Help! I have puppy fever!

[MissieLynn]

So...Emmy's groomer is also a Sheltie breeder and she has a litter of puppies who will be ready to go soon. I'm seriously thinking about getting one. There's a little girl who is going to be tinier, and is supposed to be very sweet, spunky, and cuddly. She sounds perfect!

Now my main concern is Emmy. She loves other dogs (especially Shelties) but I'm concerned she might get jealous. Those of you who have added a puppy to your household, as this been a concern? Do you have any tips or ideas for adding a second dog?

Is it easier raising a puppy with an older doggie around?

Any advice/stories would be appreciated (to talk me either into or out of it!)

 

[Calliesmom]

When I got Jocu as a puppy, I told Cranberry that he deserved whatever the puppy did to him since he was such a brat to the old dogs when he was a puppy. Cran's take on it- best toy EVER. Dixie was like whatever....
Then Destin as a puppy- I was worried that Jocu would be jealous so I told him that Destin could be his puppy toy. they play all the time and Dixie likes that Destin isn't bigger than she is so they play a lot too.
so definitely bring that puppy home

the puppy will definitely learn things from the older dog- both good and bad. haven't figured out how to get them to only learn the good stuff....

just make sure to spend time with each dog alone and together.....

 

[tesslynn]

2X

ah the lil diva types, I have one. Small but feisty and keeps us entertained. I think 2 is better. I think the melding/bonding is about how you approach it. My breeder told me to bring Kaleigh to meet the new puppies. We had 3 girls to choose from and Savannah chose us. They thought having them meet on neutral territory worked best. I am glad I did, but I understand that was unusual with breeders. Plus it helped on the long drive home to have them get acquainted. I had good rapport with my breeder and they like to keep up with their pups. Puppies are a handful, but having an older dog helps. My friend's collies were great at teaching Kaleigh, then Savannah. But they are highly social and very well mannered dogs. That is the kind of play buddies you want for a new puppy.

It is twice the everything as most posters have put on here. I didn't like the puppy stage much. But now that both my little monsters are coming up on 2 this year, they are worth all the headaches I endured in their puppyhood. Savannah will always be my challenge dog. But she is also the cuddle muffin now. Kaleigh is a velcro dog-she wants near me, though Savannah is way more affectionate.

I am seriously thinking of getting acreage and adding on to my pack..as many others will post, it becomes an addiction, you just can't have enough shelties...ha...

 

[Chris]

Started with Layla and Bitsy. Bear the Big Red Dog adored them both. Bear passed on; then Annie Laurie arrived. No problems. Beckon appeared -- the girls potty trained him and kept him under their paws! Beckon adores his sister Layla and gets the occasional "crush" on Bitsy.

When Huckleberry the Beagle came along, Beckon postured and threatened until Huck showed that he might be small, but he wasn't taking any s**t. When Huck died, Loki the Papillion came. Beckon and Layla play with him. Annie has no use for him at all. Bitsy ignores him.

In short, pack dynamics form, swirl, and are always fascinating. We make sure everyone gets loads of loving, but we don't reward jealousy.

 

[ferg]

By all means get another/puppy.

My wife does most of the early awake and potty training. I am the disciplinarian.

Chip is such a dear sweet soul, I can think of nothing we have ever had as an animal that we loved more. First week with Laddie was a little testy. Chip pouted and obviously didn't care for what we had just done to him. lol

Laddie is going to be taller than Chip we think but probably not as heavy built. They play very well now after almost three weeks together. When Chip gets tired of the constant chewing and running he goes where he can get away from Laddie.

Love them both and as has been said, "Love both on their terms separately."
We play with both of them at the same time. Laddie is definitely learning from Chip who has very few faults.

ferg

 

[Flower]

So...Emmy's groomer is also a Sheltie breeder and she has a litter of puppies who will be ready to go soon. I'm seriously thinking about getting one. There's a little girl who is going to be tinier, and is supposed to be very sweet, spunky, and cuddly. She sounds perfect!

Now my main concern is Emmy. She loves other dogs (especially Shelties) but I'm concerned she might get jealous. Those of you who have added a puppy to your household, as this been a concern? Do you have any tips or ideas for adding a second dog?

Is it easier raising a puppy with an older doggie around?

Any advice/stories would be appreciated (to talk me either into or out of it!)

I have had both situations, My male Shepherd Atticus gets along even with cats...My female (Tamerah) hated all things tiny, even puppies, she was all...if it wasn't HER puppy, it had no right to live. I would take the household dog around the puppy first, to see how it reacts before bringing anything home to live with it.

Most adult dogs accept a puppy, but it's better safe than sorry.

On the last thing you said... Tam was a pup of 10 weeks old, and Atticus was 6 years old, she was housebroken in a single day (doggie door, she could go in and out at will). She piddled in the house once when it was raining...once she found out she wouldn't melt in water, she had no problems. She just followed Atticus. She had no separation anxiety, and never chewed a thing. So the calm of the older dog was a plus for her...

These were German Shepherds, very different than a Sheltie. LOL...So far Atticus has very little influence on Chai, my 11 week old Sheltie. My yard has gaps that a tiny pup can escape through, so Chai has not been allowed to go in and out as he pleases. I hope to have the yard puppy proofed this week...then we shall see.

 

[Silaria]

I brought a 4 month old puppy (Keiran - male) home April last year with two 9 year old litter mates (Edan - male and CJ - female) already in our home. It took about two weeks but the boys got along really well. Keiran followed Edan everywhere! It was like watching Edan move with a constant shadow. I managed to even capture a picture showing the 'me and my shadow' time of Edan and Keiran. It's a little blurry but one of my favorites none the less. Today Edan and Keiran play chase and wrestle. They are each other's buddy most of the time.

CJ, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Keiran. We'd joke that she'd be constantly asking us to ship him back to wherever he came from. She snarled and snipped at him whenever he came close. Let me be clear, she never outright attacked him, she'd walk away growling and snarling but never attacked him, she just didn't want him anywhere near her. Today, now that Keiran is over a year old, she'll play with him on her own terms and will lay on the couch or in our bed with him nearby.

It's difficult to predict how different dogs are going to react. Make sure to give the older dog time and attention away from the puppy; which should be relatively easy since the puppy should be confined to a limited space at first and slowly granted more freedom as they mature.