We have been considering getting another dog as a companion for our lovely Corgi/Staffy rescue dog who is now 11 1/2 years old and has been with us for over 10 years. He's always been very sociable, seeks out the company of other dogs and is happy when other dogs stay with us. He's injured both his back legs in the last couple of years, but has made a good recovery now, although he can't run and jump around like he used to.
If I'm honest we're probably considering another dog because we don't want to be without a dog at any time in the future, but we've been telling ourselves that it will be good for him to have a younger dog living with him.
Any comments on whether this is a good idea and if so what sort of companion would be ideal?
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You would probably want something as small as him so that he doesn't feel threatened, and something of similar nature. I would suggest a "Staffy" bitch pup , they are affectionate, friendly,and good natured, just don't over-fuss it while he's there an put his nose out of joint! ;-)
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Difficult one. We have two Spaniels - Working Cocker coming up to 11 and still as fit as a flea (no fleas though) and the Springer. Both male - had in the last 18 months or so led to some testosterone fuelled problems. (now largely resolved following giving the Springer the chop) - remember that two dogs are twice the logistics - two beds, two sets of food (possibly different), two transporter issues.
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>>>If I'm honest we're probably considering another dog because we don't want to be without a dog at any time in the future...
Paul we are not dog experts but are very experienced with managing dogs in the home to fit in with family life and meet the dog's needs too.
In the past we have had exactly the same thoughts as yours but said never again as it was a bit selfish wanting to deal with our worry about losing the old dog and being without for a while.
We found some difficulty with compatibility between a failing old dog and an eager young one as the activities and lifestyle needed to be quite different for each.
Hence now our fellow is 14 and getting weak at the back end we've decided not to run a young dog alongside him but to give him the attention he needs until the end. Then we are considering fostering or similar to bridge the gap while we decide on a new puppy.
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That's a lovely idea Fenlander, and I bet you'll fall in love with your foster dog and keep him too!
Pat
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>>> lovely idea Fenlander, and I bet you'll fall in love with your foster dog and keep him too!
Thanks Pat. You are possibly right and to that end we'd probably foster from the breed type we know and like (mid size Spitz). Such as Red Ted here who has been up for rehoming for well over a year with his description being updated from time to time with different issues and constraints that have often sounded quite negative.
www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/dog/1121518/redted
Many of the "faults" mentioned of him and others we see of the same breed are usually more what we would regard as the norm for one in unsettled circumstances so would have every confidence in a relaxed home with lots of exercise, someone at home all day and a good routine they would become a calm(er) and rewarding companion.
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I couldn't foster an animal. Or a child for that matter. I'd never let it go.
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Thank you - 14 is a good age! I think it's more difficult for us as ours is a more marginal case. We're also trying to get a professional to assess him so we can consider their opinion together with all the other comments.
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My last dog clocked out over rainbow bridge at age 15. The last two years was a wee bit restrictive. We had 9 months of dog free life before we decided the break was enough, so went for a younger very active dog.
I know people who introduce younger dogs in the home environment, but they always do it much earlier in the scenario, when the older dog can cope. 8 is ideal 10 is marginal.
Personally I wouldn't inflict a pup onto an old dog approaching the twilight of its years.
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Update - the result of 3 hours of assessment with other dogs is that he's considered unsuitable to live with a young dog 24/7, but would benefit from regular socialisation with young dogs.
So, we have to arrange more play dates for him!
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This can go either way.
My parents fourteen year old collie/corgi type mongrel got a new lease of life when a collie pup arrived, but then they did live on a Scottish island off Mull, so the pup was the only other canine on the Island.
My older rescue dog sociably sought out other dogs always and was very happy for other dogs to stay for short periods, much preferring them to humans. So much so that when we were asked to take on a young collie from Battersea who they had been unable to place in a working home, we didn't hesitate. It was okay, but never a roaring success in the eyes of the older dog. Some may remember when my husband died, the problems really arose with marking all over the house and much replacement of curtains etc. Both dogs were castrated on the advice of the vet, with no improvement. Later it became apparent it was the older dog, who found the loss of the main master and competing with the younger dog all too much.
Sadly I lost him three years ago after a first, and huge, fit.
The younger, now nearly 11, dog has been a much much happier chap as a solo dog. I certainly wouldn't get another dog this time, until the house is empty.
Apart from how the dogs get on, another aspect is that it is much easier to get one looked after if you want to go away, than two, unless you have good kennels. I wouldn't use them as Toby spent a long time after his weeks at Battersea recovering.
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We only have the one dog at the moment, he's 6 going on 7. We've sometimes thought, indeed sometimes still do think it'd be nice to get him a companion. He's very easy going and if friends or family come to visit with their dogs he welcomes them into "his" house and garden. Only downside I can see is that he is a slow eater, sometimes a bowl of food takes him all day to finish and I know other dogs would just eat his too.
As a child, there were always multiple dogs at our house, it seemed my parents were always buying or taking in another one. Don't remember there being any major problems despite their preference for intact males. Right old minestrone of breeds from pedigree retrievers to scruffy little mongrels.
I'm no expert, I don't have any background in training or whatever, but I do believe it's about consistency of the way you treat dogs that leads to harmony. They need routine, they need rules, they need to understand that you are the boss and that they are dogs, not toys to be cuddled or children to be pampered. That doesn't mean you shouldn't treat them kindly of course. But I think it's very important that they see the human/s as the pack leader/s, which in turn leads to greater equality and peace in the relationships between the dogs.
That's what I think anyway. Could be wrong.
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Also no expert, but in my opinion old dogs are like old people. They don't like change and they don't want young hooligans banging about the place interfering with everything.
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Wise word Humph. The Working Cocker used to leave his food for grazing. He soon learnt it was history if he left it with the Springer around.
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It certainly was a big mistake to take on Cody my English Pointer at 8 weeks young, when Milo the Rhodesian Ridgeback was 15 years old. Going by my personal experience I'd say don't do it Ethel, but then no two dogs are the same really, yours is younger than Milo was, and you say he's very sociable and happy with other dogs.
BIG decision guvnor, and only you can decide/know your Corgi/Staff.
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It will either perk him up, or irritate him. If the latter there's no way back.
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nothing unusual about that, its called imprinting and conditioning. There are certain breeders who are well regarded and their pups sought after for the way they condition pups.
You choose your breed, your choice of dog sport, and there will be a breeder who has developed certain desirable traits you seek in a dog by the time you get it at 6-8 weeks. Of course if a dog doesn't have it, it can't be developed, but at least you know.
The moustache thing is pfd tho.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 17 Nov 17 at 17:02
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>>The moustache thing is pfd tho.
Yes and no. It's rubbish as a headline, but as part of a variety of experiences it is certainly sensible. What they have missed off is dark-skinned people. Dogs who have been brought up in the countryside have a very strange reaction to meeting black people in London.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 17 Nov 17 at 17:02
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Neither of mine did.Seems unlikely to me.
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We do have black people in the countryside too, you know.
Pat
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I live (two dogs) in an area where I never see any black people. A black courier delivered a parcel recently and mutts were as-good-as-gold wivvim, and he was as black as they come (Nigerian)
Whereas my French Shepherd dog takes a distinct dislike to neighbs 8 year-old granddaughter, who has a coffee-coloured complexion, being her mum is Cornish and her dad is from El Salvador.
I haven't a clue why that is, as he is OK with 99% of other peops.
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>> What they have missed off is dark-skinned people. Dogs who
>> have been brought up in the countryside have a very strange reaction to meeting black
>> people in London.
No thats the wrong way round. Dark skinned people have a strange reaction to dogs. The dogs pick up on it and react.
Watched it with interest one day, when a very dark skinned West African courier delivered to my house when I had my wimpy old black lab who was scared of grass and ducklings.
I opened the door, and there he was, the lab timidly stuck her head round the door, and the courier saw her, his white eyes opened wide with fear, and he backs away ever so slightly. Well that was enough for her, she advances assertively for the first time in her life, he becomes even more fearful, and she goes into full scrap yard guard dog mode. First and last time ever.
I stood there and watched the entire interaction from start to finish.
Asian people, specially girls react the same way, the Goldie thinks its funny and winds them up in a playful way.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 17 Nov 17 at 16:31
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>> No thats the wrong way round. Dark skinned people have a strange reaction to dogs.
>> The dogs pick up on it and react.
All dark skinned people have a strange reaction to dogs?
Really?
Lots of people, some of them dark skinned, are afraid of dogs. I was as a kid on account of encounters with next door but one's ill socialised wire haired terrier. As a child and adolelescent I reacted like your courier and consequently dog had upper hand.
Later I learned to face them down and then they wanted to be my pal.
Islam has an issue with dogs so no surprise some asian people do too.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 17 Nov 17 at 21:25
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>> All dark skinned people have a strange reaction to dogs?
>>
>> Really?
Is that a question? Really not sure what you are saying here, on the one hand you seem to be agreeing with me, and the other castigating me? Really wasnt sure that was possible till I saw your post.
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Of course it was a question, hence the curly symbols at the end!!!
I was disputing the statement that ALL dark skinned people, of whatever background, have a strange reaction to dogs. No obvious reason why an Afro-Caribbean person from say Barbados should react differently to a dog from how I do.
There's a complication because most of Islam regards dogs as ritually unclean which may affect it's adherent's view.
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>> I was disputing the statement that ALL dark skinned people, of whatever background, have a
>> strange reaction to dogs. No obvious reason why an Afro-Caribbean person from say Barbados should
>> react differently to a dog from how I do.
Well dispute away, but I don't know who with because I distinctly remember (and a quick check through the forum confirms it) I didn't say ALL dark skinned people. As far as Afro Caribbean people goes, I also seem to remember, and the minutes confirm this that a West African was specifically mentioned NOT an Afro Caribbean.
As it happens my sister in law is married to an Afro Caribbean fella, child of Windrush immigrants, and he and all his family are scared of dogs.
And as far as Asian people go, I didn't mention Muslims either. My neighbours are christian Indian, and are scared of dogs.
Now, your point was?
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 18 Nov 17 at 09:37
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Apologies, the ALL was mine. Nonetheless, you said without any apparent qualification Dark skinned people have a strange reaction to dogs.
Genuinely interested as to history or rationale as to why dark skinned people react oddly and how 'oddly' manifests itself.
I know you didn't mention Muslims. I brought them in because the religious aspect might affect their perception of dogs. One of my colleagues who is Muslim is clearly uncomfortable when the Manager occasionally bring her dogs (some sort of terrier) into office.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 18 Nov 17 at 13:04
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This is quite interesting, although I must say I'd never made any cultural connection before. But when I come to think of it, my friend of Pakistani origin really isn't good around dogs, nor indeed are my two Jamaican friends, one of whom is black, and the other is white. Not sure if I'm buying into the skin tone element so much as cultural attitudes though.
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> Genuinely interested as to history or rationale as to why dark skinned people react oddly
>> and how 'oddly' manifests itself.
Possibly lack of dog ownership cultural and historical, as to reaction probably similar to yours, a nervousness around them.
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>> Apologies, the ALL was mine. Nonetheless, you said without any apparent qualification Dark skinned people
>> have a strange reaction to dogs.
>>
>> Genuinely interested as to history or rationale as to why dark skinned people react oddly
>> and how 'oddly' manifests itself.
For crying out loud brompy WTF are you smoking, has it made you deaf dumb and ruddy stupid?
I qualified it and gave you a full graphic description of how it manifested itself. I'm sorry I cant carry this subject with you, one of us has his head down the toilet spouting something appropriate, while I am sat in front of a computer screen bemused.
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Dog Dilemma - devonite
