After many years of waiting and wanting it looks like we are finally in a position to get another dog ( Beagle ofcourse! ). I have a 4 1/2 year old male Beagle who is great with others dogs especially bitches, he's a bit of a ladies man!!! Loves the girls :)

As we both work fulltime we have decided to get a young bitch between 6 - 18 months. As much as I would love a puppy  I think it would be better to get a young dog as I have dog walkers come in while we are at work that's not ideal for a young puppy. I currently have 2 dog walkers which come in one at 11.30am - 12.30pm and the other at 2.30pm and she keeps him to 5.30pm when I pick him up ( the latter is my neighbour and friend, we help each other out with walking and looking after each others dogs ).

My main concern is settling in my new little girl and how my boy will react. I have looked after friends dogs overnight and for weekends and he hasn't had a problem but I'm not sure how he'll feel introducing another dog after him been the only dog for 4 1/2 years.

What should I expect?

How should I introduce them?

I have so many questions? I really want to get this right and have my little girl settle in and make sure my boy is happy.

Any advice would be most welcome :) :)

Cheers!

I've always found the best way is to take your dog with you when you go to pick up your bitch and have them in separate crates side by side in the car on the way home.  By the time you get home they'll be quite used to eachother.  The main thing is to act like nothing's changed.  Treat your dog in the exact same way you always did and be calm at all times.

Good luck with your girl :)

Debs

Hi, I agree with surrannon,I have an older dog who has a dislike to puppies and them getting all the attention.  When I wanted to bring my new bitch puppy into the household so I took Sal with me.  We all made a huge fuss of Sal as we bought clara to her and let them introduce themselves in there own time.  It was very nerve wracking as you worry of them rejecting them.  Sal was brilliant and has never once told her off,  only thing she insits in being left alone with is her dinner, but it is very funny watching a puppy beg!!!!

Definatley going to take him along when we collect her, I have a little girl lined up who I have fallen in love with ( so cute )!!!! She almost a year old now and so pretty.

I'm going to make sure both get and equal amount of fuss! :)

I feel so nervous about it and I'm trying not to be, I really want it to work ( I'm sure it will fine but you never know, I couldn't bear having to return her if my boy didn't accept her ).

I think I need to do some relaxation exercises and try not to think too much about it!!! :)

It's such a weird thing I'm excited, nervous, scared really quite emotion.

Hi,  keep us posted on how it all goes.  Love to know.  try not to be too nervous as your boy could pick up on this and read all the wrong signals.  Best of luck with it all.  Have my fingers crossed.

Thanks everyone! :)

I certainly will keep you updated! :)

Not sure when it will all happen, hopefully soon but I am happy to wait as she is lovely and it gives me more time to prepare. Having said that even though I only have one dog at present you would think I have ten with the amount of dog stuff I have. I'm going to buy a really nice collar for her though and a new bed!

Cheers! :) :)

Hi
we picked up our rescue girly from ireland (we live in the UK)
if we had took both dogs with us it would have been too stressful
we introduced them all by going to the woods     (heir usual walk)
that way they were all interested in their walk rather than each other- they had a quick sniff and then were off into the woods (much more interesting lol)
when we took them home after that there were o probs as they had already met :D

BUT

Each dog is differen t

Good luck xxx