Posted on 08/07/2015 2:30:04 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED
I need some advice on my dog. I had 2 dogs, both rescues for the past 11 years. They were pups together.
Solitare was the best dog in the world. She was a farm lab. No breeding but all character. She was Athletic, loving, smart, funny and exuberant.
I lost her Tuesday to metastatic cancer.
She was a problem pup, she had extreme seperation anxiety and had to be medicated with clomicalm for the first 6 months. Behavior training helped but didn't cure her.
What helped her the most was Solitare.
Jackie is roaming the house looking for Solly. You can't say Solly's name in the house without her jumping up. She won't play. She steps off the walk to potty but won't explore the yard. When she comes back in, it's to look for Solly.
I gave her a rawhide chew and she carried it around looking for Solly. It's no good to have it unless her sister knew it too. Jackie is definitely a beta.
So , I'm considering a puppy. I would have preferred to wait a couple of months but if I do I will be losing my other dog to grief.
I've raised puppies before but I've never raised one with an unstable older dog before. Can you raise a good puppy with a crazy older sister?
I need some input from dog lovers.
You might consider getting an calm older dog and a puppy. That might even out her temperament by giving her someone to follow and someone to love on.
Oh boy that is a tough one. Our lab Tasha would have had her feelings hurt if we had gotten one while she was alive. I know I watched her get her feelings hurt when our neighbor (who used to care for her before we moved here) got a new puppy when their dog died.
She sat in the bed of my pick up for months ignoring the new puppy every time I went to visit. She sorta got over it. Yet I didn’t have to train her. Or a new puppy around her.
Sorry about your loss. Best of luck to you. Prayers.
How old is Jackie? Is she intact, or altered?
She’ll either stabilize, or she’ll go downhill really fast when trying to compete with a new pup. That’s what happened with my Scnauzer and my Golden Retriever pup. Then I had to contend with a grieving Golden pup. She snapped out of it fairly quickly, however. Except, that she would never again play with the rubber tug toy that she used to play with the Schnauzer. She wouldn’t even take it in her mouth for the rest of her life.
You might check with a local animal shelter.
Some of them have ‘trial’ periods. That way, you might see how your dog reacts to a ‘new’ dog.
I’m very sorry for your loss. We’ve lost two of our own in the past few years, and it still is very painful.
I think the puppy will help. It certainly won’t hurt. Jackie will probably still miss Solly, but it will help.
I do know many shelters will let you take a dog on trial. Perhaps that would be a good way to find out before you commit.
You don’t live in Washington, DC, do you?
I’ve heard that if you want a dog outside of DC, you should get a friend.
Get another dog of about equal size as. Jackie. Should be male and Alpha, 3 years old or so. The shelters are full of the type dog you need.
ping to your expertise, friend.
This breaks my heart.
Animals grieve- and that’s exactly what your dog is doing now. They don’t have an understanding of death like we do, so there is an expectation that the dog that was lost is coming back.
There is really not a right or wrong answer here- you know your dog best.
Not sure a puppy would be the best choice only because they are very playful and energetic, would that bother your dog?
The other option is a young dog, 2 or 3 who is out of puppyhood but still has lots of energy and play.
I think giving your dog a couple more days to grieve and then perhaps look for a good match might be best.
make sure your Kah Kah Do Do is together before you screw up a dog..they are no dif than cookie cruncher’s.......it don’t take much to ruin them for life.
I would not get a puppy with a chow mix that was use to your alpha being in charge.
Maybe an older rescue but make sure you can keep them both leashed in the house to make sure your chow is compatible. My gut tells me it will be tough to find her a companion dog. Then again dogs are always impressing me.
Good luck.
The thing I'd worry about is if Jackie would want a replacement while still grieving.
Giving Jackie play time with other dogs on a regular basis will help you see when Jackie's ready for a new companion. He's older now and might be content to be alone.
FWIW, my Chaucer is an orphan who knows how to charm the socks off people and other pups, and loves his one play date a week at the kennel. But in the house, he doesn't want it to be anyone but him and me. Also, if Jackie gets a companion dog he should be part of choosing that new sibling.
I'm sorry for your loss. I've always had rescues, and it's such a special kind of love they give us pet parents.
Most older dogs will accept a puppy of any sex.
However, if you get an older dog, make sure it is a male. You could have some major problems with an older female. Plus, males dogs will almost always back down to the female.
That makes to much sense..
yes! I would get a dog between 6-12 months so it’s past the teething and other terrible stuff :) I would also get a male since your older dog is female.
Go to the shelter and start looking. You can always bring them back if it doesn’t work out but I highly recommend you give it a solid 30 days for them to adjust which I’m certain they will. Especially if they know YOU are the alpha.
God bless you as you go through this; it is always terrible to lose our furbabies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.