Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Dog no2

11 replies

LAlexander7 · 10/12/2017 22:40

Hey,

We have a lovely 5 year old bitch lab, we've had some pretty tough heartbreak this year (stillbirth of our only child) I was considering getting my wife for her 30th a puppy another lab probably a stud.

Our dog is fab she is loving and caring, greedy, kind, empathetic and very bright and is very well behaved.

How would she cope with another dog in the house? Anything we need to consider?

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 10/12/2017 22:41

Stud?
To breed from.
Does your wife actually want a second dog?

KinkyAfro · 10/12/2017 22:43

Why a stud?

Original poster

LAlexander7 · 10/12/2017 22:49

Sorry I didn't mean stud I mean't male. We're not breeding she has been neutered.

OP posts:

Original poster

LAlexander7 · 10/12/2017 22:49

Yes she would love another dog.

OP posts:

ThespianTendencies · 11/12/2017 09:19

Well if you are sure she would love one then I would say go for it! Major consideration woudl be if you are trying for a child again would it be too much stress to be pregnant/with newborn and taking care of a lively lab pup?

Wolfiefan · 11/12/2017 09:22

I also would prefer to choose my pup and not be presented with one. And you may struggle to find a decent breeder who will have one available when you want it.
Do you have space to separate dogs of needs be?
Remember they're expensive!
What is your dog like with others generally?

TheVanguardSix · 11/12/2017 09:32

Our youngest was one when we got our pup (male Lab cross).
I'd go for it. If you plan everything around a pregnancy that hasn't yet happened, then you'll never follow through with anything, I find.

I understand your loss. I have been there myself. You have all of my sympathy.

Go for it. The pup will be so healing! BUT!! you have to make sure to not leave your wife with the training and the poop scooping and the mess that comes with a puppy. It's stressful. She's been through a terrible time in a way you cannot imagine. Sorry, but biologically speaking, this is true.
So what you don't want to do is say, "Here you go! A cute puppy. Have fun doing all the work because he's YOUR present."
Just be mindful of the workload. Is this the right time to put that on you both?
That being said, the joy a new pup would bring is immeasurable.
A male lab is a good choice.

missbattenburg · 11/12/2017 10:06

My heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your child

Most well socialised dogs will cope very well with a puppy so long as their people understand how dogs communicate and don't over worry.

Your older dog may well growl, snarl or snap at a young puppy and your first instinct will be to protect the pup. However, so long as your older dog is socialised she should never actually hurt the puppy and her growls etc are actually the best gift she can give you. It will teach puppy the escalation of warnings: growl, snarl, snap, bite. Something he will need to know for later on in life. It will also teach him more about doggy manners than you can. If you watch carefully she should never actually hurt the dog so any snapping should be inhibited so that there is skin contact but no pressure.

Give her plenty of her own space to get away, plenty of time to be with her humans without puppy (probably means taking it turns for a while) and if she corrects him, don't tell her off. If she looks like she is getting stressed, remove the pup.

Like others have said, puppies are HARD WORK and only you know if you and your wife are up to that after such a tragic loss. However, they are also a huge amount of fun and although I have never been through it, I could imagine that this could help in the right circumstances (e.g. where both people want a second dog). However, being part of the choosing might also be nice for your wife and the waiting for a puppy to be ready is part of the joy, so don't feel like you have to present her with a puppy as a surprise.

All the best xx

CornflakeHomunculus · 11/12/2017 15:41

As well as the points already raised, if you're intending to get a puppy as a complete surprise for your wife then definitely have a rethink. No decent breeder is going to a let a puppy go to be a surprise for someone they've never met.

Original poster

LAlexander7 · 11/12/2017 18:31

No no surprises she is going to come with and we will let the dog pick us.

OP posts:

CornflakeHomunculus · 11/12/2017 18:49

...we will let the dog pick us.

Really the breeder should have some level on input into which puppy ends up with which prospective owners. They know the puppies and their individual characters far better than anyone else and are best placed to say which puppy (or puppies) would be best for particular homes.

Steer clear of any breeder happy for you to just pick whichever puppy you fancy from a litter with no discussion about it.

Flip