bringing another dog into my home

Question
Please help.  We have a 12 year old Cocker that we love very much.  We've had him for 9 years.  The problem we're having is that our 6 year old wants poor Old Moe (my Cocker) to be a play mate.  Moe was never very active, and the older he gets, the less he wants to play.  We want to bring a chocolate lab, 3 years old, great disposition into our home.  Our vet thinks this is a great idea.  Taking some of the pressure off our older dog could make him very happy.  I don't want to do anything to make Moe's life miserable. He's been a great dog.  Any thoughts?  Thanks so much.

Answer
Fran,
I agree with your vet. As long as Moe gets along well with the lab, it may be a good idea. That way your 6 yr old will have a playmate. If the lab and Moe don't get along, then it could cause undue stress which isn't good for his age.
Hope it works out for you! I wish you all the best!

Kerri

PS: We have an 8 yr old Cocker and a 4 yr old. When we got the 4 yr old (as a puppy), it helped to keep our 8 yr old young! She plays like a pup at times, which is heartwarming to see. Of course, she is slower than the 4 yr old, but keeping them active is a great way to keep them young and healthy!