Transitioning older pup into home

[Sir.duke865]

well I’ve been contacted by my breeder with a 10 month old female named Zoe, she has Serbia working bloodlines, I’ll have to wait until I get her pedigree from the breeder to know exact lines and what not. Breeder says she’s very high energy parents actively tested, no z factor etc... all the right things great with kids and people once she warms up, and is allowing me a trial period with her. My concern is my breeder is not just down the road so I won’t be able to spend much time with her in her environment to establish a familiarity before I take her from what she currently knows as home. My breeder feels like she’d be a good fit for us and i have been waiting on her next litter but it will be awhile. I’ve always gotten my dobies as young pups are there vast differences between bringing home a young pup vs one of this age. More or less wanting to know what I may be getting into here before I pull the trigger. She sounds like a perfect match for us and duke the only real concern here is her age and the fact the breeder says she’s had nothing more then potty training basically and she knows how to behave around small children.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

My concern would be her teaching bad manners to your pup. But you are experienced with training your dogs so the training has just doubled for you.

Run a tight ship with training both but do a lot of individual training with her.
Make sure she doesn’t have access to items she can chew that your other pup may ingest. Lots of work for you but ultimately it’s your decision.
Crate training would be a must.
My question is why she is still with the breeder at 10 months and the ‘high energy’ should be given a lot of thought.
My two are high energy and I have to tell you there are not enough hours in the day to tire them out. It can get frustrating at times.

 

[Sir.duke865]

She came back to the breeder, the breeder actually visits after placement and found her in unfavorable conditions, and said she couldn’t leave her living where she was like she was.

 

[Rits]

Are you prepared to spend way more time with the new one, setting up a foundation that your current pup has? Now think about the extra extra time catching the new one up to speed plus the time you still need to put into your current pup. Do you feel you have the energy and time for it?

I personally prefer to wait until the one is closer to 2 before bringing in another dog...the only reason I would make an exception is based on my current dog's training & temperament AND if I feel I have the time and energy. You will have to decide. It will be like having 2 babies on 4 legs, lol. Lots of separate training sessions and separate socialization. Prepare yourself...

 

[Sir.duke865]

I can give the time and attention no real issue there. Duke actually does good with his behavior and listening even when there are dogs around and I actually had no plans of a female soon at all hence why I wasn’t bothered by the whole waiting list deal I figured it give me time to progress with duke before taking on another pup. I know she wouldn’t be contacting me if she didn’t think she’d be a good fit with me and if the only down side is going to be me having to give up some more time and attention I’m fine with that. I guess I’m more worried about her ability to bond with my family verses just existing, If that makes sense, the training battles I can overcome.

 

[Sir.duke865]

The breeder also does ipo and said she believes with training and direction Zoe would for sure love it and also do well. She just hasn’t had the guidance in any form of training other then don’t potty inside and act a certain way around kids.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

My two are just now at the age that they will listen to my commands when they are together.
It is a beautiful thing when they are playing and I give the come command and they both run to me and sit in front of me waiting for their next command.
At meal time I don’t even have to tell them down anymore. They see the food bowls come out and they immediately go into the down position and wait until I release them to their spots to eat. I did not EVER think we were going to get to this stage, but after consistent training for what seemed was 24/7 their whole life, they are advancing nicely. It is a lot of hard work me with working and caring for 7 other animals that are quite demanding as well. Dedication is what it took for me. Are mine perfect? Noooo, but there are days they will amaze me.

 

[Sir.duke865]

I can only imagine what I’m in for with this one the things we go through for dobie

 

[Ddski5]

If you have the time, energy and patience and are only worried about Zoe bonding with your family, then I say- go for it!!!!

I don't think your breeder, who knows you well, would set you up. You have a lot of experience with dogs and know what you are doing. Zoe is gonna do just fine acclimating in your lifestyle.

My wife and kids just said yesterday about how we needed to get Ragnar a female companion to play with--he looks lonely in the yard by himself.

I said- no, but hell no.... at least not right now. One at a time, until I learn more.

 

[GOD'S GRACE]

Place another dog here with Grace @ 13 1/2 months old would only raise the level of Chaos... ....too old to be fooled! I'll wait for Grace to give up the title "Princess of Chaos"

 

[Tropicalbri's]

I always want my pups to be an asset and not a liability. Only training will achieve this.

 

[Sir.duke865]

Yea my biggest worry was bonding rather then existing with us. Like duke and my kids are bonded like siblings it’s almost weird at times lol and if duke wasn’t doing as well as he is with his training this would not be a option at all. But duke actually does great for his age, guess this will be more a test for me then them.

 

[Sir.duke865]

Zoe on the left , she is 10 months and is 67 lbs Her standing

 

[Rits]

Yea my biggest worry was bonding rather then existing with us.

She's young, she'll have zero issue bonding with your family. Dogs are great like that. Otherwise rescues wouldn't ever work out.

 

[Sir.duke865]

@Rits you know that never crossed my mind to look at it like that.

 

[Kaiser2016]

I can only imagine what I’m in for with this one the things we go through for dobie

Glutton for punishment

The high energy...is it a euro? Is your current one euro?

To me, older means a tiny bit more stable lol. 10 months is hardly "old", but there would be less puppy stuff to deal with, like teething. Plus they say that girls mature faster. Now, if you enjoyed the puppy phase with Duke, I say wait for the puppy. If you really trust the breeder, then how bad can they have raised Zoe? The only unknown is what her original owners did with her.

 

[Kaiser2016]

@Rits you know that never crossed my mind to look at it like that.

Now is the finest moment to ask That emoji has always looked to me like it is giving the middle finger. Is it?

 

[Sir.duke865]

Do not miss the puppy stages at all not even a little . Her lines are mainly Serbia/Russian background I’ll know exacts when I see the pedigree she is working lines for sure. Duke is euro workinglines also and he is full blast 24/7 I actually wanted my next dobie to match his energy. Dukes parents are owned by a police k9 trainer and has ipo titles and grandparents where police service k9s. Zoe’s parents both have ipo 1 titles, dad has 1 and 2. Which we spent more time talking about their performance then their papers

 

[Sir.duke865]

@Kaiser2016 i hope not ive been using it thinking it was a thumbs up

If not I apologize to all the members I’ve flipped off

 

[Kaiser2016]

It's a tricky one and

The look in the last one's eyes gives it away haha.