Tips for bringing in a puppy when your have an older dog

[TeenLifeMum]

I think this is happening, but we have a while to decide as mating only just occurred and puppies won’t be ready until spring.

Ddog is a gorgeous 4yo cocker spaniel with leukaemia. We were devastated but he’s on chemo and you wouldn’t know anything was wrong except the weekly vet visits. His treatment goes on until early March. We know he doesn’t have the 12 year expectancy he should have but cherish every extra week. The gap he’d leave would be horrific. We’re coming round to the idea that a puppy would be able to settle and have his support to do so (he’s very gentle and patient with puppies), and a friend of a friend is hoping for a litter.

i am keen to use this time to prepare and read up so we get this right with number 2. I do remember the puppy stage and it wasn’t my favourite part but leads to a lovely family dog so I’m willing to put the time in. All tips gratefully received.

I know my dog extremely well and I can tell when he is ill BUT all animals mask and I know vets who have told me that you can never be 100% sure if they are in pain - in fact by the time the owner is able to tell the animal will be in considerable pain.

If these puppies weren't a possibility would you still be actively looking to add another dog at this point? It really seems an odd time to me to be considering it when your full focus should be on your current dog.

I can't understand what the rush is. There'll be plenty of other litters around once your dog has passed and you've taken time to process your loss and grieve.

The “rush” is planning for something in 4.5 months time at the point my dog will have completed treatment. Obviously if things don’t go to plan then we’d look at the situation at the time but so far he’s responding brilliantly. Dogs respond to chemo very differently to humans but he will be post chemo at the point the puppy would join our family. My focus during treatment is fully on ddg.

I wouldn’t look now, but come Spring, I probably would.

I guess I'm just struggling to understand why you'd want to bring a puppy into this situation. I've seen posts before when people have lost their dog and want to replace them almost instantly and ask if it's too soon but obviously everybody handles grief differently and there's no right or wrong answer.

I can only assume you're trying to future proof against the hole your dog will leave but just find it incredibly selfish that this means putting your family's wants above your current dogs. Let him live out his days being your no.1 priority.

@CellophaneFlower it started being about future proofing and the more I read the more I learn how certain breeds are happier with another dog in the house. It’s made us focus and realise we can’t imagine life without dog/s. We felt it’s not appropriate while he’s having treatment but once he’s finished treatment, if all goes to plan, he’ll be well. We just know he won’t have the 10 year expectancy he would have without having leukaemia.