Mixing rescues and puppies???

[SnuzerDog]

While I have loved my first rescue experience, if nothing else it has taught me what a different process it is than regular puppy raising. My current thoughts for the future are, getting a female rescue at the beginning of next year as a companion for Deano, and possibly a puppy the following fall or spring. While there is so much you can do with a rescue, I am coming to see that so many dog activities are more wisely begun at a young age- from basic obedience to agility/rally to Schutzhund.

What are your thoughts or advice on this scenario I have in mind? I would think that a puppy would positively impact the two older dogs, but I've no experience to look back on. Deano's fosters said he was fine with their pack, so I'm not worried about his socialization. Or, what about a female puppy as companion to Deano (5-6 yrs old.) I am committed to rescue as I feel strongly that it is important that some humans pick up the ball for those that drop it, so to speak...

[Dobs4ever]

Good for you for rescuing. It is sad that some people just don't get it and cast away their dogs with no thought or rhyme or reason. I am curious though on how you think a puppy is to postiively impact two older dogs?

[SnuzerDog]

The same way grandkids liven up their grandparents lives (hopefully.) :D I'm not talking about really senior dogs either, 5-7 yr olds I'm thinking... my only previous experience in this vein has been adding a kitten to the house with an older cat.

[jelly8bean]

This is just my 2 cents, I would go with the female addition, but hold off a while on the puppy. My two love to play play play and the way I have it planned is a bit of staggering. I adopted Indigo at 18 months when Sara was almost 8 yrs old. That gives them plenty of time (years) to play together and enjoy each other, but not to compete with each other for training and basic attention. I find that working my three dogs takes up plenty of time. I know that puppies are tremendous consumers of time and attention so if it was me, I would wait till your older dogs are more settled before you add a puppy . Just my thoughts...

[SnuzerDog]

Jelly, thanks, your advice makes a lot of sense. Perhaps looking for a younger female rescue would fill the bill. And Lord knows our local rescue group seems to have a constant supply. :(

You are right about puppy responsibilities, of course; it is one of the reasons I went with an older dog in the first place. My first concern is Deano's welfare, and I feel a companion for him would be helpful. It will be a year since we adopted him in October, and I felt strongly at the outset that he should have at least a year as the 'star player' in our household. But I can tell when we go for walks that he misses canine interaction when we meet other nice dogs, and the number of volunteers in the local rescue group with multiple dogs is the majority- and they all tell interesting stories about the pack interaction.

I feel we've had good success in helping Deano overcome much of his fearfulness and insecurities, but there seems to be a lot still to be done. We got through his basic obedience fine, and he has become a pleasant walker and learned to be fairly consistent with his automatic sits. But, he really has no concept of play, I'm going to have to teach him that- and there's so much more I would like to be able to do with him. I'm a little frustrated as my job has really taken up a lot of my personal time the first half of the year, and since July I've been traveling every week and will be until December. After that things will come back to normal, but I've had to put off joining the local all-breed training club all year due to this, and it really bugs me. :mad:

I just picked up a book at the library called 'The Dog Listener', written by a British woman who supposedly has had good success working with fear/behavioral problems in dogs. Look interesting, hoping to pick up some ideas from her to help Deano. Do you know of any other similar books?

Thanks for the thoughts and advice; very much appreciated. :)

[RKCM]

Our older dogs help train the younger ones.

Puppies are seldom in rescues in our area. There are a few but not always the best choice. All puppies take work and overcoming issues is always a responsibility in any dog you choose. Make sure you rescue from an organization that spay and neuter. Do your homework on their organization and make sure they are nonprofit and proceeds go to help other dogs.

I have to say that a Sr. doberman is sometimes the best! It would all depend on your family and circumstances. We would trade our Srs. for the world......all trained and fit right in. There is a thread to the Sr. Project that help the older dobermans. Great organization.

When they have a dog that has been messed up by people,training, etc., the rescues reveal that. They also have Special Needs Dobes that need homes. Rescues can be wonderful dogs and most of the rescues do a great job in placements. Just my opinion and we've see many.