I'm posting this in the training forum because it is fundamentally a question about how it will impact my pup's training/development.
So here is the scenario. We have a 6mo old GSP who is coming along extremely well. In the past month thing have really clicked and she is likely the best trained/behaved dog I've ever had at this age. In the past I've always had multiple dogs at any given time. A few months ago we made a concious decision to try raising a single pup this time. On one hand, it has made the basic training much easier (not going to hunt the GSP). On the other hand, it is nearly impossible to get her enough excersize to satisfy her unless she gets an hour or so of play with other dogs. Plus she absolutely pines for canine companionship.
To satisfy her natural desires and to socialize her we've been taking her to daycare a couple of days a week. Naturally she comes home tired and content. Days that she doesn't go to daycare she gets walked twice a day, off-leash at least once in a local state park. We go out of our way to seek out other dogs on these walks. We don't go to urban dog parks with her as we tried a couple of times and didn't have great experiences. But unless we do find a playful dog on our walks, there is no way we can get her enough excersize. We are runners and when she gets older and can run with us that will help.
OK, finally to the question. Since we've had this breed for years but always multiple dogs, it seems like an obvious solution is to go back to the formula that worked, just get another dog. Rather than another pup, we've been considering going the rescue route. I have NO experience training adult dogs. Have always started with pups and have always happy with the end result. So what I am worried about is bringing an older dog into the mix and that my pup might cue off of it and regress in her training/behavior. I know we used to train GSPs to hunt by simply taking pups out with older, trained dogs. So I assume if the learn good stuff, they will also learn bad stuff.
Can anyone share their own experience? Am I worried for no reason? Or should we tough it out for a few more months until the pup is more mature before adding another dog?
So here is the scenario. We have a 6mo old GSP who is coming along extremely well. In the past month thing have really clicked and she is likely the best trained/behaved dog I've ever had at this age. In the past I've always had multiple dogs at any given time. A few months ago we made a concious decision to try raising a single pup this time. On one hand, it has made the basic training much easier (not going to hunt the GSP). On the other hand, it is nearly impossible to get her enough excersize to satisfy her unless she gets an hour or so of play with other dogs. Plus she absolutely pines for canine companionship.
To satisfy her natural desires and to socialize her we've been taking her to daycare a couple of days a week. Naturally she comes home tired and content. Days that she doesn't go to daycare she gets walked twice a day, off-leash at least once in a local state park. We go out of our way to seek out other dogs on these walks. We don't go to urban dog parks with her as we tried a couple of times and didn't have great experiences. But unless we do find a playful dog on our walks, there is no way we can get her enough excersize. We are runners and when she gets older and can run with us that will help.
OK, finally to the question. Since we've had this breed for years but always multiple dogs, it seems like an obvious solution is to go back to the formula that worked, just get another dog. Rather than another pup, we've been considering going the rescue route. I have NO experience training adult dogs. Have always started with pups and have always happy with the end result. So what I am worried about is bringing an older dog into the mix and that my pup might cue off of it and regress in her training/behavior. I know we used to train GSPs to hunt by simply taking pups out with older, trained dogs. So I assume if the learn good stuff, they will also learn bad stuff.
Can anyone share their own experience? Am I worried for no reason? Or should we tough it out for a few more months until the pup is more mature before adding another dog?
