Jack needs a friend...

[alsandersrn]

We just got our male puppy, Jack, a month ago and he is now 12weeks old. He seems to really need a canine friend to play with. Any suggestions on a breed of dog to get for Jack? We dont know if we should get another rott or something different. WE plan for them to stay in the same kennel at night. Thanks for your input.

[Zumie05]

Usually what is recommended here is to wait until your first dog is AT LEAST two years old and completed training before adding in another puppy. I know it is really easy to want another dog right now because a 12 week old rottie is so cute, fun, and smart! Trust me, I was thinking the same thing. Just wait a little bit though, the teenage phase kicks in soon and you will be glad that you aren't dealing with two dogs.

My suggestion is if you absolutely want another dog, rescue an adult female who has already had some good training done. That way you will have an older dog to help teach your puppy how to speak "dog" and one of the opposite sex to make sure they will get along well.

But do not think about going out and getting another PUPPY! It's not impossible to handle, but it can be tons of extra work. It will take longer for you to get them both trained since they will both need just as much work and attention. One more thing is that two puppies together will bond closely with each other so even more work will have to be done to make sure that the pups first bond with the humans, then the other dog.

[AngelBunny]

Jake doesn't need you to get another puppy of any breed for him as a buddy. People with Rottie experience know it's most unwise to get another puppy when you already have a Rottie puppy. It's hard enough to do a good job socializing and training one puppy, never mind two. Doing a search on "2 puppies at once" will pull up discussions on the topic.

What Jake needs is for you to spend time socializing and training him to be a well-mannered Rottie who's a good canine citizen. What Jake needs is for you is to get him and yourself into class. You'll be so glad you did this instead of getting Jake a canine buddy.

[rottcrazed]

You will end up with two very closely bonded puppies who could not care less about their human owners if you do decide to get Jack any kind of friend.

YOU can be his very best friend, and should be at this point in his life until he is at least 18 - 24 months old.

He requires time, patience, training and work, all of which will be nearly impossible if you double your work load by adding another puppy into your life right now.

Kristi

[Calin]

Wait until your sweet little boy becomes a surly teenager, then read this thread and laugh that you even CONSIDERED another puppy. Trust me, you will be glad you dodged the bullet.

[debbiej]

exactly. you want to be your dog's friend.

[Zumie05]

Originally Posted by alsandersrn

Any suggestions on a breed of dog to get for Jack?

Are there any breeds out there that just seem to really compliment the rottweiler? Lets say the OP were to get another dog when Jack is a bit older. What would be a good choice then?

This is something that I have been wondering about also!

[debbiej]

a lot older. a dog that is opposite sex of first dog. I believe personality is perhaps more important than breed. you can find easy going dogs in every breed, feisty dogs in every breed. there are certain breeds that have personality traits that you can count on, but still it seems there are differences in dominance and tolerance even within breeds. I can say I wouldn't get a shar pei.

I like having 2 rotties. although sometimes it feels as if we are running cattle through the house....

[Shelby427]

You will need to make sure Jack is mature and well trained before bringing in another dog. He does not need a playmate. Wait about 2-3 years before adding to the family. You don't want the dogs to bond to each other and not to you.

[alsandersrn]

Jack is going to puppy class and loves playing with the other puppies. My husband is the one who wants to get another puppy. I will show him your advise and I know he will rethink getting another dog. Thanks!

[Cdn1050]

I would wait on getting another dog, even if it's a well trained rescue. The dog trainer for my dog suggests this to people in her class, to wait until the dog is 2 years old minimum. Trust me, when your puppy turns 9 months old, your going to be glad that you only have one for the time being. If you want puppy playmates for your puppy, I would suggest to enroll him in a puppy kindergarten class. Then set up play dates with some of the other class members who have puppys who play nicely.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Cdn1050

I would wait on getting another dog, even if it's a well trained rescue.

A good rescue group won't adopt to the OP because their resident dog is a puppy.

[Kandi]

A word of advise, from someone who did get two puppies, 9 months apart in age.....WAIT!!
Though my decision was made due to a disqualifying fault in my first girl, if I had realized how hard it would be trying to raise and train two puppies at once, I would have waited a while. Now, I have one girl I show and one girl that is my house girl, both go to training every week, 2 or 3 classes a week. Just me to work them at home, so it is very difficult. Do yourselves and your puppy a favor and wait. In 2 years, you can think about adding to your canine family, but do what you can to wait.
Socialize you boy with all the puppies you can at training, we have a puppy play time at my training facility, which really helped with socializing my first girl, but when the second was added, it cut down on our ability to go, or each puppy's playtime amount.
Just Wait, please.

[cerulean]

Our pup Mango is 11 weeks today, and I can understand the desire to get a puppy friend for her to play with !!! Our solution is that we are fortunate to know someone who has a similarly-aged pup (a couple weeks older but not as heavy as Mango)...
Both my husband and our friend Nicki sometimes take the dogs to work and meet up at lunch for puppy playdates and let the lil' guys wear themselves out. Then, back into their crates at their respective workplaces for Kongs and naps !!!

[spidey]

WE plan for them to stay in the same kennel at night.

I'm glad you are rethinking getting another puppy, but please also rethink the above idea. It is a bad idea for all kinds of reasons to kennel dogs together, not least the fact that it can be very dangerous and result in serious injury or death. Dogs should have their own crates.