I mated my bitch 2 weeks ago. She missed after mating last season.
I had a phone call today from someone in my breed looking to rehome a 4year old bitch for various reasons.
I have always loved the little bitch and my bitch gets on well with her so don't c them not getting along. I am concerned that bringing in an entire slightly older (maybe 9 months) bitch could adversely affect my girl. If I hadn't have just mated my girl I would have no doubts about welcoming this other girl into my family.
Am I just being paranoid???

Personally, I would wait until after the pups have left.    Are you keeping a pup(or hoping to) ?    This would mean an extra two dogs in the near future ;-)

With my litters,  the pregnant bitch has been the only dog living in the house by the 6th week.   The other bitch was living in the workshop, where my OH works.     They only met in the back garden up to the birth, then not at all until the pups were running around.   Then slowly integrated until both bitches were living in the house when the pups were 8 weeks old.   I let my girls set the pace.

This was to allow the pregnant bitch to get used to being on her own in the house and so that she could be relaxed with her puppies and not worry about the other bitch bothering her or the pups.   I also didn't want my girls having a spat or fight that would cause problems in the future.   

In addition, whilst the bitches may get along ordinarily, suddenly living together may bring unexpected tensions.  Being pregnant can cause some bitches to become less tolerant of other dogs/bitches too.  

Are you prepared for things going wrong?    

It may be plain sailing, but your pregnant bitch must come first.

I'm with Dill. This is such a sensitive period, and I personally have had one bitch that would not let any other dog anywhere near her from the week she was mated. There's the extra stress involved no matter what, and who knows what new germs could be brought in. Then you have to separate them in a few weeks anyway, and like Dill says, presumably you will be keeping a pup so suddenly two new dogs to concentrate on. Bad timing unfortunately.

Also agree, a pregnant bitch comes before everything else, it's her time and should be as stress free as possible.

However, if you really do like this other bitch it's a shame to miss out on her, could she be homed with a family member, close friend or someone you know well in your breed with visits from you pre: whelping, until a couple of weeks after the pups have gone? Giving your own girl time to get herself settled again.

Also during that time...... if the new bitch is not to be part of a breeding programme of yours you have plenty of time to have her spayed and recover well afterwards to, which would cut out on any possible hormonal issues during season times.

I also agree that bitches who may get on well on walks or meeting up at shows/events etc, may not get on after a few months of living together, it will be trial and error, but I guess if she is a lovely dog worth the try as all could be well. :-)

I think deep down I know it's really bad timing.
I want what's best for my girl and potential pups but can't help think if she isn't pregnant then I am going to miss out on this other girl.
Sounds stupid but the first time I met her I looked into her eyes and I just knew she was going to b my dog one day.
I might ask some family/friends to c if they can help out.
She won't be part of my breeding programme but she will b my family....
This would b so much easier if we could pregnancy test our girls much earlier!

Sounds stupid but the first time I met her I looked into her eyes and I just knew she was going to b my dog one day.

Don't let her go then........ find a way, there must be someone who could help you out for a few weeks and if pregnant - months? I guess it also depends on house size too, it may work having her in a separate room with a dog gate, but some bitches can feel stressed having another bitch in the house even those they have grown up with, if your girl is to be in whelp she could lose the pups at an early stage or be fretful throughout or after the whelping, or she might not be bothered at all, depends greatly on your girl too, but unfortunately, you can't really put her in that situation to find out.

As the earliest time you can predict pregnancy is at 28 days with a blood test, it's another 2 weeks yet to find out, perhaps if you can hold off her homing elsewhere until then.............. but if she is in whelp, time to look for anyone who may owe you a favour I guess. ;-)

Could the owner not hold on to the bitch until you are ready?   Or is it an emergency situation? 

If this little bitch is meant to be with you, you'll make it happen somehow ;-)

One reason for keeping your pregnant bitch stress free, is so that the pups  develop  as normally as possible and don't have temperament problems.   A grumbly, stressed bitch is likely to pass this on to her pups through imitation.  See this thread http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/142314.html#fp    ;-)

> One reason for keeping your pregnant bitch stress free, is so that the pups  develop  as normally as possible and don't have temperament problems.   A grumbly, stressed bitch is likely to pass this on to her pups through imitation.

I can agree with this through experience. I bitch I had was carrying pups & was wound up by our neighbour & her pups didnt have the temperament I had always bred & liked :(

Unless your own bitch is very placid and totally welcoming of any and all strangers, I'm not sure I would risk it just at the moment, I'm afraid. If you can get her fostered for a bit until the puppies are gone, that would be safer.

Well I picked up the little girl yesterday.
I called in every favour I could and have her in a great wee home till we c if my girl is pregnant and we can take it from there.
In the mean time an older retired couple i know have been in touch looking to re home a little girl exactly like the girl I just picked up.
The totally selfish part of me wants to dismiss this BUT if my girl is pregnant is it fair to get this other girl fostered for 3 months and get settled then have to move her back in with me when this couple could give her an amazing home right now..........

Fantastic that you have picked her up. :-)

To your first question.......... dogs should live for many, many, years if this is a breed which lives 13, 14 15+ years a few months in a good 'foster' home and then spending the next 10 years in a home with you will be a loooooong and probably forgotten memory to her, it will be strange for her moving from her 'new' home to start with and may seem unfair but if she is to then stay with you until she passes it obviously is worth it for her and for you, personally I don't see it as a problem. :-)

Your second question....... well, it depends on where your heart lies, if you adore this dog and want her for yourself as I said before stick to your plan, if you want her because she is a lovely dog but don't need her, just couldn't bare to not know where she ended up then you may be happy in just knowing she is in a good home. (Once you've vetted them properly) The second question depends entirely on where your heart lies with this dog.......... alas only you know that. ;-)