Should I get another dog?

[Big Fat Fatty]

A bit of background:

My dog is a nine year old Field Spaniel, she had a bit of a rubbish start in life as a breeding dog who'd had (so the vet told me) at least ten litters of pups in five years. She was found a stray and handed to a local rescue centre where she stayed for a fortnight before we picked her up. She didn't appear to have been mistreated but there are some small signs, if I wave my hand at something she thinks I might hit her and ducks, stuff like that. I think she had just served her useful purpose and was let go.

Now, things at home have changed since first getting her so now I have to leave her alone while I go to work during the day whereas before someone was always there for company. She's fine on her own with the cat but I think getting another dog that could play with and keep her company would be better.

How would I introduce another dog to her? Is it even a good idea?
She doesn't really get on with other females and is scared of and submissive with larger males (a side effect of the breeding I assume) but this has improved over the last couple of years. So what would be a good breed to get and would it's age make a difference? She wouldn't have to compete for food or attention but would she see it that way?

Any advice is appreciated.

Edited by Big Fat Fatty on Thursday 28th March 14:58

[Jasandjules]

My experience (and in general the experiences of others I am aware of) is that usually a younger dog will perk up an older dog. They will play together etc

IF your dog is "too old" i.e. doesn't want to play etc then a puppy can be an irritant and is best avoided.

[YoungOne]

If you do decide to have another I'd recommend having a look at ex racing greyhounds, very easy dogs to look after and so easygoing.

[Rouleur]

I'm in a roughly similar situation as I've got an 11ish year old Springer and I'm looking at getting another adult Spaniel. I think 9-11 years is a good age for introducing a second dog as the current one will have slowed down a bit but still has plenty of energy and will love being around the newcomer.

You might want to look at taking her to a dog day care centre if there's one nearby. Jackson's been going to one for a while and it's made him much more sociable and will mean that having another dog around won't be so weird for him, he was never very interested in other dogs before.

[Big Fat Fatty]

Thanks for all your input guys, you've pretty much confirmed my thinking and given us some more to think about too.

The OH is set on us getting a Collie so that's what we'll be looking for I guess, I'd want one around 4/5 years old again and probably a male as our Spaniel has been neutered.

I'll have a look for a day care place as that sounds like the sort of thing that would really help her be more sociable, Google tells me that there is one in the town so I will check it out and see how she does.

Cheers all.

[Anonamoose]

Big Fat Fatty said:

Thanks for all your input guys, you've pretty much confirmed my thinking and given us some more to think about too.

The OH is set on us getting a Collie so that's what we'll be looking for I guess, I'd want one around 4/5 years old again and probably a male as our Spaniel has been neutered.

I'll have a look for a day care place as that sounds like the sort of thing that would really help her be more sociable, google tells me theat there is one in the town so will check it out and see how she does.

Cheers all.

Just a note to be weary of, you haven't said what breed of collie but if it will be border collie please be aware that this breed are not just playful they are crazy. They are not meant to be left at home all day, they have crazy energy and need a lot of attention. Ours is a rescue we have had from a puppy, he is 10, he is neutered, everyone said he would calm down. He hasn't. Please don't get him and leave him at home all day every day. If for nothing else than he will probably destroy everything of of boredom.

[Darren156]

I tried this with my 17 year old Jack Russel a few years ago. Got a 3 month old German Sheppard and it was just way too much for the JR to handle and annoyed the frig out of him. He would snap and bark at the GS despite having an excellent temperamant his whole life. I wouldn't do it again. Luckily a nice family with a two year old dog and a few kids snapped him up straight away.

[Jasandjules]

Darren156 said:

I tried this with my 17 year old Jack Russel a few years ago. Got a 3 month old German Sheppard and it was just way too much for the JR to handle and annoyed the frig out of him. He would snap and bark at the GS despite having an excellent temperamant his whole life. I wouldn't do it again. Luckily a nice family with a two year old dog and a few kids snapped him up straight away.

17 sounds too old for starters to get a dog to play with. And a GSD would likely be too big. You have to consider dogs of equal size/energy etc and of course the older dog has to still be quite active as once they are not interested at all in playing a puppy will not keep them young but merely irritate them in their final years.

[Big Fat Fatty]

Anonamoose said:

Just a note to be wary of, you haven't said what breed of collie but if it will be border collie please be aware that this breed are not just playful they are crazy. They are not meant to be left at home all day, they have crazy energy and need a lot of attention. Ours is a rescue we have had from a puppy, he is 10, he is neutered, everyone said he would calm down. He hasn't. Please don't get him and leave him at home all day every day. If for nothing else than he will probably destroy everything of of boredom.

I see what you're saying and believe me I hate leaving my girl at home as it is now, if I had it my way she'd be by my side all day everyday but working in an office stops that. We thought about a Collie (of some description) because one of our friends has a tricolour sable, black & white cross and she's so placid but you're right she has boundless energy which would need to be spent somehow.

At the moment I walk mine for an hour in the morning before going to work then when I get home we go out again for another hour and a half to two hours in the evening where she likes to flush Pheasants. I thought that might be enough for a Collie but thinking about it now I'm not so sure.

[TorqueVR]

We have twice bought puppies when we've already had old dogs and both times it the pair of them good. The puppy got used to another dog being about and learnt from it. The older dog perked up and liked the company. FWIW I reckon getting another pooch is a good idea.

[TorqueVR]

Thought so - I had a couple of photos. This was taken 2 weeks after we got the pup and about 6 weeks before cancer took the (not so) old girl.