Harvey, my ruby ckcs boy is now 15 months old and such a delight to have in our family, he is so well behaved, loving and a friend to everyone that he meets. I know that it is best to wait until Harvey is 2-3 years of age before considering getting another dog which is what I am doing but I often wonder how he would react to having a playmate. Harvey is neutered and I would get a little girl as I believe that they would get along better than two of the same sex. The reason I'm posting is because I would love to hear about other peoples experiences when introducing a new puppy to a single dog. I know that 'I' really want another dog but would I be enriching Harvey's life by getting him a playmate or would he see the newomer as a nuisance or feel jealousy towards it? Just to add, Harvey does get on well with other dogs.

Hayley

I know how you feel.  Flynn our Cavalier is 14 months old and I would love another one too.  OH says we have to wait a little while though

My husband was the same at first but I he realises just how happy Harvey makes me Keep at him Mel and I'm sure you will get your own way in the end  ;-)

Well Hayley Cavaliers are probably one of the few breeds were the sexes get on well together No need to get a bitch with a dog & vica versa

I've currently got three cavaliers & a BC One of the cavaliers lives with his co owner but comes to stay on a regular basis & they are like a gang of slightly naughty schoolboys when they are together, no squabbles & lots of interaction & they are all boys, my next puppy may be another Cavalier(if we can find the right puppy)or a BC & he will definitely be a boy, no more bitches here I just don't "do"bitches ;)

Cavaliers are such sociable dogs they welcome newbies with open paws. I make sure the older ones can get away from new puppies when they get fed up of being tugged & pulled around(my BC never did this just the Cavaliers BTW). JD(cavalier)took Rjj(BC)off up the garden to show him all the best digging & hiding places when he first arrived & they still zoom around like a pair of nutters when they go after the birds & squirrels

lol - can just picture them zooming around the garden! Harvey does this on his own and he's so funny. I remember Harvey's breeder telling me that Cavaliers get under your skin and they most certainly do. I don't use the crate any more for Harvey but if and when we get the puppy I will definately use it - don't know how I would have coped without it in the early days and it should help in giving Harvey time out from a little bundle of mischief! My plan is to get Christmas out of the way and then I will get in touch with Harvey's breeder and see if she has any litters planned in 2007 and if we could join a waiting list....I can't wait  :-D

I have two CKCS at the moment but don't think you can have too many OH doesn't agree they love each others company so go for it

My two cavies are just beautiful.  I have a brother and sister from the same litter, so that was obviously easy (well not in all respects!).

They have met other dogs and seem to be fine and quite welcoming, whether they are jack russels or labradors.  I think whatever the age, the key thing is a good introduction.  You must let Harvey know he's the favourite for a little while.  I alsways planned on getting 2 dogs purely for those times when they have to be on their own.  At least they have playmate! S~o there are definite pros.

My cousin also has a cavie (18 months, I think) and she has just got another pup.  Poppy now shows Lily (the baby) what to do.  She toilet trained her and showed her how to ask to get outside.  My cousin really left it up to Poppy and didn't really have to do much!

Cavies have such good natures and are the perfect pet, IMO ( I am bias though!)

I would say do it!

I don't know whether others would agree or disagree, but Cav's grow up quicker than a lot of other breeds so you do not need to wait for 2-3 years to get another Cav IMO, if you are happy with his training and if he is quite mature I would start looking from 18 months, Cav's are one of those breeds which thrive on company, as already said the more the merrier.

I'm going to play salmon here and swim upstream. I wish I had not followed the conventional 2-3 year rule and had looked for a second puppy sooner. My dog is 18 months now and has always enjoyed other dogs. He is more than ready to have a second dog in the house. We did get a puppy last month and he was great with her. Sadly she had to leave us after 4 days due to an allergic reaction but he loved having her and missed her when she left. By the time I get another one he'll be 2; getting one sooner would have been fine for us. I think you have to use common sense and your knowledge or your own dog to make your own decision. Milo's life would have been enriched by having a second dog earlier.

Thank you everyone for your advice. I am going to stick with my plan and wait until after christmas then contact Harveys breeder. She has a beautiful black and tan bitch and I would love one just like her. I am so excited....I love puppies!

Hayley

Good luck! and enjoy them! They grow up too fast....

Tell me about it, don't they just!

The only thing about having to dogs close in age is that they will be old together & may leave you with no dogs at all quite quickly, this happened to me with my BC's. One minute I had two 10 weeks later I had none :( Never again I now have a 10 year old, a 6 year old, a 4 year old & an 18 month old & in another year or so will hopefully have another BC & possibly another cavalier(who will live with my co owned 4 year old Cavalier)

This is what I was thinking too, it can be hard to have dogs of very similar age because one day they are both OLD -and with Cavaliers the real possibility of ending up with two dogs that both need heart medication daily. I got my first Cavalier in 1995, the second in 1997, the third in 1998 and the fourth in 1999, and only the first one is still here.

This is what I've always thought too MM.  However a friend of mine recently said that from the dogs' point of view, if they are similarly aged they have less time to miss their long term companion so I suppose that is a possibly different way of looking at it?  Still extremely tough on us of course. :(

My second BC simply gave up when my older one died it broke my heart to seem him pine away, now the cavaliers being more spread out had still got their "gang"almost intact & even when Abbie when(she was JD's bestest mate)he transferred his friendship to Rjj the BC

My problem is Rjj quickly bores the cavaliers with his ball & toy games-hence the plan for a mate for him when he's around three !

How much of an age gap was there between the first two BCs MM?

9 months & they were never a part in the time I had them

If I already had at least two dogs I would consider things differently. I have a dog that LOVES company. When we're out he's completely alone. He's OK with that, and it's not all day but he would be happier to have a doggy companion, that's why I wish I had looked for a puppy sooner. If I already had two dogs then spacing them out further would be different.

So now I just need to convince the OH that every 3 years we need a puppy. :-D

I was just taking my weekly look at the GR puppies that are currently available (can't help it - I have to look at them!!) and was just about to post something along the lines of 'remind me why getting another golden when the current ones only a year old is not a good idea please'. Seeing the pictures and hearing the stories of her recent stay with a family with another golden (whilst we were on holiday) is proving further still that Roxy would love another goldie friend in the house - they were best of friends.

She's got the best temprement, she's coming on in leaps and bounds with training - surely she'll be ready for a new addition in the summer. Someone please agree with me *wail* pleeeease??;)

Goldens are notorious for having a difficult stage at 18 months when all training goes to pot! ;)

Cue many anxious posts from me in May then LOL....

Thanks for that - mine is 18 months and I was wondering what was going on! :D :D

So now I just need to convince the OH that every 3 years we need a puppy. :-D

LOL well it's worked with mine! :D

Oh good there's hope then! I figure I can get pairs - two goldens, two leos...:-D :-D

LOL I had that earlier this year, until things changed (pup added and Dandy the Golden off to live with MIL for now). Each time I let the dogs back in from the gaden I counted 2,2,2: 2 Goldens, 2 Malinois, 2 crossbreeds. :D

Wonder do you have the stuff bottled so I can rub it
on my OH and hope it works??

I have a 8 1/2 yo, 5 1/4 yo and a 3yo (well almost) I'd like another pup
next year....but he reckons it would be divorce and we aren't even married :D:rolleyes:

> that they will be old together

That was part of my reasoning behind the 4.5 yr age gap between mine, so I wouldn't lose both at once. But thinking about it, the gsp will (fingers crossed) be 14 when the fcr is 10, and I could easily lose both at once :( The obvious answer being that I will have, in 4 or 5 years, to get another dog ;) Maybe that's the answer for the OP - another Cav now, then another one in 4 or 5 years :D

i have always had 2 dogs and 2 years ago my much loved Gordon Setter, Ollie passed away leaving Jazz on her own for the first time in her 8 year life.  Now Jazz can be mean and moody and as much as i wanted to get another dog this was certainly a big worry for me and my OH.  We finally took the plunge 1 year later and in walked Jack, GSD.  At first Jazz would not even look at Jack, became tense, gave him a few warning growls to keep him away and became my OH shadow and at 1 point i honestly thought we had made a very bad mistake. But as time passed you could exactly see her begin to relax and with alot of encouragement and praise she excepted Jack and now they go every where together and its given her a new release of life. The best sight is seeing them running around the field chasing each other its wonderful.

Jane

That's my worry too, I have 2 dogs that are only 3 days apart, and another 2 years younger. I plan not to get another puppy until the youngest dog is about 4 years old. Re introducing them, I did it all wrong and just let them into the garden together, but being Cavaliers (and 1 Yankee) they were fine, though Henry was half scared and half disgusted with this tiny puppy who kept attacking his ears - he really honestly sulked and ignored me for the first day or so! But now he loves her - almost too much sometimes! :rolleyes:

I'm so pleased you are going to go ahead sooner rather than later, Hayley since I'm sure the lovely Harvs will welcome a new playmate.

I'm in a proper dilemma meself about a second dog and that's disregarding the "no more pups" rule that the OH knows full well will be ignored when it suits me. However, I've also considered waiting another year so that Nips would be two and a half and all traces of puppyhood over. Having first refusal on his delightful little 7 week old half-brother, Dash, has been a fearsome temptation but I do wonder quite how Nips would cope with another dog in the house since he's very contented to be an "only".

This was brought home to me earlier this week when I was cuddling Dash and Nips who set up a very loud protest about me having the nerve to pay such close attention to another dog. Jealous wasn't in it and I got a green-eyed look that should have turned me to stone. Since he's actually very fond of Dash I'm wondering what he'd be like with a dog he didn't already have a close bond with and whether leaving things longer will actually make it harder for him to accept me sharing my attention.

I would say leaving it longer means Nips will get more used to being an 'only' dog. Not that I'm trying to lead you into temptation or anything :D

Roz just checked out your pics of nips he is such a cuty pie

When I cuddled the puppy any of Milo's looks were because I was hogging the new toy. :-D I have to say that seeing how tolerant he is of 8 week old pups makes me think there are some advantages of introducing little terrors while they are still teenagers.