Hi all, I have a 9 month old black lab who is perfect. I'm at home so she doesn't spend much time alone but she loves other dogs so much we're considering getting a second. Is it better to rehome a rejected guide dog who will be about 18months or wait a year and getting a new puppy? I like the idea of giving an older dog a forever home but we want Luna to be 'top dog' if you know what I mean. Thanks for any advance you have x
I don't have any experience with this, but I did ask around in another post about getting a second dog who's older than your current one. If we ever get a second one, this will likely be the case for us - I love my Stampy, but so far, the puppy experience has been traumatising enough to scare me away from puppies forever lol. Anyway, I believe @Beanwood and @Granca have experience with this (I hope you don't mind me tagging you guys in this, I just found your stories very enlightening and and super cute!)
It depends. I think it mostly depends on the dog and their temperament. Because we are puppy walkers Tatze had her first pup join her when she was 15 months, then 2 years and this year she has had three pups as we boarded twice before Mollie came - she's nearly four now. At 15 months it was much harder work as both dogs wanted to play all day, every day - so I needed lots of strategies for them both to have enough rest time. But it was great fun! Now I need to protect Tatze from the pup who would have her play play play when she wants to snooze. But she adores pups, and is amazing with them, especially the tiny babies. If your dog doesn't particularly like pups, or you don't know I would say two to three years is a good time. Don't worry about 'top dog' - they sort themselves out. Tatze has never been top dog, the pups rule the roost from day 1 lol - but I make sure she has her own places to go and lots of attention etc etc.
I can offer no advice as we've only had the one dog. He is now five years old. But I can offer my regrets!! I do regret not getting a second puppy (or young dog - we were offered Snowie's half brother at age one) when Snowie was young enough to enjoy the energy of the young pup. I love how two "siblings" (of close enough age, not actual siblings) play together - I've seen it in friends' setups. I think we deprived Snowie that experience. I don't think we'll get a second dog now - too late I think - I'd hate to ruin Snowie's peaceful paradise. And we don't have the energy!!
We rescued Millie , sadly died nine months ago . Sam was about two years old at the time , she was much older and they got along brilliantly from the very first day . Although they never had a cross word , she was definitely the boss and Sam was happy for her to be . I think a lot does depend on the nature of the resident dog , Sam is very docile and accommodating , so I wouldn't ever worry about bringing another dog into our home .
I have a 10 month old lab, Stanley. On Friday night I looked after our friends 12 week old puppy. It was HARD! But there was no doubt who was the boss - and it wasn't Stanley. Basil bossed him around and Stanley let him. But Stanley doesn't have a dominant bone in his body. As long as there's fun and he's getting to play - he's more than happy to just go with the flow!
Luna's definitely bossy. Very confident. I think I'll put our names down on a list for withdrawn guidedogs and also start checking out breeders. Cover both bases and see which one works out. Unfortunately the breeder we got her from isn't planning another litter for 2 years.
Although I only have Bailey my sister's dog is 10 weeks older and the two are close buddies and see each other every week at least once. Together they are a mess of playing, play fighting, taunting furballs - it really is play play play until we force them to rest, and then it is a ready to spring into action again rest! I would love another one but my home is just not big enough. I just make sure Bailey gets to play with my sisters boy regularly (and over at their house 'cause there is more room ). They take it in turns to be top dog, and when we feed them my sister feeds her boy and I feed Bailey at separate ends of the kitchen at the same time.
No advice on the second dog thing (and you've already gotten great answers anyway), I just wanted to say that this is lovely to hear after all the stories of crocopups and doggie teenage delinquents. Not that i don't learn a lot from those posts, but it's rather refreshing to hear, "My dog is perfect".
