Getting a puppy but have a senior dog?

emmaro

I have wanted a shih tzu pup for years but ended up taking in my parents chihuahua mix a while back and I did not want more than two dogs. Also the chi mix had a lot of behaviour issues, but is so much better now thankfully.

He is old enough himself - almost 10, and if I did get a pup it wouldn't be until mid-late 2018. He is very active and certainly does not act like an old dog. He has always had the energy of a pup and loves to play with toys and other little dogs.

I think with the way he is now, he would love a pup in the house. But I worry this would make him regress and start marking inside again. I also worry that his personality will change as he gets older and he won't want a young dog around.

Just looking for peoples thoughts on this. My other dog just very recently passed away and I am no where near ready to get another so not an urgent issue, but just thinking.

Edit: just want to add that I am not wanting another dog to keep the other company - he is rarely left alone and does not seem to miss the company of another dog so far.

OUTDOORLASS

2 years ago, we got a Westie pup. We already had a 9 year old Lab. When the pup first arrived, he really annoyed the Lab.

Lab would growl, hackles risen on her back etc. Puppy just did what puppies do....acted the maggot. Now they are the very best
buddies. Sleep together, play together. The Westie gave the elder Lab a new lease of life, and the calmness of the Lab rubbed off
on the Westie. Some small dogs can be very yappy...but not the Westie. I only had 1 dog at a time, ever. Having seen how
these get on, I would never have just 1 dog on his/her own again. Best of luck.

aonb

I had two 10 year old dogs when we got a puppy
Same as previous poster, the puppy drove the cross 10 year old terrier mad, but rules were imposed from day 1, puppy got told off by older dog from day 1, lessons were quickly learned. They were great friends til older dog died aged 17. Other dog was a rescue collie, with serious problems due to abuse etc. He never bonded with the puppy/younger dog, but tolerated him from day 1 - pretty much ignored him really.

Latatian

To me it would make sense to get an adult dog so you know if they get on. The pup could grow up to be a bossy dog.

And if your dog has a history of marking inside then a housetrained dog might help.

123shooter

Few weeks of arguments then they will love each other to death but do not show favouritism towards the pup more the other way around so the pup has to learn and earn.

Lo_La

Sometimes it helps keep an older dog younger for longer if there's a pup around and they get on they can be very playful, it' sbetter to do it now while the older dog isn't acting "old" yet than wait as it will be harder for him to adjust and accept a pup

jsabina

I got the second dog (a senior dog which I was fostering) when my own was 1 year old..
So the opposite situation

Of course the younger was trying to play with him all the time, but the senior, being a collie, was still quite energetic and they adapted well.
Best thing is that the older new addition taught my younger crazy hyper to calm down.

After few years I tried to foster a puppy.. a collie pup... a nightmare!
She has been with us for a couple of months and for the first time I was relieved when she has been adopted.

The older dog (11 yrs) put in clear from the beginning that he didn't want to play with the pup and after a while she learnt to respect him.
The younger (4 yrs still very active) made the mistake to play with her and from then it has been a non-stop.

The puppy was absolutely hyper, the two dogs tired of having her constantly, me trying to manage as best as I could.. but it drove us insane..

I don't want to necessarily descourage you, just my personal experience and I think it depends a lot from your dog and also the type of puppy!