I think I want another dog - questions

[AllDogBoots]

Thank you everyone. You are all confirming that my desire to get a second dog is an ok choice. I would LOVE to see Cooper wresting and playing with another dog. Now I just have to decide where to get one and exactly what kind...

[ArmaniMan]

I got Chloe when Armani was 2. I think it was the perfect age, he was trained, settled in, and on a consistent routine. He WAS Jealous and there were a few issues in the very beginning... there were days early on where I was sure I had made the biggest mistake ever... when a dog comes into my house they are here for life, so giving her up was never an option but I was considering how I would keep them separate 24 hours a day... but with a little bit of work and time they became the best of friends... they now play all day, sleep on top of each other whenever they get the chance, and get upset and look for each other when the other isnt around. Armani used to lay around a lot when we were home. Now they are always up, chasing each other and playing with toys.

The most important thing is to see how he does with other dogs... I was lucky in that my parents have two toy poodles so from the time I got him I was able to socialize him with them frequently and see how he did with other doggies around.

[Winnie07]

I have a 7 year old maltese and he has ALWAYS been the spoiled baby of the family and he's very territorial. I always wanted a yorkie so my mom got me one for my birthday. When I first brought her home, he hated her. He was mostly scared though because she would always try to play with him and she would chase him around. She's been bitten a couple of times by him, but nothing serious. However, now they get along pretty well. They will romp all over the house beating eachother up, it's so cute. He just gets mad when hes trying to sleep or when she tries to steal his toys.

[tjdmom]

I think adding a companion is usually a welcome change for them. I know it has been my experience even when I had a 10 year old collie and we got Zoe, she was a bit stressed out at the beginning (the collie was) but I really do think that she really did like the companionship during the day when we were not at home.

[AllDogBoots]

Cooper doesn't have all that much experience socializing with other dogs. I took him to a dog park in Florida when I visited my parents and he was the timid dog. He had much more interest in the dog owners than the dogs. There's no dog park near me that I know of and I don't have friends who have dogs so it's tough for me to find socialization for him.

The groomer however, let's the dogs play together before they are groomed. He says he is super playful and loves the little dogs. I've also had someone come do work on my house who brought his chihuahua with him. Cooper played with him all day, let him eat his food and even let the chihuahua sleep in one of his beds.

I would just feel more comfortable with a puppy who grows into a less than 8 pound adult.

[manolos mom]

Girl, I am here to tell you, you will love it....Here's my clan.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by manolos mom

Girl, I am here to tell you, you will love it....Here's my clan. Attachment 316375

I'm excited!

[AllDogBoots]

I signed up with Yorkie Haven Rescue and just spoke with Robin for a while. I feel so great about this! Trying to be patient is the hardest thing. At least I know I'm doing the right thing.

[Deirdre]

I had a not so great experience.

Adopted a neglected 10 month old silky. At first she was great and would play, sleep, and run around with my little guy, she was as sweet as could be. After a week and a half she started attacking him. Biting his neck, jumping on top of him, body checking him out of the way... It was horrible.

Did a lot of research and a lot of training, a lot of vet visits and a lot of crying. After a month and a half it was a lot better but still not good. She stopped biting him but would still jump on his back and force him to the ground. She was twice his weight and he is a submissive lover who never acted dominant or ever fought back.

Spoke with trainers, dog owners, and my neighbor who works with the local humane society and nearly all said that it could get better but most likely this was as good as it gets. With heavy heart I put my sweet silky up for adoption, changed my mind, tried more training, and then finally put her up for adoption and eventually found an amazing home.

The trauma and the drama took a huge toll on me and my family. Luckily my little guy lives only in the now and still wants to play with every dog he meets.

If you adopt there are big advantages to adopting through a rescue organization as opposed to a private party like I did. My silky's previous owners did not want her back (nor did I want her to go back to them) but a legit rescue will take the dog back because it's in the dog's best interest. A rescue organization will (hopefully) do a behaviour evaluation and be able to tell you if the dog has aggression towards other dogs or is over possessive of a human. A rescue will spay / neuter and make sure the dog is UTD on shots and relatively healthy. My silky hadn't been to the vet since she was a few weeks old.

I think having two dogs is the best idea IF the dogs are compatible. That week and a half before she turned on my guy was one of them most fun and happy weeks I've had so far.

Good Luck!

[AllDogBoots]

That is such a helpful story. Thank you. I had a 30 minute chat with my vet yesterday about behavior and what to look out for when selecting a dog. My Cooper is a super submissive dog. One of my major requirements is the dog needs to be smaller than him, for then it seems that he's more comfortable.

The rescue group I spoke with seems wonderful. They do exactly what you said, by allowing the dog into my house for evaluation. I can even bring Cooper with me to pick up the dog if I want. And yes, they will also have a great idea of the dog's personality.

The negative part of adopting from a rescue is that I'm going to have to be patient.

[bribunny]

Twice the love We have a male chihuahua and got a female yorkie. We've heard this is the best combination. They said boys tend to fight for the dominance and can often mark their territory trying to up one another.

My experience has been great! My little girl is def. more of a mommy's girl than my male dog. But, he's a boy dog and prefers males. I guess it depends on the dog.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by bribunny

Twice the love We have a male chihuahua and got a female yorkie. We've heard this is the best combination. They said boys tend to fight for the dominance and can often mark their territory trying to up one another.

My experience has been great! My little girl is def. more of a mommy's girl than my male dog. But, he's a boy dog and prefers males. I guess it depends on the dog.

While i was at the vet with Cooper (morkie, male) yesterday she informed me that they have a female abandoned chihuahua who needs a home. They said she is the most wonderful, loving little dog. My partner doesn't want a chihuahua and it's taking everything inside me right now to NOT go get her.

[megansmomma]

I just lost my entire post! Ugh...............

So here is the short version. Pebbles was a total spaz when I brought Doodlebug home at 12 weeks old. She DROOLED and did this aweful high pitched bark whenever she came into the room with him. Eventually, after I thought we had made the very worst decision ever she finally excepted him. But they are not best buddies like I had imagined but do play and run around like nutso.

Then we added Bogey who was a little over a year old. Doodlebug and Bogey are very best friends. They are always together playing and sleeping and have a great time. You can see them together in the yard in a couple of my pictures in my avatar.

We have also had several foster pups in the house too so now it is not a big deal to bring in a new addition. They all pretty much accept that we have a visitor and so about their normal business.

Good luck on finding that perfect new little one.

[yorkie mad]

Just like you , I wanted another but not so much for me but for Tia for her soul mate. its been 2 months now that i got ollie and its the best thing ever.Tia was 18 mths old when I brought Ollie home and he was 1 year( rehome with poss abuse) I must admit the first couple of days were difficult as he was very frisky as he hadnt been neutered. 1 week later I had him done and he is her best friend now. They literally do everything together even poop on occassions lol. I love my princess and my little prince.

[alyx]

Originally Posted by rumdust

My yorkie came into the house with a dog all ready here. However I have a friend who got her yorkie from the same breeder and he is a only dog. He comes over and is all to happy to have that company. I think that yorkies are just generally happy to have a companion (as long as its not a cat lol)

My first yorkie was brought up with a kitten as her best mate. We had an older cat and a kitten when we got her and the kitten loved her from day one. He put up with being dive bombed and chewed...which saved my furniture, lol. And then we got a Lhasa Apso and later on a Cavalier as well. We had one huge bed for them and they would sleep snuggled up in a big heap. Over the years we also had various short stay refugees (kittens and wild bunnies) and the only one who wasn't happy with that was the older cat who would give me a look of sheer disgust then just walk off and sulk in the kitchen, lol. Here's a pic of Jennie when she was a pup with Mouse (so named because he was a massive kitten) as babies. They were best friends for life.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...ieandMouse.jpg