Older Dog and Puppies?

[mv6]

I have a 14yr old male Jack Russell. My other male JR had to be put to sleep 3yrs ago aged 14yrs.They were Uncle and Nephew.
My Farmer friend who gave me both of them still has JRs. He has 2 female puppies available in the near future.
I feed and exercise my dog and my Wife does not really get involved.I have 2 Daughters aged 6 and 3,and they are keen for the puppies to join our family,as am I!
We live in a country area,have a good sized garden etc etc. I have cages,pens etc to accomodate all stages of development. I bought a Motorhome with a large "Garage" at the back so that we could holiday with the dogs.My Mum has a 11yr old female JR and she gets on great with our dog.
My Wife is refusing to entertain the idea of the puppies!
Am I wrong? Your thoughts please. Thanks.

[Who me ?]

Difficult decision . I have a rehomed cairn,which wife ( not a doggy person has accepted ,and is taking to ) ,but I'm banned from any more dogs. I'd love to give a home to another geriatric Cairn ,if mine would accept it, but at present time it's NON .

[Jasandjules]

A puppy might help your other dog stay a bit younger. BUT the flips side is that if the dog you have now is old and infirm, it might be most unimpressed with a boistrous puppy running around.

[rasputin]

Our 13 year old and very wobbly German Shepherd has a new-found energy since we got our Lab puppy last year. She's never been very dog-friendly, so we introduced them very slowly - but now they're great friends. She can barely walk, but put them out in the garden together and she'll do her best to chase after him while he runs circles around her and "nips" at her face

I had to show him some boundaries to begin, but now he's very gentle and respectful with her - far more than with any other dog.

[mv6]

Thanks Folks. The 14yr old JR is still full of beans and happy to run around.He looks a bit glum and bored from time to time and I think he misses his old pal. I think the pups would release his youthful side and feel he would not have his nose put out of joint after a suitable "getting to know you" period!
My Wife is digging her heels in.

[Jasandjules]

mv6 said:

My Wife is digging her heels in.

What are her objections?

[Superficial]

I don't understand why she is objecting if she doesn't even do the caretaking? How does she get on with your current dog?

We have introduced a puppy to a teenaged dog before and it was great; our older dog had a new lease of life and the puppy learnt a lot of his good behaviour from his older role model.

[mv6]

My Wife says: "Too much noise","Can't go on holiday","Older dog will get upset","Neighbours will complain".
None of her objections stack up,but without her blessing it will not happen!
I agree that an older dog can "teach" a younger dog how to behave.It happened when our 14yr old arrived as a pup. When out walking I initially carried the young pup in my jacket. Once he had his injections etc, I put a connecting "lead" between their collars and the older dog was able to "show" the younger dog what to "do". This arrangement worked very well and the younger dog learned to walk on its own very quickly.

[Jasandjules]

Mate it sounds like she is waiting for your older dog to pass so she can be free to go away quickly and easily on holidays and so on..... After all, it is like having children...

[Morningside]

Our Basset was 12 and our CKCS was 10 when we got our dachshund.

Later we got a puppy CKCS when our other dachshund was 13 and our Corgi-X was 6.


I think they mix quite well and one does look after the other. The oldens always look after the young ones.

We have never had a problem. All shapes and sizes.

[ClassicMercs]

Jasandjules said:

A puppy might help your other dog stay a bit younger. BUT the flips side is that if the dog you have now is old and infirm, it might be most unimpressed with a boistrous puppy running around.

We are convinced this is part of why our 17yo collie is hanging on in there. She was only 13 when we got the Irish Setter. She was top dog but now he has taken over. She loves him and allows him to try and pull her around by her weakest back leg.
He copies her and not our english setter.

The hardest bit for us is when it comes to walks and things. We have three dogs at different stages. It would be much easier to pick up a JR. I am often seen carrying around a collie when needed whilst Mrs Mercs is being pulled in different directions by one older setter and one younger one. Luckily no kids.

[ali_kat]

Sounds like you need a family vote