I hope my wife is right about this: we are getting a new puppy soon while our current dog is still with us, but 12 years old. He has been a loyal and wonderful companion but has really slowed down in the last year or two, and now seems to be having more and more issues. It breaks my heart to see him want to romp and play and then see his rear legs give out from under him. He wants to go out for the long walks that he so loved to take, but now is worn out after about one-half mile, or less. My wife thinks it will be good for him to have a young puppy in the house, and that he will help socialize the puppy as well. I worry that an old dog will just be run ragged by a new puppy and will go downhill even faster than if just left alone. I will admit that since our little pug died two years ago, the old guy has not been the same and maybe having a little dog in the house would perk him up a bit.
Adding puppy to household with old dog
- Thread starter vito
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SAJohn
Hunter
A few years ago my old dog got so bad with the rear legs that he could barely stand up. I carried him into the vet office fearing the worst. The vet gave him a cortizone shot and a prescription for Carprofen (Rimodyl). 10 minutes later my dog romped out of the office and into the car on his own. The Carprofen added a good year to my dogs life.
slippingaway
Blackhawk
It's been my experience that puppies are good for older dogs. Sure, they'll get worn out and not want to run around as much as the puppy, but they're pretty good about communicating that between each other. There are a lot of ways for old dogs and puppies to play that don't involve the older dog running around, too. I spent plenty of time watching the puppy grab toys, run them over to the older dog, play a little tug of war, then run away. They'd do that over and over.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Busterswoodshop
Hunter
Also the older dog will pass on his good traits to the puppy.
In my experience with dogs it will be good for both of them.
I say get the puppy.
In my experience with dogs it will be good for both of them.
I say get the puppy.
coach
Hunter
Don't be surprised if the older dog has little patience with the pup especially at first. With any luck they will become friends when the older dog realizes the pup is there to stay and the pup learns his place.
I have done this many times. A crate is essential. Feed the pup in the closed crate, so the older dog can't steal his food, when you leave the house- puppy goes in the crate- he can't tear up but so much. Leave the crate open the rest of the time. Puppy may be found napping in it. Plus should you ever travel he is already acclimated to the crate.
gramps
gramps
WarpathEngineering
Single-Sixer
Don't do it!
To be fair it depends greatly on the dogs involved. We had to put my redbone coonhound to sleep last Labor day at age 12, leaving us with an 11yr old beagle. I must say, I was surprised at how loosing our redbone affected the beagle, there was a marked change in her behavior, for the milder that is. For 11 years our coonhound was the sane one, very rarely getting upset having a crazy and sometimes grumpy beagle running around. So..... the months went by and I talked myself and my wife into the idea that our beagle, having never been without a companion during the day would benefit from having another dog in the house. Thinking that a small puppy more her size (she's about 20lbs) would be more to her liking than a full grown 65lb coonhound would. What I didn't take into account was that we hadn't taken care of a puppy in a very long time. The biting, the messes, the whining, the racing around the house. You can't turn your back on her to clean one mess because she's already planning the next. The in and out of house training......my God! And if that wasn't enough, she drives my old dog nuts, chasing after her wanting to play and the beagle want's none of it. She's all bared teeth and growling all the time and the puppy now 40 some odd pounds still thinks she's playing and won't let up. My beagle spends most of her time on the second floor of the house just to stay away from the puppy.
If I may make a suggestion. Take your dog to the local animal shelter and see if they will let you "borrow" a puppy or two in an enclosed area to see if your old dog will take to the rambunctiousness of a puppy or maybe the local dog park.
Good luck....your gonna need it!
To be fair it depends greatly on the dogs involved. We had to put my redbone coonhound to sleep last Labor day at age 12, leaving us with an 11yr old beagle. I must say, I was surprised at how loosing our redbone affected the beagle, there was a marked change in her behavior, for the milder that is. For 11 years our coonhound was the sane one, very rarely getting upset having a crazy and sometimes grumpy beagle running around. So..... the months went by and I talked myself and my wife into the idea that our beagle, having never been without a companion during the day would benefit from having another dog in the house. Thinking that a small puppy more her size (she's about 20lbs) would be more to her liking than a full grown 65lb coonhound would. What I didn't take into account was that we hadn't taken care of a puppy in a very long time. The biting, the messes, the whining, the racing around the house. You can't turn your back on her to clean one mess because she's already planning the next. The in and out of house training......my God! And if that wasn't enough, she drives my old dog nuts, chasing after her wanting to play and the beagle want's none of it. She's all bared teeth and growling all the time and the puppy now 40 some odd pounds still thinks she's playing and won't let up. My beagle spends most of her time on the second floor of the house just to stay away from the puppy.
If I may make a suggestion. Take your dog to the local animal shelter and see if they will let you "borrow" a puppy or two in an enclosed area to see if your old dog will take to the rambunctiousness of a puppy or maybe the local dog park.
Good luck....your gonna need it!
OP
Good suggestion about trying another dog with my old guy. My daughter has a relatively young, and very active dog. My daughter agreed to take care of our old dog for a long weekend, and the old dog seemed happier than he had been since our little pug died. This is not the same as a very young puppy, but was enough to convince me that our current dog needs some canine companionship. And even though it has been quite a few years since we went through the new puppy routine, my wife is adamant that we get this puppy. I got my new motorcycle, so I guess its only fair she get her new puppy! (Mine was a bit more expensive even than the rare breed puppy we are now committed to, a Coton de Tulear.)
Be very careful taking your dog to an animal shelter. People drop off sick dogs all the time. Yes older dogs can get parvovirus! In spite of vaccination.
gramps
gramps
Sturgis270
Single-Sixer
:D I hope this works....tomorrow I'm picking up a seven week old yellow Lab pup and I consider myself an "old dog" (pushing 64). Hope I can keep up with her.
Sturgis, one thing that will happen is you will go for walks on a schedule. My dog let's me know if I'm running late for our nightly walk. Which is good, as I would probably skip it more times than not. Good for both of you.
