Your thoughts on adding a 2nd GSD

MN GSD Fan · 11-10-2012, 06:52 PM

Hello, We have a 9 year old female GSD dog that we love. We are thinking about getting a puppy and were wondering if there are opinions of the new dog being male or female. Also our current dog is getting up there in age and her back legs are starting to get a little stiff on certain days. Overall she's still very active, but would it be bad for a new puppy/dog to be running with her and potentially playing hard in her older years? I know with past dogs a new puppy has been a great thing, but this is our first GSD so wanted some of your opinions. Any other info is also appreciated.

Sunflowers · 11-10-2012, 06:58 PM

Definitely get a male and make sure he doesn't pester the senior. Lavish attention on her and make sure she knows she comes first.

Welcome and the best of luck to you. Would love to see pics of your girl!

mebully21 · 11-10-2012, 09:56 PM

or you could get an adult dog that is past the annoying puppy stage , one that is set in temperment and would make a good companion for your older girl..

Nikitta · 11-10-2012, 10:03 PM

All I can say is this website advised me away from getting two females. I got a puppy when my old guy was 14. He couldn't tolerate the puppy at all so I had to keep them separate. I think yours is young enough to take a lot more. Just like the above post said, monitor and lavish the older one a lot of love. And welcome. You are going to love this website. LOTS of smart people and info here.

Zeeva · 11-10-2012, 10:10 PM

I usually like to point out to people that adding a second dog, in my experience, has been more than double the work. I have two dogs and it's been tough on me. I can't walk them together, let them out together, train them together etc plus I've to worry about resource guarding between them. If you're experienced in taking care of more than one dog at a time, I'd definitely say go for it! But if it's your first time taking care of two, I'd take precaution. I'd see how a foster does in your home and go from there (possibly foster fail the new dog!

). And I agree puppydom on an older dog can be petty harsh. Just my two cents...

good luck to you!

**MaggieRoseLee** · 11-11-2012, 10:40 AM

As long as you've trained/socialized your current dog so know she'll do well with other dogs.....then I say you will do great with a puppy or older friendly pup. Advantage of having the older dog is you know all the great work you've done to make them great and ease to integrate a new pup. Best to get a male but more important is to do all the research to find a 'responsible' breeder to make sure you get the healthiest and best temperament in the new addition to your home.

shepherdmom · 11-11-2012, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MN GSD Fan

Hello, We have a 9 year old female GSD dog that we love. We are thinking about getting a puppy and were wondering if there are opinions of the new dog being male or female. Also our current dog is getting up there in age and her back legs are starting to get a little stiff on certain days. Overall she's still very active, but would it be bad for a new puppy/dog to be running with her and potentially playing hard in her older years? I know with past dogs a new puppy has been a great thing, but this is our first GSD so wanted some of your opinions. Any other info is also appreciated.

Last year I added a puppy with our then 9 year old senior. The biggest advise I have to give is to let your old girl choose who she wants as a companion. We thought Buddy would like an older female for a friend so we started searching rescues. Turns out after many introductions... He chose a male 5 month old puppy.

They are best of friends.

MN GSD Fan · 11-11-2012, 11:26 AM

Thanks for all the responses. We introduced our current GSD as a puppy when we had a 10 year old Golden Retriever and they became best buddies as well. We are hoping adding a GSD puppy to our current dog would bring the same results with proper training/introduction. Any other input or experiences is much appreciated.

zyppi · 11-11-2012, 12:42 PM

puppy should be fine.

Most older dogs give a 'puppy license' to little one. Sometime a puppy breathes new life in an older dog.

I would get a 8or 9 week female.

Sunflowers · 11-11-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zyppi

puppy should be fine.

Most older dogs give a 'puppy license' to little one. Sometime a puppy breathes new life in an older dog.

I would get a 8or 9 week female.

May I ask why you would advise getting a female?

11-10-2012, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
MN GSD Fan Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 117	Your thoughts on adding a 2nd GSD Hello, We have a 9 year old female GSD dog that we love. We are thinking about getting a puppy and were wondering if there are opinions of the new dog being male or female. Also our current dog is getting up there in age and her back legs are starting to get a little stiff on certain days. Overall she's still very active, but would it be bad for a new puppy/dog to be running with her and potentially playing hard in her older years? I know with past dogs a new puppy has been a great thing, but this is our first GSD so wanted some of your opinions. Any other info is also appreciated.

11-10-2012, 06:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,676	Definitely get a male and make sure he doesn't pester the senior. Lavish attention on her and make sure she knows she comes first. Welcome and the best of luck to you. Would love to see pics of your girl! __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

11-10-2012, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
mebully21 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 458	or you could get an adult dog that is past the annoying puppy stage , one that is set in temperment and would make a good companion for your older girl.. __________________ Maryellen CGC Evaluator Rufus CGC,ATTS,TherapyDog http://wallacethepitbull.blip.tv/file/147911/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYdlh8_p8xQ

11-10-2012, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Nikitta Master Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 837	All I can say is this website advised me away from getting two females. I got a puppy when my old guy was 14. He couldn't tolerate the puppy at all so I had to keep them separate. I think yours is young enough to take a lot more. Just like the above post said, monitor and lavish the older one a lot of love. And welcome. You are going to love this website. LOTS of smart people and info here. Last edited by Nikitta; 11-10-2012 at 10:06 PM.

11-10-2012, 10:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zeeva Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,262	I usually like to point out to people that adding a second dog, in my experience, has been more than double the work. I have two dogs and it's been tough on me. I can't walk them together, let them out together, train them together etc plus I've to worry about resource guarding between them. If you're experienced in taking care of more than one dog at a time, I'd definitely say go for it! But if it's your first time taking care of two, I'd take precaution. I'd see how a foster does in your home and go from there (possibly foster fail the new dog! ). And I agree puppydom on an older dog can be petty harsh. Just my two cents... good luck to you! __________________ A dog's smile is on his butt! c:

11-11-2012, 10:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 24,188	As long as you've trained/socialized your current dog so know she'll do well with other dogs.....then I say you will do great with a puppy or older friendly pup. Advantage of having the older dog is you know all the great work you've done to make them great and ease to integrate a new pup. Best to get a male but more important is to do all the research to find a 'responsible' breeder to make sure you get the healthiest and best temperament in the new addition to your home. __________________ MACH3 Bretta Lee Wildhaus MXG MJG MXF MFB TQX HIT CGC TC Glory B Wildhaus AX, AXJ, XF "*It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."* - Oscar Wilde

11-11-2012, 11:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
MN GSD Fan Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 117	Thanks for all the responses. We introduced our current GSD as a puppy when we had a 10 year old Golden Retriever and they became best buddies as well. We are hoping adding a GSD puppy to our current dog would bring the same results with proper training/introduction. Any other input or experiences is much appreciated.

11-11-2012, 12:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
zyppi Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Back home to Louisiana! Posts: 5,233	puppy should be fine. Most older dogs give a 'puppy license' to little one. Sometime a puppy breathes new life in an older dog. I would get a 8or 9 week female. __________________ Anne Nothing is as simple as it seems or as complicated as we make it~ Attitude is everything -- Pick a good one! Sofie AKA Ussina vom Haus Brezel Jack von Jagenstadt Tatty - Burmese bad cat

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