In a bit of a quandary.

[dozzie]

Not quite sure what to do really.

History
I have two Old English Mastiffs.

The bitch is 10 and definitely got a few problems getting to the top end of the age range for Mastiffs. The dog is 6 and devoted to the bitch.

So I know when the bitch goes he will be devastated. I honestly think he will pine big time. He cant even cope if I take her out without him. He sleeps next to her the whole time etc. If I have another dog already it should make things easier for the boy but may put my old girl under pressure.

What do I do? Do I get a pup "ordered" from a breeder (I know a few sound breeders but not many) with the chance the pup may come along before my old dog has gone or do I wait? I would have to go for a bitch, but would that cause problems for my old bitch?

It is very difficult to find an Old English Mastiff at short notice. If I have another Mastiff it will be an Old English as the seem to be the most healthy mastiffs.

I just dont know what to do for the best really!

I know every situation is different but would love to know if anyone else has been a similar situation and what they did/ how it worked out.

 

[shazza283]

kinda depends on what her probs are - if it's something that might be made worse by excitement or more exercise then maybe not
but quite a few friends in the same situation have said their old dogs got a new lease of life with a pup in the house

((hugs)) to help you through this hard time - been there and we took the decision to keep one - she was just really quiet, but never a noisy dog anyway and she decided that she'd had enough within a year - they were both old ladies -16 - so we decided a pup would be too much.

 

[dozzie]

TBH if she doesnt want to exercise she wont! LOL! There is no way a pup would wind her up! It is a Mastiff thing!

It is more about her having her nose put out of joint really. I guess we would just have to make sure she got more than her fair share of attention. I think they would both accept a pup but not sure i would want to leave them with one overnight. I guess it would be a case of play it by ear. Or have a cage. I have never had a dog in a cage before so that is a bit foreign to me, but I suppose it is a possible way forward.

I just need a very practical solution and a very objective POV!

 

[fmay]

We have always had a number of dogs at a time and have found that when one of the dogs has to be pts there is a general sadness in the house with the other dogs looking for the 'lost' one but seeming to take comfort from one another.
Bringing a new puppy into the house needn't be traumatic to the old lady as long as everyone can have their own space to escape to when things get too much. A cage would be a good idea for the puppy to allow everyone their own space.
Good luck.

 

[Oneofthepack]

I was faced with tha same problem in that I had 2 dogs quite different in ages. I got the 3rd and 4th before either of the originals were into middle age so I didn't have the problem of introducing new dogs to grumpy old men.

If you really think the other one will pine then I'd choose a puppy carefully now, bearing in mind that you have to keep doing this over and over if you have dogs with age gaps !