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The doghouse

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Original poster

Older dog and puppy

18 replies

Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 19:07

I am thinking of getting another puppy. DDog is 7 (but still very energetic) and I was wondering if anyone else had got a puppy with a similar aged dog.
I have been thinking about it for ages and the feeling hasn’t gone away!

For context we have 3 children (tweens and teens) who are dog lovers and walk our dog, and we have a couple of friendly and sociable cats.

We got our current dog as a puppy and she is well trained and well looked after. The animals are part of the family!

OP posts:
Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 19:08

Any experiences/ pros and cons would be appreciated

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Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 19:39

Anyone?!

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Lifeisaminestrone · 08/07/2021 19:55

My neighbour did this, she is a genuine dog lover!!

The dog in question was the puppy’s Dad but he got very jealous!! She sadly had to return the puppy - and he went back to his Mum and got on much better.

Just one example. Was a spaniel.

Imdoingitnow · 08/07/2021 20:00

Take your older dog with you if at all possible when you choose your puppy to see which one your dog responds to the most. My older dog aged 8 wouldn't even look at some of the puppies in the litter. We got the one he's seemed most friendly with. I'm sure being with an older dog the puppy learnt things quicker like toilet training and walking on a lead.
Make sure you give your older dog time away from the puppy in the house and take him on walks by himself sometimes. Our younger dog bossed the older one - he took everything away from older dog - except food.

Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 20:01

Mine is a spaniel and I am worried about jealousy as she’s quite needy!
Thanks for sharing

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Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 20:01

@Imdoingitnow what a brilliant idea!

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Throwntothewolves · 08/07/2021 20:07

Depends on the dog. We got another when our first dog was 7, he didn't speak to us for a week, and completely blanked her! He was used to being an 'only' dog, so didn't take kindly to a cute puppy stealing any attention. He came round though and things were fine after he realised she was there to stay.
A few months after he died we got a pup. Girl dog was 9. They get on brilliantly, but she is very nice natured and accommodating, and she doesn't get at all jealous, which is just as well as the pup is a real attention seeker.

I think a lot depends on your dogs personality.

Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 20:13

My dog has a lovely nature. She is needy and occasionally looks a little jealous/ sad when we stroke the cats but she gets on very well with other dogs.
She goes to dog daycare once a week and gets on really well in a pack.

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Original poster
Frogsandsheep · 08/07/2021 20:14

When I say needy I mean she likes to be stroked and cuddled a lot which we could obviously still do with a puppy. There are 5 people in the house and lots of love to go round!

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Datsandcogs · 08/07/2021 20:21

I have several dogs.

Introduce slowly, start with a blanket with the puppy’s smell. When face to face outside is better, lots of fuss for the older dog and someone to take the puppy away safely if it’s too much. Mine have slept in the same room from the beginning, but with the puppy in a playpen (set up several days in advance) so together but safe, playpen usually only lasts a week to 10 days - it also contains the mess!

Your older dog sounds lovely, I’m sure careful intros will quickly lead to friendship.

floatingboater · 08/07/2021 20:23

I know loads of puppy raisers for Guide dogs who have older dogs (withdrawn guide dog puppies but now older). They rarely have issues - they ensure the older dog gets some peace and quiet (you can use stair gates to give them space from each other)

Martamaybe · 08/07/2021 21:58

We got our new puppy in January . Our older dog is 8 but until last March we had two dogs so I suppose that is different to introducing a second dog if yours has always been an only. However I was a bit concerned as she is absolutely my shadow and is worried by dogs she doesn’t know often resulting in reactive barking . I was cautious introducing them and the older dog spent a lot of time avoiding the puppy to start off with . The puppy however adored the older dog from the start and tried to get to her all the time. It took a few weeks and I never left them alone together . The older dog was always able to get away and I never forced interaction between them . Now though they have now really bonded and my older dog has been given a new lease of energy . I think it helped that they are different personalities; the puppy is outgoing and confident and the opposite sex to my older dog . I also got the same breed; a cocker spaniel .I think the turning point was when the puppy was able to go out for walks and it is lovely to see them running off lead shoulder to shoulder .

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 09/07/2021 08:31

We got a puppy a few weeks ago, my older dog is 8

There is some jealousy but we make sure older dog still has her special privileges

On the whole they are fine

They are both lurchers, and as far as I know they often like their own type and like to be part of a “pack”

What dog would you be getting? Another spaniel?

Anordinarymum · 09/07/2021 10:34

OP I have had dogs for most of my adult life. I have tended to have more than one not by design really but because the other dog came along as a rescue or simply needed a home.
I have always found the second dog so easy to train because of the older dog who shows the younger one how to behave.

I only have one dog now as my Chihuahua died in September and it still hurts. I don't have the will to get another one yet.

My pug was puppy farmed. She had had more than one litter when I got her, and still a puppy herself. The day I rescued her, when I went to pick her up, they removed her from a cage. She was still feeding puppies. The puppies were for sale and they no longer wanted her as the last litter was a c section and she was useless to them now.

She had never seen other dogs apart from her puppies, and obviously the stud dog, and never been out for a walk so when we walked her she was completely overawed with walking and meeting other dogs.
She learned everything from my other dog.
Now at three years old she walks without a lead in the park, stays by my side and her behaviour is perfect. I couldn't wish for a nicer dog really and I didn't have to do a thing.

If I decide to get another dog, I know she will be the teacher now if this makes sense.

Whitney168 · 09/07/2021 11:00

[quote Frogsandsheep]@Imdoingitnow what a brilliant idea![/quote]
No sensible breeder would allow you to bring your dog in with a litter of unvaccinated puppies, they have no clue what he might be carrying ... so I wouldn't even suggest this, but certainly don't be offended if the breeder refuses.

Imdoingitnow · 09/07/2021 12:38

That's what we did. The breeder was a family friend though

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 09/07/2021 13:19

We've done this a couple of times. It helps to conduct the first intro on neutral ground e.g. a friend's garden. It does also depend on the dogs' personalities. Currently we have one who doesn't have much to do with the youngest dog, but is never aggressive towards her, and one who has curled up and slept with her from the day she arrived.

DramaAlpaca · 09/07/2021 13:24

We always have at least two dogs at a time, so tend to introduce a new puppy when the youngest current dog is around 7 or 8.

We've never had a problem, the pups just seem to slot in, cuddle up with the older dogs and that's it. There was a minor kerfuffle last time when the new pup tried to suckle from our older girl, but it didn't last long.

All the dogs we've introduced pups to have been female, and all are spaniels. Our current youngest one is male and I'm not sure how he'd take to a pup in the future if we decide to get another - he's my baby Grin

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