too old?

[ckrn]

My boyfriend and I have been thinking about getting a new boxer puppy. We currently have a 10 years old female fawn boxer. My question is do you think she is too old to have a new puppy around? she is pretty active for a ten year old..and we recently had her around a shih tzu puppy and she did great. I really would like some advice about what to do? Does anyone have any experience with a old and new dog together?

 

[Caney Creek]

I don't think she's too old to have a puppy in the house. As long as she's doing well physically and her temperament is easygoing enough to handle several months of puppy antics, I don't think it should be an issue. She might not be able to keep up with the puppy all the time, but who says she has to?

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

We had the opposite experience, we adopted a puppy when my girl was 6 1/2 years old...wish we hadn't honestly. I mean I love my now 3 year old, but speaking specifically of age that was the one thing I didn't think about and wish I had. Actually because of the fact my girl is now 9 and my puppy is 2 1/2 we just adopted a (then) 10 month old German Shepherd 3 months ago as a playmate for our 2 1/2 year old Boxer. My 9 year old Boxer is obviously SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much happier now that the 2 1/2 year old leaves her alone and has no interest in playing with her (since he can play with the always energetic 1 year old GSD). Both Boxers seem much happier now as my 2 1/2 year old has a playmate and my 9 year old can be left alone.

So for us, adopting a puppy with a senior worked out horribly in the age aspect of it. She just cannot keep up with him physically and when she wants to sleep she wants to sleep not be pawed at to play.

 

[ckrn]

Thanks Everyone..we ya'll have been a big help.. we've also been thinkin about a rescue boxer.. maybe one that at least a year old. Maybe an adult dog would be better around a senior. We wanted to foster..because it breaks my heart to think of all the boxers without a home, but I don't think having dogs in and out of the house would be good for Samantha. We have alot of thinking and praying to do about another dog. Thanks again for everyone help.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Thanks Everyone..we ya'll have been a big help.. we've also been thinkin about a rescue boxer.. maybe one that at least a year old. Maybe an adult dog would be better around a senior. We wanted to foster..because it breaks my heart to think of all the boxers without a home, but I don't think having dogs in and out of the house would be good for Samantha. We have alot of thinking and praying to do about another dog. Thanks again for everyone help.

Rescues are GREAT 3 of my 4 dogs have been rescues and they've been awesome with my other dogs, cats, and my young son. I will say though a 1 year old is still VERY much a puppy. If you want an "adult" I'd recommend 3-4 years old as that's when they're more out of their puppy antics and hyperness slows down a bit (most of the time). JMO from having been there done that with 4 dogs of my own plus foster boxers.

 

[srennie]

I 2nd the rescue option! 3 of our 4 have also been rescues and they are just the best dogs. Our first boxer we adopted when he was 5 and he lived to be 14 and was the absolute BEST dog ever!!! Then we got the boxer puppy from....UHG....he finally became 'normal' around 3 y/o! Decided not to do a puppy again after him and adopted our boston at 1y/o when that boxer was about 4y/o and they did great...still had to do some work with boston as he was still young but not as much as a little pup. Now we have our rescue girl Darby who we adopted when she was 4y/o and she is GREAT! She was house trained...sleeping through the night (although for a few days if I got up in the night to go to the bathroom she got up and came with me and as soon as I was back in bed, she'd lay down and go back to sleep herself)...walked great on the leash, etc. I LOVE rescue dogs!!!!

 

[Darbysmom1]

Too old

What it really comes down to is your dog and how it will get along with the puppy. I have always really liked getting a puppy with a mature older dog because the puppies seem to learn so much from the old dog. The puppies I have raised with older dogs seem to house break easier they tend to be more mellow (they will still have way more energy and be crazy) but they tend to learn from the older dog. You have to be watchful because their will be times when the older dog will snap at the younger dog because it is annoying them in most cases but just be watchful and allow them to create their own order of things. I have always thoguht it was a good idea. Good luck..

 

[Darbysmom1]

Rescue

On the subject of a rescue dog things to consider is a 1 year old is going to be very hyper so you are not getting rid of the young hyper dog factor and you need to be really careful because I have seen more problems introducing a hyper 1 year old to a senior then a hyper puppy because the older dog does not feel threatend by the puppy and the puppy will be raised being careful of the older dog and knowing what it will and will not take from the puppy. Plus a puppy jumping on the older dog and getting snapped at and learning that is not ok is easier to deal with then a 1 year old jumping on the older dog possibly hurting it and then when the older dog snaps possibly snapping back. You need to be very careful. I am not saying do not adopt I am a foster for a rescue and would just warn you to maybe get an older mellow dog at least 2 or just be very cautious. Just my two cents I normally see with my foster the first two weeks everyone gets along great then people start to settle in and test each other. You need to be careful if you have an older dog that is set in its ways.

 

[dididuke]

Recently we got a young pup, about 13 weeks old when we got her. Our other boxer is 8 years old and had just recently lost his playmate a few months ago (our oldest boxer who passed away).

We tried rescue, but it wasn't working as our Duke would only growl at the rescues. So, we took the initiative and did this ourselves. We knew we would stand a better chance with a puppy. Duke is a very very dominant dog. We have taken it slow and steady. It is going really well between them now, but we are still somewhat careful. They actually played together today with Duke even getting all frisky. He still hates the puppy play (most of it anyway) so she has separate playtimes for that. But on occasion she gets "in his face" and that is the part we are careful about.