Thank you everyone for your input. We went to the shelter and saw the little guy. Since he was rescued from a puppy mill, he's not been socialized with people at all; currently only the behavior team is working with him (no volunteers).
Right now, I just don't think that we have the extra time to give him everything that he deserves. I'm a teacher and adopted Cookie at the beginning of a summer. That worked out well with training, socializing, etc.
Besides, Cookie has been periodically going through something lately where he sort of attacks me at night before bedtime. This is a new behavior that we never saw for the first year or so that we had him. He started it when I went back to work this fall (but not last fall), and every once in a while (as in tonight), he does it. I will just start to get off the couch and he barks and lunges at me like he's going to bite/attack me. He hasn't actually bitten me, but it's kind of scary (and out of character). <sigh> I forget how nutty he can be b/c he'll be normal for long stretches and then he acts like Cujo.
So, I guess we'll just stick to one high-maintenance, nutty dog for now. He requires a LOT of patience. Somehow I think that a second dog would have just added to the insanity.
Kathy |