Need advice from folks with two dogs

[newddmommie]

A little background info, we already have one dog, an eleven year old 85 pound cheasepeke bay retriver. We also have two cats and a two year old DD. Okay, so my Dh has been asking for a puppy for a while to be buddies with our dog. I've continuouly said no cause i generally care for the animals and four seems to be a lot to me. However, I'm getting tired of just saying no. So for all of you out there who have multiple animals, give me the scoop on why this would be crazy (or not). TIA.

 

[NMAmy]

Here's the upside--in my experience, it is SO much easier to housetrain a puppy when you have an older dog. The older dog demonstrates what the puppy is supposed to do and they just get it so much faster.

 

[JessicaR]

We have two giant breed dogs, one ferret, and a parrot. Last weekend I went and looked at a puppy. Right now they all exist peacefully. I do wonder if I should count my blessings. Let me know how it goes!

I HAVE to stop watching animal planet Dog 101.

 

[kacaju]

Here's the upside--in my experience, it is SO much easier to housetrain a puppy when you have an older dog. The older dog demonstrates what the puppy is supposed to do and they just get it so much faster.

YES!!!
but honestly I don't know how much of a *buddy* a younger dog will be. Don't be surprised if the older dog doesn't want anything to do with a pup.
Our 8 year old dog who used to love to play with friends dogs wanted nothnig to do with the 1 year old we brought home 2 years ago.

At 10 and 3, they get along, but I would not call them buddies

 

[ckay87]

It's also my experience that adding a second dog was nothing. In fact, our well-behaved older dog taught the young guy how to behave. She is the leader of the two and he follows everything she does.

Heck, I'd add a third. The only thing that stops me is what to do with them when we go away.

What's one more???

 

[kayla87]

I will second a PP - our second dog is a total copy cat! Even today if the older dog goes potty I know the younger one will too.

However...we had a rambunctious 1 year old dog when we got our second puppy. When Molly got a play mate it improved both her's and our lives.

This is coming from someone who once had a grumpy, thought she was a person dog, does your 11 year old dog really want a puppy running around bothering it? If you think the demeanor of your older dog can handle it, go ahead if everything else works out. Otherwise, I wouldn't put an aging dog through the stress of a puppy.

 

[mumom95]

We have 3 dogs, a cat, a fish and a frog.

Two of the dogs are large breed mutts that are 12 years old, the third dog is a 2 1/2 year old beagle. When we got the beagle, we had no intention of getting a third dog. But our family saw this dog and instantly fell in love with it. The transition went so much better than I thought. As long as one of the dogs is a puppy, I think introducing a new dog isn't that big of a deal (puppies don't get upset the way older dogs do).

I will say, if your older dog is playful, be prepared for how playful two dogs can be together. In my experience, homes where there is only one dog tend to be a lot calmer. When there's two, they will wrestle and play together. I personally love this, but I know some people think it's a bit much.

 

[newddmommie]

Reese loves to play with other dogs so i think he'd like someone to play with besides the cats. I'm more concerend with how rambactuous they could get... especially around our DD and hopefully one day another child. BTW: my DH is looking at Dashchund puppies as i've always wanted one.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I have a Lab (9 yrs old Feb 13th). Abut 6 yrs ago I took a stray in (Shih Tzu mix) The Lab was thrilled to get a buddy!

It is so cute to watch them play together. The Shih Tzu rules the roost over the Lab!

You will double your vet bill and kenneling can be a major expense but I thorougly enjoy having 2 dogs!

TC

 

[Scurvy]

but honestly I don't know how much of a *buddy* a younger dog will be. Don't be surprised if the older dog doesn't want anything to do with a pup.
Our 8 year old dog who used to love to play with friends dogs wanted nothnig to do with the 1 year old we brought home 2 years ago.

At 10 and 3, they get along, but I would not call them buddies

This was our experience as well. Our Sheltie was older when we got our Aussie, and though the puppy wanted to play the older dog did not want anything to do with him. They get along okay now, but the Sheltie still doesn't like it when the Aussie tries to play with her. I definitely wouldn't call them buddies at all.

 

[simba928]

I have 2 dogs (an almost 10 year old golden retriever/lab mix we got as a puppy and a 2 year old shepherd/collie/doberman/who-knows-what-else mix we got a little over a year ago when she was 11 months old). I also work at a shelter and I have people in your situation talk to me on a daily basis.

Without knowing any details of your dog (is it male or female? fixed? around other dogs ever? ) an 11 year old dog probably has no interest in a puppy. A dog that age does not want to deal with crazy, playful puppy. They are more interested in hanging out and playing only when they want to play. Whenever someone comes into the shelter asking me about this, I try to recommend slightly older dogs that are on the calm side. I don't mean I tell them to get a 9 or 10 year old dog, but I do try to recommend dogs out of the puppy stage and explain why. If they still go for the puppy, that's fine, but I then explain to them that the puppy and the older dog will not be playmates. You may say that your dog is energetic and playful (which he may be) but you don't realize the difference between a puppy and older dog until you see a puppy. My older dog was very active, very playful (or so I thought). I got my younger dog home and realized just how much the older dog had mellowed over the years. Over a year later, we have finally gotten to to the point where they will tolerate eachother, but will not be best friends (EVER!!!) and will not be playmates. If you want to get another dog, go for it. You just have to go in and be ready to accept that the dogs may just be able to cohabitate and will not be best friends. You should also take into consideration your older dog. I am all about shelters. There are millions of great dogs in shelters looking for a good home and the older dogs (I'm talking dogs over like 3 months) wait so much longer for homes.

And I just saw your second post, be very careful with a daschund! They typically are not good kid dogs and your bigger dog could be very dangerous with one. They have very delicate backs (because they are so long) and can be easily hurt.

 

[java]

When Harry was older we added Lola(Harry was an Old English bulldog, Lola is a lab)
All Lola wanted was to be friends with Harry. Harry was old and set in his ways and he didn't want a friend. He thought he was a person anyway - so to him he looked at Lola like "oh you got us a pet" and treated her with general non-interest. Occassionally he would "tell" on her when she was doing something bad.
But other than that- he avoided her. Even spending tons of time in the laundry room and trying to close to the door to keep her out.

Harry died a year later. We shortly thereafter added a french Bulldog.
I think because they were both puppies it worked out much better. They are buddies.

Now it could have just been Harry's tempermant of why now? That made them not get along. I think added them in together would be easier. How long do Cheasapeake Bays live?

 

[Tinkmom75]

I have a Lab (9 yrs old Feb 13th). Abut 6 yrs ago I took a stray in (Shih Tzu mix) The Lab was thrilled to get a buddy!

It is so cute to watch them play together. The Shih Tzu rules the roost over the Lab!

You will double your vet bill and kenneling can be a major expense but I thorougly enjoy having 2 dogs!

TC

This is funny, we have an 11 yo lab mix and a 7yo Shih Tzu/Maltese mix (we got when he was a puppy) Our ShihTzu also rules over the lab.

 

[kayla87]

And I just saw your second post, be very careful with a daschund! They typically are not good kid dogs and your bigger dog could be very dangerous with one. They have very delicate backs (because they are so long) and can be easily hurt.

Amen. I was going to say the same thing. An 85 lb dog playing with a dachshund sounds like an accident waiting to happen. (Though I too have my doubts about an 11 year old dog being interested in puppy play.) I sometimes worry about our border collie playing with our dachshund mix, and the bc is only 40 lbs.

I will say, if your older dog is playful, be prepared for how playful two dogs can be together. In my experience, homes where there is only one dog tend to be a lot calmer. When there's two, they will wrestle and play together. I personally love this, but I know some people think it's a bit much.

This is really important for anyone to note, not just the OP. Sometimes it's like in the cartoons, when a tangle of scribbles run across the screen. When my parents' dog has play dates with our dogs, I always say it's like a circus. It's so true. You can't even keep up with what is going on.

 

[mrsv98]

I have had the experience of bringing in a pup with an older dog twice and really, they are not interested in the pup. On one hand, it was great in terms of training as others have said but the older dog was just not interested. Now, when we got a pup when our other dog was three, that was perfect and they love each other.

Seconding the circus, when the weather is crummy, our two 75lb labs will race thru the house playing chase it is pandamonium!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We have had 4 dogs at one time..large breeds in the house. That is way too many! But when we found ourselves down to one dog, our 75# mix breed-11 years old, and he was following me constantly because he was lonely and confused about being the only dog, we decided to get a puppy. (Zoey in my signature) Wiley is a very non active dog with ear problems and although he didn't want to play with Zoey, and he is basically annoyed with her, he is glad to have canine company. Last night, my DH shocked me while he was watching Zoey (now 1-1/2) bouncing around like crazy with no one to play with. He said we should get her a puppy to play with. I am usually the one to want to add animals to the house, he digs in and says "NO NO NO". We laughed about it and both said that two dogs are the perfect number for our house. We also have a cat. We need another cat. And if he really wants one, I would let him get another dog.


If the OP was asking about getting littermates or two puppies at the same time, I would suggest against that. But adding a puppy to the household is not be that difficult.

 

[sunnyday123]

I agree with everyone else. It depends on your current dogs temperment, activity level, etc. And with an 85 lb dog, I wouldn't add something delicate.


I have a giant breed puppy-who at 8 months weighs more than your dog!-and the only thing I would add is another giant breed. Dogs are way more interactive than cats and the chances of somthing smaller than her getting accidentally hurt are too great.

 

[Jennasis]

We have three dogs...a 13 year old greyhound, a 100lb. lab/chow cross and most recently we added a bluetick coonhound to the fam. The blue tick is around 40lbs, while the grey is 60 and the mutant lab is 100 (and looks like a small black bear!). They all get along great, but we did of course introduce them slowly. Frankly, our greyhound is disinterested in both of the other dogs and would have preferred to remain an "only child". We had her for about 3 years before the lab came along as a puppy. She tolerates him, but that's about it.

Multiple dogs are great IMO. They keep each other entertained and company. It's super easy to train the newbie if you've already got a trained older dog.

Our greyhound is in her twilight years and I would be surprised if she lives another 6 months. The bluetick has helped us cope with the knowledge that our precious grey won't be here much longer.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have 2 dogs (an almost 10 year old golden retriever/lab mix we got as a puppy and a 2 year old shepherd/collie/doberman/who-knows-what-else mix we got a little over a year ago when she was 11 months old). I also work at a shelter and I have people in your situation talk to me on a daily basis.

Without knowing any details of your dog (is it male or female? fixed? around other dogs ever? ) an 11 year old dog probably has no interest in a puppy. A dog that age does not want to deal with crazy, playful puppy. They are more interested in hanging out and playing only when they want to play. Whenever someone comes into the shelter asking me about this, I try to recommend slightly older dogs that are on the calm side. I don't mean I tell them to get a 9 or 10 year old dog, but I do try to recommend dogs out of the puppy stage and explain why. If they still go for the puppy, that's fine, but I then explain to them that the puppy and the older dog will not be playmates. You may say that your dog is energetic and playful (which he may be) but you don't realize the difference between a puppy and older dog until you see a puppy. My older dog was very active, very playful (or so I thought). I got my younger dog home and realized just how much the older dog had mellowed over the years. Over a year later, we have finally gotten to to the point where they will tolerate eachother, but will not be best friends (EVER!!!) and will not be playmates. If you want to get another dog, go for it. You just have to go in and be ready to accept that the dogs may just be able to cohabitate and will not be best friends. You should also take into consideration your older dog. I am all about shelters. There are millions of great dogs in shelters looking for a good home and the older dogs (I'm talking dogs over like 3 months) wait so much longer for homes.

And I just saw your second post, be very careful with a daschund! They typically are not good kid dogs and your bigger dog could be very dangerous with one. They have very delicate backs (because they are so long) and can be easily hurt.

Ummm disagree!! We have a mini doxie, she's DD10's dog, she got her for her 8th bday, they are the best of friends. When my DGD10 months was over for Christmas the doxie didn't bother her at all, except to give her tons of kisses. They do have delicate backs and can be hurt easily, that is very true. Our other dog is a 45 lb mutt, they play together all the time and Blue is very gentle with Autumn, almost as if he knows he has to be careful with her.

OP we have 2 dogs and 2 cats too and it's really not that difficult. Of course the kids do most of the "pet chores" so maybe that's part of the reason why. Our dogs are great with each other so from my perspective I say do it.

 

[Karalea]

I have mini dachshunds and quite frankly, I would be more worried about your small child around them instead of a larger dog. Actually, most responsible breeders and dachshund rescue groups will not adopt out to homes with small children.

My dachshunds "best friend" is a 150 lb Burmese Mountain Dog. He is quite old and very gentle with them. It really depends on the dog. Some larger neighborhood dogs, they are terrified of. They also no longer go to doggie day care because some large breed puppies were too rough playing with them and I was worried about injuries.

By the way, we have 2 dogs and 3 cats and every gets along fine. However, the dogs are only 1 year apart.