What's a good age spread between dogs? And how do you introduce a puppy to your first dog?

[pnwmom]

We have a dog who will turn 7 in May, who will probably live to 12-13 or so. (We hope!) Our sons are lobbying us for a puppy, but we're not sure about the timing. Will it get harder for the first dog to adjust as he gets older? Or can we wait for another couple years? What could we do to make the transition easier? The first is a boy, so we were thinking of getting a girl.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. A little girl puppy would be perfect...or even one that is a few months old-if you rescue.

I have always had 2 dogs at a time..The age differences have ranged from 5 years up to 10 years.
The important thing is probably how they are introduced. They say the introduction should be on neutral territory...away from the house. Always make sure to give your older dog the attention and respect he should have as the older dog. He should get fed first, get treats first...etc.
Don't forget who was there first, and your new puppy will learn to respect the older dog too.

Good luck.

[pnwmom]

2. Thanks for the tips, BrklynLiberal.

We'd consider rescue, but they won't consider us. We have an acre but no fence -- and we're not going to get one. We've got 4 dog walkers in the family, so our dog gets plenty of exercise. Also, I wouldn't trust a little puppy in the backyard without me anyway -- eagles have swooped down and snatched up kitties and pups in my city!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Wow! Eagles...quite a mixed blessing. I know it must be horrifying to know

they can take small creatures...but it must be incredible to be living some place where they are so close by.

[pnwmom]

6. Eagles, hawks, owls -- lots of big birds to go with the tall trees.

We're in a close-in suburb, a fairly large city in its own right, but only a block away from a heavily forested state park. So we've got plenty of critters in the area.

We do love it here. The weather (tons of cloudy days) doesn't bother me at all.

[MiniMe]

3. has your older dog been socialized with other dogs before?

Does he get along well? I foster, and I tend to take the younger pups. My dog is now 6, he is a male. he gets along with both sexes, but he likes the girls better. A young puppy is not his favorite, he really doesn't want to deal with them at 2 or 3 months, he will interact with them and play with them at about 4 months. I'm sure part of it is the sharp teeth, and once the puppy teeth come out, he likes them better. Of course, Gus is used to having new dogs come into the house of all ages, and he is very good with them. Gus usually tries to avoid the new pups, but if they keep pestering him, he will growl as a warning, and I don't usually correct him. I know how he reacts, and he is telling him that whatever they are doing is not good doggy manners, but he is gentle about it. He is not as patient with the older boys, he lets them know quicker, but he does not bite them.

At 7, if he is in good shape and likes to play with other dogs, I would say it should be fine. You could try fostering a few pups from the local humane society or a local rescue and see how your dog adjusts, that would let you see without a commitment.

A few rules I use for new dogs in the house. Use a crate, that can give the pup and your dog some space when they need it. I always feed a new dog in the crate to prevent problems, it also associates the crate with something pleasant for them. In the beginning, supervise their time together so you know what is going on. You don't have to hover over them, but always keep an eye on them. Always give your older dog treats, etc first, he needs to be reassured that he is not being replaced. Don't be upset if your dog growls at the new dog about things that bother him, it is a warning, and dogs understand what it means. Always introduce them when both dogs are on leashes, one person to a leash, so you can control the situation. Do NOT let the leashes wrap, sometimes it takes quick hand work to make sure they don't cross.

For the boys, Gus always lets them know that humping is not acceptable behavior. He is pretty patient with the pups, but an older dog he growls a bit quicker and more forcefully, but still not agressively. The girls can hump away, Gus is no dummy. LOL. Some of it depends on your dogs personality. If he is an alpha dog, don't get an alpha pup. And sometimes, dogs just don't like each other, just like people don't like every other person they meet.

I had some people coming in to see a 5 month old puppy I was fostering, and they had a Sheltie. She was small for a sheltie. When they came to meet the pup, the sheltie was not pleased at all, and she was snapping and growling. I actually talked the people out of getting the puppy, they weren't strong owners and the pups still had some growing to do. It just wasn't a good situation for them. One of the few people that I talked out of a dog. Then they started worrying that they could never get another dog, and I brought Gus down and put the puppy in the crate. She loved Gus. So sometimes, it is just a matter of matching your dog with the right companion for him. Of course, they wanted to adopt Gus and I had to tell them no, he is MY dog and not available for adoption. Gus did finally get me to adopt a brother for him, a little boy that he just loved to pieces, and still does. We still foster, but not quite as often as we did before.

Sorry for the long post, hope this helps.

[pnwmom]

4. Thanks a lot, MiniMe, for taking the time for that post.

It was very helpful.

[Lowell]

7. There is 10 years difference between our dogs

We probably did it wrong, but they became good friends.
Watson, a JRT, was 10 when we decided he needed a friend. He began suffering from seperation anxiety. We didn't realize it at the time, but it was because he was loosing his hearing.
So we went to the same breeder we had gotten him from and got him a little girlfriend, Lucille, also a JRT. Watson ignored her as long as he could. Watson is an alpha dog, Lucille is not. With time they became best friends.
Now Watson is deaf and blind, the result of diabetes and cataracts. Lucille teases him, but she also looks out for him. They've been together nearly six years now.
In the past few weeks Lucille has developed SARDS. Ironic we are ending up with two blind dogs. Fortunately Lucille's hearing has not diminished. They are very close now. They sleep together and share their food.
I wouldn't trade the experience of living with blind dogs for anything in the world. They are the best companions a human could have. They are affectionate and appreciate everything we do for them. Besides that I have learned a lot about courage from these blind creatures. I only hope that if they day comes that I loose my sight I am as courageous and positive as they are.

[Tab]

8. I've had a lot of dogs

(used to breed them, actually)

In my experience, almost all adult dogs are very tolerant of puppies.

The bigger thing is that sometimes the puppies need someone to play with, and the older dog may not be into it.

But I've never had an adult dog reject a puppy.