Opinions wanted on adding another GSD

schatzi14 · 01-10-2012, 04:37 AM

I'd like to hear some opinions on my situation please...or maybe from experience...any help appreciated.

My female, Sheena recently turned 8. Last year I had to PTS my male, and her best friend, Nikko...there was a 7 mos. difference in their age. Sheena handled it well, I think she knew he was sick toward the end. (lymphoma

)

My married daughter (lives in an apt. upstairs) got a male French Bulldog puppy a few months after Nikko passed. Sheena realizes that he is/was a puppy and a smaller dog...she lets that little squirt get away w/ murder. He is cute and playful (has gotten better now that he is a year old)...but it is very different for her playing w/ such a smaller dog than the way she played with my male gsd, Nikko. He has much more energy and toward the end of the day can be annoying toward her...she'll lay on the couch to get peace. (let me add he is downstairs 98% of the time, while they are at work, goes upstairs at night to sleep)

OK...I am thinking about getting a male gsd puppy. I've never owned 3 dogs (in reality I own 2, but there are 3 in the house). I think that the two younger dogs would play - and maybe give Sheena a break - but then I wonder if they would both be annoying her? When the puppy gets bigger, she would be able to play better as they are equal in size - Sheena is active and still loves to run and play. I'm so confused. Maybe the male gsd puppy would grow and not be as nice to the Frenchie as Sheena is and snap at him? - or maybe the 2 younger males would be best friends?

Any thoughts?

**MaggieRoseLee** · 01-10-2012, 07:41 AM

The 8 yr split between your female and a new puppy is ideal.

There are issues you need to be aware of that can arise between a new puppy and the French Bulldog puppy. If you take a look at this stuff it will fill you in --> Should I get TWO puppies/dogs at once?

If the bulldog just visits, then you'll probably be in a better situation. If he's over every day all day, that's more of a 'heads up' situation like those described in the thread above.

schatzi14 · 01-10-2012, 08:12 AM

I would be the one socializing/training/ob school the gsd pup. My daughter is in charge of her Frenchie. She walks him, I don't. He is in my house all day - he is just over a year now - he is very friendly toward other dogs. I raised Sheena and Nikko (my male gsd who is gone) (she was 10 mos old when I brought home 3 mo. Nikko) as pups together, so I understand the need for seperate time together as I've been through the 2 at once puppy thing.
I think that since Sheena is already 8, waiting more years to add a gsd - although the bulldog will be older, so will Sheena - and a puppy may be really very annoying to her.
I guess there is no way to predict the outcome.

Well....I have my eye on two brothers (12 weeks old)....one is more mushy, the other more playful....IF I pick one...wonder which one it should be?

LaRen616 · 01-10-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzi14

Well....I have my eye on two brothers (12 weeks old)....one is more mushy, the other more playful....IF I pick one...wonder which one it should be?

I would pick the more mushy one. If he is the calmer more laid back of the 2 puppies that will be good for your senior. Also keep in mind that GSD puppies play rough and Frenchies are small. The mushy pup might be more careful with him and less rough.

schatzi14 · 01-10-2012, 08:22 AM

Yes, I was leaning toward the mushier one. I know how hard they play....but this little bulldog actually likes it! He is a tough little guy.

...and thankyou both for your advice!

Emoore · 01-10-2012, 10:07 AM

In your situation, I would get a male puppy. That' s just me.

schatzi14 · 01-10-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

In your situation, I would get a male puppy. That' s just me.

LOL....I think that's just me too...I'm trying hard to talk myself out of it, but I don't think I'm winning

**Cassidy's Mom** · 01-10-2012, 12:04 PM

Go for the mushy one, Joyce! As long as Sheena is active and in good health she should be plenty able to handle a puppy, and it's a bonus that you'll also have the younger dog around for him to play with if he's more than she wants to deal with at times.

Is it too soon to say congratulations?

elisabeth_00117 · 01-10-2012, 12:16 PM

So excited! New puppy on the board..

I agree with the others..

Vinnie · 01-10-2012, 12:40 PM

In our house, we have an 11 year age difference between Dalton & Sundance and I wish there wasn't such a huge age difference. We also have only a 5 month age difference between Sundance & Butch (yes, 2 puppies at once

).

Dalton wants to play with Sundance and Butch sometimes but because of his age he doesn't get around as well as the puppies do. The puppies do keep each other busy most of the time but sometimes they want to play with Dalton. We do let the 3 play together but it's always supervised play.

I've found what works for us is to make sure Dalton has a safe place to go when he gets tired/annoyed with the puppies.

PS. We also have a 15 yo (in 2 weeks) female but she doesn't want anything to do with the puppies.

PSS. Congrats on the new puppy!!!

01-10-2012, 04:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
schatzi14 Master Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 511	Opinions wanted on adding another GSD I'd like to hear some opinions on my situation please...or maybe from experience...any help appreciated. My female, Sheena recently turned 8. Last year I had to PTS my male, and her best friend, Nikko...there was a 7 mos. difference in their age. Sheena handled it well, I think she knew he was sick toward the end. (lymphoma) My married daughter (lives in an apt. upstairs) got a male French Bulldog puppy a few months after Nikko passed. Sheena realizes that he is/was a puppy and a smaller dog...she lets that little squirt get away w/ murder. He is cute and playful (has gotten better now that he is a year old)...but it is very different for her playing w/ such a smaller dog than the way she played with my male gsd, Nikko. He has much more energy and toward the end of the day can be annoying toward her...she'll lay on the couch to get peace. (let me add he is downstairs 98% of the time, while they are at work, goes upstairs at night to sleep) OK...I am thinking about getting a male gsd puppy. I've never owned 3 dogs (in reality I own 2, but there are 3 in the house). I think that the two younger dogs would play - and maybe give Sheena a break - but then I wonder if they would both be annoying her? When the puppy gets bigger, she would be able to play better as they are equal in size - Sheena is active and still loves to run and play. I'm so confused. Maybe the male gsd puppy would grow and not be as nice to the Frenchie as Sheena is and snap at him? - or maybe the 2 younger males would be best friends? Any thoughts? __________________ Joyce (NY) Sheena 12/10/03 *********** Forever in our hearts.....** Nikko GSD 7/17/04 - 1/4/11 Schatzi GSD 5/12/90 - 3/12/04 Sheena GSD 10/22/86 - 5/7/90

01-10-2012, 07:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	The 8 yr split between your female and a new puppy is ideal. There are issues you need to be aware of that can arise between a new puppy and the French Bulldog puppy. If you take a look at this stuff it will fill you in --> Should I get TWO puppies/dogs at once? If the bulldog just visits, then you'll probably be in a better situation. If he's over every day all day, that's more of a 'heads up' situation like those described in the thread above. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

01-10-2012, 08:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
schatzi14 Master Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 511	I would be the one socializing/training/ob school the gsd pup. My daughter is in charge of her Frenchie. She walks him, I don't. He is in my house all day - he is just over a year now - he is very friendly toward other dogs. I raised Sheena and Nikko (my male gsd who is gone) (she was 10 mos old when I brought home 3 mo. Nikko) as pups together, so I understand the need for seperate time together as I've been through the 2 at once puppy thing. I think that since Sheena is already 8, waiting more years to add a gsd - although the bulldog will be older, so will Sheena - and a puppy may be really very annoying to her. I guess there is no way to predict the outcome. Well....I have my eye on two brothers (12 weeks old)....one is more mushy, the other more playful....IF I pick one...wonder which one it should be? __________________ Joyce (NY) Sheena 12/10/03 *********** Forever in our hearts.....** Nikko GSD 7/17/04 - 1/4/11 Schatzi GSD 5/12/90 - 3/12/04 Sheena GSD 10/22/86 - 5/7/90

01-10-2012, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
schatzi14 Master Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 511	Yes, I was leaning toward the mushier one. I know how hard they play....but this little bulldog actually likes it! He is a tough little guy. ...and thankyou both for your advice! __________________ Joyce (NY) Sheena 12/10/03 *********** Forever in our hearts.....** Nikko GSD 7/17/04 - 1/4/11 Schatzi GSD 5/12/90 - 3/12/04 Sheena GSD 10/22/86 - 5/7/90 Last edited by schatzi14; 01-10-2012 at 08:24 AM.

01-10-2012, 10:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	In your situation, I would get a male puppy. That' s just me. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

01-10-2012, 12:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,959	Go for the mushy one, Joyce! As long as Sheena is active and in good health she should be plenty able to handle a puppy, and it's a bonus that you'll also have the younger dog around for him to play with if he's more than she wants to deal with at times. Is it too soon to say congratulations? __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

01-10-2012, 12:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,251	So excited! New puppy on the board.. I agree with the others.. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

01-10-2012, 12:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Vinnie The Italian One Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 8,639	In our house, we have an 11 year age difference between Dalton & Sundance and I wish there wasn't such a huge age difference. We also have only a 5 month age difference between Sundance & Butch (yes, 2 puppies at once ). Dalton wants to play with Sundance and Butch sometimes but because of his age he doesn't get around as well as the puppies do. The puppies do keep each other busy most of the time but sometimes they want to play with Dalton. We do let the 3 play together but it's always supervised play. I've found what works for us is to make sure Dalton has a safe place to go when he gets tired/annoyed with the puppies. PS. We also have a 15 yo (in 2 weeks) female but she doesn't want anything to do with the puppies. PSS. Congrats on the new puppy!!! __________________ Our Dogs' Flickr Albums Scratch My Butt Dog Blog Last edited by Vinnie; 01-10-2012 at 12:41 PM. Reason: pss.

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