My dog Buddy's breeder passed away recently. Her kennel manage contacted us last night, they want us to take Buddy's sister, Greta.

If not for my other pup Lucy this would be a no brainer. Lucy is 12 and is approaching the rainbow bridge...could be weeks or months. We don't want to do anything that would effect her in a negative way.

Taking Greta would be great for Buddy. He has never been without other dogs. He will be lost when we lose Lucy.

The timing sucks.




Buddy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jeff Yarchin,

A new pup will keep you and your dog young.

That one's a difficult call, we've been in the same boat. You hate to not have a companion for him, but don't want to take away attention and time from your older pet.

There isn't a wrong decision, just go with your gut. Maybe they can find someone to keep his sister short term, and then she can come along later? Best of wishes in making the call, I know either way it will be fine. Don't beat yourself up either way!

Jeff, I wish you the best of luck in this decision. Knowing the kindness that you show to both your fellow man and to animals, I have faith that you will make the right decision.

Jeff ,that is a tough spot,you are great in my book what ever way you and Ms Sandy decide.

We were faced with a similar situation several years ago, when friends asked us to take three cats who belonged to a retired fireman who was unable to care for them any more. As our own cat was ailing and blind, we declined for the same reason that concerns you.

After ours passed several months later, we asked what happened to the three, and were told they went to a shelter that probably put them down.

You owe Lucy what's best for her. It sucks, but we can't save them all. We're outnumbered.

By the way, after ours died, we eventually took in three other shelter cats. It's sad that we couldn't help those from the previous year.

Jeff,

I think you answered your own question.

"the timing sucks"

newtoSig765 said it best: You owe Lucy what's best for her. It sucks, but we can't save them all. We're outnumbered.

Jeff,

Do you know anyone who could give Greta a temporary home?

I live by myself and cannot see leaving a dog alone all day, or I would do this in a New York minute.

-sm

Perhaps Lucy could decide? Introduce Geta to Lucy and see how Lucy responds?

You have all ready gotten good advice. I'll add my 2 cents anyway. You wrote that you owe Lucy what is best for her - and I agree that is paramount. But I would also think about both dogs. Buddy is going to lose a friend real soon too. That would enter into the decision.

We lost a younger dog a few years ago and our older dog just went into a slump. He was old and we didn't think he would last long as he was very down. When we brought a puppy into the house and it did a world of good for him. She definitely keeps him young at heart. He loves her and plays with here more than we imagined.


For me the decision would come down to how Lucy gets along with other dogs. If she likes other dogs I would consider bringing in the new dog. If she is more standoffish I would probably decline.

I know this must be a hard decision. Best of luck whatever you decide.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Jeff,

Do you know anyone who could give Greta a temporary home?

I live by myself and cannot see leaving a dog alone all day, or I would do this in a New York minute.

-sm

Thanks Monkey, we are considering that route.

I'm with Chance on this one. Over the years, most of our dogs (even a protection trained German Shepherd) have been very social and enjoyed welcoming new pups, some have not. It all comes down to Lucy and what she is like.

If you live close enough, I would have the three meet and see how they interact.

Thanks all. This is not a rescue as there are a bunch of people that want her.

The breeder was an icon. She was a Schwab heiress, her husband owned Coates and Clark Thread, founded more than 200 years ago. They raised hunting horses and Labradors in Middleburg, VA.

She founded the Labrador Club of The Potomac and bred Labs from this bloodline for 50 years.

They also assembled one of the best Hunting art collections in the world, which I got to see. I've never been to a home/estate like that before.


I was honored to get to know her a bit. Her 'Kennel' was heated, air conditioned and had a 3 acre filtered dog pond and full time kennel managers.

After Buddy's parents were bred Mrs. Clarke and her husband got in a horrible car accident. He actually died and she was in the hospital for months.

The pups were well card for during that time but the litter was in the Springfield Farm kennel for 14 months until Mrs. Clarke was well enough of find homes for them. She never let anyone else sell her dogs. That is how we found Buddy at 14 months old.

She decided to keep Greta, who will be 8 in a few months.

Edited to add pictures of 'the farm'
http://www.lrcp.com/Springfield/index.html

Have the dogs meet and if they get along and are friends, then take on Buddy......I've seen younger dogs give new life to very old ones.......Let the dogs choose. If they don't get along then let it be.

It isn't about them getting along or not. Lucy and Buddy love everyone they meet, human or dogs.

This is about Lucy's fragile health. She really is day to day at this point. It isn't time yet but we believe it is getting closer.

We've decided not to bring Greta in to home yet.

We don't want to add stress for Lucy at this stage of her life. We may ask the kennel manager to hold on to Greta for a few weeks or find someone here to take her for a while.

Jeff, as I recently lost my beloved Lab, I concur with your plan to wait. I think a dog knows when it is close to the bridge, and an emotional disruption would likely bring unintended harm. Surely someone can help foster Greta for a few days up there. I can foster down here in Richmond VA, if that helps. I have a Goldendoodle who just lost her chocolate Labrador friend of five years, and seems to do well when she has a dog visitor. Fenced in yard, not too big, and maybe located between the breeder and you.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Jeff, as I recently lost my beloved Lab, I concur with your plan to wait. I think a dog knows when it is close to the bridge, and an emotional disruption would likely bring unintended harm. Surely someone can help foster Greta for a few days up there. I can foster down here in Richmond VA, if that helps. I have a Goldendoodle who just lost her chocolate Labrador friend of five years, and seems to do well when she has a dog visitor. Fenced in yard, not too big, and maybe located between the breeder and you.

Thank for your kind offer and I'm very sorry for your loss.

A friend of mine's wife was fostering, well, she claimed to be fostering dogs, but in reality, she took them in and they stayed..forever. They had four dogs, a young Pit Bull, that they had tried to get me to take, but I declined, since I can't walk a dog due to injuries from a series of bad, real bad, falls, a Lab/? mix that was pretty old when they got him, a Black and Tan Coonhound and Lab mix, and a German Shepherd mix that was "the boss" of the group. The Lab mix checked out from heart trouble, and the Shepherd is getting close to the end, so my friend had convinced his wife that 2 dogs was enough, and she agreed, besides the Shepherd was pretty nasty to the Pit when he came in as a 6 month old for almost a month until he finally decided he was going to stay. My friend was looking forward to getting a break on his dog food bill, as the 4 of them went through a ton of food every month. So on their 25th anniversary, they were on the way to dinner, they went to the same place they went on their first date. On the way, they passed what appeared to be a dead puppy lying along the road. As they passed, it picked it's head up, looked at them, and his wife started screaming< "It's alive!!, pull over!", so he did, knowing it was not going to be good. Over $2000, blood tansfusions, and 4 days in the hospital later, the puppy comes home. He's going to be a monster, the vet guessed he was 10 weeks or so old when they found him, that he was going to be "150 pounds", and it looks like he nailed it. He's approaching 140 pounds at around 16 months. When he came home, they expected the Shepherd to hate him like he's hated all the other dogs he's been introduced to, but in a shocking twist, he LOVED the pup, sleeping with him the first night. It's obvious that the pup is going to be the next "boss", just from his attitude and immense size, and he has become the old shepherd's "enforcer", as he becomes bigger and immensely strong. He doesn't seem to have the same staredown ability the Shepherd has, and isn't as driven about being the boss. The shepherd is on the final glide now, he's starting to have the heart cough and is on Lasix, making him pee constantly. But in the almost year since the pup came into the pic, the Shepherd seemed to enjoy himself more than he had in a long time. Old dogs can sometimes get a real boost by having a young dog or pup around. My old Lab Joe did when Gus came into the house. After a horrible 5 first days, they were big buddies until the end. Gus is in the middle, Blackie on the left.

quote:

Originally posted by CPTKILLER:
A new pup will keep you and your dog young.

I agree as well, a new dog might kick start your old girl.