Should our new puppy get a sibling sooner or later?

I am in your shoes as far as introducing another dog to our home when I have done one at a time before. I did grow upIn a home with multiple dogs 1 1-2 years apart minimum seemed to be best. MY parents introduced a puppy to a four year old this year (both shelties). Twice they have had a collie with shelties. The sheltie being the older dog. Both great breeds.

My pup is hitting 1 1/2 and i am thinking anyyime in the next 2 years to introduce another dog. I am thinking i want him a little further in obedience training as he is just ready for distraction work and getting maturity. I am hoping anywhere between xmas and next summer as ideal for me.
 
Calliesmom said:
I'll be the other side then.....
I had Cranberry and Dixie who were 3ish when I brought Jocu home in Jan 2013. Later that year, I initially accepted, then declined the pup that I wanted to get 2 years later- mostly because Jocu was still a pup and not a year old yet. well, I took all 3 to meet Destin because there probably wouldn't be that perfect pup in 2 yrs and yes, long story short- we brought him home. we take classes all the time so Destin had his own obedience class and Jocu had already had his turn at obedience class. Jocu is the one who is bonded more to the other dogs - I say more but in other breeds, he'd be considered very much a people dog. it's just compared to my other three shelties that he seems to be a little more dog bonded. when we play fetch, when Jocu gets the toy, he tries to get the other dogs to play with him and the toy. the other two boys bring the toy back to me so I can throw it again--- but if Dixie gets the toy, she takes it away and it's game over....
so I'd say you can add a second whenever the time is right for you- if you are prepared for the extra work that it takes to make them both well adjusted members of your family
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Thanks, Calliesmom. I can now report I am definitely confused! ;)
 
I agree with Caro. Unless you've tried to raise two puppies at the same time, you don't realize how much more work it is. For some reason, they never seem to teach each other their GOOD habits! But the bad ones they catch in a minute. :rolleyes:

My personal preference is to keep a year or two between puppies. You'll find that the puppy keeps the older dogs young too, which is an added benefit. And sadly, as I've found, you don't lose them close together either.
 
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