Got another dog and need some encouragement

elsien

catkins wrote: »

Luckily the two dogs get on great and the 18 month old is even teaching the pup how to play with toys but part of me feels guilty that the older one no longer has all my attention.


Trouble is I am a big worrier and just see all the problems. At nearly 60 and not in the best of health (depression, fibromylgia (luckily not that bad), anxiety, migraine) I could do without the stress

Don't feel guilty - your older dog doesn't need all your attention now he has a playmate. I feel guilty because I only have the one dog and I reckon he'd love another pooch in the house. And don't feel bad about shoving him in the crate if you need to do something - as well as giving you space it also gives them some quiet time to calm down if they're going a bit OTT and it won't hurt him to learn that he needs to occupy himself at times. I think sometimes we overthink things a bit.
Do you have a friend or neighbour, or can you afford a dog walker to help with walking the new arrival and give you half an hour or so respite each day or once in a while?

neveranymoney

I feel bad about numerous things and am far too bloody soft, I have often thought, throughout my adult life that I would sell a kidney to be someone who is laid back and relaxed. But I have gradually accepted that this is me and I cannot help it. I have been jokingly called 'anally punctual' and get my knickers in a knot over anything and everything and like you catkins I'm stuck in the house a lot and it slowly sends you even more crackers.

Try and take pleasure in the two dogs playing and being good company - I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to see shadow greet all and sundry with a full on bum waggling tail and enjoying being a dog - something that poor scampers just couldn't manage. It's always easy for outsiders to offer advice though, I'm not so blooming cheery about dog ownership all the time!

Elsiens right, there's not a pet owner (or a parent, for that matter!) who doesn't think it's all too much from time to time and if they don't, well, they are big fat liars!

MrsAtobe

elsien wrote: »

Do you know what, we should do a poll on how many people have taken on a dog then spent weeks wondering what the heck they'd done and berating themselves for getting it wrong. It's clearly not that uncommon. You always hear the success stories of dogs fitting in straightaway and they always make me feel completely useless.

Well here's one yes vote, for both the rescue springers we've taken on. I'm currently trying to teach one how to get over SA and his other anxieties, we will get there eventually. There are days though when he pushes me to despair, and I do wonder if I did the right thing in taking him on, and saying his previous owner from serious ill health, and possibly a fatal heart attack.