Pets

T_C_E

I’d suggest introducing them on neutral ground first (out on a walk) and if possible several times. 

Bringing them together on either one’s home ground could go very wrong.
Bowyer takes no notice of other dogs when out walking (unless they shout at him) but if they walk past our front gates he’ll certainly let them know it’s his house.

Puppies are a different ball game, most adult dogs will respect a puppy and just treat it as an object of suspicion at first then an annoying little shit, then hopefully they’ll grow on and be pals. 

Two females especially young ones in my experience are the worst, when the hormones are racing its inevitable they will scrap. 

Just bringing two dogs together and hoping they will become mates might work, but just as humans we don’t like everyone we meet and if it goes wrong you’ve got all the drama of isolation of the dogs and the inevitable rehoming and the stresses that go with it. 

We’ve had up to five dogs (including one rescue) all Shepherds living together, mostly quite happily until two females had a fight to end all fights.
Males will squabble, and you can expect it but it will be over and forgotten before you have chance to issue a bollocking, our females never forgot and given the chance would go again and we would only bring them together when I was in the house. 

It might seem like I’m highlighting the worse case scenario, that’s because I purposely am.
Sadly to many people expect a second dog to bring company to the first (and it will) but it will also demand more of your time with feeding, grooming, training etc.

But  you will also get twice the love, loyalty and fun when you watch them run and play together as I have every day since 2010 when we took on our first German shepherd.

I hope your decision goes well for you and if and when you get a second dog it gets a forever home. 

Never give up, is my suggestion and just shout if I can help. 

AberystwythAddick

T_C_E said:

I’d suggest introducing them on neutral ground first (out on a walk) and if possible several times. 

Bringing them together on either one’s home ground could go very wrong.
Bowyer takes no notice of other dogs when out walking (unless they shout at him) but if they walk past our front gates he’ll certainly let them know it’s his house.

Puppies are a different ball game, most adult dogs will respect a puppy and just treat it as an object of suspicion at first then an annoying little shit, then hopefully they’ll grow on and be pals. 

Two females especially young ones in my experience are the worst, when the hormones are racing its inevitable they will scrap. 

Just bringing two dogs together and hoping they will become mates might work, but just as humans we don’t like everyone we meet and if it goes wrong you’ve got all the drama of isolation of the dogs and the inevitable rehoming and the stresses that go with it. 

We’ve had up to five dogs (including one rescue) all Shepherds living together, mostly quite happily until two females had a fight to end all fights.
Males will squabble, and you can expect it but it will be over and forgotten before you have chance to issue a bollocking, our females never forgot and given the chance would go again and we would only bring them together when I was in the house. 

It might seem like I’m highlighting the worse case scenario, that’s because I purposely am.
Sadly to many people expect a second dog to bring company to the first (and it will) but it will also demand more of your time with feeding, grooming, training etc.

But  you will also get twice the love, loyalty and fun when you watch them run and play together as I have every day since 2010 when we took on our first German shepherd.

I hope your decision goes well for you and if and when you get a second dog it gets a forever home. 

Never give up, is my suggestion and just shout if I can help. 

Thank you it’s early days yet so we will see. Good to read your experiences. 

sam3110

One thing we did, was we asked the breeders we were looking at puppies from, if they were willing to let our older dog meet the pups. 

The breeder we chose let us, and Pepper, our older dog, picked out one of the pups from the litter herself (she was interested in him more than the others, and he was excitable and trying to play with her from the off, so we knew they'd probably not have any issues)

We then arranged to have a second meet with just the pup and her alone a couple of weeks later, which was a couple of weeks before pick up date, which also went well.

Finally, when we brought him home, we made sure they travelled together in the car but in separate beds/crates, and they had a walk/carry together on the way home (obviously he wasn't vaxxed up at that point so no floor touching) before we then brought them inside to the house. Even then, we let him explore the area first with her baby-gated in a separate area to make sure she wasn't possessive, and they got along great.

Fanny Fanackapan

Beautiful, sam ! 

Please keep is updated with photos as they thrive together & the little 'un grows. .

sam3110

Fanny Fanackapan said:

Beautiful, sam ! 

Please keep is updated with photos as they thrive together & the little 'un grows. .

Oh sorry I didn't mention this was 4 years ago haha it was advice for @AberystwythAddick

However happy to add pics of them together as they grew haha

sam3110

This was their first 2 weeks together though

sam3110

And this is them last week

Fanny Fanackapan

Even more beautiful, sam ! 

Thanks so much for sharing .

Stuart_the_Red

Can’t really add anything to what T.C.E. said, but be patient.

MuttleyCAFC

We have done our annual road trip and have nearly had our first week of three in a villa with massive garden and pool in Bologna. JJ travels so well. We couldn't do this type of holiday if he didn't and the friend who used to look after him has her own dog which JJ doesn't get on with so this type of holiday was forced on us as we wouldn't leave him anywhere he didn't like. But it is actually a good thing as we love it. JJ loves it here more than anything and despite being 10 in July he is like a puppy in this environment.