Will someone please tell what to do.

jackie · #1 09-03-11, 06:56 PM

This is going to drag on a bit, so fill your wine glass now. As you know I am considering adopting a rescue GSD.
Mishka is nearly 8 months old, calm and unbelievably well behaved, her training is coming on in leaps and bounds.
Molly is a three year old King Charles, she is so laid back, harrassed by Mishka, but definatley the boss when it comes to who owns the bone.

I have been told by Mishka's trainer to wait untill she is a lot older or I will risk losing the angel I have if I take on another youngster.
The rescue advised me to take on a youngster as an older dog wouldn't cope with Mishka.
I have been told to start with a baby puppy, as this is easier to introduce into our existing dogs.
I am now so confused, I don't know what to do.

zetstaff · #2 09-03-11, 07:04 PM

You have to bear in mind mine are SBTs.

We got a pup, + till we were sure they would be ok left alone, Tilly went in a BIG cage. It has been fantastic since, they get on sooooo well.

I personally think with a young dog you need a young dog. Others will no doubt disagree. An older dog may tire of a younger one, + maybe because of my breed, I would always have a dog + a bitch, not 2 of one or the other.

If you are thinking of rescue, you could take your dog + let it choose it's own mate

Good luck xxx

ClaireandDaisy · #3 10-03-11, 08:05 AM

I`m a bit confused - you have a 3 year old bitch? You want to adopt an 8 month bitch? Is that right?
Three issues might arise - gender, temperament and age.
1. Occasionally two bitches don`t get on . If this happens the only options are to rehome one or keep separate as bitches fighting can get very serious. Unspayed and growing bitches will have hormone swings which will make spats more likely.
Having said that, I have kept pairs of bitches (of various ages) with no trouble.

2. I rarely find temperament an issue, provided the dogs are supervised at first. Put away all toys and feed separately till they get to know each other.

3. Age. Three is not old - three is young! They may become firm friends and play all day or they may ignore each other. You cant tell. Either way - the GSD will look to you for amusement etc. so you`ll have to give her training and her own time. 8 months old means she is just entering the Kevin stage when dogs go deaf. It depends if you think you can cope with this, I suppose.

It could be a good learning experience - for both of you.

ArchandEbs · #4 10-03-11, 09:54 AM

Well I have three. It used to be three golden oldies but since Harry went to rainbow bridge we fostered then adopted Poppy a young very high energy australian cattle dog crossed with a staffie. I now have 2 bitches and one dog. They all get on fine. I don't want to tell you what to do just passing on my experience

Jude · #5 10-03-11, 10:30 AM

I have to say that I agree with your trainer - taking on another pup now will inevitably mean a big step backwards in Mishka's training. You should wait until she is much older and more established in her behaviour before taking on another dog - she has not yet reached the terrible teens and as others on here will agree I am sure, teenage behaviour can be quite a challenge. I would wait until she is 2 or 3 before considering another dog. You also need to bear in mind that three can sometimes be a crowd and you are more likely to get jealosy issues with two dogs that are close in age.

LOVEGSD · #6 10-03-11, 11:14 AM

What I will say is that Diesel was the best puppy at this age and his teenage phase didn't kick in until he was 18months!

Personally I think you should allow your dog to mature and then add another one into the mix but this is just my opinion and ultimately the decision has to be yours....good luck with whatever you decide to do though and do keep us posted

kita · #7 10-03-11, 01:07 PM

I think you have to do what you feel is right for you.

Much of it depends on how much time/work you can put in with the dogs, do you have the time to walk them separately if necessary?

Adding a third dog whatever age/sex will alter the 'family' dynamics - it is just whether it is for bad or good!

Yes a young adult rescue could teach Mishka some bad habits - or her good habits could rub off on the rescue.

My first bitch was around 8 months old when I started looking for a companion for her, by the time I had arranged to buy my BSD she was a year old. The day after I brought my 16 week old puppy BSD into the house, I also rescued my GSD's litter sister! So from being an only dog for the first year of her life she suddenly had two new companions! A pup and her year old sister! I also worked full time, so I really had my hands full

. Everything worked out though, because Kita (my first GSD) was so laid back and maternal she mothered both the new pup and the rescue. Both followed her lead in everything they did - to be honest she did most of the work for me.

Not all dogs go through the 'teenage' stage, my Kita was an 'old' dog from when I got her (12 weeks old) and I never really felt like I taught her anything. She took everything in her stride and I never saw any dog willing to take her on - she just had to look at them and they stopped in their tracks. She was a fantastic dog to own.

Would the rescue allow you to 'foster' a dog with a view to becoming permanent if the dog fitted in well?

Sue