We are looking for another afghan puppy to join our 8.5 month dog. He is wonderful, but the cats won't play with him so we've decided to get him a friend. Can anyone help ?

Hello guest,
In my opinion 8 and a half months is still a very young dog, I think your best waiting till your afgan is AT LEAST 18 months. After all, he hasnt been with you all that long and he's probably still getting used to his family :) He might not want to share you yet :).
Introducing a new puppy so soon may encourage them to form a close bond which means both puppies will bond less with you and will make them very hard to train. I wouldnt get another dog just because he needs a play mate. Dogs love company but I advise meeting a doggy group at your local park to let him have a play and socioalise :) You must realise that it is a VERY big responsibility having 2 dogs and I would not advise it so early on. 

Hi Guest :)  At 8.5 months I guess you are bathing your affie around every 4-5 days?  The best is still to come of course!  I'm assuming this is your first affie, but of course I could be wrong ;)  6-18 months of age is the time where the hardest work is required with regards to coat care - if it hasn't kicked in yet it soon will!!!  At 15 months old my affie is receiving about 9 hours of bathing, grooming and general care every five days (not to mention every day maintenance)  It is very difficult at the moment because she has recently had her first season and dropping coat like there is no tomorrow!  Of course, I cannot brush her coat when it is dry so when the matts appear (from puppy coat falling into new coat) she has to be moistened or bathed - You have all this to come with your youngster :)  It should start to slow down when your hound is about 2 years old - My point is....IMO there is no breed that commands such attention as an affie, I have fallen in the love with the breed and I would have a house full of them if I could, but I wont lie - I find the coat care VERY time consuming at the moment and the thought of two youngsters pre coat change is a scary one :D  Have a think about it - I also work so I find myself trying to fit it all in but you may be in a better situation than me...Good Luck if you do decide on two!!!  My girlie would have a fit if she had to share me of course :D
Sarah

Maybe you should be playing with him....many cats won't play with dogs but getting another dog if you haven't got time to play with and entertain the one you've got is not a good idea
Archer

You are absolutely right Archer :)  Affies are sometimes not the most attentive breed ;)  I would be spending lots of time interacting, playing and training with him right now - You should be his best buddy right now rather than another dog, it will help you out in the long run
Sarah

Where did you get your first affie? They might be able to help, and advise on when to get a second. I agree with Rozzer, I am very experienced with Afghans and would not relish 2  under one year olds. The coat care is the main reason for this. I have 2, a dog and a bitch, and the dog is exactly 2 years younger than the bitch. I think this is about the right gap. Delilah had been able to bond with me and get her training under her belt, before I took on Zorro. When you have a second dog, training is more difficult. Afghans are very difficult to train anyway, and are quite juvenile for an extended time.
I would recommend you wait another year before looking for a new pup.

Is it true that afghans are very picky eaters? I have read that you should pick the food bowl up after 20minutes,except for with breeds such as the afghan as they usually take longer to eat.

I would love to hear your experiences on this :)

I have an afghan and wouldn't say he is a picky eater.  He is slower than my other dogs to eat but one is a lab so maybe that is an unfair comparision :)  He has however earned the nickname of 'room service' as you always have to take the food to him and when he shares toast in the morning he will not get off his bed but lies looking at you as if to say 'I know you will save some for me so bring it over when its ready'!

My first afghan Ali was an extremely finnicky eater, and so is my girl Delilah. even the "taking the bowl away" technique does not make things much better. Some of my afghan owning friends spoon feed theirs! ( wouldnt catch me doing that) :)

Nothing picky about the way Lana eats :D  Ever since being raw fed she cleans her bowl very quickly...A whole rabbit takes a little longer though ;)  Luckily for me that she is food motivated during training as well (going for the bronze in Jan Cath ;))
Sarah