[RoseZero]

My shih tzu is 17, I have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She doesn't see well and has some dementia. I am thinking about getting a shih tzu puppy. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks.

 

[storyist]

You have to know it's totally up to you. I wouldn't do it. IMO the time to get a puppy while the older dog is still around is earlier, when the older dog can still adapt and maybe enjoy having a companion, not when the puppy's going to mean less time and attention for the older dog and probably be an aggravation. But that's me, and you asked.

 

[RonE]

Senior dogs typically don't find puppies nearly as adorable as we do. It's also really hard to give a senior dog the attention she deserves when there's a new puppy demanding every second of your time.

I vote Bad Idea.

 

[DaySleepers]

I agree with the others. When I was still very young, maybe 5 or 6, we brought home a kitten who proceeded to torment our older cat. The older cat wasn't ancient, but had been showing her age. We didn't know it at the time, but she was also about to become very, very ill, and while we loved the kitten, we always regretted that our older cat couldn't have had her last few months be peaceful, calm, and low-stress. The illness that killed her would've done so with or without the kitten in the picture, but that doesn't mean it was ideal for her to have to put up with an obnoxious, high-energy youngster while she was deteriorating.

I know my anecdote isn't about dogs, but I think they're comparable. The only way I'd bring a baby puppy into a home with an elderly dog that's deteriorating is if I was sure I could keep them separate most of the time while still giving both as much human attention and interaction as they need (and puppies need a LOT of both). Really difficult, especially if you're only a one or two person household or have a smaller living space.

 

[RoseZero]

You have to know it's totally up to you. I wouldn't do it. IMO the time to get a puppy while the older dog is still around is earlier, when the older dog can still adapt and maybe enjoy having a companion, not when the puppy's going to mean less time and attention for the older dog and probably be an aggravation. But that's me, and you asked.

My shih tzu is 17, I have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She doesn't see well and has some dementia. I am thinking about getting a shih tzu puppy. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks.

Thank you

 

[RoseZero]

Thank you.

 

[Bluebird]

My shih tzu is 17, I have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She doesn't see well and has some dementia. I am thinking about getting a shih tzu puppy. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks.

I say don’t do it. Just be with her and get another when she passes which probably will be within the year.