We have a 2 year old miniature wire haired dachshund and are considering buying another dachshund.  Our wire haired dachshund is very nervous around strangers and is also scared of dogs that approach him when out walking.  We were hoping that buying another dog might boost his confidence but are also worried that he might not accept it.  What are your opinions?

The possibilities are many. He may accept it, he might not. The new pup might give confidence to your boy, or the pup might learn nervous behaviour from him, and you end up with two nervous dogs.

Buying another dog will boost his confidence with THAT dog, if any, not with dogs on the street.  That can only be achieved through socialization and behavioral training.

Hi Guest,

I agree with Mr Spock ;)  Only by independently overcoming the problems of your existing dog's nervous behaviour will you help him and this can only done by giving your undivided attention to building his confidence, slowly, without pressure and by gentle but consistant habituation.

If you do not address his problems first and at least alleviate a substantial amount of his stress, buying a companion for him may cause him to have a great "best friend" to interact with at home, in the garden etc but his negative behaviour will almost certainly rub off on your new addition.  It is much more likely for a young dog to emulate an older, established canine family member than for the existing adult to gain confidence from a new puppy.

Please try to help your current dog to be more at ease around people and at least become ambivalent if not friendly to other dogs approaching before adding another one to the mix.  Good luck, Teri :) 

We were, sort of, in a similiar position when we just had Chloe(can just about remember what it was like to have ONE dog!!) and were considering getting another. Our original plan had been to have a litter from her and keep a pup but for various reasons we decided against that(thank god!)and got her speyed :D
Anyway, so we decided we would go back to her breeder for another bitch puppy, we didn't like dogs...then...now we have one!! Chloe had never been a very dog orientated dog but we thought that living with one she would be ok, she'd had a few frights a youngster and the few dogs she would play with were bitches. Now, nearly 3 years later she accepts Kayla and is learning to accepet that the pup is staying! She is really the boss, although not where food is concerned, and out on walks she likes to let Kayla know this by trying to stop her greeting other dogs, simply solved by putting her on the lead before she does it, but my concern would be that if your older dog is nervous, it may rub off onto the pup, or it could stress out your older on as they will be looking out for the pup all the time, watching for what they are 'upto'.
Thats just my experience, I would be inclined to agree with Teri in some cases and just to add, none of Chloes attitude towards certain dogs(she seems to have got worse as she has aged :D,has rubbed off on Kayla. She didn't goto classes as a pup, infact at a puppy party we went to she hid in the corner  :( , but had matured into a very friendly, flirty, happy girl and she absolutley adores Idõ, he follows her on walks, they sleep in front of the fire togther, pretty much curled up, whereas Chloe does not allow another dog to touch her, she really likes her own space, just a quirk of hers I suppose, she will allw other dogs to sniff her but she does sit and is not interested i saying hi to them.
Emily

I would agree.  Olease do not get another dog until your present dogs problems are sorted out.  this can only happen with refularm positive exposure to other dogs.  I sugest joining a training class, it is never too late.  I have helped convince an older dog that other dogs ren't the enemy, and eventually for her to look forward to interacting with other dogs, and gaining the ability to just make her wished to them known without going OTT into attack mode.

An example where havi9ng another dog will make things worse is below.

My lot are very bold and people and dog freindly.  The sister of my youngest went to a Mother and Daughter near by whose oldest had died leaving the younger (9 or 10year old) totally bereft.

Unfortunately without the Alpha female this dog had absolutely no confidence, and was frightened of noise and heavy traffic.  By 16 - 20 weeks the pup was refusing to go for walks, and then refusing to walk down the street as by digging it's heels in it knew the elderly lady who was at home in the day would take her down the quiet footpath alongside their house.

It wasn't until I started takeing her and her older companion on socialisation walks with one or two of my own that she started to get better as did the adult.

The adult had always coped by just becoming introverted, she hated th traffic, crowds etc, and just ignored them, but quaking inwardly and showing all the classic fear/stress signals (lip licking watching intently) but no panic so even her owners were not really aware just how frightened she was, but the Pup sure did, and having much more Gumption flatly refused to go where she knew from the older dogs reaction that there was danger.

Now fianally at 18 months the youngster has matured past the older dog and doesn't take any notice of her reactions, but the work had to be put in to convince her that the older dogs fears were unfounded.

I think I lost the battle to convince the owners to continue socialisting the adult to improve her confidence, as somethow they think it kinder to avoid all the things that frighten her, but thankfully the young one is now confident enough in herself.