Max needs a brother or sister! Good idea or bad

[Cats307]

Sorry haven't been visiting here for awhile but Max is a energetic
Yorkie 17 months old. He has 2 shiz tzu sisters in the later years of life. Or 9 and 10 to be exact. They are 2 lazy sisters wanting to sleep all day so he's decided to join them in their frequent naps. Or all day naps as they like to call them. I'm seriously thinking he needs a dog his age/size to play with. Otherwise he'll be a 30 lb yorkie! He's 12 lbs. now (vet chews me out every time he sees him) Ava had Emma to play with and now they are inseparable. Ava plays with max but for 5 minutes tops. Is 4 dogs like a crazy idea? I work from home so I'm home all day except for a couple weekends a year plus vacations. But nana loves her grand dogs and they are always welcome. Max is a fantastic dog that loves all dogs. Would you get another boy or would a girl cause him to mark the house? He's fixed and never marked his territory ever but wouldnt want him to start. That's why we didn't want a boy but he's been great.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Cats307

Sorry haven't been visiting here for awhile but Max is a energetic
Yorkie 17 months old. He has 2 shiz tzu sisters in the later years of life. Or 9 and 10 to be exact. They are 2 lazy sisters wanting to sleep all day so he's decided to join them in their frequent naps. Or all day naps as they like to call them. I'm seriously thinking he needs a dog his age/size to play with. Otherwise he'll be a 30 lb yorkie! He's 12 lbs. now (vet chews me out every time he sees him) Ava had Emma to play with and now they are inseparable. Ava plays with max but for 5 minutes tops. Is 4 dogs like a crazy idea? I work from home so I'm home all day except for a couple weekends a year plus vacations. But nana loves her grand dogs and they are always welcome. Max is a fantastic dog that loves all dogs. Would you get another boy or would a girl cause him to mark the house? He's fixed and never marked his territory ever but wouldnt want him to start. That's why we didn't want a boy but he's been great.

If you feel a 4th dog wouldn't be a burden on you I say go for it. Keep in mind it will be a puppy so much extra work in the potty training. I personally would get a girl since you already have a boy, this way fear of marking is excluded. I had a pack of 3 girls, all 3 years apart, all now passed. Seeing the 3 of them zooming through the house, wrestling with each other, placing hide and seek filled my heart with such overwhelming joy, life could not be better. I don't know if it would cause Max to start marking, Cody is my first boy, my rescue, he is neutered, squats to pee , no marking ever, a perfect boy. I don't think it's crazy to own 4 babies, these are toy breeds, not like having 4 German Shepherds lol. Go for it.

[Lovetodream88]

If you can afforded a 4th dog and everything that comes along with that then that is up to you. Unless you rescue an adult dog your never guaranteed size, temperament and how active they will be so you need to keep that in mind. If he is neutered and dosent mark now he shouldn’t mark with a new dog.

[Cats307]

My husband keeps saying wait till one of the girls is gone but that could be 5 yrs and then max is 6. I want a playmate for him like I had with the 2 girls. Max squats to pee too..thought that might be why he never marked the house. Hard to do when you can't balance on 3 legs to hike your leg. I though I'd die during that potty training stage but I think he caught on quick since the girls run out side to potty he just followed along. It was that getting up every few hours! Again ill be that much older if I waited.

I got Max at a pet store and had everyone telling me that is bad bad bad...so I've been looking for a breeder. How do,you know a good one from a bad one?

[bearhug]

If you feel up to it, I would get a friend for Max.

I have a Yorkie that is going to be 12 in February. I just got 3 Yorkie sisters from the same litter. It is a lot of work, but they are so entertaining and loving. I have heard about littermate syndrome, but I don’t think we are experiencing any of that. I did not go through a breeder, but actually found them on Facebook.

Good luck if you decide to get another!

[Britster]

Jackson was 6, I think, when we added 12 week old Lola (cockapoo puppy) to our home. Technically Lola was supposed to be my parents dog but after a few weeks of getting acclimated to each other, they became the best of friends.

While a lot of things were easier (for me) with just one since I do a lot of small road trips or little day trips etc and I take Jackson with me a lot of places like eating outside at restaurants etc. Now, I feel too bad leaving Lola behind most of the time so it's either they both come or they both stay home. It's just extra work having 2 in public vs. 1 even though they are both pretty good.

However I'd say the benefits outweigh the cons. At home, they always lay close to each other when I'm gone for the day (I see them on the camera) and they wrestle & play every night. I think she keeps Jackson younger. He is 9, she is 3 now.

When I was living at my dads house briefly, he loved it there but his 2 dogs sound like yours- they don't play much & they're kind of lazy, so it didn't provide him the same friendship that he has with Lola.

I'd say if you can afford it- it won't be a huge change from 3 to 4.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Cats307

My husband keeps saying wait till one of the girls is gone but that could be 5 yrs and then max is 6. I want a playmate for him like I had with the 2 girls. Max squats to pee too..thought that might be why he never marked the house. Hard to do when you can't balance on 3 legs to hike your leg. I though I'd die during that potty training stage but I think he caught on quick since the girls run out side to potty he just followed along. It was that getting up every few hours! Again ill be that much older if I waited.

I got Max at a pet store and had everyone telling me that is bad bad bad...so I've been looking for a breeder. How do,you know a good one from a bad one?

Pet stores are bad because almost all of their puppies come from puppy mills. Have you thought of adopting a young adult from a shelter or rescue?

[Cats307]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Pet stores are bad because almost all of their puppies come from puppy mills. Have you thought of adopting a young adult from a shelter or rescue?

Yes but I looked but I want one young enough that will be a playmate
For max. Haven't had much luck looking at a rescue. If one has been left at home a lot their personality might be more apprehensive blending into a large dog family. I remember at first I could t go anywhere or Max would have a temper tantrum. I shopped online for groceries for the first 6 months! He changed our lives apbut for sure for the better. Even Paul who was so not happy about another dog has come to adore him. He wants a lab again but I'm loving the small portable dog that we can take just about anywhere.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Cats307

Yes but I looked but I want one young enough that will be a playmate
For max. Haven't had much luck looking at a rescue. If one has been left at home a lot their personality might be more apprehensive blending into a large dog family. I remember at first I could t go anywhere or Max would have a temper tantrum. I shopped online for groceries for the first 6 months! He changed our lives apbut for sure for the better. Even Paul who was so not happy about another dog has come to adore him. He wants a lab again but I'm loving the small portable dog that we can take just about anywhere.

The thing is you can’t garantee that you will get a puppy with the same personality that you want.