we've got 2 dogs a female staffie about 14 month old and a 5 month old male scottish terrier my husband has just come back from work and he's been offered a jack russell boy who's only 8 eight weeks old the runt of the litter and at the moment has no home to go to - I think it's too soon to be getting another dog but my husband has seen this little boy and has fallen for him - what's everyone else's opinion - should I talk him out of it?

I have two bitches 8 months apart and i never ever will have two dogs that close again. you will essentially have two young puppies on your hands and the 5 month old needs a lot of teaching at this moment. The jack russell will also need loads of comitment. I am not saying you would not give them wat they need but do you have the time?
In the end it is up to both of you.
Who does most of the looking after and training of the dogs. if it is you i think you should have the most say.
good luck in your disscutions with your OH.

Personaly I have always had an age gap of a few years when I've owned more then one dog. Your dogs are all still very young..........and the word bunch of hooligans springs to mind  ;)

JMO

Am sure someone will be along with more experience and advice.

It greatly depends on the type of person you are, are you dedicated enough to train two pups seperately, a five month is still a baby and will play as a baby with the 8 week old, they will bond closely together (hopefully) thus making lead training, commands even toilet training harder to control, you would have to segregate to teach. Your Staffie is also still very young.

A lot of people would not contemplate it, and if you go on the search facility you will find many regretting having two pups together. If you have the time and effort to put into two/three pups together then go for it, otherwise wait until your pups are mature.

Your Staffie seems to have accepted your Scottish Terrier, but things can change with adult hood, it is not until they are all approx 2 years old that you will see whether they will all live together happily, it is impossible to tell at the ages they are, so that would also be a worry of mine.

I think you would be taking on too much, if you want well behaved, controlled dogs, unless you are an exceptional person. :-)

Have another when you feel the time is right, when your other dogs are settled and happy, not because your hubby feels sorry for the little pup. That one will find a home, but you dont want to face the possibility of upheaval and possibly fights, in your doggy home because of this little chap, and maybe having to rehome one. Stay as you are, enjoy the ones you have for now. :)

tempting as it is, i'd say no way! you'll have enough on your hands with your 5 month old and if this pup has already been labelled as "unwanted" and a runt, there's no telling what unforeseen health problems you might be taking on. do you know anything about his parentage, for example? only even the healthiest, best bred jack russell can be a challenge during puppyhood and this poor little lad doesn't sound as if he's had the best of starts.

Not only that, but I doubt the 14 month old has yet reached maturity and where she needs to be training wise.

Your talking THREE puppies, as they really are pups until two years old in all practical terms.

I would suggest a miimum 2 year age gap between dogs, and preferably three.

You also need to consider that in 12 years time you would have 3 geriatric dogs.

I agree- now is probably not the right time.  Your 5 month old needs to bond with you and to believe that most fun and games comes from being with you, not from his doggy pal who's about the same age.  This is one of the reasons it's a bad idea to get dogs which are too close together in age.  Having one at 14 months and one at 5 months is already close enough.

There are always thousands of litters available all over the UK - just because your husband happens to have heard of this one, doesn't mean you should take it.  Just as your husband fell for it, so will someone else who it will be just right for.

I have a 13 month old and am going to start looking for my second dog in June. After much soul searching I'm going to be looking for an adult simply because my boy is already full of puppy brains. If I brought home another puppy I think he would stay a juvie delinquent for longer and that a mature rescue dog that gets along with him well will be for the best. I would talk him out of it and contact the local breed rescue. I'm sure they will find the right home for him.

thanks for all the replies - I've already started chatting to hubby about it not being a good idea but he's such a softy any waif or stray he'll bring home and not just animals :)

The best way of putting it to him may be to point out that bringing in new canine family members before you are ready will compromise the welfare and happiness of your existing dogs.

It must be lovely having a hubby who is so stuck on dogs. That's so nice to hear.  I am always too aware I am inflicting my dogs and interest on my family. Were my hubby to bring back a pup I'd be delighted. I have just over two months age gap between my two dogs and I think just go with the flow.  There is no right or wrong and no ideal... it's all just down to what suits you, what you want what you can deal with, and so on. I know people who take in any dog they come across who needs a home and they have about 7 lovley dogs several were pups together and now elderly together...they are so well loved... it wouldn't suit me but they do this very well. Two or three had been found as pups dumped in a bin bag all tied up and thrown away like litter. So thank God for soft hearts.