Bringing another dog into a one-dog family

[TN Traveler]

We are in a similiar situation as you. We have a 10 yr old Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix. Max is our BABY! He weighs between 130-135 lbs. We have talked for a couple yrs about getting another dog -- hopefully a yellow Lab but haven't done it yet. We just found out a couple weeks ago that he has Stage 2/3 Mast Cell Tumors which is a form of cancer. Our vet said we could be looking at 1-5 yrs before we lose him. We are so sad about this but understand that things like this does happen and we'll do what we can to keep him happy and out of pain.

Our big family debate is what kind of dog to get. I was raised w/Boston Terriers and love them. My husband was raised w/Dashunds and loves them. My brother and his wife have a miniture Dashund that our oldest daughter LOVES and says she wants a "lap dog". I said if I can't have my Boston then we should compromise and get another Lab b/c all of us love Max and know what a great dog he is. Plus we have a 50 acre farm and have the space for the dog to run. Our thoughts were be to get a female and have her spayed when the time was right. So now, we're looking in the Spring to get one so She can stay outside and not get too cold and Max can teach her how to behave around our children and our livestock....we raise black angus cows and goats. It's very important that our dog understands how to behave around the animals during birthing season. Max is such a good boy we know he'd show the new dog the ropes.

I have always been told not to get 2 dogs of the same sex so have always had male/females. I say go ahead and get the dog you want...let them fight over who's "Top Dog" and go from there. Of course you'll want to keep your oldest dog protected and make sure she understands she is Numero Uno! Kinda like w/kids....no matter how many you have you still love each one in their own unique and special way.

Hope my 2 cents gives you another prespective.

Karen

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

We are in a similiar situation as you. We have a 10 yr old Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix. Max is our BABY! He weighs between 130-135 lbs. We have talked for a couple yrs about getting another dog -- hopefully a yellow Lab but haven't done it yet. We just found out a couple weeks ago that he has Stage 2/3 Mast Cell Tumors which is a form of cancer. Our vet said we could be looking at 1-5 yrs before we lose him. We are so sad about this but understand that things like this does happen and we'll do what we can to keep him happy and out of pain.

Bless his heart. I lost my Beagle to Hemangiosarcoma. Goldens are prone to cancer and I'm currently watching a spot on Chloe's nose and found a mole on her side, that both have the characteristics of Melanoma. I hope Max lives a long, comfortable life.

I don't know what I'll do if she's ever diagnosed. I'm probably too attached to her. I know it'll be very, very hard on me when she's gone. Honestly, it plays a small role in me wanting another dog. I can't imagine her not being around. The house will be so empty.

Our big family debate is what kind of dog to get. I was raised w/Boston Terriers and love them. My husband was raised w/Dashunds and loves them. My brother and his wife have a miniture Dashund that our oldest daughter LOVES and says she wants a "lap dog". I said if I can't have my Boston then we should compromise and get another Lab b/c all of us love Max and know what a great dog he is. Plus we have a 50 acre farm and have the space for the dog to run. Our thoughts were be to get a female and have her spayed when the time was right. So now, we're looking in the Spring to get one so She can stay outside and not get too cold and Max can teach her how to behave around our children and our livestock....we raise black angus cows and goats. It's very important that our dog understands how to behave around the animals during birthing season. Max is such a good boy we know he'd show the new dog the ropes.

DH's uncle breeds dachshunds and he had two puppies at his house when we there for Christmas. They were so cute! BTW, if you click on the link of mine in an earlier post, you'll see my huge Chloe sitting on my DH's lap. So, they can be lap dogs; you may not have any circulation left in your legs, but it can happen!

I have always been told not to get 2 dogs of the same sex so have always had male/females. I say go ahead and get the dog you want...let them fight over who's "Top Dog" and go from there. Of course you'll want to keep your oldest dog protected and make sure she understands she is Numero Uno! Kinda like w/kids....no matter how many you have you still love each one in their own unique and special way.

DH has already warned me that if we get another one, that Chloe will no longer be allowed on the couch, or our bed. That will be the one issue that I'll need to correct before the new one comes along!

 

[Hercules10]

I did the exact same thing you're considering with my male shepherd last year. Got a shepherd puppy (female).

It's up to you to help determine dominance. Males don't always default to the alpha. There's a reason for the term "alpha *****". If you want Chloe to be head dog then you need to help her along. Feed Chloe first (after yourself obviously). Then the newbie pup. Allow Chloe to always lead the newbie. In general establish Chloe as head dog. Of course this is best done when the newbie is young.

Two large dogs are a lot of work. But when I see those two meat-heads of mine romping and playing around like new-born pups it really does my heart good!

Good Luck aw:

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Okay, I'm starting to lean towards a puppy.

 

[L107ANGEL]

Did you get Bowman as a puppy? That combo sounds like it'd make a beautiful dog!

Oh, I should have been more specific. Shadow is a male, he was about 8 when we got Bowman (male) as a puppy. It just seemed like Bowman would follow Shadow and ended up being house broken pretty quickly. Like a big brother kind of thing.

 

[vivilasvegas]

The worst combination of dogs is two females. Either get two males, or a male and a female. Trust me. Two females are more prone to get in fights. Bad fights.

Just make sure they are fixed!

 

[noseybuddy]

Both of my dogs are females. Got the second dog when the other was 6yrs old. The older one is so good. The younger one gets jealous very easily and requires a lot of attention, but I think that is a characteristic of the breed that she is.

 

[crz4mm2]

The worst combination of dogs is two females. Either get two males, or a male and a female. Trust me. Two females are more prone to get in fights. Bad fights.

Just make sure they are fixed!

My two female shelties never fought at all. They were both fixed.

 

[vivilasvegas]

My two female shelties never fought at all. They were both fixed.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. But if you research and speak to vets, that's what I've learned.

Cats and dogs aren't supposed to get along either, but mine are best friends.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule. But if you research and speak to vets, that's what I've learned.

Cats and dogs aren't supposed to get along either, but mine are best friends.

Is it a blanket rule, or does this apply to unspayed females only?

 

[vivilasvegas]

Is it a blanket rule, or does this apply to unspayed females only?

Google it. Type getting two female dogs. Lot's of articles will pop up, but i don't know the answer to your specific question. Maybe those articles can help.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Google it. Type getting two female dogs. Lot's of articles will pop up, but i don't know the answer to your specific question. Maybe those articles can help.

I've looked once before and it was where I got the advice on not putting two females together, but I could probably use a refresher.

One guy was dead-set against having more than two dogs of any sex, saying that you were asking for trouble, since you were creating a pack. Isn't that what we already are to a dog?

 

[vivilasvegas]

I've looked once before and it was where I got the advice on not putting two females together, but I could probably use a refresher.

One guy was dead-set against having more than two dogs of any sex, saying that you were asking for trouble, since you were creating a pack. Isn't that what we already are to a dog?

He's a little extreme! But with more than one dog, one will become the alpha, and that's the way it's gonna be. When the other dog tries to step up, that's when the fights happen. But don't worry, it doesn't happen all the time!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Even with an alpha dog, they will sometimes back down when the submissive dog has had enough. At least that's what happens with our dogs. Sometimes magic will have enough of Sheena's antics and tell her, but it never escalates into a fight. At most a bark or two.

This isn't a very good picture, but shows our two dogs.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I just sent an email to a breeder outside of Houston, to see if she had any litters coming up this summer. I figured that would give me lots of time to get my canine act together.

This breeder also runs an obedience school and offers free obedience training for her puppies.

Hopefully, she'll allow me to bring Chloe around the puppy during the eight weeks that she has it, so that she can adjust to it. That would be the ultimate plan.

 

[2BigKIdz]

This is the order I got my dogs:

Snickers- male- Feb. 1993 at 8 weeks old (medium sized mix)
Shasta- female- May 1994 at 6 weeks old (RIP May 2004 ) (chow/lab mix)
Jack- male- Oct. 1997 at 13 weeks old (collie)

Snickers and Shasta got along fine, she quickly established herself as the Alpha Queen and Snickers was fine with that. They ate in the kitchen at the same time, but if there was a toy or 5 on the floor, they were all hers. I don't remember too many altercations between the two but all were over food.

Shasta was not happy when Jack came along and we actually had to keep an eye on her for awhile but she finally adjusted. Snickers however became best buddies with Jack and kinda left Shasta out of the loop. The two males definitely got along better than male/female combo once there were 3. They all ate in the kitchen at the same time and still all toys were Shasta's. There were some squabbles, some intense, mostly over food but they were few and far between.

Since Shasta's passing, Jack and Snickers are best buds (don't tell that to Sox the cat though, she thinks she is Snickers' best friend and very, very seldom is there ever a squabble between them. I don't think there is an alpha male, they pretty much are laid back in their old age. Jack plays ball, I never knew that while Shasta was alive because she never let the boys have any toys for more than a few minutes.

Just from personal experience, my male's have been much easier to train so unless I fall completely head over heels for a female puppy, I will stick with the males.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Snickers and Shasta got along fine, she quickly established herself as the Alpha Queen and Snickers was fine with that. They ate in the kitchen at the same time, but if there was a toy or 5 on the floor, they were all hers. I don't remember too many altercations between the two but all were over food.

What is it about toys?? It dawned on me last night, that Chloe might be the toy-hog bully the next time around. Who knows?

Shasta was not happy when Jack came along and we actually had to keep an eye on her for awhile but she finally adjusted. Snickers however became best buddies with Jack and kinda left Shasta out of the loop. The two males definitely got along better than male/female combo once there were 3. They all ate in the kitchen at the same time and still all toys were Shasta's. There were some squabbles, some intense, mostly over food but they were few and far between.

I've heard that if there are going to be fights, food will be the catalyst. Chloe has an elevated feeder, so I can see what's going on. I'll eventually have two of them, and I'll just place them at opposite sides of the kitchen and do some positive reinforcement to keep them from bothering the other. Just gotta figure out what that reinforcement should be... lol.

Just from personal experience, my male's have been much easier to train so unless I fall completely head over heels for a female puppy, I will stick with the males.

After I purchased Chloe, I learned so much about the breed. I bought her before I knew about checking for hips, heart and eye certifications. Goldens are prone to illness and ailments if they aren't bred properly. So far, so good with Chloe, but I'm not taking that chance again.

This particular breeder seems to know her stuff. I think my best bet would be for her to get to know Chloe and to decide for us what the best sex would be. I'll be upfront with my concerns and let the one who knows the dogs be the decider.

My 40th b-day is July and last night DH told me that could be my b-day present! I'm totally psyched!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Food has never been the cause of a skirmish between my 2 dogs. You'd think it would, but maybe because Sheena was the low dog in the totem pole at my sister's house. Anyone can eat out of Sheena's bowl--she will let Magic eat out of it, along with the cats and even the kittens. Funny to see a kitten in Sheena's food bowl, with Sheena looking up to me to get the cat out.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Food has never been the cause of a skirmish between my 2 dogs. You'd think it would, but maybe because Sheena was the low dog in the totem pole at my sister's house. Anyone can eat out of Sheena's bowl--she will let Magic eat out of it, along with the cats and even the kittens. Funny to see a kitten in Sheena's food bowl, with Sheena looking up to me to get the cat out.

Chloe would probably just eat the cat! Keep on going like she never even noticed!

She's such a food hound.

 

[hiwaygal]

I just saw this thread...and haven't read through all the responses yet, but I have a suggestion:

when you decide on a breeder (and a pup) provide a towel for Chloe to lay on for a week, and one for the pup to lay on for awhile...then switch them about a week or so before you bring the pup home. This will allow Chloe time to get used to the scent of the new pup, and the new pup to get used to the scent of Chloe (and your home)

I've read a few posts about whether two females is better or a male and a female, and who is "alpha"...to be honest, I think it really depends on the dogs. I have two females and a male...and my little female (the dark/white dog on the end in my siggie) is the "alpha" (after me and DH of course)....and she absolutely ADORES the other female (the golden mix), but does her best to keep the male in line!!