Experiences needed.

[mommy4ever]

Our pup is soon to be 18 months! Wow how time flies.

She's a very good girl despite her bratty moments..lol. I was speaking to the lady that gave her to us, and there is another batch of puppies. She told me she didn't have any initially, as we had toalked to her before and we really wanted another from the same mom, ends up she only breeds her moms no more than every third or 4th cycle. Which I like, as it gives mom time to rest, and all the moms and dads, and pups are house dogs, not outdoor kennel.

Bella hasn't had a sick day, the lady takes very good care of her dogs. She doesn't advertise until the pups are 10 weeks, so that they get the "training" from mom and siblings. At the point the pups are wanting to be with people, less with animals, so a great age. Ours was essentially house broken too. We had only a couple accidents, and more us not paying attention.

Dh is a little reluctant on a second dog. When ours gets to play with another dog, she loves it. But she's much more responsive to us too. It would give her the opportunity to "mother", as she mothers the little ones I watch..lol. Heards them away from off limit areas, such a funny things. She's no longer a baby, so I think the danger of her bonding solely to the puppy, is past, and she would help train the puppy too. Of course, she would also teach the puppy her bad habits..lol. But as far as we're concerned any bad habits she has are manageable and nothing serious. She knocks at the door incessantly when she wants in or out. Which really, isn't a bad thing although we do find it a little annoying.

Another thing, which I thought funny, is that the lady also believes in a home cooked diet for her dogs! Just like I do. She offers kibble as a filler if it's not supper time, and the pups want to eat.

Anyone introduced a new pet to a current pet? Is 18 months too young? Any cautions to be aware of?

Bella loves other dogs, she gets a regular playdate with a friend of ours, goes to 4H every week, and enjoys the social interaction.

[rainbowgc]

Personally i feel 2 dogs are better than one. They learn from each other and they make great companions for each other. How would you like to be the only species in your world is how we think about it.

[madhen]

Eighteen months old is more than old enough, and it sounds like she already has had a lot of interaction with other dogs, so she should adjust more readily.

I had one dog, Chewy, who came to my house as a long-term foster when he was a few months old. He LOVES me like mad, but I did notice that he perked up a bit whenever I'd bring another, short-term, foster to the house. And he would get a bit depressed when that foster left.

Without intending to do so, I ended up with another long-term foster, Riley. After just a week or so, it became obvious that Chewy was very happy to have another canine pal around, in part because I was at work all day, but in part because humans just can't take the place of another dog in a dog's life.

The only thing I would suggest is that you try to keep Bella as the alpha when the pup arrives. If you all pay a bunch of attention to the puppy (easy to do because they are so darned cute), Bella could see that as the other dog being made dominant, which will get her on the defensive and might cause some resentment. Let her be the center of attention at first, and maybe even act like the pup is hers, until she realizes that this new dog is a companion, not a replacement.

[mommy4ever]

That's my concern. I adore my Bella. As you can see in my avatar, I keep her well dressed too I make her jackets. She's my girl. I don't want to replace her. I am hoping she'd be motherly towards a new puppy. I'd be sure to pamper her too. I believe that puppies need a nap times through the day, so this would be Bella's one on one time.

I have found a litter of pups I'm interested, from the same home we got Bella from. Bella has been extremely healthy. No tummy issues. She won't send them from mom until 10 weeks old, so you don't have attachment issues, and pups are self/mom weaned not human weaned. Everything that I think is important, right down to cooked foods. We are on the same page.

The pup is part schnauzer and part shitzu. Both parents are her pets, this is a different mom than Bellas. She won't breed her moms every year. So I know she takes care of her animals. This is important, and because she won't adopt out the pups til 10 weeks, they come partially house broken. I'd say Bella was about 90% house trained when we brought her home.

See, I think my mind is made up. But want to check it all out.

Bella is going in to be fixed soon, so that won't be a concern if we bring a baby home, she'll have healed up already.

[madhen]

I would definitely make sure that Bella has had her surgery and is completely healed before bringing a puppy in. You don't want her not feeling her best, and you don't need the puppy accidentally hurting her while trying to get acquainted.

Sounds like a wonderfully responsible breeder. Not nearly enough of those around.

[mommy4ever]

I spoke to our trainer yesterday. She's a great lady.(from 4H)

she feels Bella would be fine with a puppy, that she is ready. She's young enough and energetic enough to put up and play with a puppy. Old enough to be alpha and mother the pup.

She thinks Bella is quite a character, a little high strung, but quite responsive over all. She feels that that will calm down too in the next year.

She gave some advice on handling both dogs. So I think we will get another one! Now to get dh on board.

I'm chomping at the bit for the pictures. I should get them early this week. He'll fall in love, and that'll be it. There was another puppy while searching for Bella we had considerred, poor thing, at 6 months had never been in a house. Puppy mill. I felt so bad, she looked just like Bella too. Glad we found this lady.

[nancycg56]

We've always had more than one dog and personally, I love it.

When we had our Golden, we thought she would love to mother another dog so we got another one and she never paid any attention to it. It was the funniest thing ever. They were fine with each other but she wouldn't have given him the time of day. He really was attached to her though and when she died it was pitiful.

Now we have one dog and a grand dog that spends lots of time here and they are like brother and sister ~ we even crate them together. They are attached at the hip.

We go to the dog park every day, rain or shine, so Zippy is really used to other dogs and we've been thinking about getting another. We'll see.