Hi. You probably know who i am and who my dog is by now....but i'll tell you anyway!!

I have a 6 month old staff called Max.
I have often wondered how old he would have to be when I got another staff.
I have been told a lot of different things. Some people say 18 month - 2 years, others say any time or wait a little bit longer...

At what age do you think it would be best to introduce a new pup?

I would be grateful to anyone who can answer this question that has not been properly answered.

Thank You

Ashleigh

Me personally any time after 6 months to a year providing your dog is already obedience and house trained. If not then I would focus on that first before bringing in another puppy, it makes life so much easier :)

Hi dollface,

Thank you for that. That is the response I hoped for to be honest. Not that i'm not happy with just one.
I would like a play mate for Max and I love staffs.

Max is fully house trained now and it shouldn't be a problem.
We are moving house very soon so I will think about it then. I know someone who is breeding her's next month so, I think I might pay her a visit.

Thank you very much

Ashleigh

hi there maxstaff,im no expert on this we got are second staff libbi when molly was about 15 months,libbi is only 17 wks. we did speak to quite a few people about ages but no one could say a right age to get another. sorry not alot of help x

Hi cupcake.

So there is no right or wrong age....

Just make sure 1st doggy is house trained..

thank you

Ashleigh

I would always say t6hat the older dog should be a fully mature adult.  This will mean that he should be well trained by then, so setting a better example for new pup, and making it easier to train the new one without the older one savotaging your efforts.

Also Staffs are quite dominant with other dogs, and it is a better idea for heirachy to be more clearcut which a larger ag gap will help with as a youngster should defer to a mature adult, and by the time it reaches naturity with luck it will have accepted and gotten used to the older dog being above it in the scheme oif things.  Even then I understand that experienced Staff owners never leave two Staffs together of any sex unsupervised, as things can quickly kicck off and become heated without you to intervene.

With my own breed I would always advise an age gap of two to three years, as they are a medium sized breed aqnd can be lively and juvenile until at least two years old,b ut by three are settling into their adult roles nicely.

Hi

This is what I didnt want to happen. I am being told different ages from different people.

I am very grateful to you all for offering your advice, but I don't know what to do??

Ashleigh

Hi Ashleigh. Sorry I am going to be one of those people who say 18months to 2 years. At 6 months Max is more than likely an angel but no where near grown up. You have that bit to come when he feels his feet so to speak :)
I have just aquired Stafford No2 Tess who is now 10 weeks, Sal is now almost 22 months and to be honest although people do have them nearer in age; I wouldn't Sal is really sensible and no problem on or off lead or in the house. She is an "ideal" role model for the pup and extremly patient with her.
But I would not like to have "spoilt" the relationship I have built with Sal by having another pup sooner. As it is Sal is firmly focused on "us" as humans. And the pup mostly follows Sal's lead coming as soon as called because Sal comes when called. Also because Sal responds very very well to the whistle so does Tess flying back to my side as soon as I blow it, because Sal does.
So I would say leave it a while longer. And yes regardless of what you are told don't let them sleep stay alone together. They will be no douibt "angels" when you are present but as Brainless has quite rightly said they are firey dogs and thats what makes them what we love. Don't risk it the saying in this house now is "Dogs who sleep together don't stay together" Mine stay in different rooms even if I am only popping the shop for a paper. And remember with a Staff always remember who is boss YOU.

Karen, and good luck with the house move.     

Thank you Karen.
I understand what you are saying.
I am going to have to think carefully about this one.

The thing is though, I love staffs and I would love another as they are soo friendly, loving and loyal.

Max is my shadow. I can't go anywhere in the house without him following. He lies in the bathroom when I'm haing a shower!
He even sleeps with me when the other half is on a late at work!

Do you think he may take badly to it saying as he is totally spoiled and is my 'baby' and 'shadow'?

Thank you Karen, hope you are having a good friday night??!!

Ashleigh

Ashleigh I thought you already had Mildred? Or are you considering another as well?

Just realised I have mixed you up with madstaff - sorry :rolleyes:
Take no notice of my post ;)

lol! its ok.

Ashleigh

doh :D
My oldest was a month older than Kazz's .
Pup is now 18 weeks - I find that age gap better as Gus is more mature ( as mature as he will ever be ;) ) & housetrained , good at recall etc etc .
I personally couldnt cope as well with two very young ones :)

Hi again,
I have to agree with Lel I couldn't cope with two youngsters especially Staffs - like a living nightmare :D

Although saying the time has flew with Sal, like Lel's Gus they'll both be 2 soon :( where has the time gone?

Karen

Can I just ask why you are so desperate to introduce a second dog?

do you think Maxstaff sounds desperate ?

Hi Tim.
As I mentioned earlier, I love staffs so much. I feel as though I could give another a good and secure home and the love he/her needs.
Thats all I need to say really.

I am not desperate to get another either....
All I said was, what age is best.

Ashleigh

Hey Maxstaff are you desperate? ;)

Karen

Why do people think I am desperate??

All I want to know is, what is the right age to get another?

If I was desperate, I would have went out and bought one by now!!!

Ashleigh

I personally dont think your post comes across as desperate.
I know  that being involved with the same breed as you that you can become besotted because they are so great. :D
I couldnt wait to get another and I remember me and kazz talking about getting another when ours were younger. I would wait a while longer though :D Staffys stay young at heart for ever :)

LOL, sorry.

Just think you should enjoy your little man while he is still a baby.  Wait until he is an adult until you get a second dog.  Desperate girl :)

Thank you tim for your input. Max is still a baby and need a lot of attention.
Maybe we should wait a while. I will be waiting until I move anyway.

We will see where we are then.

Thank you anyway.

Ashleigh

As an owner and breeder I have often found that at around 6 months when training is going well and the bond has really formed for our dogs that owners are so head over heels with their pups they want another :D

What people don't realise is that the most challenging part of dog ownership is yet to come the adolescent teenage stage.  Anyone who has been through the teenage years with their own children witl know what I mean.  The well mannered youngsters we have brought up suddenly reble wanting to be their own people.  some manage not to be too bad, and with others we can have terrible problems which only time and pateince cures.  I admit to having gone through hell with my daughter 13 to 16, but since her 16th birthday (she is nearly 17) we have been getting on much better.  she has calmed down, and does not take my advice and guidance as an insult or attempt at dictatorship that must be resisted with ehr last breath.

The same can be said of puppies.  Some got through the maturing process with never a hitch, and some are a real challenge.  They all turn out lovely in the end if you stick with them and remain consistent, but not6 surprisingly this is the age that most breeders learn to dread, as it is the most likely time for pups to be given up as just too much (as well we can't do this with the kids, as I would have given up on mine :D)

So again I would say wait until your pup is an adult and his character and behaviour patterns are fairly well set, this gives you time to enjoy every stage without distraction, as after it is gone you realise how brief it was.

I love all the stages in a dogs life.  The innocent curious pup, confident pushy teen, the increasingly mellpw and sensible adult, the wise older citizen, and then the rail but spirited OAP which wit6h it's increasing frailty becomes ever more precious.

<<Just think you should enjoy your little man while he is still a baby.>>

think you fall in love with your favourite breeds hook line and sinker - I would also recommend to wait a while longer though :) but can understand why you are already considering another :)

I waited until my old girl was 8, and trust me, perhaps that was a little too long.  After 8 years of being daddies little girl she took a bit of adjusting to get used to having a baby brother :) But within a few months they were inseperable and she is top dog and looks after him now, even though he is twice the size of her :) 

They are curled up in a ball together as we speak

Cheers Lel.
I am sorry I am little sharp. being called 'desperate' is a little bit of an insult. I dont want people to think of me as someone who just gets them and doesnt look after them.

I am very lucky to have a lovely calm dog who is very obedient and fully house trained.
I will enjoy that for a while, until he is a bit older.

This is the way we wanted Max to be brought up, a loving dog who is friendly to other people and dogs. Which is very important!

Thanks for the input!

p.s. it's friday night at 11:30pm, I am not the best person to talk to (the wine)....plus I do go on a bit. I am sorry for that!! lol
There I got again! LOL

Ashleigh

Hi Sorry I meant it as a joke, I even put a ;) beside it. SOZ. 

And Lel is right we often talked of getting another and now we have them, I think talking was safer ;)

No really she is a darling this one - livelier than my Sal (I think) or am I looking back with rose tinted specs? Anyhow wouldn't be without either of them now. And like Lel has said sooo very glad I (we) waited until Sal was older to add to the family.

Karen 

<<<I am sorry I am little sharp. being called 'desperate' is a little bit of an insult. I dont want people to think of me as someone who just gets them and doesnt look after them.>>>

desperate poeple dont ask for others opinions :)
I couldnt wait for another- hell what can i say -I love staffys :D

Sorry duplicated. :)

hi.
ok. I can't wait to get another.

I love staffs too.

But I will only get one when the time is right.
You always think you are the biggest dog lover in the world!
We are all the same really.

Don't you agree?

Ashleigh

<<<You always think you are the biggest dog lover in the world!
We are all the same really.

Don't you agree?>>

no I really am a staffy nutter :D

lol. I am glad.

Don't you think it's nice to meet other staffy lovers on here?

Staffy's are so loving and have great characters and sense of humour.
We have hours of fun with ours!

Ashleigh

Yep ;) I am the world's greatest Sal and Tess fan and you are the world's greatest Max fan; same with Lel and Gus and occasionally Libby when she's not eating the sofa. ;) :D

We each love our dogs more than other people will ever know "in our own way"

Night night Karen

<<<and occasionally Libby when she's not eating the sofa. >>>
hey shes been a good girl lately :D
dont be tooo shocked ;)

Yes Karen.
Thats what I was getting at (in my friday night drunken way) I do apologise

Max hasn't really started chewing yet, although, he could start at any time eh?

I know someone who has a 9  month old staff and has just started chewing now!

Ashleigh

Hi again (for the last time tonight)

>>>>>>>>>All dogs are so loving and have great characters and sense of humour.

We have hours of fun with ours<<<<<<<<<<<<
All dogs are the same; think of them as a saving scheme the more you put in the more you get out of them. Everyone who loves their dog thinks they are the best. And this site just goes to prove it. :)
Goodnight Karen

Edited to say; Soz Lel and Libby my apologises I did not mean to suggest you were a "bad" girl just an independant one ;) :D
And Maxstaff Sal never chewed as a pup and Tess hasn't yet so I tend to think she never will, short of a little when teething :)

 

Maxstaff
I am prone to think if a dog doesnt chew as a young pup it is unlikely to do so when older - unless it becomes bored and is being left for long periods ?
Gus never chewed ( he really was angel pup) . Liby is devil pup but getting better ;)

he lel,

Max is not left for long periods in a day.....the other half comes back to see to him in his lunch.

Max is definately 'angel' pup.

Ashleigh

Im another for teh 'not until at LEAST 18 months' (preferably two years) brigade. Sorry!

You have the teenage period to come yet, that can last a while, and all the 'angel' behaviour goes out the window.

Add a puppy now, and by the time the one you have is in the middle of his teenager stage, the pup will just about be starting it, meaning you have TWO dogs who respond with 'Get Lost' when you ask them to behave, rather than one.

Two young dogs egg each other on, and are a pain in the bum!

Enjoy your pup on his own for now, and when you get a second one, you will know what to expect, and know your first dogs true nature (because they arent fully developed until they come out the other side of the teenage phase).

I have three dogs..... a staffie x who is five next may, a saluki x who is ten next april, and a lurcher who will be two in october.

The staff x is now finally approaching being a mature, and sensible dog. The saluki x is as sensible as she ever will be (but HER version of sensible, not mine) and the lurcher is not looking like he will mature any time in the next 6-9 months.

I know Dill well enough now, to know i couldnt have another puppy yet. My friends pup visits every few days, and when they are together they are both deaf, they couldnt care less about me, they just want to play fight ALL the time. Its cute for half an hour, but after 6 hours, you DO want to kill one or both of them!

In the long run, you wont lose anything by waiting a bit longer..... you stand to lose a LOT if you rush things.

Em

Would always advise waiting for a pup to get through the kevin stage before adding another pup, the whole idea of dealing with a young pup and a kevin pup at the same time fills me with horror. May be Staffs do not go through a kevin, but I bet most do. Think to get the very best out and for your dogs let each one grow up before adding another.

Oh beleive me Jackie Staffs have a "kevin" phase alright :D

Try and wait and go with the flow Ashleigh you will appreciate the pup all the more when you have a "sensible" dog to share with as well.

Karen

I have just got mildred 11 weeks old now and i have george 4 yrs old i wanted another pup when george was about 6 months old but im glad i waited untill george was older as he is much calmer than he was.They get on brilliantly and because george sits and waits for his food mildred has started to copy bless her!
I would agree about the kevin stage id say between about 9-18 month!!!!!!