I didn't want to sidetrack the great thread loon and stinny had going so I thought i would start a new one and ask for advice here. We have an 8 yr old Rhodesian Ridgeback named "Tabasco". Of course I am biased but she is the greatest dog ever. I have always grown up with A dog but never two at one time. My girl has had several surgeries to remove malignant tumors and will be 8 yrs old very soon. We are coming to the sad realization that my girl will not be with us forever. This brings us to the topic at hand, getting a second dog. We have heard and read many things about how a second younger dog can ease the transition when the older dog passes away. We have also read that having an older well trained dog can greatly aid in the training of a new younger dog. Companionship would be another advantage. Here are some disadvantages I'm thinking about. I am so attached to my girl I almost think of it as cheating if I give my time and attention to another dog. I think I would feel bad for her that I'm not giving her all the time that I used to. Is that weird? I think that she has been so good to me and we have been through so much together I should be giving her everything in the latter part of her life. Is that crazy? Tabasco always seems to play better with male dogs. With female dogs it seems like she feels the need to show them who the queen bitch is. If I get a second dog, I'm thinking male. It looks like we have a log of dog lovers here and quite a few with multiple dogs. What advice can you guys and gals give me?
In my opinion it will definately ease the pain and it won't be such a transition if you got another dog after the she passes. And yes the older dog will help you in teaching the young pup new tricks and it's great to watch them act like little brothers or sisters. Im sure tabasco has been a great friend to you and you've given her a great life but it's nowhere near cheating if you give some attention to a new pup. I feel you'd be helping her enjoy her last years here just a little more with a new friend! Our ridgeback mix macy learned soo much from her older sister cheyenne(lab) who passed away summer 2012. After chey passed we got millie (another lab) and it's been great watching macy teach millie the do's and dont's of dog life around here. Occasionly she'll show her who's boss but 90% of them time they get along just fine. It's a big decision for sure but talk it over with the Mrs for a while and im sure you guys will do what's best for you and tabasco. Good luck!
Our first husky was about 10 when we bought the 2nd husky pup. The older one, Meesha, was slowing down and it was very noticeable. When that new pup showed up, it was an instant boost for her… and us… when we had to let ole Meesh go 3 years later.
Depends on the dog and breed as to how well they end up enjoying living with others. Don't feel bad about the cheating part. I was the same way at the end. I wanted to focus solely on her.
Im a little apprehensive. It kind of seems like the older Tabasco gets the less interest she shows in playing with puppies/other dogs. We dog sit from time to time and after the initial play time wears off she seems to look at me and say, "ok, when is this dog going to leave?" I know dogs are pack animals but my dog sometimes gives me the impression she likes being the only dog in our "pack". Does this make any sense?
The first question is does you dog get along with other dogs? If so, you might feel great reward if you and you dog visit the shelters and get acquainted with some other dog that needs a home. By both of you rescuing a shelter dog, you will have no guilt. And when it does come time and your friend passes you will have her legacy to carry on with. We also have two dogs. They give a lot of companionship to each other. To our surprise, last year the younger of the two suddenly passed away. After a short time, we brought home a pup. Our older dog ignored her at first, but the pup was not one to be ignored. They are now best friends. Good luck.
Sure. All of the dogs in our extended family have dif personalities. They all seem to adjust to wherever they are tho. Good luck with which direction you decide to go.
Makes perfect sense. I would never doubt a devoted dog owners ability to sense what their dog is feeling/communicating. Maybe you could adopt a young 1-2 yr old from the local SPCA, I believe they have provisions for bringing an animal back if the situation warrants. This may also alleviate some of the overwhelming playfulness of a puppy, but there is a lot to be said for raising a dog from a pup. As far as the female-female interaction among dogs, I think you've got that down also, and it is my understanding that Ridgebacks can be very intense. It can be very breed dependent, but a female is usually the alpha. Two of mine are female and the head to head dominance interaction is always there, it rarely comes to a head and if it does it is very brief. I am the alpha of the pack, but there is a clear order between the two females, the male couldn't care less. I am contemplating a fourth dog and it will definitely be a male.
We have four dogs, 3 chihuahuas totally 20 lbs. and a Doberman 75 lbs. I love them all, but once these ones are gone we are gonna be 2 dogs max. They all have different personalities, but our female chihuahua is the boss! I grew up with mastiffs and Great Danes, but I like little dogs now and they live way longer normally. I would say go with a small breed dog, but some bigger dogs don't like small animals!
I have the utmost respect for those who rescue. With a 3 and a 5 yr old, rescue is not in our near future. I have always said that I WILL rescue at some point, maybe after the kids are grown. I frequently look at the Rhodesian Ridgeback rescue site. I even went through the process and got approved for adoption a few years ago. With Ridgebacks, its slim pickens for families with young kids. Ridgebacks can be a handful. It will be a puppy for us. I like being able to start from scratch and mold the little bugger myself.
Thanks Dave, Ridgebacks can be intense and mine loves to be head bitch, ask my wife. I think that's why we will be going male this time. She played with a new male Police K9 the other day for hours and loved it.
Every dog is different. My dog is an only dog, and he likes it that way. My wife would love to get another dog, but we're gonna wait till he's gone. We had another dog for awhile, but he just wasn't happy. Sure, they played a lot, but you could tell he wasn't happy. He changed completely when we added the 2nd dog. Unfortantely, the other dog had severe, unfixable behavioral issues, and he's gone now. My dog is back to himself. He'll be an only dog till he's gone. Good luck with the decision. If she's been an only dog for this long, let her live out her life in peace. Don't add a crazy puppy to the mix. She deserves your attention. My $0.02.
My wife and I have boxers, 2 of them, a male and a female. Boxers are also notorious for cancers and other illnesses, including short lifespans compared to other breeds. We have known this from the get go and yet we continue to have them in our lives. To us there is no greater joy than boxer dog love. Our 2 dogs are both 6 and are beginning to experience medical problems with tumors and other small issues. They both have never been apart and I can't bear to think about when the day comes when one of them passes. We have also talked about bringing in another younger boxer when we think the time is right but have also felt guilt by taking away from the two that have been there for everything, together. I'm tough on the outside but such a softie on the inside. I was a wreck just watching 'Marley and Me' in the theatre.
I grew up with boxers, great dogs! My brother has a brindle named Otto, my sister has a fawn named Rebel.
Yup, this is my concern. My kids are very energetic. When Tabasco s napping on the couch the kids come over to "hug" her and mess with her, i know she doesnt want to be bothered, she picks her head up and looks at me as if to say, please save me!
Great question. Have you thought about a rescue dog thats a few years old and out of that puppy phase?
Keep em comin…! Buddy's never gonna have ta worry about nuthin… Emma's got his back. (Got some great shots Loon)
