional breeder, not just some neighbors who decided to breed their dogs. Like someone else said I wouldn't encourage this type of breeding.

I know I may come off as rude and pushy but it's kind of hard not to and I really don't want this to seem disrespectful or anything but.....as a longtime volunteer at the humane society, I'd just like to point out that we (i.e. many shelters) have mixed homeless puppies already of all colors, patterns, sizes, and personalities. It's just frustrating when you (like many of us here, volunteers, animal advocates, etc.) work sooo hard to help solve the homeless dog problem even in just a little way, and then you hear of people opting to receive a mixed purposefully bred puppy from their neighbor. I know you weren't asking for this type of advice in your post, but I feel an obligation to all those dogs and puppies I see when I go there every week or so to shed some light on them.

Again, I hope you don't take offense to this but I'd feel guilty if I didn't put in a word for the rescue pups. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you're going to get a mixed dog anyway, why not save a life?

Oh well thats great! Maze is past her teenager phase but not to old where she might not be able to tolerate a pup.

I agree with the others in not supporting a intentional breeding of a mixed dog BUT if its already in the works and you wont be paying for it then why not? Those dogs deserve as much love as the next so why not your family!

Well it sounds like the breeding itself is not the OP's decision and will take place anyway so what difference would it make if she took one of the pups or went to a shelter?  These puppies are unfortunately going to be brought into the world but nonetheless they need homes.  If she were paying money for them it would be a different story

The breeding is going to happen whether I want it to or not. It's not my choice..I was just asked if I wanted a puppy. If my neighbors were charging money for the puppies then no I would not be getting one. As I stated earlier I will not adopt from the shelter here as I do not agree with their methods, ethics and the treatment of the animals.

Thank you to those who have offered me suggestions! I highly appreciate it. 

IrishSetterGrl

Err...if I were you, I would either adopt a pup from a rescue or find a reputable, experienced, professional breeder, not just some neighbors who decided to breed their dogs. Like someone else said I wouldn't encourage this type of breeding.

If I was able to decide on a breed and able to pay the prices, I would be buying from a professional breeder. But I'm not ready for a pure bred yet.  

Well, I feel that by agreeing to take a pup you *are* supporting this type of breeding. I don't think that taking a free mixed puppy from an unprofessional and inexperienced "breeder" who is breeding just for kicks is nearly the same as adopting from an animal rescue.

It's like if someone is steadfast against animal testing and decides to, let's say, boycott Pantene products because they test on animals (not sure if they do, but probably). If you see one of their products on a shelf, are you going to say, "I can buy that because it's already been manufactured, it's not like I'm encouraging animal testing." I don't think so. If consumers buy "products", whether they be hair care or puppies, the cycle will continue.

Gandhi once said you must be the change you wish to see in the world. If people hope that pet overpopulation decreases and less dogs are brought into the word irresponsibly, why not be part of the solution and adopt (if you're going to get a mixed breed anyway)?

If someone is searching for a specific breed, then I feel that's an exception...but there are sooo many mixed breed dogs and puppies in shelters everywhere. Adopting one could mean saving a life,  and allowing a shelter to place more dogs up for adoption by freeing up space, etc. If the mods wish for me to start a new thread I'd be more than happy to. I really don't want to turn the thread into a "battle ground" about this, but it's something I feel very strongly about and have an obligation as a volunteer and dog lover to (respectfully) point out.

BTW just wanted to say quickly to Oranges81 that I am not trying to make you out to be a bad person or be rude......it is just frustrating for me because I KNOW that you would give a puppy a great, loving home and I see so many puppies at the humane society who deserve just that.

 I never said it was the same as adopting from a shelter. And I agree with your post but I'd rather a puppy go to me, who will care and give the pup a good home then see it go to someone who doesn't care.

I live in a really small town with 1 shelter and I've already stated my reasons against that. If the shelter was better all over, I'd be more willing to adopt. I didn't post my questions just be told it's wrong and I should adopt ect... I want to make sure that IF I do get this pup, I make it a fun loving family with little to no bumps or problems. 

IrishSetterGrl

BTW just wanted to say quickly to Oranges81 that I am not trying to make you out to be a bad person or be rude......it is just frustrating for me because I KNOW that you would give a puppy a great, loving home and I see so many puppies at the humane society who deserve just that.

I understand but you gotta see if from my side not all shelters are great loving places, even thou it looks like it on the outside. And I do appreciate and understand what you're saying. I used to volunteer at a shelter when I was younger and when I am in a better place and able to get a 3rd dog and it's a mixed. For sure I'll adopt