Adding a new member of the family
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Bill
Nov 30, 2009, 12:05:22 AM11/30/09
to som|dog-discussion
I'm seriously close to adding a second dog to my pack. I've thought
through all the implications to my life, added cost, time, work etc.
and I'm really ready to do it. My last lingering concern is the effect
it will have on my four year old rescue. I really believe she will
love having a companion to hang with and interact with. She loves her
doggie friends and loves it when they visit. I would just hate to have
the new dog negatively effect her quality of life and her relationship
with me.
Any advice from multiple dog peoples?
Thanks
Bill
through all the implications to my life, added cost, time, work etc.
and I'm really ready to do it. My last lingering concern is the effect
it will have on my four year old rescue. I really believe she will
love having a companion to hang with and interact with. She loves her
doggie friends and loves it when they visit. I would just hate to have
the new dog negatively effect her quality of life and her relationship
with me.
Any advice from multiple dog peoples?
Thanks
Bill
Justin Grunau
Nov 30, 2009, 12:23:22 AM11/30/09
to som|dog-discussion
That is a REALLY interesting question. We debated the topic with our
last dog Argus, who was and remained an only dog. We definitely
worried that he would feel imposed upon. Not that he had trouble
getting along with doggie guests when they came, and when we had a
tenant with a female black lab, the two of them used to spend their
time running back and forth between our apartment and the tenant's
apartment (surprising the tenant's girlfriend in bed one morning
even). But Argus definitely had his boundaries and he was king of his
domain and we didn't want to change that for him, especially when he
started getting older and weaker and might have been threatened by a
younger dog.
Our current dogs are a pack of two, and they came that way -- they
happened to be sharing a cell in the Animal Rescue League when we went
to look at one, and we felt sorry for the other one and took him too.
They have their sibling spats, but for the most part they love having
each other as playmates and their relationship is great. And it is
always good to know that if we leave them alone (which tbh isn't that
often), they have each other.
The relationship that one can have with two dogs is TOTALLY different
from the relationship that one has with just an Only dog. They both
have their pluses and minuses.
I think you'll best be able to judge based on how your rescue gets
along with "guests", especially if they have stayed for extended
periods. We took on a 3rd dog for two years when the Animal Control
Officer needed somebody to foster him (and he turned into a permanent
adoption), but that really only worked because he was VERY old when we
adopted him and posed no threat to either of our two dogs. Our dogs
tolerate guests, even overnight guests, fine, but younger dogs do
cause potential conflict. Our male dog has an *extremely* fragile
male ego and other males make him very upset (with the exception of
the much-older dog we had for two years, who was just too frail to
bother him). He has delusions of being a tough guy but he quickly and
automatically slips into omega dog position under whatever male dog
that comes over, and it drives him nuts. Our female dog is extremely
alpha, so she's fine as long as other dogs respect that.
Bottom-line, though, I suspect you will be able to add another dog if
you choose -- dogs are *extremely* adaptable and social and as long as
you are prepared for potential conflict, you should be able to assume
that your dog will eventually adjust: whether your dog adjusts to a
position in the pack above, below, or at the same level as the new dog
will depend. It will change your relationship, but that may not be a
bad thing.
last dog Argus, who was and remained an only dog. We definitely
worried that he would feel imposed upon. Not that he had trouble
getting along with doggie guests when they came, and when we had a
tenant with a female black lab, the two of them used to spend their
time running back and forth between our apartment and the tenant's
apartment (surprising the tenant's girlfriend in bed one morning
even). But Argus definitely had his boundaries and he was king of his
domain and we didn't want to change that for him, especially when he
started getting older and weaker and might have been threatened by a
younger dog.
Our current dogs are a pack of two, and they came that way -- they
happened to be sharing a cell in the Animal Rescue League when we went
to look at one, and we felt sorry for the other one and took him too.
They have their sibling spats, but for the most part they love having
each other as playmates and their relationship is great. And it is
always good to know that if we leave them alone (which tbh isn't that
often), they have each other.
The relationship that one can have with two dogs is TOTALLY different
from the relationship that one has with just an Only dog. They both
have their pluses and minuses.
I think you'll best be able to judge based on how your rescue gets
along with "guests", especially if they have stayed for extended
periods. We took on a 3rd dog for two years when the Animal Control
Officer needed somebody to foster him (and he turned into a permanent
adoption), but that really only worked because he was VERY old when we
adopted him and posed no threat to either of our two dogs. Our dogs
tolerate guests, even overnight guests, fine, but younger dogs do
cause potential conflict. Our male dog has an *extremely* fragile
male ego and other males make him very upset (with the exception of
the much-older dog we had for two years, who was just too frail to
bother him). He has delusions of being a tough guy but he quickly and
automatically slips into omega dog position under whatever male dog
that comes over, and it drives him nuts. Our female dog is extremely
alpha, so she's fine as long as other dogs respect that.
Bottom-line, though, I suspect you will be able to add another dog if
you choose -- dogs are *extremely* adaptable and social and as long as
you are prepared for potential conflict, you should be able to assume
that your dog will eventually adjust: whether your dog adjusts to a
position in the pack above, below, or at the same level as the new dog
will depend. It will change your relationship, but that may not be a
bad thing.
frank....@rcn.com
Nov 30, 2009, 12:27:48 AM11/30/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
Kirk is an only child he would love to have a friend
Lisa K. McFarren
Nov 30, 2009, 11:03:38 AM11/30/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
Hi Bill,
Everything will depend on how your dog responds to meeting the potential new
dog. The great thing about dogs is they settle things in a few seconds. The
key is the alpha issue---it is important to get a submissive dog (even if
you dog is submissive as well) and keep things in the household as such:
your current dog gets everything first---food, affection, treats, etc.---and
that will minimize most conflicts. Justin (who emailed you earlier about our
experiences with multiple dogs) and I learned this when our "pack of two"
started having alpha issues because the younger dog (who was 11 months old
when we adopted him) was growing up and wanted to be alpha. The animal
behaviorist made it clear that our older alpha dog had to receive everything
first to keep peace in our house, and it was great advice.
Another thing to keep in mind is your dog's age. You dog is 4 and I bet she
would enjoy having a playmate---as long as she remains queen of the hill.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Lisa
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Everything will depend on how your dog responds to meeting the potential new
dog. The great thing about dogs is they settle things in a few seconds. The
key is the alpha issue---it is important to get a submissive dog (even if
you dog is submissive as well) and keep things in the household as such:
your current dog gets everything first---food, affection, treats, etc.---and
that will minimize most conflicts. Justin (who emailed you earlier about our
experiences with multiple dogs) and I learned this when our "pack of two"
started having alpha issues because the younger dog (who was 11 months old
when we adopted him) was growing up and wanted to be alpha. The animal
behaviorist made it clear that our older alpha dog had to receive everything
first to keep peace in our house, and it was great advice.
Another thing to keep in mind is your dog's age. You dog is 4 and I bet she
would enjoy having a playmate---as long as she remains queen of the hill.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Lisa
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"som|dog-discussion", a discussion group for the community of Somerville dog
owners and our friends. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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Libby Webb
Nov 30, 2009, 12:10:35 PM11/30/09
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This is a big decision -- not a day goes by that we don't reflect on how happy we are that we got our second dog.
We decided to get second dog when our eldest dog was two -- mostly because we wanted him to have a playmate. In reality we wished we got 2 dogs to begin (there was a set of brothers) with although 2 puppies would have been a little much.
We occasionally have some of the alpha dog challenges that are mentioned below, although it helps a lot to make sure it is clear who is the eldest "alpha" dog. They have becoming great buddies, playing together and even napping together. It's been great for us.
Oh - based on our breeders suggestion we got a female as the second dog instead of another male -- not sure what an animal behaviorist would say about this though...
We decided to get second dog when our eldest dog was two -- mostly because we wanted him to have a playmate. In reality we wished we got 2 dogs to begin (there was a set of brothers) with although 2 puppies would have been a little much.
We occasionally have some of the alpha dog challenges that are mentioned below, although it helps a lot to make sure it is clear who is the eldest "alpha" dog. They have becoming great buddies, playing together and even napping together. It's been great for us.
Oh - based on our breeders suggestion we got a female as the second dog instead of another male -- not sure what an animal behaviorist would say about this though...
Michele Biscoe
Nov 30, 2009, 5:07:37 PM11/30/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
Bill, Really!? Suki's going to be a big sister?!
I think she'll be great with another dog, but I completely understand
your concerns: You and she are certainly a couple!
I have heard both versions of the story: "When I brought a puppy home
it breathed new life my older dog"; "My older dog has never been
himself since I brought another dog into the pack".
Justin offers a lot of good comments as someone who has lived in both
a single-dog pack and a multi-dog pack. But his point about dogs
being adaptable is the most important point.
I don't have any multi-dog experience to share, but I can offer that
ordinarily it is recommended, when introducing a new dog, to introduce
a dog that is the opposite of the family dog. By that rule, for Suki,
an adult, female, larger dog, you'd probably do best with a young,
male, smaller dog. On the other hand, of course I wouldn't recommend
a dog that would take you away from Suki, one that would need you to
do things with him that Suki could not do.
Think about what kind of dogs Suki especially likes to have as a house
guest. If you've ever had a dog stay over while her or his owners
were traveling, that's probably a good indication. Maybe enlist your
friends to let you borrow their dogs for a weekend at a time or over
night?
Just to cover your bases, you could also speak with a behaviorist and
see if she can evaluate Suki and help you make the best decision for
her.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
Cheers,
Michele
I think she'll be great with another dog, but I completely understand
your concerns: You and she are certainly a couple!
I have heard both versions of the story: "When I brought a puppy home
it breathed new life my older dog"; "My older dog has never been
himself since I brought another dog into the pack".
Justin offers a lot of good comments as someone who has lived in both
a single-dog pack and a multi-dog pack. But his point about dogs
being adaptable is the most important point.
I don't have any multi-dog experience to share, but I can offer that
ordinarily it is recommended, when introducing a new dog, to introduce
a dog that is the opposite of the family dog. By that rule, for Suki,
an adult, female, larger dog, you'd probably do best with a young,
male, smaller dog. On the other hand, of course I wouldn't recommend
a dog that would take you away from Suki, one that would need you to
do things with him that Suki could not do.
Think about what kind of dogs Suki especially likes to have as a house
guest. If you've ever had a dog stay over while her or his owners
were traveling, that's probably a good indication. Maybe enlist your
friends to let you borrow their dogs for a weekend at a time or over
night?
Just to cover your bases, you could also speak with a behaviorist and
see if she can evaluate Suki and help you make the best decision for
her.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
Cheers,
Michele
Bill
Dec 1, 2009, 7:00:50 PM12/1/09
to som|dog-discussion
Thanks for the advice everyone. I keep you "posted" about any
decisions as they come about!
decisions as they come about!
frank....@rcn.com
Dec 1, 2009, 10:23:34 PM12/1/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
get a dog like kirk
Justin Grunau
Dec 1, 2009, 10:28:23 PM12/1/09
to som|dog-discussion
Oh, Frank, that is SERIOUSLY your answer to everything, isn't it? :-)
Bill
Dec 21, 2009, 8:33:26 AM12/21/09
to som|dog-discussion
Thanks for the advice everyone. I decided to go ahead and adopt a
rescue from Tennessee. Her name is Pea. Suki and I love her tons
already.
rescue from Tennessee. Her name is Pea. Suki and I love her tons
already.
Bill
http://gallery.me.com/ritchotte#100475/photo
On Nov 30, 12:05 am, Bill <ritcho...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lisa K. McFarren
Dec 21, 2009, 9:00:37 AM12/21/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
This is exciting news, Bill! Pea is so cute, and Suki looks very happy
indeed. You definitely did the right thing.
indeed. You definitely did the right thing.
-----Original Message-----
From: somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:somdog-d...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 8:33 AM
To: som|dog-discussion
Bill
http://gallery.me.com/ritchotte#100475/photo
--
Justin Grunau
Dec 21, 2009, 9:07:42 AM12/21/09
to som|dog-discussion
SOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!! :D
Suki looks very happy with her. They look like they're already a
team. :-)
Congrats!!! :D :D
Bob
Dec 21, 2009, 9:17:52 AM12/21/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
Congratulations! What a handsome family!
Michele Biscoe
Dec 21, 2009, 8:44:55 PM12/21/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
That picture is too adorable, Bill. You should share it on facebook. I'm glad Suki is enjoying the new member of the family!
Happy Solstice!
Cheers,
Michele
frank....@rcn.com
Dec 22, 2009, 8:26:34 AM12/22/09
to somdog-d...@googlegroups.com
you did very well he does look like a German short pointer but Kirk is a lot cutter frank and the kirk
leslie diamond
Dec 23, 2009, 4:05:58 PM12/23/09
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Congrats! Can't wait to meet her out at the park.
Leslie and Honey Bee
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