Any thoughts on getting a puppy companion for an elderly dog?

[EmmalinaC]

DDog is my first dog. He's 11 and he's in good health but he has definitely slowed down in the past year. He'll still chase a ball like a youngster (even though it leaves him a bit still in the morning) but mostly he ambles along and isn't really interested in other dogs. He's a lab x springer. He has developed a bit of fear aggression with certain breeds which can make him snappy but this disappears when he's walking with one of his DogFriends.

DH is keen for us to get a puppy so that DDog has a companion/wingman in his later years but also for us because DDog won't be with us forever...

Has anyone any experience of this? Is it a bad idea?

Similar experience, DDog1 is also 11, I was looking for a companion a few years younger to see her through her days. But fell in love with DDog2 who is 10 months old, after a few meetings it was apparent that they both enjoyed eachothers company, they curl up together in the boot of the car and play together beautifully in the house and out on walks. Have you considered rescuing a young female, I'd imagine a female maybe more accepted by your resident boy?

Hadn't thought of that! We have DCs aged 5 & 8 who would love a puppy so hadn't really considered slightly older... Might look at breed rescues.

It is definitely worth it, I have a 4 yo and found it to be a big bonus that she is housetrained already. There maybe a chance with breed rescues they may have been placed in a home with fosterers too, so the dog would have home experience? I had a look at Manytears and a few smaller local rescues before deciding on rescuing DDog2, although some bad behaviour is starting to show now, I don't regret my decision at all.

TBH, I wouldn't get a puppy with an 11 year old dog. My older dog is only 2, and dpuppy drives him nuts at times wanting to play when he wants to sleep (they are both lurchers) - and cmotdog is so laid back he's usually horizontal.