Depressed?

Dog-Gone-Crazy · 11-12-2006, 07:55 AM

I've been thinking about getting another Maltipoo. I have one right now. She is so spoiled and adores me because all my attention goes to her. If I brought another dog in (the "new" dog would be an indoor dog like my current one) do you think my maltipoo I have right now (Daisy) would be grieved/depressed? She's used to all the attention. We have an inside cat but he doesn't always want to play with her and I think it would be neat to have 2. But if she is going to grieve herself I would not do it. What do you guys think? Thanks

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Kerri6398 · 11-12-2006, 11:06 AM

First of all, Has your maltipoo been socialized around other dogs? That is a big question when thinking of adding a new addition to the family. If she is very accepting of other dogs, she may be more excepting to a puppy then you think she would. However those other dogs at the dog park are not taking all your attention away. I personally do not think she will get depressed but I do not live with daisy to give a defenite answer. You have to introduce them the right way and show daisy the new pup is not taking her place. If you bring the new puppy in and she gets ALL the attention then daisy will get jealous, who wouldnt?!?!? ya know! Have you ever had a friend's dog come over or anything like that? It would be a little test to see how she reacts with another dog in her territory. You know her more then any of us. If she is aggresive toward other dogs and very protective of you then adding a new baby may not be the best. Sorry I coulnt help more!

Curbside Prophet · 11-12-2006, 11:22 AM

I believe Kerri6398 has a good feel about how Daisy will adjust in adding another dog, and that it "could" go pretty easily if Daisy is socialized. I say "could" because as a new pup gets older and the pack dynamic changes, you have to be enough of a dog person to understand the pack hierarchy. For some dogs, they are happy-go-lucky regardless, but for others a certain structure will need to be established, and this is something you would control. So in that regard, whether you're in tune with dealing with a necessary pack hierarchy, is the question that will need to be answered before getting another puppy. I've seen too many cases where someone thought their dog needed a companion, but the owner was not a "dog" person, and couldn't understand why their dogs fought with eachother. So, if you're not up on be your dog's pack leader, and you're not certain what a pack hierarchy is or should be, I would recommend not changing things. Your dog can be happy with it's current environment, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Dog-Gone-Crazy · 11-12-2006, 02:51 PM

First off I want to say thanks for all the great information! I will definatly take it into conserderation when making the choice.

Daisy is very socailzed. Beside the inside cat we have 2 outside dogs. She plays with them serveral times a day. They are much bigger then she is, I think she needs somebody her own size. They can get rough with her, sometimes. I think she would love to have somebody she can play with, buddy around with, and things. And not have them be litteraly 100 pounds bigger then her. I can't be home 24/7 so when I do leave home I keep her in a 600 sq. ft. garden room, I'd like if she had another dog at those times so she could play and not sleep the whole time out of bordem. The cat isn't too playful with her. So I'm sure when she is home alone she gets quite bored.

She doesn't seem to be a really jealous dog. Sometimes I try to make her jealous to see if she is. Like I get my cat and just Ew and Aw over him and pet him and she just sits there and doesn't pay much attention. I'm just afraid how we are so close she will feel like I'm trying to find a dog to take her place... That's my biggest concern, I don't want her to feel like that.

In the summer we watched a friend's dog. A lot of my attention went to him, he stayed in the garge, she didn't seem to mind. But I don't know if it would be different with a dog staying in the house instead of the garge.

Of course I'd try my hardest to divide the attention evenly but puppies take a lot of time and attention, ecspecaily in potty training. That is where I feel that we would have some conflict.

I'm not 100% on what I'm going to do yet. But I'll definatly take your words into consderation. I appreciate it! Thank you all!