Should You Get a Puppy If You Have an Old Dog?

We did just that. We went to the Humane Society and brought home a 7 month old Collie mix. I did not know what affect it would have on my old dog and what happened might surprise you. It did me.

燤y old dog is a 13 year old Lab mix. She has been such a great dog, a really good and reliable family dog. She does not hear very well any more, she cannot see well either and sleeping is her favorite pastime. She had slowed down so much that my husband and I thought she might not live to be 14 years old.

I guess I wanted another dog for several reasons. I wanted a dog that could go for long walks or keep up if I went for a run. I wanted the kind of dog that would be my constant companion and my old girl just could not seem to do those things anymore.

I also hoped that having another dog around would be good companionship for my old girl. Kind of like having a buddy, after all my boys had grown up and they had been her two best buddies through life and now were not around much. I also think in the back of my mind I thought having another dog would some how make it a little easier when our old girl passed away. We would have someone else to pour our love into.

So, what happened when we brought this new dog into our home? At first my old girl was a little offended by this intruder. We introduced them to each other very carefully making sure that neither dog felt threatened. The last thing in the world we wanted to do is have two angry dogs. Well, the puppy acted in submission just like she was supposed to. This made my old girl feel good.

It did not take long before these two dogs became good friends and played together like puppies. This is the part that surprised me. My old girl was acting like a kid again. Oh sure, she was slower than the puppy a lot slower. I mean that puppy runs circles around my old girl, but she was having fun, she was running and even rolling over on the occasion.

I could not believe it; my old dog had been infused with new life. I told you before that we did not think this old girl would live to be 14 years old. Well, we are thinking much differently these days. We believe it is very possible that she has many good years ahead of her.

I saw an interview on TV with Jennifer Aniston. She talked about her new puppy and how her old dog just seems to have new life since she brought home the puppy. I add this just so you know it is not just me that has had this experience.

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by

Brandi