To get another female dog,considering I already have one

[SpunkyBeaker]

I’m just looking for advice,as my current bitch,is the first I ever had.I always had male dogs,always just one dog at the time,all large breeds(retrievers,German shepherd etc).I currently have small dachshund/collie cross and considering adding some larger dog to our family.Is it good idea to add another female dog?Our girl is spayed and so would be the new addition,as soon as she is of an appropriate age.I’m just bit worried,they may not get on,so would like to hear some opinions,please?

That’s my current ,,stock,,

Introduce them cautiously, some dogs take to a puppy immediately and some don’t. Make sure they can be separated ie a stair gate in the first few days/weeks if it becomes necessary. Support the older dog in teaching pup basic manners so long as it’s not true aggression ie don’t shout at older dog for putting pup in its place.

Once they get used to eachother they should be fine. I never had issues with toys. My older dog always stole the dog beds though! She loved a bed lol.

Some years ago I lost my dog DH dog was 15, a bitch, we knew we were on borrowed time,so had an RSPCA inspector come to the house. She checked all the animals,we had quarter of an acre garden,with a stream at the bottom and a bridge over it into fields. She put medium size garden. I told her a medium size garden was 50ft. She then said we had to have a dog, because 2 bitches couldn't live together. My DH had only had this one, she lived to 18. Not long before she was PTS,we bought a bitch border collie, when she was 6 months old we got another bitch border collie,a private rescue,both 8 weeks old..we added a male Phalene to the mix,he was besties with the older one. He hated it when she died,then when the second one was PTS,he sat by the door crying,so we got another border collie bitch. He was PTS last year at 18. She's 9 now and we got another border collie bitch just over a year ago. It was lovely at first sight, older one went out in the garden, brought in a football and gave it to the puppy,it was almost as big as her,but the older one now guards the younger one and barks at everything that goes past.we do have to feed these 2 in separate rooms. Never had to do that before.

Mine sleeps on the sofa,so did my old boys.Last dog bed she had was gutted as any other previous😂.She seem to understand that my child’s plushies don’t belong to her,leaves them alone.Gutts her own under a minute.She has very strong pray drive,against birds,rats,mice etc.Cats not at all,as was raised with them,so hopefully those are good signs.I generally worry to much.This time it’s mainly to my lifelong believe that dog is for life,so really don’t want to get it wrong!

How crazy of RSPCA🤦‍♀️.Your home sounds absolutely perfect!Dread to think what would they have thought of mine,terraced,but with good size garden.Unfortunately I can’t adopt,as I have child under 10,so wouldn’t take the risks.Not like they would have considered me worthy!

Spunky beaker, when our Phalene Leo was PTS last year, I did a 100 mile circle round our house (edge of village,200ft garden, opposite south downs,10 minutes away from the beach, farmland and fields 2 roads away. I've had border collies since I was 13,a few other dogs as well. Border collie rescue, never even replied! Fence got to be 6ft, ours is 5.6ft, garden not big enough! Because of the Google tracking, I ended up with England Ireland Scotland and Wales. Rescues, we didn't want a staff, brachial face,very elderly, the others, no other dogs,no visiting children,we have lots of grandkids, youngest 2. Reaction to other dogs, people,bikes,cars, I've done rescues, 2 successful,2 not. We ended up buying a puppy from a farm where we used to live. Talking to other dog owners,it's why so many people adopt from abroad. In fact a relative went on holiday to Italy and ended up with a puppy.

Majority of the dogs in local to me shelters,should be PTS,as aren’t suitable to be rehomed with children,other dogs,highly reactive towards anything and everything really.Staffs,bully’s but apparently standard 😂not Xl,frenchies.When they have puppies available they refuse to rehome,over silly fence height,as with yourself.My friend was refused,because she works 3 h each day,then another 3 WFH.How on earth do they imagine she would be able to cover dog needs if she wasn’t working at all I don’t know.She also has 16 year old at home,whilst she works,but was still no.She had adopted dog from Romania-dog and human aggressive ,several triggers and really struggling.I decided to wait a little bit longer,before committing to another dog.Train my girl bit better,do lots of introduction between her and familiar dogs.Tomorrow she will have play date with the Westie,we met and her lovely owner at mine and I hope it goes well.

My sister had 2 bitches from the same litter - one bullied the other badly.

Wasn’t it a littermate syndrome?

No thats when two puppies are very closely bonded with each other and not with their owners. Its so bad they get separation anxiety when apart from each other, and they can be very difficult to train as they aren't interested in working with people.

Male dog is an option,as well.I never have any bitches,before current one.She is very spoilt due to being pint sized.I’m going to train her better,before reconsidering adding up to our family.Did you sister manage to successfully resolved her issue?

This. Definitely test on your own territory first. I have had this go wrong a couple of times, but now have a female Newfie (4) and a female Lab (6months) who get on very well. It helps that they are both big enough to play well together. I've had the small dog/large dog combination and the poor little dog was bashed about quite a bit by the (large) pup. That coupling failed miserably. Often the existing dog will tolerate a young puppy, but it doesn't always work that way. Good luck 🤞