What age is good to get another dobie and what sex?

tg5452 · 10-16-2007, 11:35 AM

Hi I was wondering what is a good age to get another dobie? My little girl is 7 months already and I really want to get her a brother or sister. My only concern is that is is so energetic and playful I don't know if that would be too much for a new addition. I want them to be close in age so thats where I am stuck. She is well socialized as we go to a private dog park and on doggie dates with the neighborhood dogs and she also attends daycare. She is great with dogs that will keep up with her, but I also remember when we got her of how timid and innocent she was (ohh that was that time lol) I don't want the new addition to feel so overwhelmed or get hurt. I know a lot of people on here have mulitple dobies and was looking for some insight!!!
Thank you so much

Julie W · 10-16-2007, 12:02 PM

I think it's nice to space them out by a couple of years. At a year they are still just an overgrown puppy. It's nice to have the adult be able to provide a good example when they are well trained and more settled. Of course people get dogs closer together than that all the time and it works just fine, but you asked for an "optimum" age.

robinb · 10-16-2007, 12:20 PM

For myself, it would be a minimum of two years. If nature works as hoped I will be getting a new girl when Rex is just over three years of age and to me that's about the perfect time, as he's still young enough to really enjoy play time but old enough and trained enough to set a good example. Raising and training a puppy takes a great deal of time.

Robin and Rex

poconogal · 10-16-2007, 12:22 PM

Our boy is a rescue and a year old. He is a giant puppy who just wants to play, play, play. We plan on waiting another year at least and then getting a female around the same age as he will be, probably another rescue.

Dobemom2b · 10-16-2007, 12:23 PM

I agree with Julie, the first dog should be where you want it training wise as far as house manners at least. Dogs do copy each others actions and your dog will teach by example, good or bad. Another thing to consider is whether you want the pup to bond to you or to your dog, young dogs make great playmates but sometimes they prefer to be with the other dog over the human, spacing them further apart the adult tends (in my experience) to only want to play part of the time leaving the pup to come to you for attention also. Two pups tend to agg each other on and play almost constantly when awake and when they are not they tend to still stick together to sleep etc.

Take what I say with a grain of salt, I do not always follow my own advice!

robinb · 10-16-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dobemom2b

I agree with Julie, the first dog should be where you want it training wise as far as house manners at least. Dogs do copy each others actions and your dog will teach by example, good or bad. Another thing to consider is whether you want the pup to bond to you or to your dog, young dogs make great playmates but sometimes they prefer to be with the other dog over the human, spacing them further apart the adult tends (in my experience) to only want to play part of the time leaving the pup to come to you for attention also. Two pups tend to agg each other on and play almost constantly when awake and when they are not they tend to still stick together to sleep etc.

Take what I say with a grain of salt, I do not always follow my own advice!

Good point re bonding with each other and not with the human.

tg5452 · 10-16-2007, 12:46 PM

Thank you all for all the great advise!!! My fiance actually has another dobie who is about 4 now (Angel) and is living with his parents. Long story but we were living there and he just would not give her back he said it was the best dog he ever had lol!!!! Anyway Angel does not have any patience for the new edition (Star) at all, I am afraid that if I wait to long and I try to bring another puppy home Star will be the same way. Of coarse I want the dog to bond to me first and not another dog but I also want them to be bonded.

**sebsyd** · 10-16-2007, 05:07 PM

TG5452,
You have received a lot of good advice here. I have 2 puppies, as you may have read in my posts. They are only 7 weeks apart, from two different breeders. I also wanted to have 2 dobes that were close in age so that they would bond. Maybe just not this close. It is tons of work training them seperately, feeding, obedience, play time, ect. They each need individual attention and bonding time with you. They take turns going on outings with me and my husband, but sometimes we just load them both in and they are just fine. They play most of the time together. Each has a crate of their own and blankies, and believe it or not, they know which one is theirs! You should be a fly on the wall when one takes the others to aggravate!!! I know this will all end with the end of the puppy stage, or at least I hope so. It is so important for them to develope their own personalities. You can do it my way (the hardest) but this is not the way to go if you work. I think about 1 1/2yrs to 2 yrs is a good span because the 2yr old will "mother" the pup (hopefully) and thus develop the bond. Good luck in whatever you choose to do. Keep us informed.

shaishai · 10-16-2007, 06:04 PM

i think everyone has given you really good advice here. two puppies are a LOT to handle!

sheezbusy · 10-16-2007, 09:23 PM

I really want to get another Dobe. Lexie will be 1 year old the end of Dec.
I think once she is one year old, I will start seriously looking. I think I am getting a male this time.
Lisa