Hi All!

Last year we got our GSD Josh at 8 weeks hoping he would become my husbands K9 partner. He has been working on tracking with him since he was 4 mo old, he's doing a great job, he has great prey and food drive, and massive tug drive. He's 11 mo old now and will soon begin narcotics training. He sees both of us as people to be obeyed, but for him, the sun rises and sets on my husband. If they're going to be partners I think that's how it should be.

So lately I've been getting "that feeling", you know the one I mean , we are rescue people from way back and I've been feeling like we should adopt another dog. My husband is afraid we'll mess up Josh's training by adding another dog (a distraction) right now, he says Josh doesn't need a buddy. I understand where he's coming from, we have a lot of Leerburg videos and have been raising him as a working dog.

Lately I've been noticing on our local rescues website an older male dog (18 mo to Josh's 11), a GSD that is easy going and non dominant (good because Josh is dominant), they say he's a total love bug, not very high drive. He's neutered, so is Josh, so I hope there wouldn't be any male/male problems. There are also some older females, not as laid back as this male though.

My question is, will it mess up Josh's training to add another dog? Should we wait till he's more mature? Would the male/male thing be a problem? Should we wait for a submissive female instead? If it wouldn't be good for Josh's career, it's going to be hard but I guess I can wait.

I'd have to agree with your husband's instinct on this one. I'd wait until the existing pup is at least 2 years old before bringing another dog into the home. Josh absolutely does NOT need a buddy, infact with the plans for his future, introducing a buddy could be very counter productive.

I totally understand "that feeling" you are getting but recommend you stop visiting the rescue websites for now and get a hobby. Stay busy. Step away from the computer.... step away from the computer...

Slightly different opinion here. I think it depends on your set up and how you plan on working with both dogs. I know if I were in a household with another working dog, it wouldn't deter me from getting my own, I'd just figure out ahead of time how I was going to manage it and go into it with the mentality that we both had a dog to work with seperately

For instance, if Josh is focused on working and is out and about with your husband often and you continue to treat him like a working dog you could be fine. IME, Working dogs want to work much more than they want to play with another dog. For instance my 6 y/o and 2 y/o will wrestle and chase a bit, but bring out a toy to work for and forget the other dog, they're all business.

It's sounds kinda like you're looking for a dog for you. And if you've got the time to exercise and train him as your dog, it's quite possible that you'll just end up with a dog that is ready to be your buddy.

What you'd need is seperate training (ie, you'll have to do the OB work with a new dog) and focus on teaching the dogs just to chill when they're with each other. So it becomes inside time = chill time, outside time = focus on my person and do something time.

I agree with Barbara and Mara. If you want the dogs to be companionable wait. If you want your own dog who is your responsibility; raise the two seperately and I don't see an issue.

If the dog has correct drives it won't mess anything up. One of mine is a maniac if he's around no dogs or 20 dogs. It would be up to you guys to watch what is going on.

 Quote: Al Curbow

If the dog has correct drives it won't mess anything up. One of mine is a maniac if he's around no dogs or 20 dogs. It would be up to you guys to watch what is going on.

I'd have to say that part of this is YOUR ability to lead your pack... someone else with the same dogs, but without that skill, may not fare so well.

I'll go with Al on this one.
Working/nonworking. It's all about your ability to assess and control the situation.
Even though both my GSDs are working line one is in total control, calm when needed and totally off the charts when the need arises.
The other is a frickin psycho clown that is always "on".
They are together 24/7 with no problems.

If you are going to get another dog, I would keep it seperated from the current dog, until you are able to establish a strong bond and pack leadership with the new dog. Once this is established, you shouldn't have any problems with the new dog distracting the current dog. He will care more about YOU than he will the other dog.

I have 5 females that live together. They get along and play with each other. When I break out the prong collar and/or leashes they all forget about each other because they know that someone will get to work with me. Being with me is MUCH more interesting than playing with the other dogs

How long does it take to develop this kind of bond? That depends on the dog. I got Caterina at nearly 3 years old and she bonded almost immediately. But Tyra, who came to us later in life took a few weeks. I highly recommend Marker Training to aid the establishment of a strong bond with your dog

If you and your husband have strong pack leadership with your dogs, the male-male thing shouldn't be a problem. It does depend on the dogs, however, and I would not let them be together until you were absolutely positive that there won't be any issues.

Some shelters say that a dog isn't dominant, but that is something that I want to assess for myself, outside of the shelter environment. Dogs are generally not comfortable in a shelter, and may display personality traits that aren't exactly indicative of their true self.

If you aren't sure if adopting will work out, perhaps you could sign up as a short term foster home for the local rescue. That way, you will have a dog in your home, seperated from your current dog, and you can see if you and your husband can manage 2 dogs... without committing to a lifetime adoption. I recently fostered a New Foundland and he was with me only a week before he was adopted. Just a thought

Good luck with whatever you choose, and if you need help, you know where we are

--Kel

 Quote: Kelly

If you are going to get another dog, I would keep it seperated from the current dog, until you are able to establish a strong bond and pack leadership with the new dog. Once this is established, you shouldn't have any problems with the new dog distracting the current dog. He will care more about YOU than he will the other dog.

--Kel

DITTO. The exact same holds true at my home.

When I let my dogs go out in the yard ahead of me, they sit on the deck with their balls, in their mouths, staring at the door waiting for me to come out, becasue they know that is when the REAL fun begins. I am far more interesting & fun to play with than each other.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I've had some trouble getting on the site, that's why I haven't answered till now.

We have thought about this for a while, we contacted the rescue and we were sure someone else was going to adopt him, they were getting their house check done and it was a done deal. Then today I got an e-mail from the applications coordinator, the other family dropped out this afternoon. We had an application in with them already, before we got Josh, so we're next up. We're taking Josh to meet him on Saturday, they have to at least be civil to each other or we won't adopt him. Josh is usually okay with dogs his own size, it's the smaller dogs that try to dominate him that he doesn't like. This new dog (85lb GSD) was dominated by a 25 lb male corgi in his last home, and he was fine with it.

If we do adopt him, my plans are to do obedience with him, then get him certified as a therapy dog. So in a way I guess he will be a working dog.