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  1. #1
    House Broken
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    Too soon for a second pup?

    Hey guys so I have a question. Boomer's parents are having a second litter because the first was such a success. Right now boomer is our only dog and I feel he gets bored in the house with just us there and when I saw this come up I'm considering one of these pups. Boomer will be 13mo old when we'd get him and Boomer would be thru his JH passes (assuming he passes which I don't see him failing).

    Another reason I'm considering is because when I train at the club, tuesdays and thursdays. I take boomer and there's 3 other guys and 8 other dogs (typically). So I spend 3-4hrs there and only get to run a dog for 30min so it's frustrating sitting around watching everyone else run.

    What all do you consider before a new pup? We're financially stable, and both of us have the free time after work to train. And both of us have the option of splitting up our work day to go home and take care of the pup.

    Thanks!
    T.J.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    time and money are big factors. the pup will need tons of one on one time for socialization (on his own outings with the human) and to some extent individual training. The older dog may have lots of work needed as well (then management when they are together/training together). if you have time for that, no harm in going for it!

    The other factor is you will in turn (should all go well) have two seniors - who may not be able to work much (and then not at all) so if you love the sport and being active, you will need a third dog or take a break (which may suit you fine). Personally I like having a dog i their "prime" at all times and can't have more than two dogs. so for me it means more of an age gap.

    Also sometimes senior dogs are much more expensive. totally depends on the dog though. But Rocky is costing me over $100/mt in pain management and stuff. So two seniors could mean that x2.
    Last edited by Tanya; 12-22-2015 at 08:00 AM.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I personally think it is too close in age. Having 2 seniors and possibly losing them very close together would just be too hard for me.
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    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    We are waiting until Bacon is 4 so that he can help "train" the new pup in the field, and so that they aren't so close in age we lose them at the same, but not so far apart that the new pup would annoy Bacon.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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    Born: 9/02/13

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  5. #5
    Senior Dog arentspowell's Avatar
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    The plan was to get another lab or possibly a Boykin when Daisy was 5. Fate had different plans and I failed at fostering a 4 month old mini doxie. Daisy will be turning 6 in April and Lily will be 4 in August.

  6. #6
    House Broken
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    yeah the two seniors definitely has been a thought. My plan is to have 3 for the first round, when these two are 6 and 7 get another then when they pass get another so I'd have one young and one like 6/7.

    However I never thought about the expenses that come with having two seniors, very good point!

    I just hate the fact that boomer has no company around the house other than us.

  7. #7
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Chase's breeder recommended we wait until Chase was about 2 years old before getting a second puppy, so that Chase had the benefits of those first 2 years and was pretty well trained before our attention was diverted to a baby puppy. We waited 6 years- call us overly cautious! I would just say that at 13 months, Boomer will still be a puppy himself. Chase would probably not have been ready for us to have a puppy at 13 months of age. I do wish we'd gotten a second dog sooner than 6 years in, but probably when Chase was more like 2-4 years of age. Otherwise, your descriptions of being financially stable, having time to train, etc, sound good. Just think back to how much time and training it has taken Boomer to get to this point, think about what you currently do with Boomer and add on all the work you did with him as a 2 month old puppy, and see what you think.

    As for dying close together, that is something to consider but can't be predicted with any certainty. We've had litter mates and 2 dogs that were 2 months apart in age but those 2 were a year old when we got them. The litter mates died 2 weeks apart, the others died about a year apart. None died of the same thing, no accidental deaths. Think about absorbing the potential costs for either or both associated with orthopedic injuries, old age, etc. Financially stable and being able to deal with really expensive veterinary care if one of them has an issue can be 2 different types of financially stable.

    It's exciting to consider getting a second puppy, no doubt. Let us know what you decide!

  8. #8
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I think there have been good observations here. It's all about personal preferences.

    This is just me... there are so MANY, many good field dog lines out there. I can't get another dog now because of county regulations. (We took in a rescue, so with him, RD plus my 7 year old MH, we can't really get that next pup for a while.) But if I were looking for a pup right now, even though I'm crazy about RD... and even if they did a repeat breeding, I would not go that way. I'd want the same quality dog, but I'd study the wide range of wonderful litters being produced every year.

    Why don't you attend a bunch of HT's (or better, some FT's) while running your dog, look at the exceptional dogs you see run, and find out more about their pedigrees. Then see who is breeding to those dogs.

    Time is an advantage for you.

  9. #9
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    Sophie was 2 1/2 when I got Bruce. I would liked to have waited another year or more, until Sophie was around 4, but I like the mating so much, I knew I wanted a puppy from that litter.

    Even at 2 1/2 Sophie was still pretty immature. Bruce bonded very tight with her, even as good as he was, there were times where playing with Sophie was more important than listening to me. I'd call him, and he'd look at her first to see what she was doing, most of the time he would come to me, but there were times when he'd give me the puppy finger and he and Sophie were off to the races. I think if I had not let them play together until Bruce was about a years old, it may have been different. Having learned from that experience I would have managed things differently from the start.

    When the next puppy comes, I won't let him play outside with Sophie until he is at least a year old.

  10. #10
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    We got Mulder when Scully was 3, which worked out well. When Mulder was 10 and Scully 13, we got Chloe. Then a year later, when Scully was almost 15, Mulder was almost 12, and Chloe about a year old, we took in his littermate Jolie (owner couldn’t keep her due to her own health issues) who was of course the same age as Mulder. We have since lost all three of the older dogs.

    Now we have Chloe who is 6, and her two pups who are 6 months each, who were born a couple months after Mulder died.

    So we’ve had all combinations and gaps, and have had seniors close together (Mulder and Jolie died almost a year apart despite being littermates), and now two young dogs close together (VERY close together, LOL). I think it mostly depends on your situation - both finance and time-wise. For us, it has all worked out, although I’m not quite sure what will happen when the pups are old enough to show (we compete in Obedience).

    Not that you’re asking, but for anyone else reading this I wouldn’t normally recommend anyone raise littermates, but I think there is a big difference when their mom who is a mature adult is still on the premises than having two young dogs alone together. As Barry mentioned, two young dogs without a “civilizing influence” could be an issue, but it depends on the maturity level of your current dog. At 3, Scully was young enough to play with Mulder, but old enough to be a good influence.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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