We've recently started thinking about adding another dog to our family but I have concerns around Juno together with our 2 Abyssinian cats. Juno is only just over a year old and has had quite a year due to her ED and I'm not sure how another dog in the family would affect her physically. Although she is a lovely quiet, friendly girl whose greatest pleasure is meeting people and licking them she is also quite submissive when meeting a dog so I'm concerned as to her she would be with another dog in the house. Would she be better with a girl or a boy, if a boy entire or not? Juno is my first priority in any decision. Other concerns are should we go for a puppy and face the possibility of ED again - once bitten and all that, or go for an older dog. Again with an older dog I wouldn't want to put Juno at risk at all but then again a puppy may be too much and encourage her to charge around more than is good for her. Another doubt is do I go pedigree again or go for a cross. I know that a lab cross doesn't exclude the possibility of ED but am I willing to risk another dog with ED. Although the cats weren't happy to find a puppy in their home they now get on well with Juno, and yes Juno licks them every opportunity she gets We're in the process of moving back to the UK at the moment, although it seems to be taking forever, so it's not something that we'll be taking forward for a few months but I'm so confused. Help!!! What would you do
It is so very difficult. I would consider an older dog, not a puppy, so you can choose a temperament that is compatible with Juno. I personally - right now - feel that I won't own another pedigree Labrador, but whether I would own a different breed or a careful cross breed, would depend on doing a lot of research to see whether the risks are lower. I'd also look at breeding programmes such as guide dogs etc and see what the prospects are for getting a dog that failed the training (not for health reasons, and look for hard evidence the health statistics are better in those programmes). I honestly don't know how feasible it would be to insist on health checks before you took on a rescue dog, but fostering (and then paying yourself for health checks) might be an option. If the chances are no better with other breeds, or cross breeds, my rather sad conclusion is that I won't ever own another dog. Much as I love Charlie to the moon and back the sad conclusion is that I wouldn't go through this again for any dog (that I didn't already love). Best of luck with your decision making.
I thought a second dog would be a buddy for Riley and while he and Obi get along well and they do play together they're not best, best pals. Even at almost a year Obi is sometimes a pest! Health wise I can't really comment as Rileys pretty good except for a sensitive tum. Obi is from a breed with notoriously bad hips and eyes so I did all the sensible checks and do far he's doing ok. His COI is high though and I would look into that more if getting another dog as its a risk factor. So far pedigrees haven't let me down and I've ended up with the temperaments I was hoping for and expecting but I totally understand how you both feel about it I'd feel the same.
I can understand that you never want to go through joint problems again and I'm sure the thought of it fills you with horror. To avoid that I think the best bet is to go for a dog of at least a year of age that you can somehow get a thorough vet check on. One option might be a dog that a breeder has kept for a while but then decided to rehome through not being 100% suitable for the show ring (but that is otherwise sound). You'd probably have to identify and then contact breeders for that. All the best with your decision making which is both exciting and a bit daunting I'm sure
