new dog

Question
I have a 5 yr old Wheaten. I want to get another dog.
Do I need to get a male?
I have a choice between a new male wheaten puppy 8 weeks old
from same breeder   or a female Maltese 1 yr old.

I have heard female wheatens do not do well living with other female dogs. True or false?

thanks for your help !

Answer
Hi Sue,
This is a big question- just contemplating a second dog when you have terriers. SInce your dog is already 5 years old you have a pretty good handle on her personality. How social is she with other dogs? Having 2 terriers is always double everything. Maltese have big personalities in tiny packages. Since the maltese is a year old- it already has it's own social skills. You did not say why this dog is available at this age. Is there a possibility you can have the dogs meet on neutral ground and check out how they interact? The fact that the maltese is so much smaller can have a different dynamic than 2 large dogs together. Sometimes larger dogs love having a toy mascot- others may think of them as squeaky toys, which is not a great deal for the little guy.
Having 2 wheatens, once the boy is grows up, can be challenging.  You, however, are a better judge of how much you and your dog can handle. I adopted 2 female terriers that no one thought would get along, who do great. They have their tiffs but it is not tolerated so it's rare- mostly food or toy related. Age is on your side with the older dog if you get a puppy. She will most likely mother whatever you get if she is a well socialized dog without any behavior problems.
Mostly it is up to you and your own style. Talk with your breeder and ask them to evaluate your situation with you. A responsible breeder will want what is best for all the dogs. Are you home all day? Do you crate train?  How will you feed a puppy who needs 3 meals a day around an older dog who doesn't? These are important questions to answer. Terriers need careful managing since they are such smart dogs.
good luck