Q: I would like a little advice on what to do with our new pup. For about a year and a half or so, my family has had the dream dog for us. He is a neutered Basenji/German shepherd/??? mix that somebody dumped and we adopted named Ditto. He came to us housebroken and has been the perfect pet for us. He defends our house appropriately from strangers and all evil cats. He roughhouses with me (and me only: he doesn't mouth the girls) and yet sits through intricate tea ceremonies with my 4-year old, even putting up with necklaces and hats on occasion.
Recently we went to the pet store to replace his new doggie-door and saw the pups up for adoption from a local rescue operation. My wife and daughter fell in love with an Australian Shepherd mix, also a neutered male. The new guy, Pepper, is the little dog of his foster pack and very insecure (so we are told). I was/am reluctant about this arrangement but all assure me that the dogs will get along fine and be great companions for each other. While I am the alpha dog of this pack and our dog knows his place at the bottom of the totem pole, we all assumed the new guy would take that role from him.
Pepper is staying with us over the holiday weekend as a test drive. Things have gone relatively smoothly although the pup is very skittish. This evening he has started to acclimate and has even barked and growled at me in the dark until he realized who I was.
My concern is this: I am of the opinion that the two dogs need to settle this issue of dominance between them. The pup has been too afraid to join in any play despite the best efforts of all in the family, including the dog. They have had a few growling and teeth baring matches but my wife has broken them up, usually chastising my dog. I am afraid my dog is losing the upper hand here, which is fine should that be the arrangement the two work out on their own. I certainly don't want a death match in the living room but I want things to settle into a routine. I welcome any and all suggestions.
A: In spite of the fact that the family has fallen in love with this dog, I would honestly recommend that you don't get a second male. You have a great dog, and there will be conflict between these two. They may work things out now, then go to war in 6 months, a year, 2 years, even several years later as they decide to try for a change in pack order.
Your dog's sweet, safe temperament with the children is definitely at risk when you add a second male dog to the house. Both dogs are likely to occasionally include the children in the pack order discussions -- not good.
If you want a second dog, I would strongly recommend a female. Then your dear male dog can remain top male, and the girl can be top female. If they are both altered, they will likely get along well and never have a war, though some posing and snapping is normal. It's just so much happier for the dogs and safer for your kids when your dogs are opposite sex.
It's not impossible that these two male dogs would get along forever without problems. But the situation you have with your older dog is very special, absolutely worth preserving, and bringing in another male does jeopardize it. With a 4-year old child in the home, I would not do it.
I suspect the rescue group can easily find another home for the younger dog, and if he doesn't have to live in a home with another male dog, it will be a happier situation for him too. I know I'm a real downer here, and I know how quickly we fall in love with a new dog in the home! But I just hate to see all the heartbreak that comes of unfortunate choices when new dogs are brought into the home. Whatever you decide I hope things go well.