Should we?

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

We are strongly thinking about getting another bully.  We have our concerns with Brody and how dominant he can be, plus we don't want to upset him.  Yogi is getting older with age and you can tell when Brody plays with him, it really bothers yogi. Our thoughts is that another puppy might draw Brodys attention away from yogi.


I dunno.  It's like going to a gun forum and asking them if they are pro second amendment lol. 


Jerry

[emmabull]

i am certainly no expert, but I have heard a dominant dog will usually accept a puppy. I know Sunny hated other dogs, even her Mom. When we got ALF as a puppy she was fine with her, even allowing her to eat from her food bowl. When Emma and Stitch came as puppies she was fine with them too. It might be just what you need, and on the selfish side it would be great watching a puppy grow up on the Domain!

[idesign245]

I'll be the devils advocate and throw this out there (while I'm all for more bully )... if Brody annoys Yogi when he wants to play, I would think a new hyper puppy will annoy Yogi even more.

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

I'll be the devils advocate and throw this out there (while I'm all for more bully )... if Brody annoys Yogi when he wants to play, I would think a new hyper puppy will annoy Yogi even more.

Well when we had bear and yogi.  Yogi would torture bear.  We got broody and yogi turned his attention to him. Now that broody is older, payback is a hell for yogi   So I'm thinking it might be better fo yogi to have a puppy for broody (who would never hurt bear and would always look out for him)

[kavrno]

I'm thinking if you get a puppy then he/she will have to learn to leave yogi alone.  It will be up to you guys as well as Yogi to teach the pup his/her boundries, that would be part of the training.  Sometimes puppies keep older dogs young and they can invigorate an older dog.  A puppy is going to be more acceptable to Brody but I would have the breeder help you choose a less dominant puppy, its when they puppy starts to reach that 2 year old mark that problems can arise.  Lots of training and socializing is a good idea.  Good Luck with whatever you choose. 

[BeachBullyPC]

While PC loves to play with all other dogs, we realized that he is very strong-willed and did not like the alpha dogs in his house but was ok with them in the park.  So, we got Meatball at 11 months, after meeting him and seeing just how submissive he was.  It has worked out wonderfully.  I'd consider an older bully, one with a developed personality personally.  You never know what a puppy will turn into!  Our boys get along extremely well and getting PC a brother was the best thing we could have done!

[winwinsmom]

Geesh, that's a tough one.  I know when we got Winston our shih-tzu, Jasper, who was older and set in his ways at the time. absolutely hated him!  He never accepted him but our Maggie, shih-tzu/maltese did (she was also older).  So I'm thinking maybe a little girlie bullie? 

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

Thanks for all the replies gang.. Gah.. we still do not know... WE LOVE the dynamics of our house hold.  Brody and Yogi both are, for the most part, easy going.  Sure we have Brody's seizure stuff, but we got that under control.  Both of them do not have any anxiety tendencies when we leave.  We can leave them both out in the house without any trouble.. Brody sleeps in his chair and yogi sleeps on the couch.  Hell for the most part, Brody does not even wake up when we get home.   We are having so much fun with him now, we kinda don't want to ruin things.   Perhaps the loss of Tiff's mom has prompted us to want the puppy to give us something further to care for and to fill a little of that void. 

I dunno... we are talking it out and thinking about it still...


Thanks for all the advice... it is much appreciated..


Jerry~

[Fenway]

Get a puppy!! get a puppy!! hehehe

seriously though - we are in a similar boat, starting to contemplate a second, but dont want to mess up what we have going. would love to have something else for Fen to play with but just know (at age 3) hitting the cruise control and its hard to pull the trigger.

[Gracie & Bea's Mom]

Thanks for all the replies gang.. Gah.. we still do not know... WE LOVE the dynamics of our house hold.  Brody and Yogi both are, for the most part, easy going.  Sure we have Brody's seizure stuff, but we got that under control.  Both of them do not have any anxiety tendencies when we leave.  We can leave them both out in the house without any trouble.. Brody sleeps in his chair and yogi sleeps on the couch.  Hell for the most part, Brody does not even wake up when we get home.   We are having so much fun with him now, we kinda don't want to ruin things.   Perhaps the loss of Tiff's mom has prompted us to want the puppy to give us something further to care for and to fill a little of that void. 

I dunno... we are talking it out and thinking about it still...


Thanks for all the advice... it is much appreciated..


Jerry~

Have you checked with a local rescue organization or at your vet's office to see if there is a dog you can "foster"? Then if it's a good match, you can keep him.

[ksdstny]

jer n tiff....i was in kinda the same situation....harlow wasnt older but she did have some special needs since she'd had all those surgeries. as you might remember we tried the rescue route but it just didnt fit with what our needs were. harlow really is easy going but dominant as well. she runs things with a quiet hand sort of speak. she lets the boy get away with alot mostly...but has NO problem putting him in check when the need arises.

the adivce about the energy level is so important. i swear i've learned so much with each one of them. with steeler his health has been virtually painless, his behavior a bit on the rude side. no mind you i saw pictures of him in aciton and when the house is quiet he is pretty much a gem, when its an excitable house he tends to be a bit more excitable of course.

i know you all will make the best decision for your family but imo a little new life is just what the dr. ordered. take it from me, it will be a joyous decision, i couldnt agree more. i think it helps keep older dogs young. again jmo. good luck....

takegood care of you k k. xoxo

[hoegaandit]

It's a very long time since we had more than one dog, so I may be talking rubbish here - but I've read and kinda like the idea of letting your dog choose if possible. Say you took Brody along to see a litter and he seemed to get on with one pup, then that might work out well?

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

I love the idea of letting him choose, but the only EB breeders around here are a bunch of puppy mills and BYB's.. 

[chanticocat]

Don't do it for yourself, do it for the dog.  Make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.  We have our own story; while things have worked out well and we are very happy, there will be a transition curve and you need to be ready for anything.

Um... The balance is a valid concern.
Hank and Dulce were perfect together after one squabble where she bit bit him and made him bleed and cry. Those two use each other as pillows. Dulce still looks to him for where to go. She made us a perfectly balanced "family of four" when she fell into our laps.

We drove home from Utah with Midge in my arms in April. She was so tiny (19 lbs) and sick (upper respiratory). We chose her becauuse we believed that we could give her a family. She picked a fight with Hank at a stop on the way home and they still haven't quite become friends. Dulce puts up with her and they do well when we take the two of them out around town. I did have days where I sat on the floor and cried from being tired and frustrated. I wondered if maybe we had taken on too much.

We are no longer balanced. Midge rocks the boat. She is a very early riser (5:30 ish or earlier ). She doesn't much care for strange dogs. She isn't able to get into the car with out help. She has an obsession with polar fleece. She throws screaming tantrums.  She pees at the worst possible moment down my lap.
She has learned to "ask" for things by bouncing in front of them. (back door for potty, front door for ride in the car, bounce in front of the porch swing to be held and rocked) She's smart and keeps us on our toes.

Aaron and I don't seem to have enough hands now. It's all we can do to wrangle these 3 somedays. Nevermind trying to lug the camera too.
 Our little fireball has grown into her frame and her personality makes her seem even bigger. There an ex pen where there used to be a walkway through our liviing room. Her blankies and toys are everywhere.( Hank and Dulce don't care for toys.)

We love her and wouldn't change a thing.

I think you will "just know" when the right time and right bully come.