Hello Forum, my husband and I are considering getting a new pup. We currently have Mojo who is a 6 year old GSD. Mojo is very loyal and protective. She is also jealous of other dogs when they get to close to me (protective). Mojo is mostly in doors as she is a companion dog. We live by Folsom lake and we hike/walk every day. Some times 5 miles, sometimes 3 miles. Sometimes twice a day. I have no children and Mojo is my baby. I am also retired and have plenty of time to be with my dog. So, I wanted to get the forums opinion about having a new pup come into our lives. I do not know what to expect from Mojo. Can you dog lovers provide some comments. Should I, Shouldnt I...I would LOVE to have another pup. My #1 concern is Mojo.

YOUR Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Susan

Welcome to LB. forum.

Just some food for thought.......

Have you considered what you would do if you get this new dog...pup or otherwise if the dogs do not EVER get along? Some dogs will NEVER get along no matter what you do.

Yes, this does happen...more often then most folks think. And not usually a good outcome for the dogs. Are you prepared to live with these 2 dogs kept separate their entire lives? That means crates & separate training & play times etc etc etc. Also being VERY careful that they do not get at each other or you could have one whopping vet bill or worse...a dead dog.

Getting a puppy is no guarantee that the older dog will better accept a puppy into it's home. Especially one that is already territorial & resource guarding. (yes, you are a resource to your dog...he is protecting that resource...not being a protection dog) Sometimes they may eventually get along but more often then not even with a lot of work on the owners part...it may not happen.

I have lived this way with 3 high drive GSDs that would have fought to the end if allowed to come into contact with each other. I can tell you that it is very stressful & not easy to do. One mistake & you have a whole lot of hurt. It can be done but, trust me it is a TON of work & dedication to keep peace & everyone happy. The dogs in my pix below took 2 1/2 years to be able to live together & even with that....another couple of years with a lot of supervision, obedience & nipping any bad behaviors in the bud lightening fast to prevent a fight. That's 4 1/2 years.

Are you going to be in it for the long run? If not, do yourself & your dog & any new dog a favor & be happy with one dog that you own that already has issues.

Also how experienced of a handler are you? Are you able to handle 2 dogs going at each other...would you know what to do?

Just some thoughts....although not popular of ones to have to think about. Just the reality of it all. Please think long & hard about you decision.....for the dogs' sake.

Red flags leap out at me.

"Protective" (in my long experience) most likely means "resource guarder." That is, "This human belongs to me ... get away from my possession."

IMO, this dog would have to undergo a complete pack structure protocol before she could accept a newcomer, and even then, there is no guarantee that she would.

Yes, many many people have more than one dog. But to go into it with an adult dog who is already resource guarding you and reactive to other dogs ..... I wouldn't. I wouldn't do it until/unless I educated myself thoroughly on pack structure and pack leadership and then re-trained the dog now in the home. To me, that means, no time soon.

I'm sorry to sound so negative. I've seen how many "second" or "third" dogs are surrendered to shelters because of intra-pack upheaval. I have multiple dogs, and like Anne, I know how much work and attention this takes even WITHOUT a dog who is pre-disposed to be reactive and to resource-guard. Add that in, plus a long time of getting away with it, and red flags fly.

So, should you or shouldn't you?

Based on the sketchiest of information provided by you, I would opine you shouldn't.

Your baby ain't gonna like having to vie for your affection and your time. You will have to correct your baby's behavior when issues arise to make clear that both dogs are equals or you will have on going strife.

Of course I don't know of your experience with multiple dogs in the house, or any number of other considerations. I don't know how strong a presence you can exert to train the two dogs, or how much dog training experience you have.

If you have a dog that is protective you have a dog that is demonstrating ownership. Not a good place to start when introducing a new dog, a puppy, into the house.

It doesn't sound like your dog needs company, and that is a human determination want, anyway.

A scenario you can likely expect from Mojo is one of dominance, jealousy to use a human descriptor, fighting or biting, territorial issues, toy coveting, general household disruption, etc.

I have some experience with multiple dogs and foster dogs, and I know what can go wrong. If you are happy with your life, which it seems you are, why add discord and trouble unnecessarily?

It all depends on the if of your temperament. If you like challenges, and I mean months of challenges...

A puppy grows up. Mojo is not a puppy. I think you are asking for trouble you may not be equipped to handle.

And those are my thoughts.

You asked. My two cents.

I am confused.

In Nov 2013 (4 months ago - ish) you posted this:

 Quote: Susan Brandi Smith

Hello, my niece is bringing her dog to live with us for a couple months. Her dog is a mix breed, medium size dog. We have a young miniature Australian Shepherd. Almost 1 year. Last night when they met the larger dog was aggressive and pawed my pup. How do I get these to dogs to get along. Now the pup wont even go near the visiting dog. What can I do to bring them together without my pup getting hurt.??

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33870&page=1#386476

Did you ever have Mojo and these other dogs together - the niece's dog and/or the mini Aussie? If so, what were her reactions?

Hi. Sorry for the
Confusion. My brother had the Aussie and my niece had another dog. the visiting dog. I only have Mojo the GSD. They came to visit and their dogs got into it. I kept Mojo in her crate. However, the Aussie was a pup. And we did walk the dogs together. Mojo was very gentle with the pup. She even let the pup jump on her and play nip on her ears. I was surprised how calm she was. Again sorry for the confusion.

Connie beat me to it. "(Protective)" more often then not is nothing more the possessive.
"IF" you decide on a new pup then don't introduce them in your house or yard. That will only escalate any need the first dog may feel to claim you and be possessive with you against the pup.
Introduce them on neutral ground and take a walk without letting them do a lot of sniffing.
After they wind down a bit THEN introduce them carefully and still on neutral ground.
From that point don't let the pup spend a lot of time alone time with the older dog or you could very well find the pup bond to the older dog and you'll be second class in the "pack".

I think it can help if your 2 dogs will have different "roles".

I have a heeler mix who lives in the house and has been a real project, hard to bring along, but he's great now.

About 2 yrs ago my husband got an English Shep pup, a big, drivey, bossy herding dog.

Life was easier and more fun for me when I just had one dog. I keep these two separate for sleeping, eating -- no bones outside, no toys. They fought once badly.

To manage, our dogs have assumed different roles-- the big dog is 90% outdoors. He guards, runs off deer and coyotes, keeps the cattle back when I am putting out hay. The little dog is my buddy, helps with sheep and where fine cattle movements are required.

My dogs don't share my attention because I give attention for different things. When they do share me (they are bouncing around waiting to load up in the pickup to go to town, for example) there's an edge- a bit of play growling, I can see that it could easily escalate into a fight. It is not relaxing at all.

Like I said, life was better with one dog. If you do get a second, having it have a different role will help.

PS If the new dog was a totally different sort of dog, a little pet dog for example, I think that would help --- or if the new dog was your husbands, or Mojo could become your husbands for awhile, I think that would help too.

Having multiple dogs isn't easy. It's a big jump from one dog to two dogs...way more than twice the amount of work!

I'm lucky to have several dogs that all get along well. When I added new dogs to my group, I was always careful to choose personalities that would mesh well with my existing dogs. I made sure my existing dogs were already well-trained, well-balanced individuals.

I've always added puppies, since my adult dogs are very accepting of pups. Interestingly, I have two dogs who do not care for other adult dogs, but are wonderful with pups and have no problems with the pups as they grow. I make sure they get appropriate physical and mental exercise, both separately and together.

I've had more than one dog for all of my life, with the exception of 4 years of high school when we only had one dog. Now that was weird LOL.

Have you ever had more than one dog before?