Is it easier?

Puppy Join date : 2013-06-25 Location : Brunswick, OH

I was wondering if you guys think it is easier to get a puppy if you already have a grown dog that is well-behaved. I haven't done the puppy thing in 4 years, but I'm wondering if it will be a bit different this time around since Pongo is going to be a role model. What do you think? Do the puppies actually learn things from the older dogs? I'm so excited to experience this! bounce

Teenager Join date : 2013-04-28

maybe it'll be different for you, but harry has been so independent he doesn't know our other dog exists unless its play time. She ignores him too, so I guess the feeling is mutual. Laughing

Puppy Join date : 2013-03-30 Location : South Carolina

I've never gotten a puppy while I had an adult dog but I think the adult would definitely be a role model and teach the puppy all kinds of things. I guess it just depends on if they bond or not.

Maverick Join date : 2011-07-01 Location : Denver, CO

We got Ghost when Lulu was around 4, and Ghost definitely did learn from her. We're doing the whole puppy thing again now, and even though Shadow has a lot of neurological issues, she's definitely learned a ton from Ghost. We've never had much of a biting problem with her, and she definitely looks to the older dogs for guidance. Aaron and I said after we got Shadow, we'd never do another puppy without an older dog in the house again.

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"Being the parent of a special-needs pet means living your life constantly poised on the edge of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you become a fierce defender of the ways in which your little one is perfectly ordinary — all the things he or she can do that are just like what everybody else does. And yet, you never lose sight of how absolutely extraordinary that very ordinariness is, how difficult, remarkable and rewarding that fight to be 'just like everybody else' has been." -Gwen Cooper, "Homer's Odyssey"

Shadow - 03/01/2013 - 10/02/2014

Is it easier? 85ced801-eef9-49ab-a499-d82fe0067cd7_zps64d8039a

Is it easier? 85ced801-eef9-49ab-a499-d82fe0067cd7_zps64d8039a

Puppy Join date : 2013-06-25 Location : Brunswick, OH

blueeyedghost wrote:: We got Ghost when Lulu was around 4, and Ghost definitely did learn from her. We're doing the whole puppy thing again now, and even though Shadow has a lot of neurological issues, she's definitely learned a ton from Ghost. We've never had much of a biting problem with her, and she definitely looks to the older dogs for guidance. Aaron and I said after we got Shadow, we'd never do another puppy without an older dog in the house again.

That's good to hear from someone who has experienced this first hand Smile

any other experiences?

Adult Join date : 2013-06-26 Location : Wisconsin

Loki seems to be learning a lot from Lexi and Dom. I think drop it and inside are the big ones. I would say it to my other dogs and he just picked it up. Lexi also plays with him some and it helps burn off energy. My only lesson learned is do not wait too long. Dom is older and loki can aggravate him. Lexi at 11 still has good amount of energy. Loki is very attached to lexi though and watches her a lot. I think 3-5 age range is perfect, so you should be set. Smile