Current own a dog and what to get another

Question
My husband and I have a 3-year old yellow lab.  He is totally mellow and loves other dogs and he likes to have someone to play with.  We are frequently gone from home and he has to stay outside or go into his doggy door to the garage where his bed is, otherwise he lives in the house full-time.  I want to get him a female companion so he's not so lonely.  He has been neutered.  I cannot lift over 10-15 lbs. because of too many back surgeries, so I want to get a small dog, and I would like to get a Miniature Pincher.  I am already pack leader in our household - no problems there.  My question is:  Will bringing in a puppy from another breed into our household be psychologically hard for our lab?  And, is a Miniature Pincher a good choice?  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Answer
Hi Patricia,

You're smart to do research on specific breeds before you get another dog as a companion for your mature Lab.  It's hard to say whether another dog will be appropriate for your Lab since each dog is an individual.  It depends on the dogs.  Just like people, not all dogs may want to be buddies with every other dog they meet.  

You'd do best to consult with a breeder or a trainer, or even a very reputable rescue organization - that is, someone knowledgeable about dogs and dog behaviour - for an in-depth consultation about your lifestyle, future training and care of the dogs, your physical capability with regard to your back injury, what to look for when having your current dog meet any potential newcomer and whether the two seem compatible, as well as other factors regarding whether to get another dog or not and, if so, which dog that should be.  

In brief, a professional consultation with an expert can let you know what to look for in determining whether your dog and another are compatible.  Such an expert can also guide you too in terms of assessing how your lifestyle can best support another canine companion.  

Best of luck!

Madeline at Allexperts