Will a second dog upset my sheltie?

M

MariesaR

Forums Novice
hello all! I'm new to the forum. First time sheltie owner. My little man, cobain, is 13 months old and the love of my life. We got him to be an emotional support animal for my fiancé. He does great. Loving. Cuddly. Playful. Easily Adaptable. Hates when anyone fights and very barky about it. He's amazingly bonded to both of us and absolutely adores us as much as we adore him. We take him like, everywhere with us and he likes it that way.

Now, the issue. My fiancé has fallen in love with an American Eskimo puppy (even though it's at a pet store, which I abhor, but no shelter will give us a dog because we don't have a fenced yard-sigh- and too many local breeders have turned out to be puppy mills-sigh). Anyway, because Coby is so bonded to both of us, and so used to being center of attention, will the puppy cause him stress?

I will say, he loves other dogs. Puppy park is his heaven and he adores when our neighbor dog comes over to play. He's anxious when we take him to busy places, has separation anxiety, but mostly he's happy as long as he's cuddled up to one of us.
Really chill, really cuddly, really playful, really obsessed with us. So I hope that tells you his personality. Please let me know if another dog would damage him, because I can't bear to hurt him. But I can't tell if another dog would please him or make him feel abandoned?
 
First, congratulations on your new Sheltie pup! So exciting and they are the most sensitive and wonderful bonding breed!

Shelties I have owned (6) have always welcomed another animal in the home! Dog or cat has been welcomed warmly. That is another wonderful breed trait!
I have to say, unless I could meet both parents of the new pup, I would NEVER go to purchase a puppy at a pet store! They are mostly just a front for puppy mills and you have no idea if the pet has a history of any genetic or Health defects in its background!
Please try not to buy there! I know your heart is guiding you to want to now. However, the reality of health issues, emotional and financially down the road can lead to heartbreak!
I know you could find a reputable breeder. Please try that!
 
I'm just curious if you are concerned about local breeders being puppy mills what do you think you are getting from the pet store?

We'd always gone the breed rescue route until Annie when there just weren't any Shelties in our area available. We went to the AKC site to find breeders in our area and avoid dealing with a puppy mill.

Our search was slightly more challenging because we didn't want a puppy, but slightly older dog. We found the breeders as a whole were great to work with as we went through the process. I'd suggest you check the AKC breeder registry for the breed that interests you to find reputable breeders.

I don't know have experience with the breed you are interested in to know how it will relate to your current dog in general and then taking into account any personal quirks.

Unless a dog has previously been aggressive my dogs generally like other dogs. I'd want to see them interact before bringing one home to live. I learned the hard way about having an aggressive dog in the pack.
 
First of all, I agree that you should NOT get a dog from a pet store. They are absolutely from a puppy mill, every single time. Could you get lucky and get a healthy, stable dog? Sure, but the odds are against it. WAY against it.

In terms of bringing home a second dog - I just brought home my new puppy, Skylar. I already have a 2 1/2 year old sheltie named Spirit. Spirit was flat out angry the first day that Skylar came home, and then adjusted beautifully, and the two of them, after just two weeks, are best of friends. They get along great, they love to play, and I've even caught them snuggling with each other during naptime.

Both of my shelties came from the same local breeder, and they have wonderfully stable temperaments and are extremely healthy. I really think you should explore the breeder options for you to get your new pup. If you would like to post your location, I can ask the Spirit and Skylar's breeder (who are AKC judges and Breeders of Merit) for suggestions.
 
First welcome to you and your little fur-baby Coby

My personal opinion!
Why not enjoy your little man who is only 13 months, he has so much to learn yet, he is first adult around the 3 years.

I can read from your post how wonderful he is :hugs
and he really need your love and attention, and he gives so much back to you -

A Sheltie is a sweet and easy dog to have with us to all places and both you and he is enjoying this.

A Sheltie has an absolutely wonderful mind, but is in all areas very sensitive.

Here is my favorite link about Shelties
http://sheltieforums.com/threads/are-shelties-for-everyone.22964/

About American Eskimo
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/americaneskimodogs.html

Ps two dogs without a fenced yard-sigh :no:
 
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First off, congrats on your little man! I agree that Shelties are wonderful dogs; I not only have one now (Oberon) but was fortunate enough to grow up with one (Charlie). I also agree that pet stores are nothing more than fronts for puppy mills. If you're concerned about getting a dog from a puppy mill, that concern must translate over to getting a puppy from a pet store -- the pet store is nothing more or less than a middle man for the puppy mill. Follow the suggestion above about finding a breeder from the AKC registry in your locale and working with them to find a puppy.

I can also shed a little bit of light on the breed you're interested in. Before Oberon, we had a Samoyed. While not quite the same as an American Eskimo, they're both Northern breeds and have some traits in common. First off, Northern breeds are very stubborn, unlike Shelties. They definitely have a mind of their own, and aren't afraid to let you know it. Unlike having two Shelties where their basic instincts are the same, these are two very different breeds, and I would highly suggest reading up on Northern breeds, and American Eskimos specifically. Based on our experience with our Samoyed, who we loved dearly, Northern breeds are wonderful AND exacerbating, all at the same time. As far as how they'll get along, I think that's a function of the individual dogs as much as anything, and would advise several meet-and-greets at the breeder's before you actually bring the new dog home.
 
I agree with Mimiretz. Although beautiful little dogs to look at, American Eskimos can have difficult temperaments. While your Sheltie may adapt, your Eskie may not. Shelties are sensitive and an Eskie may not be a good match. If you want a second dog, I agree that I would explore another Sheltie who would be compatible with your boy.
 
Congratulations on your sheltie and welcome to the Forum! (y)

As for the new pup,I also agree with the other posters about the pet stores being a front for a puppy mill. Did you know that the situation with pet store puppies is so grave that there is actually a National No Pet Store Puppies day dedicated to raising awareness about this situation? Also, many cities around the world have passed bylaws making it illegal to sell puppies in pet stores because the associated breeding practices are abusive to the pups, thier parents, and the breed in general.

If you can't find a local rescue then a reputable breeder is the only way to go ethically. A good breeder will ask a lot of questions so they can place a pup with just the right temperament to fit in with your family (including the furry members). There have been some good suggestions here on where to find a good breeder. Other resources you can try are the Puppy Culture Breeders list and, if you're on Facebook, there is a good group called "Fact or Fiction: Uncensored Opinions of Breeders". The group has over 2900 members dedicated to helping others find a reputable breeder. Breed clubs like the American Eskimo Dog Club of America are a good place for information on the breed and breeders. If you want information on the recommended health testing for a breed then the Canine Health Information Center has an excellent list of the different breeds including the parent dog club websites.

Finally, here is a list of links to good articles on pet store puppies and backyard breeders:

Paw Rescue - How Responsible Breeders Differ from Backyard Breeders and Pet Shops

The Dogington Post - The Truth about Puppy Mills and Pet Stores

Forbes - Where Not to Buy a Dog: The Pet Store Connection to Puppy Mills

ASPCA - No Pets Store Puppies

KT Campbell - The Responsible Breeder vs the Backyard Breeder
 
I don't think it would make him feel abandoned .... you can still love him just as much, but now there will be another dog to keep him company while you're sleeping / working / busy!
 
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