Should I get my elderly dog a companion?

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Rosie1969

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Hi all,

I have a question about how best to help my dog. In a couple of weeks I am moving house to start a new job. I usually work from home but this will mean I’m out the house for 1-2 full days a week. My elderly Jack Russell cross is used to having me around 24/7and hates being alone so I am considering getting another dog to keep him company. However he hates other dogs, he always barks at them in the street - seemingly out of fear. Will he learn to love another dog and will it prevent him from being lonely? Or will he be jealous and upset by the new arrival?

He’s an older dog with some problems (mild epilepsy and he often has a weak stomach) but he still enjoys walks and likes to socialise with humans. He sleeps a lot but does enjoy to play as well. I want the best for him and I’m not sure whether he would be worse off with another dog or spending more time alone.

Any advice is appreciated.

Many thanks x
 
I wouldn’t rush to get a companion dog for a dog that is not that keen on other dogs. He might find it more stressful having to share his life with a new dog than being left alone a couple of days a week.
Maybe see how the new routine goes for a month or so.
 
Personally I wouldn't; little terriers can react very aggressively to strange dogs, and I would be anxious about leaving two dogs that you're not sure whether they're going to get on together if you are not there.

As he's an old boy, the last thing he wants is a more active/hyper companion who may possibly bully and tease him, which might then provoke an aggressive reaction from him in return.

I would leave things as they are TBH: there's an old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
 
No I wouldn’t think of getting another dog at the moment - let him settle into a new routine and see how it goes, I think the introduction of another dog would probably stress him out a lot
 
are there any other dogs he gets on with? Bear in mind that older dogs ime find moving quite stressful and the older they are, the longer it takes to settle in-not sure I would think about it until you see how he goes in new home first.

I did get my old dog a rescue companion but he was generally very good with other dogs (he'd been attacked by a bigger dog so wasn't keen on dogs bigger than him, he was a setter though so not many bigger dogs about!). He had been an only dog for about eight years but one of two when he was younger. I took on a 5yo rescue bitch and we had careful introductions and because she was epileptic, we didn't leave them together on their own. After about 6 weeks of him mostly ignoring her, they were best mates-playing and co-sleeping (although only when I was there) and it quite gave the old boy a new lease of life. She was fostered for a couple of weeks by us so we could get to know each other.
 
I'd be very cautious, that would be a lot of change in a very short time for an elderly dog. Between now and the move, can you gradually introduce him to being alone for short periods, that way you can assess what his anxiety levels might be post move? Leave the tv or radio on for him so he has background noise. It might also be worthwhile speaking to your vet to see if they can prescribe something to take the edge off, like Zylkene for example, (often given for firework anxiety), but also works for other causes of anxiety, these things are best introduced prior to the period of anxiety and may help with the adjustment. You could easily find that introducing another dog simply leaves you with two dogs suffering from separation anxiety and they could well make one another worse, rather than providing comfort to one another. Good Luck 🐾❤️
 
Nope. Then you’d have two dogs alone all day who potentially don’t get on.

I’d get someone to pop in twice a day to him.
 
I wouldn't, it would be too much change for an elderly dog all at once, imo. I bet he will soon get used to the new routine and sleep all day while you are out.
 
Another no from me. Far better to find yourself a reliable dog walker, or even just someone to let him in the garden and then spend a little time with him on the days you are working.
 
The house move and new job routine is a big change for an elderly dog. It's not the best time to add another change and the stress that entails. It would be better to pay for someone to pop in for an hour during the day, even if you employed a dog friendly cleaner to just be around, without being in his face.
 
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