Possible NEW member to the family..... Thoughts?

1136 Views 19 Replies 18 Participants Last post by TxDobieLady, Nov 14, 2011

DIESEL 2011

Discussion Starter · Nov 14, 2011

So heres the situation, I have a 5 month old red dobe male Diesel And last night a red dobe girl (4 months) named Vega came to visit. Her mom was doing a home check, we are thinking about adopting Vega.
Vega stayed for about an hour, and all they did was run run run non stop.
I've never owned multiple dogs before. I'm wondering if we adopt Vega, if they'll ever be calm and sleep LOL.

I should add that we do have a 1 1/2 year old toddler. I work part time, so I'm home a lot more then most people get to be. So I'm not too worried about having enough time for them both. I know taking on 2 will be a lot more responsibility. However I think DIESEL would enjoy having someone to romp around in his yard with all day! He just loves the dog parks!

Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts would be greatly appreciated. If I adopt her, I want this to be her forever home. I don't want to bring her home, then decide in a 2 weeks, that's it too much or not working out. It wouldn't be fair to Vega to be bounced around from home to home.

My husband and I are going to talk it over, and if we want to go through with it we'd pick her up next weekend. My thought was to bring her home for a few days and see how things went.

I should add that diesel is docked & cropped, and Vega is docked with natural ears. I Wish I would have snapped a photo, but that would have been near impossible, I don't think the two stopped for a second! Lol
It was interesting to see him next to her as far as their differences. I thought diesel was a tiny boy, but he has a more stocky build, and she is very petite. Diesel was born the beginning of June and Vega was born the end of June. They're close in age and look stunning next to each other.

Let me add before anyone asks, they will be fixed ASAP, NO puppies here!

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Nubis'sDad

· #2 · Nov 14, 2011

I would suggest holding off if one of the reasons is to calm a 5 month old, it will be a recipe for disaster cuz then you will have two monsters on your hands at times.
After I had my first dobe for a tad over two years, I sat back and realized what an excellent boy I had on my hands especially being a problem child. I decided to get a female for company as I was working Long hours.
It worked out good and Kaiser basically helped training the female. So a combination of my learned methods along the way and a mature mannered worked out great.
At least when they got pumped up when she was a pup, I could settle my old boy fast and she seen and caught on extremely fast.
Just my thoughts.

Reactions: 4

DIESEL 2011

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 14, 2011

5

Here are a few pictures of Diesel from the day we brought him home, to him @ 5 months old Playing out in the snow.

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BoxMeIn21

· #4 · Nov 14, 2011

No I would definitely wait. You have a long road ahead of you with your current dog, it's best not to double that with two.

Reactions: 4

StarlightDobe

· #5 · Nov 14, 2011

Having two dogs that are ten months apart, I would suggest waiting, especially with a young child in the house. Even with being home all the time, you are going to find it too much of a challenge to keep track of 2 young puppies. You have to find time to train each one separately, spend time with each one separately, and still have time to spend with your child, fix meals, and be with your family. There will be alot of challenges with one young puppy, let alone if you add another in the picture. And, it is possible that they will bond more with each other than with you or your family and you might find that makes it harder to train or get their attention at times.

My advice would be to wait until your puppy is closer to 2, when he has grown up and is past his puppyhood, then he will be alot more focused, he will be more behaved, and it will be much easier to train a new puppy. Take the time to enjoy and teach him now, it will help with another one in the long run and help you to keep your sanity! I had no idea it would be so challenging with 2 young dogs, and I dont have a little child added in, mine is 15!

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Luvbirds

· #6 · Nov 14, 2011 (Edited)

Having a toddler and working part time is a lot. Diesel is in the easiest stage of puppy hood, your work of training him is just starting. It takes a good 18 to 24 months to properly train and proof one young dog. Adding another puppy will not help with that at all, it will just make it even harder to train Diesel because now you will be splitting that training time in two. Having two young dogs together sometimes makes them bond to each other more then you, and with Dobes that is a recipe for disaster. Personally I'd never get another dog/puppy until my current one was 2-3 years old. I'd be sure that Diesel was all he can be before bringing another dog into his life.

3 months ago I lost one of my Dobes, and now my current boy Monty is an only dog. I have no plans to add another for a few years, it isn't the right time for us. What I've done for Monty is to arrange play-dates with other dogs and take him to the park where there are lots of dogs to run and play with. He comes home socialized and exhausted. We also hike together alone and I spend lots of time with him playing Frisbee and ball. He is perfectly happy being an only dog despite never having been with out another dog for his first 17 months of life. Dobes don't need the companionship of another dog, they are perfectly happy to be the center of your attention.

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PatchworkRobot

· #7 · Nov 14, 2011

I'd wait. Two puppies might sound fun but its also probably going to be a ton more work than you anticipate. You'll have two puppies to train and two puppies going through the doberteens at the same time. Plus, you have the baby to worry about also. It's just a lot to take on. I'd suggest waiting until your boy is around two years old. At that point you'll know his adult personality and it will be easier to find him a match (as opposed to two puppies who get along GREAT and then grow up to clash with each other).

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Tperkins

· #8 · Nov 14, 2011

If the only reason for adopting the dog is to give your current dog a playmate I say NO. If this is just one of the many reasons you want to adopt I apologize, but you only mentioned you wanted a playmate in the original post. Your dog hasn't even gotten into the rebellious phase yet. He will only require more and more time and training. Have you considered fostering the dog? I am currently going through the motions to become a foster, I was not ready to take on another dog permanently but was more than willing to open my home to one. To give them some structure and training so they could eventually find their forever home. Good luck in whatever your decision is and thank for considering a Rescue!

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KevinK

· #9 · Nov 14, 2011

Another vote for waiting.

ZeldaRules

· #10 · Nov 14, 2011 (Edited)

I firmly believe it is wise to wait on adding another dog to your family until your current one is matured and trained for a multitude of reasons. I hope you heed the advice you have been given for your sanity

They would need a lot of time alone separately with you for training and bonding because you're in for a bumpy ride if they bond to each other instead of you. My doberman and GSD are roughly the same age and there is no way I would take that challenge on as young pups, they're already goofballs together as it is. An already mature resident dog makes a world of difference. At one of my previous jobs this couple thought it would be a good and fun idea to add another dog the same age and activity level as their current dog. It only multiplied the problems and they would team up with each other in daycare and I had to kick them out because they fed off each other's energy and it became very problematic.

There will be plenty of homeless Dobermans available for you to adopt when your boy is mature, I guarantee that! Just focus on training up Diesel and put all your time and energy into him, it will pay off.

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MeadowCat

· #11 · Nov 14, 2011

I also recommend waiting. Two puppies at the same time is hard for a lot of reasons.

CH4Sure

· #12 · Nov 14, 2011

can anyone specify generally when the doberteens start and end? I am clueless about them and I need to know what we are in store for time wise.

Murreydobe

· #13 · Nov 14, 2011

CH4Sure said:
can anyone specify generally when the doberteens start and end? I am clueless about them and I need to know what we are in store for time wise.

There's no guarantee they'll ever happen at all.

I think people make the whole idea of doberteens kind of a self fulfilling prophecy.

Build a solid training and leadership foundation and you have no problems with adolescent dobermans.

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sam&macksmom

· #14 · Nov 14, 2011

I never went through the doberteens with Sam. I kept him too busy to be naughty

CH4Sure said:
can anyone specify generally when the doberteens start and end? I am clueless about them and I need to know what we are in store for time wise.

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Nubis'sDad

· #15 · Nov 14, 2011

Doberteens, can last a lifetime if u allow it.
I look at my pup and see a 81 lb DOBERMAN. That is my focus as the master.

tuxedojack

· #16 · Nov 14, 2011

Is this your first doberman? If so and you are not real familiar with the breed...I would definitely wait for him to grow up before adding another one to your family. Two can be overwhelming for many people.

I never went thru the doberteens either from my past Dobes or my current ones, than goodness!! As Samandsmacks mom stated, I have always kept mine so busy that when there is down time, they pass out from exhaustion - they are too tired to be naughty...

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akturbo

· #17 · Nov 14, 2011

I am also going to have to agree. My first Doberman was 2 before we got Rocco. Trust me, I wanted to add another dog to the family earlier (I enjoy two dogs as opposed to one).. but it was not the right time. Its a lot easier to bring one into the family when you know the other one isn't going to be going through the same puppy stages as the new member. That way you can work with, and correct (if necessary) without the other one being all in your face and business.

KCFilley

· #18 · Nov 14, 2011

I suggest you wait. Any extra time you have could be spent in classes--just you and Diesel. Get close to him so he listens well. Train him. Have him count on and look to you not another dog just yet. If he needs canine companionship take him to doggie day care at the vet's office or wherever you trust in your area.

You are a smart lady for checking before you do this. I know it is so very tempting when you see them run and play non stop.

KC/Linda

Sinister

· #19 · Nov 14, 2011

I also suggest fostering. I want to in the next few years, just so a Dobe can have a nice meal and a place to stay until he/she finds his forever home

but with rampaging Juno.. I can wait.

Reactions: 1

TxDobieLady

· #20 · Nov 14, 2011

Where are you getting her from? A shelter, a breeder?

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