Thanks to all of you for your good thoughts and advice on the question of introducing a new puppy into the house with a senior dog (Callie is 10 now). I wrote about that prospect yesterday. Callie has always gotten along well with our friends' dogs. Here are a couple of photos of Callie as a puppy, taken when we first brought her home in 2007.
Callie is a border collie but she's not the hyperactive hellion that we were afraid she might be. She's also very submissive around other dogs, but she's always gotten a long with them. Labradors, standard poodles, Jack Russel terriers, big Bernese mountain dogs, Brittany spaniels... and so on. So we are optimistic that, even though she's not good with cats, she'll get along with a new puppy.
And I think we will too. I remember the travails of having a puppy chewing up just about everything in the house. We brought Callie home in early May 10 years ago, thinking we would be able to spend the four or five summer months basically outside with her, so as to minimize the damage. Wouldn't you know that turned out to be the rainiest summer we've had since we moved here, so we were mostly confined to quarters. The bottom rungs of our dining room chairs still bear the scars of Callie's tiny, sharp puppy teeth.
Precious puppy picture. Having a pup to train and play with is the sort of thing that will keep you both young!
ReplyDeleteThat's my theory too.
DeleteWhat a beautiful puppy, and she's grown into a beautiful dog.
ReplyDeleteIt's just so hard to believe that Callie is already 10 years old.
DeleteA small coincidence in that after adding a kitten to our clan last year, which Munson has easily adapted to, we added a new pup Rollo a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteMy previous dog Bondi was 9 when I got Munson as a pup, and he was a great mentor. Munson is 9 next month so I thought it was a good time to have a heir waiting in the wings to be trained up.
Thanks for that, Mike, and it's good to hear with you. We too think that Callie might be a good mentor for a new puppy. And maybe the new pup will get along with Bertie the black cat, and teach Callie a thing or two. Old dog, new tricks problem though. Best to you, G, M, and R. And the kitten.
DeleteShe looks so cute in the second photo, so innocent yet so curious.
ReplyDeleteThe poor dog was probably trying to understand where she had landed at that point.
DeleteDon't you just love pink puppy paw pads?
ReplyDeleteI do.
DeleteWhat a beautiful pup .. and she grew into a beautiful dog .. I love her coloring so much !
ReplyDeleteI hate that they age so fast, I always want mine to stay young pups for years and years.
I agree with the idea of getting the new puppy while the older pup is still there, it is good for both of them plus it does definitely help with training etc.
I want a dog !
so do the cats ! ( not really but they get no votes on this )
maybe new puppy will like Bertie or can get used to him being inside
ReplyDeleteI think a new puppy will be fun for you, but beware that two dogs may pose a threat to Bertie.
ReplyDeleteIt also can make the older dog get frisky and silly again. I have seen that happen and it is heartwarming to say the least.
ReplyDeleteShe was a beautiful puppy and still is! I love these photos of her. She will probably be fine and enjoy a puppy as much as you!
ReplyDeleteShe was 4 y.o when I met her . Y. was surprised when she greeted me with her two paws on my shoulders since it was our first meeting. She is a "great girl". She looks so cute in the second pic. Too bad for you that she has not befriended Bertie ( guess it is a two way street amongst the four legged animals).
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