To Buy or not to Buy

BAILEY67

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 March 2010
Messages
254
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
We are thinking of getting another CKCS but we already have a KCS who is now 3, we always wanted two and did put a deposit on our boy's brother only to find the breeder sold him to someone else (a whole other story!).

Anyway as life tends to do it has got in the way of us getting another until now when we are in the perfect situation time and financially wise to get another dog.

However, i have been looking on the internet and discussing with the local Cavi rescue charities and they have all been quite cautious re the idea, mainly due to our existing dog being 3 and used to how things are.

Has anyone ever bought another pup when they had a dog already? any experiences good or bad? did they bond ok?

We really want to think this through before we do anything we first and foremost need to look after our existing dog he is the most important person in all this :D

Sorry for the long story - any help appreciated :D
 
Hey we bought our second pup when our other one was 1 1/2 they get on fine she was a bit rough with the pup at first but then she is a terrorist. I think it all depends on how they are introduced and what the original dog is like.
 
Personally I don't think 3 is that old, Slinky's St Sweep was considerably older than that when she got Max and he seems to have coped quite happily:confused: Mind you they are both lovely dogs - extremely relaxed about a certain small spaniel which absolutely does not belong to me, goodness me no marching into their garden and chewing on their bones! :o:D

Is there something about your existing dog that makes you concerned about the idea - is he snappy with other dogs or very territorial?
 
Personally I don't think 3 is that old, Slinky's St Sweep was considerably older than that when she got Max and he seems to have coped quite happily:confused: Mind you they are both lovely dogs - extremely relaxed about a certain small spaniel which absolutely does not belong to me, goodness me no marching into their garden and chewing on their bones! :o:D

Is there something about your existing dog that makes you concerned about the idea - is he snappy with other dogs or very territorial?

No nothing like that at all, i posted on here a while ago because he was being attacked on walks he is the softest and most relaxed dog in the world, he loves his cuddles. :)

What has worried me is that the various rescue charities all seemed a bit wary of the idea.
It's silly really because i know our dog and know that he wouldn't hurt another dog and my OH agrees, but they have put an element of doubt in my mind :(
 
I do sometimes think that some rescue charities mollycoddle their dogs too much. I know some of them will have had a terrible time of it, and of course new owners should be mindful of this, but at the same time if you are constantly pandering to them and coddling them, how are they ever going to move past those times and get on with life?

I think a pup might help your little one, I think you would want to make sure and pick one of the less dominant pups in the litter but having a little sidekick to boss about might help the older dog.

I would see what Cayla, CC et al think because they know a lot more than me, but I don't think it's out of the question:)
 
I do sometimes think that some rescue charities mollycoddle their dogs too much. I know some of them will have had a terrible time of it, and of course new owners should be mindful of this, but at the same time if you are constantly pandering to them and coddling them, how are they ever going to move past those times and get on with life?

I think a pup might help your little one, I think you would want to make sure and pick one of the less dominant pups in the litter but having a little sidekick to boss about might help the older dog.

I would see what Cayla, CC et al think because they know a lot more than me, but I don't think it's out of the question:)

That's exactly what my OH said!!!! :D he see's himself at the bottom of the pack (which is right) but he seems v down with that and very soft with it - he doesn't stand on his own four paws and always looks to us to help.

Does that make sense? i have to admit i have probably made him that way! :(
 
Buffy was nearly 8 when I got Evie at 8 weeks old, she was fine with her,albeit putting young madam in her place once or twice. I would not consider a 3 year old dog too old to accept another at all, agree with Spudlet that some rescues can be hyper fussy.
I have had people buy pups from me when they already have a dog who is well past middle age and without exception they have said having a pup around the place has given the older dog a new lease of life. As long as you are sensible when you introduce the pup, make sure your other dog has his own space and you stop the pup mithering him I really don't think you should have a problem.
 
Buffy was nearly 8 when I got Evie at 8 weeks old, she was fine with her,albeit putting young madam in her place once or twice. I would not consider a 3 year old dog too old to accept another at all, agree with Spudlet that some rescues can be hyper fussy.
I have had people buy pups from me when they already have a dog who is well past middle age and without exception they have said having a pup around the place has given the older dog a new lease of life. As long as you are sensible when you introduce the pup, make sure your other dog has his own space and you stop the pup mithering him I really don't think you should have a problem.

When you say give him his space what do you mean? we were discussing the best way to introduce but have not decided yet what to do - any ideas on the best way?
Would we be best to put the pup say, in the kitchen and let them meet through a baby gate or some kind of separator or just sit with them in the front room and play with them both?
if anything our boy would drown the pup in kisses and licks :)
 
Tara was 4 when she met Blaze (rescue staffies). I gave her a good long walk before she met him and then we met on neutral ground. Actually knowing him as I do now, he was quite well behaved!. They went for a walk together, off lead and final test was - Tara allowing him to get into the back of my jeep - he jumped in after her and they were fine. They met again on neutral ground when I got him, then took the pair of them out for the whole day on walks, a show etc. Was a good 8 months though before I felt sufficiently relaxed to leave them on their own but I am paranoid anyway!.

When they met sisters puppy - same thing, relaxed dogs having had their walk, neutral ground. Blaze, totally uninterested, Tara trying to lick it (she had pups before I got her) introduced one at a time. I can't speak for all but I am very surprised that the rescues are so anti. The best bit with rescues (apart from the fact you are helping a dog) is that you get every chance to make sure your first dog likes/is happy with the new arrival - and there is normally a 3 week cooling off to make sure both dogs are happy together.
 
I would recommend you get a crate for the pup, apart from giving your older dog a break from the youngster a crate is invaluable for house training. Hopefully Cayla will be along to give some crate training tips. If you have a crate you can put pup in there to introduce them, and then let them together, if your dog is such a softie I bet he will be fine with a newcomer.
 
What a fab idea never thought of that!

May invest in one of those very soon - just want to do best by both of them but not sure what that is.

I'm a bit of a ditherer :o
 
Jack is 6yo and very much a grumpy old man. It's taken time but he's come round to having a pup in the house and I think secretly quite likes her.

But who couldn't love Quila? :)

When I lost my Dalmaton, I got a 12 week old pup (Paddington) for company for my lab. He was a little bit put out at first when pup tried to curl up with him, but within days was accepting, then friends within weeks.

I woul not introduce in the house (your dogs territory) personally for the 1st time. Arrange to first walk on leads alongside, then if all o.k and no aggresion or too much attention from pup to dog, would let of lead in garden or field (injections pending) for a play and 'get to know you' acceptance session.

Good luck, hope you find the right pup for all of you :)
 
There is no reaosn not to introduce a puppy now, esp if your other dog is pretty settled and as trained as you want him to be:D
I would have no issues considering you for a puppy from our rescue if you mentioned you had a dog already, I actually prefer to rehome dogs where there are other dogs in the household, as suggested you just need to be aware puppies are demanding and it you thats need to keep it occupied:p and a crate is a perfect way to create harmoney so your other dog can have a break from the new sprog from time to time and you can leave them unsupervised without any miss haps, Introducing again is a case of supervising and some positive association between the 2 of them until they are settled, cavx are easy going little dogs and cannot see you having any issues. I have a crate training guide and it does cover introductions to other dogs, infact it covers everything, so if you need one just give me a shout, PS we have jsut rehomed a lovely black and tan young male cav.
 
I don't see an issue, as long as people say, they are both given space and time to get to know one another, plenty of people have multiple dogs of different ages, I have a brother and sister and would have found a bit of an age gap easier to cope with, I am sure :p
My male arrived when our old bitch was ten and there were no issues arrived.
Sadly she passed on a few months later and in a moment of madness we went and got the Dumb Blonde to keep him company :p
 
We lost our beloved Rotty x Lab at the grand age of 13, 4 months ago. A week ago, we brought Skye home - 8 week old Jack Russell x Yorkie and introduced her to our remaining dog Lucy, also 13, grumpy old neurotic lady lurcher - very set in her ways...

This is them tonight...

picture.php
 
We lost our beloved Rotty x Lab at the grand age of 13, 4 months ago. A week ago, we brought Skye home - 8 week old Jack Russell x Yorkie and introduced her to our remaining dog Lucy, also 13, grumpy old neurotic lady lurcher - very set in her ways...

This is them tonight...

picture.php

I couldn't see your picture for some reason am afraid, Thanks to everyone we feel a lot better and re assured,
Cayla - can you send me that info? do you need an e mail address or anything?
 
Top