Border terrier or spaniel?

[JackReacherReader]

Ddog is now 9 and slowing down hugely. Would it be hugely mean to get another dog? He did live with another dog until he was 5 but has been an only dog since then. However he does have a walk every day with other dogs and he's happy with them.

Exercise requirements we go for hour long hikes as a family, but ddog can't join in now as he gets stiff and it's unkind. So would be looking for a dog happy to go for a walk for at least an hour a day.

Is it unkind to get another dog with ddog being so doddery? Would it be kinder to wait?

We've narrowed it down to a cocker spaniel or a border terrier. Not sure which to go for so any advice or suggestions welcome!

Happy to look at rehoming but our garden is a funny set up so unlikely to pass requirements as you have to walk through communal space to get to our enclosed garden so we tend to operate an air lock type system, (put in place when ddog was way more able to run off and generally cause mayhem) he's not let anywhere near the basement alone as that's where the door to the garden is and he's always on a lead on the way to the garden but not sure if this would exclude us from rescuing?

Basically; is it unkind to introduce another dog? what breed? Rescue or puppy? :)

If you made it this far thanks!

[LEMtheoriginal]

Another dog may give him a new lease of life. However i would be a little concerned about taking one dog without the other on walks. My terrier x was an only and we got a second when he was about 7 ish. On the occasion when ive needed to take one dog out and not the other. The one left behind jas become very stressed. This might be different for you as the old guy may happily stay behind.

As to breed i think both breeds sound like they would fit your lifestyle. Do you mean a working cocker? As these have more energy. Borders can be a bit funny with other dogs so a rescue would need to be well socialised. In your position i might opt for a puppy as you want a youngster that will enjoy long walks with you. Saying that our rescue was 6m when we got him so you can pick up pups. He didn't have any issues other than chasing birds and is quite frankly better behaved than the other one that we had from a pup

[JackReacherReader]

@LEMtheoriginal thank you :) I don't think we'd be looking for a working cocker as they seem to be very very high needs exercise wise I could be wrong on that though! I don't think he'd be too bothered at being left at home, he refuses to walk in the rain now and yesterday he started doing that old dog walk lagging right behind. He's very happy still and the pain killers he's on for arthritis are definitely working but he can't do the walks anymore.

[LEMtheoriginal]

Oh bless him! I actually was thinking a working cocker would be better for you you are right they are high energy can occasionally I'll see a nervy one bit generally found them eager to please cheerfull dogs. My older dog is a border terrier cross and has no manners that is probably more of a reflection on me than anything else.

[Wallywobbles]

I found my older dogs always decided for themselves when going for a walk was going to be too much for them. Let them make that choice. My old boy got a new lease of life when I got puppies.

[Floralnomad]

What sort of dog is he ?

[JackReacherReader]

@Floralnomad he's a border terrier x god knows what!

[Mumteedum]

My old boy is a border. He's adorable with massive personality but an absolute little high maintenance bugger! Hates most other dogs apart from borders and terriers. Go for a puppy if you get a border so he'll get on with your old dog but mine was crazy until he was at least 7 and he's still quite crackers now, just slower!

[Mumteedum]

X post. He's gorgeous!

[SomethingAboutNothing]

We have a working cocker and he would be more than happy with an hour's walk a day, assuming he also had quick toilet trips out as well. We were first time dog owners and he has fitted in with our family so well, we get so many comments from friends and strangers that he is very well behaved. I would highly recommend the breed.

[LEMtheoriginal]

Oh he is just lovely bless him.

[tabulahrasa]

I think if he’s already on painkillers for arthritis it is unkind to add a puppy in tbh.

[Icklepup]

Border terrier!

[1frenchfoodie]

We got a puppy (lab x cocker) when our lab was 10 and on low dose arthritis meds. There was a worrying few months when the pup just wanted to play the whole time and kept bossing older dog out of his bed. Once they got used to each other they got on well - and I think the pup really benefited from a calmer buddy. We didn’t do separate walks though - that really would have felt like a demotion for the older dog - we just threw the ball for the younger dog. And hiked on our own.

[Floralnomad]

He’s a smallish dog so really at that age shouldn’t be struggling with walks etc he should be in his prime and for that reason I wouldn’t throw a puppy into the mix . Is he overweight as he looks a bit porky in the picture and losing a bit may help him out a lot , ignore me if he’s svelte and it’s the angle of the photo .

[JackReacherReader]

He had an operation recently and piled on the pounds during crate rest but we're slowly getting it down. Totally our fault.

[maerd]

Tricky. I think you’d need to be careful you don’t end up with a bouncy dog that will jump on him and hurt him. But we rescued a 6 year old cocker and she’s the bounciest dog I’ve ever owned so getting a rescue instead of a puppy might not rule that one out

I don’t think it’s unmanageable, and your older boy would probably let the new dog know where his limits are - there might just be a settling in period while they work that out.

Both are lovely breeds. We have a different kind of terrier cross, and he’s happy with a good run a day and that’s it. Our spaniel is happy with the same amount of exercise, but she does also need some mental stimulation too (and actually would be happier to miss a walk and have mind games at home if she had to choose I think. She was barely walked in the height of the heatwave but was nice and calm as long as I gave her ‘tasks’ indoors throughout the day). Our terrier has no time for silly games though, and either wants to be out running full speed, or sleeping quietly. The dogs took a while to get on at first because the spaniel wanted to play with the terrier at home, but she’s learnt manners with him now so they are fine.

If we were to get another dog, it would be a choice between a cocker or border and I would find it very hard to pick!

[JackReacherReader]

I forgot to add (drip feed sorry)! We're not 100% sure of his age! He was given to us in 2011, he's definitely in the region of 9-11 but not sure for definite. He was fed bakers from being able to chew and he has legs that point in different directions. But the weight gain was our fault as he's a bloody hoover and it was hard to manage. But we've got it nailed now so we're continuing with his diet and exercise :)

[Confusedbeetle]

Please don't subject the old dog to a puppy. Wait. Your choice between a terrier and spaniel is a bit strange as they are two very different types. Neither is particularly easy to train but I might go with the spaniel for that reason. Spaniels can be ludicrously crackers and bounce off the walls. Think about the characteristics of a dog that will suit your lifestyle and what you can offer it. Then when thinking about breeds thinks about what work that dog was bred for, and can you match its needs.

[Floralnomad]

I’d get him fitter and then revisit the puppy question . My mum has sibling borderx JRTs who are 16 and one of them has a deformed front leg so I do appreciate how easy it is for them to get a bit porky .

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

We have a ten year old large breed and have just got a cocker puppy.

It’s going ok so far but our older dog is still very active so at the moment I’m leaving the puppy behind on walks!

I think if you could get the JRT a bit fitter it might help?

Also a non working cocker with calm parents might be a good bet?