A dog question - (please keep kicked so I can get some answers):

[hedgehog]

My dog Jack, an 8 year old neutered male large hound mix (70 lbs) lay down to take a nap and died. After talking with the vet and piecing together a lot of little things that didn't mean much at the time (occasional dry cough, minor weight loss, maybe a few extra naps) we think he had a growing tumor that threw some tissue and caused an embolism. We hate to lose him, but this was the best outcome for him. He died with no fear sleeping comfortably in his place before he got very sick.

Now for the question: Jack was the Alpha dog. Our Beta dog is Guinness, a 2 1/2 year old neutered male, beagle/German Shepherd mix (maybe) about 50 lbs, very high energy. He always had Jack around to play with. Guinness is a friendly dog, a little shy with strangers until introduced. I think we'd like to get another dog, probably a mutt from a local pound. I'm thinking an older dog since we're a little busy for a puppy right now. I need advice as to whether this is a good idea, and what to look for.

The 4 resident cats want to make sure we get a feline friendly or at least feline neutral mutt.

[malta blue]

1. my dear friend....

:hug: I am so sorry about Jack - and you are right, he was blessed by going peacefully in his sleep.

I don't really know the answer to the question - but I would suggest taking Guinness to meet the new dog before you bring it home.

[XemaSab]

10. The pound we got the *NEW DOG* from

required us to take our dogs in on Saturday to meet the new dog in a neutral place. They all got along pretty well, so she's coming home tomorrow.

OTOH, when we got Pip they basically said "Here, take her." :P

[Kali]

12. I saw the pic of your new dog

very cool looking. Unique cross, for sure.

[XemaSab]

14. Those breeds that I posted were just a guess

She's a real heinz 57.

She and Pippi are going to be in competition for house mystery dog. :P

(My best guess with Pip is that she's a boxer/cattle dog cross, but she might have some lab in her too. She's reddish with short hair, medium-length muzzle, docked tail, white feet, and upright ears, but she's got that really square cattle dog build. Picture a boxer coloring on a cattle dog body. :shrug:)

[Lady Freedom]

2. Your Local Humane Society can help you with this.

And you can, at some, take Guinness on your sound visit so you can see how they act. just let them know that you need a new friend that is O.K. with cats!

[skygazer]

3. So sorry about Jack

Still, you're right to find the silver lining. There's a lot to be said for drifting off without pain or fear.

I think another dog sounds like a good idea and I agree with the suggestions to take Guinness to meet him/her. I believe some shelters let you take a dog home for a sort of trial, too - you might ask about that. After all, they want the dog to fit in and not be brought back so it's in their best interest.

Good luck. :hi:

[hamsterjill]

4. Sadness over Jack

I'm sorry to hear that you have lost Jack. Thank you for giving him a home and taking care of him for his time on this earth.

When you feel the time is right, YES, YES, YES please open your home to a shelter dog!! There are so many that need good homes.

As already posted here several times, most shelters have a special area where you can take Guinness and allow him to "interview" prospective new friends.

May karma kiss you for your generosity!

[wartrace]

5. Although you said you would like an older dog I suggest a young one.

There are two distinct advantages to a pup. The pup will NOT challenge your older dog for Alpha spot. The pup will also be wary/submissive to the cats in the house.

In the past two years I have had two dogs "show up" at the "farm". One was an older female about two years of age. She was attacked by my six dogs. (I didn't let them touch her, I put her in my fenced off garden) I had a pup of about two months old show up last year & seeing as she was a pup she was welcomed with open paws. She learned that the cats were my friends & the cats made she she understood they are not something she should mess with.

BTW- I had the older girl that was rejected spayed and gave her the first round of shots she needed. I found a home for her on a farm in Kentucky. Last I heard from her owners "Maisey" was the best friend of a four year old girl & an eight year old boy.
The younger pup "Lucy" is still a valued member of the pack & is comfortable being the low dog. She is submissive to all the others despite being twice their size.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of your dog, it's hard to lose a member of your family like that.

[hedgehog]

6. I'm pretty open to whatever dog comes our way. Our first dog, Lassie and Jack were both

drop-offs as were several of our cats. It's hard to find a bad dog!

Sad to say, with the economy the way it is, I suspect there are a lot of family pets looking for a new home!

[hedgehog]

7. kick for the night crew

[trof]

8. Beagle/German shepherd. I can't get my head around that.

Pic?

[Kali]

9. YOU should be the alpha dog, so I would say whatever you find that you like, they will

work it out one way or another. The idea of letting them meet is ok, but the situation could turn out different at home (original dog's territory, after all) probably main concern is really the cats.

[hedgehog]

13. Actually, my daughter is the Alpha dog, then my husband, then me, then the dogs.

[Kali]

15. heh

well, at least everybody knows their positions:rofl: (and of course the cats really run the show)

[XemaSab]

11. So sorry for your loss

but YES, get a shelter dog. :bounce:

Check out www.petfinder.com

They have LOTS of dogs and many of the dogs come with information about how well they get along with other animals.

[vard28]

16. We used petfinder too

And our pooch had been in a foster home so the lady from the humane society knew her very well. They had dogs of their own, their own cats, foster cats, and even horses. So we knew our Tilly would get along with our family dogs at the farm, where we spend a lot of time. Petfinder gives you loads of information!

[hedgehog]

17. The local shelter has a couple of Labradors and a litter of Labrador/shepherd/collie

puppies plus a shepherd/lab 6 month old. We'll be checking into this after my husband gets back from a business trip.