New Brother

Share your favorite training tips, ideas and methods with other Positively members!

Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost

Post Reply
Ben09
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:59 am

New Brother

Post by Ben09 »

Hi, we have a 5 month old male golden retriever. We want to get him a "brother" but i am unsure at what age he should be when we do this. We dont want him to be too old for the new pup and therefore them not be able to play together but we dont want to introduce the new pup too early either. We want the new dog to be a golden retriever as well. My husband wants to get a female but i would prefer another male.

Any suggestions?
Fundog
Posts: 3874
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:31 am
Location: A little gambling town in the high desert

Re: New Brother

Post by Fundog »

Wait until he is at least a year old, even two. He will still be young enough to enjoy the new puppy, but by then will be mature enough (and hopefully well enough along in his training) that having another young puppy will not cause you to become over-whelmed and regret your decision to get a second dog.
If an opportunity comes to you in life, say yes first, even if you don't know how to do it.
User avatar
Nettle
Posts: 10753
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:40 pm

Re: New Brother

Post by Nettle »

Yes, agree with that.

Also if you have any training issues, get them right before you take on the next dog. Retrievers being slow to mature, I'd say wait until he is two rather than one year old. They are pretty much still hooligans at a year old.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Ben09
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:59 am

Re: New Brother

Post by Ben09 »

Thanks for your help. Never realised til we got him how much is actually involved with a dog! Wouldnt be without him though!

I didnt realise until it was too late that he shouldnt be taken away from his mum and litter mates until he was at least 8 weeks old. We got him at 2 days off 5 weeks old and i asked the breeder if i could rub a cloth i had taken with me on his mother so he wouldnt miss her so much that night and he said oh dont be silly he wont even know who is mother is at this stage he has been away from her now over a week! Im so mad at the breeder now!
User avatar
Nettle
Posts: 10753
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:40 pm

Re: New Brother

Post by Nettle »

Don't be mad. The mother dog doesn't spend much time with the pups after three weeks old. It's their littermates they miss most when they move house, and even though five weeks is a bit young, it isn't the worst thing that can happen. Much worse to stay with the litter for weeks and weeks and get bullied by stronger characters.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
emmabeth
Posts: 8894
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 9:24 pm
Location: West Midlands
Contact:

Re: New Brother

Post by emmabeth »

Ahhhh... dont be mad at the breeder (except for being a little rude there...)..

B itches wean their pups at 3 to 4 weeks old and after that a great deal of them DONT have much to do with their pups at all, some will helpfully come and vomit up some of their own meals for their puppies and take some interest but others are very much 'you wanted them, YOU look after them now' and leave it to the breeder who can once they are weaned, deal with everything.

What a pup may miss out on leaving the litter at 5 weeks is time spent learning things from his litter mates which if they are all fairly even tempered average pups is fine - and if they are a mixture of big strong bullies and weak little wimps is not fine.

So it does depend on WHAT he would have learned in the time spent with his litter mates - if that was just the inside of a puppy pen and fighting with his brothers and sisters hes not missed out on anything useful. If it was being introduced to the sights and sounds of daily family life, other well balanced adult dogs, a wide variety of people.... then maybe he has (but maybe hes got that with you).

I do think under 5 weeks IS early personally but I have happily brought home a pup at 6 weeks.
West Midlands based 1-2-1 Training & Behaviour Canine Consultant
Ben09
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:59 am

Re: New Brother

Post by Ben09 »

Oh im so glad you said that! I thought i was gonna have problems with him mouthing and stuff cause he didnt get to spend much time with his brothers and sisters thats why i was anxious to get him a playmate. He well socialised in terms of people but not so much dogs. My mum and dad have a labrador and he met him on his first day home but to be honest the labrador didnt make much of him. He a bit old and kinda set in his ways but given time they have become friends but my mums dog be's glad to see him going home sometimes id say! :lol:

Also my mums neighbour has a dog and her daughter has a miniture snouzer (cant spell sorry) pup and he would see him sometimes but the snouzer is a few weeks older and a bit mad! Other than that its all adult company. Do you think htis is ok?
User avatar
Nettle
Posts: 10753
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:40 pm

Re: New Brother

Post by Nettle »

Adult company is good because adults teach pups social skills, but pups teach pups playing. As a dog grows up, social skills are far more use than playing!

Be aware that getting another dog does not necessarily mean they will like each other, never mind love each other. We don't like everyone we meet either, and certainly not living in the same home competing for the things we find good. Sometimes two dogs get on really well, sometimes they rub along in a spirit of mild dislike and sometimes they hate each other. You are hooked into "a little brother" and "a playmate" but that is human sentiment :wink: and not how dogs see each other.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Post Reply