So I think my bride and I have struck our heads, I think we are ready for another pooch. But I have made the executive decision that it will not be a land shark (i.e. puppy). My wife and I agreed that we don't need any more babies in our life (be it 2 or 4 legged kind) So I have started the search for a rescue ridgeback.

I've learned quite a bit in these last 2 years living with this beast, and I don't want to go into this foolishly.

We wouldn't be able to take a dog in until September, lots of traveling between now and then and it wouldn't be fair to a dog or our dog sitter to bring it into the home without integrating it into the family first.

With that being said, how to I find a dog that will be compatible with Hank and then how do I integrate them? (I guess I could adopt across multiple state lines and make them hang out in the back of a car for a couple hundred miles ) Ed's write up on creating a 'pack' doesn't seem appropriate for going to 1 to 2 dogs, but I've always been a single dog guy, I don't know.

Hank is going to be 2 at the end of the month, intact, and still a bit "immature", i.e. a punk teenager. I have never seen him be dog aggressive, but I think he 'tries' to be dog dominant, (the only dog his is allowed to interact with is my sisters labradoodle, who is a fixed submissive male), when we go on walks and runs he never fence fights or shows any sort of aggressive posturing to the dogs on the other side of the fence (if I am reading him correctly it's curiosity/play posturing, I think). He really doesn't like small dogs (I've been a stickler about foolin' with dogs under 10 lbs and he 'gets that').

Should I look for a female or male (most rescues seem to be fixed)? How should I evaluate the dog and how do I safely bring it into the home? I just want to do this right. I don't think we will ever get past 2 dogs, my bride doesn't want to be a dog drill Sargent again (in her younger days she was a kennel worker at a greyhound track). And suggestions, links to the correct articles would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

"I guess I could adopt across multiple state lines and make them hang out in the back of a car for a couple hundred miles"


Now let's see ..... what example might you be referring to here?

As a general rule, a female would give you the least amount of possible conflicts. An older female, 4 or 5 maybe, with a good temperament, my young punk males have always been respectful and its been easy.

As far as integrating, make sure you don't change Hank's routine, let the new dog learn the rules. If they get along, its pretty simple.

I'd start off looking for RR rescues near you, or ridgebacks in a normal rescue - when you are looking for another dog, if you look before you might find the right one at the wrong time.

http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?animal_type=&pet_breed=ridgeback&location=texas&distance=0

I normally take them for a long drive in seperate crates but where they can see / smell then take them for a walk. The rescue should insist on them meeting. In which case you start walking at a great distance and slowly get closer until you are ready.

http://www.ridgebackrescue.org/dogs/available.php?regioncode=sc

Masses of ridgebacks in your very large back yard of Texas

Yeah one thing I want to avoid if at all possible is the crate and rotate thing. My wife has enough to deal with during the day without having to worry about two punk males trying to figure out who's in charge. The more I read about having two males in the house it seems like it could get ugly in a heart beat.

A car ride up to Dallas is like 4 hrs so it's not a 'Gambit' Trip but it could work...

So I need to make sure Hank meets any potential adoptee before we take her in?

And even more adoptable Ridgebacks in Texas at this link. Sadly, it sounds like a breed that is becoming more and more popular with the puppy mill types.

http://www.etosha-rescue.org/index.html