New With Questions

[MydogBilly]

Hi y'all! I've been looking around at various forums and thought this one seemed nice.

I have one dog, Billy, 12 years old. He is a German Shepherd cross Lab or heeler, hard to tell which. I've been thinking of adding another furry family member. So many nice doggies needing home. However, i am not sure if Billy is going to adjust well. He's really my baby and I know with the advancing age...well I won't have him forever. Maybe its time now to add a family member. More love to go around.

I used to trade off dog-sitting with friends but for various reasons that stopped. The main reason being I live in a townhouse with a yard much smaller than the 5 acres they each and every one have. Other experiences Billy has had; I took care of a puppy 1-1/2 yrs ago for a couple of weeks, kind of a foster, a cute little black lab.

When Billy was younger he didn't have any problem with other dogs. He wasn't real happy about the puppy but I hovered constantly, lived on the floor, and after a while he started to tolerate the pup. He never wanted the pup climbing on him, seemed to have a hard time with me playing with the pup, too. Showed his teeth a lot. Tried to get them playing together but it was a little scary.

Billy is sometimes friendly with other dogs, sometimes not. Once, he decided he didn't like this rottweiler who was acting very sweet and he growled, growled, tried to attack the bigger Rot. But a day later a little dog ran up to him and he just sniffed noses.

If I ask the Humane Society for a slightly smaller submissive adult female will I have better luck with the adjustment? Seems like I would.

Robin

[Flatcoatluver]

yeah you can also try that, you also can ask the humane if you can take your older dog to the humane socity and have him greet the dogs there, you can tell by your dogs reaction if this dog might be a match for you and your other dog good luck!

[Iluvbears&Gizmo]

My father has always had plenty of dogs. The female and male don't always get along, but most of the time wether they fight in the beginning or not if you get your dog a companion they will eventually learn to like each other. Good luck find him one.

[K9soul]

I think you are headed in the right direction with what you are doing in requesting a more submissive dog. I have a male and female and they have always gotten along wonderfully. I've had two males before and they got along well although had a few minor tiffs. My male is highly submissive and my female a little more dominant. I think it works best to match them up that way if possible. If you know your boy is a little more the dominant type, going with a more submissive dog is your best chance. An older dog may also be slower to accept a new member to the "pack" but if you get a dog that isn't too pushy and backs down easily I would think he could adjust.

Taking him to the shelter to meet isn't a bad idea although I think it's always important to keep in mind that two dogs meeting on neutral ground may react differently than when they go into one dog's home and territory. I think if you watch closely and take the precautions you are taking, more than likely things will go pretty smoothly. Best wishes!

[MydogBilly]

Thank you for the replies! I've been wanting to expand my little family. Now with all the talk about so many pets needing a home in aftermath of Katrina I am on the ball to do it again. Only, those "famous" pets will find homes more easily so I am looking closer to home.

eta - K9soul, the first dog in your sig photo - Tasha? is a dead ringer for my Billy when he was younger!

[JenBKR]

Welcome to Pet Talk! I don't really have much to add to the advice already given, just wanted to welcome you here. I think it's wonderful that you want to adopt another dog in need of a home you'll fit in just fine here.

[jesse_3]

Welcome to Pet Talk!

I really have no advice further on what they have said either. At our Humane Society, they allow us to take a dog home and see how it works for one week. If it doesn't work out, you can either get your money back, or pick a new dog. Maybe you could try something like that?

Good luck!-Hope that you stick around!-
Steph (me), Jesse (my ESS-shown in my siggy), and Splinter (my hedgie)