Thinking about getting another dog

[legend1983]

My dog is currently 7 months going on to 8 soon, and I have been thinking about rescuing another dog from a shelter. What im not sure about is, if my dog is too young for me to get another dog. I met a guy at the dog park who said if i got another dog the two dogs will bond with each other rather then with me. Is that true? should I wait till my puppy gets older? if so how old? or its fine for me to get another dog. thanks for any feedback

[felicityjay]

i think the advice is usually wait until your dog is at least 18 months old and reliably trained...

i know it is tempting as you enjoy having a puppy so much and think they would like a playfriend but it will make things much more difficult for you if you have two untrained dogs running around and wanting to play with each other and not listening properly to you!

enjoy bonding with your pup first and then you will both be able to train and look after your rescue dog or new pup together.

[brunie's mom]

This was discussed in a thread last week.
You can read it here http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/gen...eed-advice.htm

Gina

[legend1983]

hey, that link doesnt seem to work...
nevermind i found the link thanks

[manos]

I can advice to thinking that one more time !

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by felicityjay

i think the advice is usually wait until your dog is at least 18 months old and reliably trained...

i know it is tempting as you enjoy having a puppy so much and think they would like a playfriend but it will make things much more difficult for you if you have two untrained dogs running around and wanting to play with each other and not listening properly to you!

enjoy bonding with your pup first and then you will both be able to train and look after your rescue dog or new pup together.

I would wait until your dog is mature, around 2-3 years, not 18 months. Rotties are slow to mature and you want to make sure you have a well trained dog when you bring in a young pup. You posted that your pup bit a friend that was riding in your car...I suggest you fix the current problem before adding another family member.

[AngelBunny]

I encourage you to stop thinking about getting another dog.

The dog you have now is young, untrained, and has behaved in a way that raises concern. You owe it to your dog, yourself--and the general public with whom you and your Rottie come in contact—to train the dog you have now. Your dog’s issues will not go away of their own accord—puppies and young dogs don’t grow out of inappropriate behavior as they mature. Rather, their behavior gets worse because the dog gets bigger and stronger.

Also realize that if you get a young dog, you now have two young dogs to train. And train separately and take places separately to ensure they bond with you and not each other. Doing a good job with one young dog is a hard enough, time consuming job—I quail at the thought of trying to accomplish the same with two.

What you’re thinking of doing—getting another dog with your resident dog being young—is not something Rottie savvy, knowledgeable people recommend. You’d do well to heed their advice.

[Ostory]

Originally Posted by legend1983

My dog is currently 7 months going on to 8 soon, and I have been thinking about rescuing another dog from a shelter. What im not sure about is, if my dog is too young for me to get another dog. I met a guy at the dog park who said if i got another dog the two dogs will bond with each other rather then with me. Is that true? should I wait till my puppy gets older? if so how old? or its fine for me to get another dog. thanks for any feedback

The dog is going to bond more with the individual that understands him the best, and is the most fun to be with. Chances are between you and another dog it will be the other dog. Age will have nothing to do with this fact.