A new puppy

[TURBOBERT]

We have a working cocker who is 11 1/2 and a JR cross who is 7. Both are fit and well although the older dog is beginning to lose some hearing. We want to introduce a puppy at some stage as a 'replacement ' for the older one when the time comes . When is best? (we prefer not to have three dogs for long!) The cocker's life expectancy is 13/14
1. now when both dogs fit and well
2. next year or even the year after or
3. after we have lost our cocker.

The idea is to help the younger dog as he is very attached to the older one.

Depressing subject isnt it!

 

[blackbirdpf]

Hi I have a older dog to maybe the hearing not what you think. When was the ears lasted cleaned? I get drops from the pet shop and treat Troys once a year to remove dirt. One thing she still has working.

Maybe a visit to the vet just see if it just dirt in the ears I found it cheaper at pet shops follow the instructions it takes 2 minutes once aday for a week then repeat a week or so later see how much comes out..

We've got same problem to with Poppy how to introduce another dogs so we are mating her in the spring then hoping to keep one and us Troy again with the training before we lose her cross fingers we don't.

Before anybody ask Poppy's had all her Health checks and so the Stud dog she's going into a proper breeder.

 

[dozzie]

Im in the same boat with my mastiffs. My bitch is 8 and boy is 4 1/2 so Im intending to get in touch with a breeder fairly soon and looking to the end of next year as I want an apricot bitch with sound breeding! Life expectancy for mastiffs is 10. Im the same, i really dont want 3 mastifs but my boy will be devastated. Just dont want to stress the older bitch too much.

 

[sikaran]

No easy answer to this one! I got a puppy two years ago as one of the dogs was fifteen and seemed to be feeling her age. She is now 17 and still the same! Your dogs aren't huge, so it shouldn't make a massive difference to the household having an extra one - I always have a cage for my puppies which makes life easier. I wouldn't wait until you have lost the cocker - I would maybe start looking at breeds now with a view to getting a pup in the spring. Your cocker will then be twelve and still able to cope with the demands of a young puppy.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!