Hi everyone

I have finally done it - I have now got agreement that we can get another dog - yay a puppy!!

We really want to get a bitch (Ossie has been neutered but I am keen to avoid any potential issues) and I would love a black / blue to go with Ossie's sable colouring.  I am in the process of collecting names and contact details of reputable breeders as well as making a list of all the questions I need to ask (hip scores, haemophilia testing etc) but if anyone has any suggestion son either front let me know.

We plan to do agility and obedience with our new girl so I am not too bothered about the show lines or 'big boned' type breeders as long as the hip scores etc are good and that she is from at least partly working lines.  But I do have a few questions.....

We want to crate train her but Ossie has never been crate trained.  If we left her in her crate while we were at work and Ossie was left out in the dining room / kitchen as usual do you think that there would be a problem?  I am thinking that they may try and play through the mesh or something which might cause an accident.  Also, how long can you reasonably expect a pup to be able to go without toileting?  Me and my other half work (although I am planning on taking some time off to help the new one settle in) but we are arranging for people to come in and let both dogs out to potty and also to walk them once it is appropriate.

Also, should I be looking for anything in particular for an 'agility' dog.  I am being strict with myself and I won't let us get the first cute, bent eared pup that we see this time.  We will get the perfect addition to our family.

The final thing is that Ossie is quite a dominant dog and is always trying his luck with us although we have no major problems (except for visitors which we are working on).  He is fine with puppies and kittens although we will be keeping a close eye on any 'together' time to make sure that nothing happens, do you think that a bitch would dominate him and help keep him in line?  Also do you think that they would be likely to bond more with each other than with us and cause problems that way?  I have heard that this is often a problem with littermates but do you think it would be the same with a dog and a bitch two years + apart in age?

I am trying to keep a level head and think the whole thing through but I just want to have puppy cuddles!

Thanks
Jayne

Hiya, what breed is ossie?

Sorry he's a GSD

Are you going to have the same breed or go for a different one?

Same breed.  We want to get a female GSD.

Sorry should have explained this in my first post!

Hi everyone

Any replies?

Hi Jayne,
   We have got an older dog (collie), but crate trained our younger dog.  Have never had a problem with them trying to play through the mesh.  When the puppy was really young (between 7-15 weeks), I actually used a playpen, which had room for a bed, water & toys, as well as a newspaper area in case they needed to 'go'.  I didn't leave him much to be honest, probably the longest time in the day would have been a couple of hours.  Then when he was around 15 weeks, and dry at night, he went into a dog cage, just at night time - that was his bed.
   I don't think it matters how many years you have between your dogs, the puppy will probably bond with the older dog anyway - that's why you've got to let them have separate times - really you need to be the one that's the most fun to play with, not the other dog!  Play lots of games with the pup, and do training without the other dog being present. 
    Hilda