Advice please (multiple dogs)

[GenHannibal]

Originally Posted by bigbzeus

Being able to have them get along is GREAT!!! but if not which one of the 2 will you give away??? R u sure they will have a the same thinking or treat them the way you would???

Don't quite understand your questions. Why would she have to get rid of one of them if she does what most people are suggesting....get the opposite sex. The probability of them getting along is much higher than having same sex dogs. Also, if she does what JudyW has suggested, doing as much as she can with the older dog and then if she feels ready for the second, then go for it.

Each person has to decide if they can not only emotionally and financially take on an additional pet, but also have enough time that it will take to raise it. If things don't work out will they be able to deal with each pet individually forever, as someone else has pointed out. Having had several same sex rotts in the house, some got along, some didn't, it was a matter of managing the time to spend with each of them. It was a lot of work, but I was able to do it and enjoyed each one.

[Carol Burke]

I have four dogs, two intact males, one spayed female and one intact female. I, too, am not a big believer in neutral ground meetings, especially with a puppy. My dogs all do fine together because they accept the fact that I am the boss. The two males are not crazy about each other but they tolerate each other because they have to. Bringing a female puppy home to your adult male should be a piece of cake.

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by Judi W

The question to consider is will you have time to continue on with the older dog in his career of learning and do the puppy.

This is a big question that you will have to answer. I know that my limit is 3 dogs and even that is tough sometimes. When I got Fizbin, I thought that my other two would be slowing down. Misty was already trained in open obedience, just had to get her to stop being so creative with the exercises in the ring and qualify. She was to be semi-retired. Duncan was slowing down too. Pretty much after he earned his CD, he was just to do herding. Since I didn't put the final leg on him, it wasn't "mine" time that I had to spend to do it.
Shortly after I got Fizbin, Misty blew out her knee and then needed extra time and attention for rehab- took her a long time to heal. Then a year and a half ago she came down with lymphoma. A LOT of time and attention has been diverted her way. Fizbin has suffered for it in not getting all of the training time that should be due him.
The dog that has really suffered time and attention wise has been Duncan. Fortunately he really is a couch dog, but I do take him for granted because of that. At one time I had planned on making him a therapy dog and doing visits with him. He is very suited for that, but with Misty, never got past taking the test.
Misty and Duncan are about 18 months apart. When it was just the two of them, it worked out well. There was time to do training and showing. They got along very well. I didn't do the neutral territory thing. Misty took to Duncan like he was her puppy. She herself had a second puppyhood playing with him.

[LynnS]

Originally Posted by Judi W

To me, it is as much the learning that takes place taking that first dog as far as it is possible to go as it is the amount of time. Expanding them that far and beyond is how you learn the possibilities and answer the "what have you done with what you have" question because that is where the answer of what you are going to do with the next dog lies. Seeing the potential that lies within this wonderful breed.

These are really very wise words.
I have already been tempted to add a new puppy and the reason I haven't (and won't for a long long time) is that there is no way I could acheive some of the goals I have set for Bella if I added a puppy to the mix. In addition I am certain that Bella is happier being an only child.

If I was an experienced trainer/owner I might be able to handle training two simultaneously but no way could I do that today....

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by Judi W

To me, it is as much the learning that takes place taking that first dog as far as it is possible to go as it is the amount of time. Expanding them that far and beyond is how you learn the possibilities and answer the "what have you done with what you have" question because that is where the answer of what you are going to do with the next dog lies. Seeing the potential that lies within this wonderful breed.

That is so true Judi!

I am hoping to add a puppy sometime in 2005. Most likely it will be in the summer or fall. If everything goes as planned Akasha will have her CDX and be working on UD exercises. I am hoping that if she doesn't have her CDX she will at least have a leg or two. If when the time comes for me to bring a new puppy home I find the my circumstances have changed and I won't have time or energy for a puppy, then I will wait. I am not willing to shortchange Akasha just to add a new puppy.

I am not concerned about bringing a puppy to the house for introductions. Both Akasha and Keil adore puppies and will love having one around. We puppy sat for my friends 15 wk rottie puppy Adam last night and both Akasha and Keil had a blast with him. They are so patient and let Adam do what ever he wanted. Adam found their kong and the three of them played with it. When Akasha would get it she would take it back over to Adam and put it in his mouth, so he could have it. Both Akasha and Keil pouted for the rest of the night when Adam went home.

[Judi W]

For those who truly love and understand the breed, its wonderful capacity for thinking and working must be honored. That honor means offering them more in life than being fed and housed and taken for walks. It means giving them the satisfaction of a job well done, of stretching their minds to learn complex things, and helping them live the proud life. It means giving them a meaningful life of quality.

[Urika]

Originally Posted by Judi W

answer the "what have you done with what you have" question because that is where the answer of what you are going to do with the next dog lies. Seeing the potential that lies within this wonderful breed.

What a great question! That will help me with my introspection.

[Judi W]

On behalf of your current dog and future dogs, thank you

[dmoniz]

I have 4 dogs, and only the rottie really needs the extra training and attention. The minpin is a close second, but doesn't cause nearly the damage the that the rottie does. Of course the rottie was the last one to add. I think things would be different if he came to my family earlier then one of the others.

[BostonRott]

I have 4 dogs, 3 of whom are working team mates. When Vikka came into the household, I had just gotten Froli back into shape from the B litter and was focusing on her agility career (she was still in Nov A). I did go ahead and start all the puppy things with Vikka, but my focus was Froli. To this day, Vikka is 2.5, still does not have her CD or BH and only has her Novice agility titles (NA, NAJ). She could and should be a lot further along, more like CD, AX, AXJ. I didn't not train her, but I certainly didn't bring her to where she should be at this point in her life. It is my shortcoming, and I accept it.

Banja is not as far behind as she could be, because I lost Froli when Banja was only 9mos old, and most of her time was spent on building solid puppy foundations. She did have a set back because of the TPLO, but we're quickly recovering from that.

Xcel is a VERY intelligent puppy who loves to work. I've been focusing on getting Vikka competition ready in obedience, and I know he's behind where he should be. Sound familiar?

To bring each dog to its potential takes a LOT of hard work, individual work. I had Bort trained and titled before Froli ever arrived, and continued to work him to his limits until she was old enough to handle being my sole training/working dog. At that point, my full focus went to Froli and we accomplished a lot. Vikka's arrival did not really shortchange Froli, it short-changed Vikka. Froli was already trained through SchH3, she just needed some polishing work.

The timing on adding Vikka and Xcel to my household was not ideal, but I don't regret it one bit. I know they're behind where they can/should be and at times that is very frustrating for me because I know they are better dogs (intelligence, working-drive-wise) than what they always demonstrate.

In terms of classes and training, I find it's easy to fit puppy classes and early level work in to a training schedule. It's either on the same night, but a different time, so therefore we just make one longer trip, or we go on two nights, but never have I had them conflict. It's the home time that becomes precious.

Finally, I have never ever introduced a puppy on neutral territory, there is no reason to, they are not adults.