Going to view a puppy this week, woke up in a cold sweat this morning

[FireAdvice]

I know that new puppy blues/panic can be a thing and iirc I was a bit like this last time I got a puppy.

So I currently have a 12yo dog who is the light of my life, best behaved dog ever. She is getting older and really slowing down and struggling to walk.

I have been in 2 minds for a bit about do I wait to get another dog until after she's died or get one now. My feeling for getting one now is having that older dog around to show a new puppy the ropes, be company for her.

I wfh 3 days a week and am in the office 2 days a week, although some weeks I wfh all week. If I do go into the office I am home mid afternoon and have a dog walker who comes in mid/late morning. DH works out of the home 5 days a week. No kids. I have money for extra vet bills, insurance, food, etc.

I think I'm just slightly panicking about as older dog deteriorates having 2 dogs with different needs. We do have a massive garden and older dog is happy these days pootling around there and having a short walk to the park. I just think I'd feel bad leaving at her home while walking the younger dog a longer walk? I can walk the younger dog first thing and then take the older dog/both of them out at lunch time for a short walk. Older dog is small and I do also have a dog buggy for her so I can walk one and push one though it might be chaos???

Any ideas of names for a boy terrier? 😁

I've never had a terrier before apart from when I was younger and lived on a farm, we had a JRT which was totally feral and used to be self sufficient and just roam the barns and stables ratting. Nobody ever walked it so not 100% sure what their energy levels are compared to my current couch potato. But I know to expect higher energy. Think I'm most worried about needing to puppy proof the house from a potential chewer. Current dog has never chewed anything but a previous dog was awful for wrecking shoes!

YouMove and Metcam. Thinking about asking the vet about Librela (?) but not sure if she’s bad enough for that. I know there could be more side effects. She’s due her annual check up soon so will be chatting about it. Oh and salmon oil

No. Don’t do it. Give your older dog peace in her dotage

think the main think which is causing me to pause now is not wanting my existing dog to be made miserable by a full on puppy.

well, yes OP, so…. Don’t do it!!!

Ours get tinned oily fish from Lidl very cheap and fresh mackerel when DH has been fishing. They like the fresh fish BBQd. Old boy loves his yumove.

I'd get an MOT for him before puppy arrives. They do gee them up again. So make sure he's okay.

I wouldn't do it. Let your dog enjoy your undivided attention for her senior years.

I considered doing this when my previous dog was a senior. He lived the first 4 years of his life with another dog and always loved being around other dogs, playing etc. As it happened, before I got further in planning than it just being a thought, I looked after a colleague's dog for a long weekend. I thought my dog would enjoy it, but he was miserable. He had been too long an only dog and he was too old to have a bouncy young dog disturb his peace. I was surprised how clearly he didn't like it. So, based on my experience, I would think again, OP. Or maybe test it out before you go to the step of buying another dog.

What type of terrier OP ? As that makes a difference. Some terrier breeds are a bit calmer than others.
I have a friend who had a pup with an old dog, it did actually give the older dog a new lease of life, he would bounce around playing, and it made his last few years happier. I also have a friend whose much younger dog was very distressed when the older dog died though, so there are pros and cons. I too have an older dog and I’ve mulled over a puppy at various stages but decided not to get another dog for the present anyway. I actually think my dog would like it, she is a gentle soul and happier with another dog around, but it would depend on the dynamics and they are hard to predict. Sometimes the younger dog can start to bully the older one.

@Christwosheds norwich terrier. They are meant to be lower down on the bonkers terrier scale.

I would wait until your girl passes. My boy is only 2 and he can only tolerate a puppy for 10 minutes before he gets annoyed, I can't imagine subjecting him to a life of it!
Please let your lovely girl enjoy the rest of her days as your one and only, in peace.

I agree. Our lad is only 3 and even in the past year I've noticed he is much less tolerant of pups when we're out on walks. I can't imagine expecting him to live with a boisterous puppy in the hope he would eventually tolerate it. I think you need to reconsider. It's your girls home first and foremost and if it doesn't work out she's the one who will suffer.

You don't have to get a puppy.

How can you even still be considering this Op.

Posters have been unanimous in their view that this is wrong, wrong wrong.

Let your dog live out the rest of his life in peace.

although I think that given you’re still considering, you will still get the puppy simply because YOU damn well WANT to

there was a similar post a while ago
the poster did get the puppy despite multiple warnings.
she updated all was going very well

because OP’s always post the truth

Well they weren't going to come back and say otherwise we're they as then they would be acknowledging that those who cautioned against the idea were correct for doing so.

I actually recall that thread

the op was as bloody minded as this one

so I reckon that would have come back to say that all going fine no matter what happened

No one ever admits they fucked up getting a dog.

Whether that’s an additional puppy in the home or an older dog, or a 7 year old Lab that’s clinically obese and has behaviour issues due to negligence.

We see it all the time at our local breed club when people come asking to rehome their dog - it’s always the dog’s fault, never the persons. Humans consistently put their desire for a dog, or another puppy, over the best interests of that animal.

That being said, I think this OP seems more sensible that the last one you’re talking about.

My late boy found it hard when we lost our female but he was 13, quite creaky and wouldn’t have handled a puppy. I did look out on a breed specific rescue for another dog of the breed I always have, that was nearer to his age but nothing suitable came up and then we lost him 8 months after our female anyway. We now have a nearly 6 month old puppy and I’m so glad we didn’t get a pup in his old age. They are really full on, very hard work, needy and time consuming and I’m not sure most OAP dogs would enjoy it. I’d totally forgotten what puppies were like and managing his elderly needs at the same time would not have been good. It does get easier as the months pass with a pup, but the first few months are all consuming and they’re so lively.

Not sure why the op posted in first place.

I know a few people who have added a puppy to an older dog and it was fine. Gave the older dog a new lease of life. Most older dogs will correct a puppy if they are too full on but be prepared to seperate them for short spaces of time if need be. I had a 6 month border terrier then got a rescue one, I was terrified and had the “what have I done” panic but they are great friends. Good luck and photos please.

Aah they are nice little dogs. A bit less bonkers than a JRT anyway !

I would wait. If your dog had been 10 at most I think they could have benefited from a puppy pal. At 12, you're into a more elderly dog and while they may well take to the pup and love it, I've known friends who got a pup and within weeks their elderly dog had given up the ghost and died.
It's not worth the risk.

This

Well I am coming back to update. People can disbelieve my update all they want. I did very nearly not get the puppy after this thread. But went ahead and glad I did. They’re best mates. Older dog has certainly had a new lease of life and plays chase with puppy in the garden. They’re often snuggled up on the sofa together in the day. Older dog goes to the puppy’s crate first thing every morning and won’t go outside until puppy comes. I’m making sure older dog gets plenty of fuss. I got a play pen as well so if I needed to separate them at all for periods I could do but only use that if I’m popping out.