I desperately need some advice from the head, not the heart.

I have a rescue Beagle approx 6 years old. She has lots of baggage - she was used for breeding, very badly treated and abandoned. Apart from being found living rough she was terrified of people and noises. I have had her 2 years and thankfully she is improving, however is far from right. She used to grab a mouthful of food and run into a corner to eat it, then go back to grab another mouthful, thankfully she is over this but still has a way to go.

As she has gained confidence she has also become quite dominant ( it was probably this strength that helped her to survive) When I first got her I had 2 other bitches, a CS oldie and a gentle sweet Patt. As her dominance began to show she caused several spats with the Patt, but never the oldie.

I live in a large annex and my daughter and OH live in the main house, and to give my Patt some peace she went to live with my daughter where she is very chilled and happy and I get to cuddle her daily but her life is better for her. My daughter has 3 male dogs and 2 bitches ( including the Patt) They all get on really well with each other with no problems at all.

My Beagle has now fallen out badly with the other bitch in my daughters family and now they hurl at each other on sight. As our houses and garden are separate it is not really a problem and we take it in turns to walk our dogs in our fields, to avoid a confrontation. My Beagle gets on really well with the 3 male dogs, however they are quite big dogs and games tend to be a bit manic and she gets knocked and rolled, although in honesty she gets up and runs back for more. I think it is just me thinking of vets bills !!!

Since the death of my oldie 3 weeks ago, I have found my Beagle is going downhill and has started to be very nervous, and back to grabbing a mouthful of food and running off again. She is also terrified of noises again that she had managed to overcome before. I feel she is unhappy being an only dog, but am not sure if I will regret getting a companion for her to replace my oldie CS.

Obviously if I went down this road it would have to be a male, and around her size and age. I worry that another male dog could clash with my daughters 3 males, although I suppose I could keep them separate as I do with the bitches.

I am going away for 5 days to Eire mid April to visit grandchildren and normally my dogs stay in the main house when I am away, but for the first time I have had to book my Beagle into local kennels as it is not fair to expect my daughter to cope with fighting bitches. My Beagle will be desperately unhappy in kennels, but at least I know she will be in one piece when I get back and to be quite honest she will have to lump it and I will try to make it up to her when I get back. 5 days is not long.

I blow hot and cold about getting another dog as I just want an easy life. I am 74 and ready to retire ( still working) but am concerned if my Beagle is pining and unhappy being an only dog - yet once I have another dog there will be no going back. Will I regret it - hot cold - yes no.  I am so confused.
Heart says Yes - Head says No.

She never ever turned on my oldie bitch and would only go out in the dark if my CS was there as well. I think she liked the company of another bitch that was not interested in being top bitch if that makes sense. I wonder if she would appreciate a male friend or if in the long run I should just try and keep her on her own with occasional games with the boys next door.....

Forgive me if I don´t know what I´m talking about, but it sounds to me as if your oldie was the stabilizing influence.  The steady, understanding dog who showed your beagle there was nothing to worry about.  I can´t give an opinion about whether or not you should consider another dog but I would hope that by the time you have returned from Eire that the beagle will be a good bit more used to being an only dog.

Would it be possible to have one of your daughters boys over your side for her? As you know they get on allready.

I tend to choose with my heart so WELL DONE JO!  It sounds a great idea. 

Why couldn't I come up with a well thought out, sensible solution.

Many thanks for thoughts, however I have tried to get one or even both boys to come over but as soon as they come in they want to go home again. I take her and the boys out in the fields together but they don't want to stay more than a couple of minutes in my house. They want their own home and their own mum.

For that couple of minutes she is so pleased to see them that she allows them to pick up her bones and toys which she would never allow a bitch to go near them.

Dogs why do we love them so..

Just a thought but is there a local shelter?  The one near me has a field where you can take a dog before making a decision.  Perhaps introducing in a neutral field would at least give you an insight.

The trouble is Jean that quite often you don't see the 'real ' dog for several months as was the case with my Beagle. She was a cowering wimp when I first got her with no sign of being dominant, in fact she got on really well with all the dogs, bitches as well at the beginning. It was as she found her feet that she wanted to be the dominant bitch which put the noses of the other bitches out, and the trouble started.

I have contacts in the local rescue ( I do home checks for them ) but I don't want to mention anything yet as they will have a line up of dogs for me and then I will feel obligated. I am still changing my mind every 10 minutes which makes me think that I should listen to  the little voice inside saying ' don't rush, think hard if you want to do this'. Then also I think it is guilt I feel when I look at her on her own.

Who knows maybe she quite happy getting all the attention to herself and maybe I am just assuming that she is lonely.
Normally I know what I want to do and go straight for it, but for some reason I am hesitating this time, so maybe I should really think long and hard.

I have always had multiple dogs and this is the first time in virtually my whole life that I have just one dog living with me and I must admit a sense of freedom, both in finances and in the time it takes to groom, walk and care for just one dog. I think this could be why I am hesitating. I know it is selfish, but my house is cleaner, my pet insurance is lower, my dog food bill is less etc etc. A dog is for life, so if I take another one then we will have to see which of us pops our clogs first, which is another reason for the hesitation. Should something happen to me I am not sure my daughter could take on my beagle if she is likely to fight, so this is another line of thought that is stopping me.

I will have to get my crystal ball out me thinks!

This is such hard one do.you dont you do you go with your heart or mind
wish you best of luck and hugs to your beagul

I think it sounds like she would really benefit from a steady, calm dog. I would think something like a rescue greyhound would be great, they're generally so calm and laid back and not usually at all interested in who is top dog. Why not foster an ex racing grey, one with no baggage at all, and see how it goes?

Many thanks to all, but I think just reading my own comments has helped. The questions were going round and round in my mind until I was so confused, but writing my feelings down has really helped me sort the wood from the trees - a bit like talking it through with friends.

I think from my own comments I am leaning towards waiting, so this is what I will do. I have found through life that dogs in great need for TLC have just happened to appear in my path, so I am sure that if HE upstairs has a dog for me then the dog will appear without me having to search. I will continue to try to keep my beagle surrounded by love with a romp in the fields with the boys every day and my company for the rest of the time. If another dog just happens then so be it, I have sufficient room in my heart for another but I am not going to look for one.

In my younger years I always had around 5 dogs of my own, many GSD rescues ( my absolute fav. dog) but at my age now I want a quieter life, so will wait and see what happens - what will be will be.

Hi Chaumsong, I have just seen your reply - many thanks

I am not sure that I could cope with a large dog again, as much as I love Greyhounds. Since my last GSD died I must admit that the smaller dogs are easier to pop in the car, the bath and to take out. I never thought I would say that as most of my life I always said that I only wanted large dogs around me, big dogs to hug was my love. Its strange how getting older changes your views.

Not sure if this will help i waited around 7mnth after my old pointer died .hector was 3yr at time when.dax died.hector was so lonely off his food for couple weeks after dax died i was so worried about him 4mnth after dax died i started showing hector he really perct up been out and about
we got back from bakwell show and found beatful gsp x springer bitch she was same age as hector
only had milly month and she had one puppy
she had fab nautre beatful bitch
her and her pup were stolen 3yrs ago
never got them back so hard to start search over again for company for hector