Puppy Or Older Dog?

[raineth]

I'm really conflicted on this.

When we adopted Honey she was 2 and a half, she has been an absolute delight & we have bonded amazingly.

I was overjoyed not to have to do the puppy thing again.

However.... She does have little quirks that I struggle to manage (obsessed with skywriting, storm phobic, toiletting fussiness to name a few). I would be tempted next time to get a pup so I could start from scratch and train it into the dog I want it to be.

But then, I'm terrified of stuffing it up AND I do love older dogs better than pups.

See- conflicted!!

that is pretty much exactly how I feel!

[Dory the Doted One]

I also like to carry them around so they can forget what legs are for. At least until they get too heavy that is.

Then there is the puppy breath. Then there is the biting your toes and stealing your socks. The constant trips outside

for pee time. (note to self...get a summer puppy). The excuse to buy all new toys and cool stuff.

What's not to love?

[jacqui835]

Probably a puppy though I would potentially consider an older dog from a breeder I knew well and respected. I don't really enjoy the puppy stage, but I do feel that the result is a deeper understanding of your dog, which for me is worth the negatives.

[Janba]

Probably a puppy though I would potentially consider an older dog from a breeder I knew well and respected. I don't really enjoy the puppy stage, but I do feel that the result is a deeper understanding of your dog, which for me is worth the negatives.

I find the deep bond comes from working your dog not from raising it. The closest bonds with dogs I have had have with those I have done the most training/work with.

[Sydoo]

OH and I are entering the serious second dog discussion phase (insert squeeeee! smiley) and I am leaning heavily toward a young adult. I don't expect to bond any less than we have with Billie, who came to us as a baby. We just have to find the right dog.

[newfsie]

Don't get me wrong, I love getting my newfies from puppy, but I feel compelled to take on rescues. I feel someone has to.

It is great to get a puppy and mould it and as i watch my Katy grow with all her confidence and no fear. A truly happy dog. She knows she will be loved and cared for......The same for our Tessa we got her as a rescue puppy at five weeks.

And I look over to my now two rescues, even the one we have had for 2.5 years. they always worry. Annabelle always has this slight worry about her. but her devotion is unsurpassed. She is so with me and so willing to learn. just anything to please me. the same for our new boy, Lukey. He is now just so happy and willing to please and trying hard. Don't get me wrong, the other two are a joy to train and very keen. but you can tell they know we are there for them and the rescues hope we will be there for them.

It is a slight difference, but I have noticed it with all the rescues and from puppy dogs we have had over the many years.

So I will always have rescues and if there are the really old or unwell newfies, I will take them. Or I take the ones with problems..Annabelle was people and dog aggressive and Lukey is very timid.

So I voted that my next dog would be an older dog

[persephone]

My 'heart' dog , the one who was meant to be mine ,who was a part of me, found me when he was around 2 yrs old.

[minxy]

Puppy definitely. For me, getting a large breed dog at around 13 weeks old, I had missed out on a fair bit. I never saw him cute and small. He was already bigger than a lot of fully grown adult dogs when he came to me, and my last puppy before that was 7 years ago.

[skip]

I'm undecided too. I have never had a puppy! My 2 were 18 and 8 months.

My two are great but getting older ( 8 and 7yrs) . I have learnt heaps with them and am still learning in agility. But i am thinking about dog number 3.

I want this time a dog more suitable for dog sports who hopefully will enjoy running more. I love rescue dogs and saving them appeals to me. But if I get the puppy I can shape it more and do so much in those growing years before he can compet.

I am a bit unsure about having the pup as I work fulltime. Bit of planning needed there.

And if I rescue one you can see what type of dog he is already. Will he want to run and enjoy agility.

I also want a dog who will get on with my dogs that are fairly small and very laid back. A pup might be better for them rather than bringing a rescue dog home with much more energy than them.

Decisions decisions.

[dancinbcs]

So I guess my questions are

- does raising a baby puppy result in a stronger bond between dog and owner?

- are some breeds, less work/less intense as baby puppies or is it individual dogs?

Missed answering these questions.

I think the bond between dog and owner is depends on if they just "click" or not. Even though I prefer to raise my own puppies I don't really get bonded to them until they are about 8-9 months, and I have a stronger bond with some than others. I always bond closer to males more than females, but not every male has the same bond with me.

Some breeds are definitely a lot less work than others. I am always intrigued to see breeders of other breeds with a litter sitting quietly in an open basket, at the vets for the 6 week vaccination. If you tried to put a litter of Border Collies in a basket like that the first one would be out again before the second one was in. Basically, as puppies Borders are never still unless they are asleep. They have to be doing "something". They never just sit there and look cute like some other breeds. If you tie up any sort of fence or barrier with occy straps or cable ties, Border babies just chew through them. They are very, very demanding as babies, constantly climbing, digging, chewing and running and activity starts at about 10 days when they start escaping the whelping box.

On the plus side though they are extremely easy to toilet train, so there is a trade off sometimes.

[skip]

And Aussielover - to actually answer your questions, IMHO the bond with a older dog can be just as strong or even stronger. And to your other question - maybe different breeds would act differently as puppies but then again individual dogs of a certain breed might differ again.

Good luck with getting another dog. How exciting

Edited February 19, 2011 by skip

[Henrietta]

I'm torn... on one hand I want a baby puppy and I want to do everything right from day dot. I'd like to dabble in competition (I train just for fun currently.)

On the other hand, from my past experience with my current girl, sometimes I think a young adult may be better for me. I'm still a little worried I'll bugger up puppyhood again. Who knows how I'll feel by the time the next dog comes around?

I'm only confident that I'll make the right choice for me at the right time.

On the topic of bonding - I only really strongly bonded with my girl after about 15 months I think. I always loved her as a pup, but she was trying. When she became an adult... well, that's when I starting adoring her. And she is still trying at times, but I have a much better handle on it all. I just enjoy the adult dog more I think.

[Dory the Doted One]

I love the puppy nortiness. Am I the only one?

Puppies just seem to have that real joy in life, and they are like little sponges taking everything in. But then I don't have any expensive clothes or furniture that I would be peeved about losing to puppy teeth. I take it as a given that I have the potential to lose something.

It's so much fun to channel all that energy into learning through fun and play.

[HugUrPup]

Definitely a pup.

I like my pups to be socialised and trained in my preferred manner. That means I do it.

I'm not "into" baby puppies but you only get one chance to start them right.

Yeh I know what you mean.. Ollie came with some bad habits that were hard to break. Miley was lead aggressive when she came to me also, but she was easy to re train.

I guess it also depends on the breed as some are less stubborn ans easier to re train then other breeds.

I love pups but can't stand the chewing everything up and shitting everywhere phase

[becks]

My next dog will be a puppy because she will be a giant schnauzer and with having minis in the house, I want to teach the giant to respect the minis, whereas a younger adult could just be to bouncy from the start and accidents happen to easily. This dog will be for showing and various dog sports.

If it was just a pet, my next dog would be an older rescue (ie 8+ years)

[CaseyKay]

The 3 border collies (girls) I have now I have had from 9 or 10 weeks old. The previous 2 were adults (boys), 3 and 7 years old when I got them. Bonded strongely with all of them bar one of the girls (just a personality clash). That was never an issue between puppy and adult dogs. BC puppies are full on and hard work, the last one now 18 months I enjoyed immensely but it was 7 years since the last puppy. But the ones I got as adults both had "issues" I never quite managed to fix. I very much doubt I would get an adult BC again but it depends where it comes from, they are a breed I think clueless people can easily mess up permanently. My 3 girls all have very different personalities but in many ways, they become similar as they grow up.

Also already having both dogs and cats I think it is easier to add youngsters to my house. I have ALWAYS had adult rescue cats, we recently went down to one cat when the elderly girl died. Our other 2 year old cat is the first one we got as a kitten and she and the dogs get on amazingly, play and sleep curled up, whereas the others have all ignored each other. She is a sweet gentle cat and very trusting, I doubt I could add an adult dog because I don't know if I could trust it not to chomp her.

[Crisovar]

Pups are lovely, they smell wonderful, you want to bury your face in them.

But that wonderful puppy stage is over so fast, and it is hard work, but rewarding.

I knew that when the time was right, when I had the time, when everything was just right I was getting a new pup.

I knew my next dog was going to be a pup, and be raised the way we always do things here, to be tolerant of the cats, little dogs, accepting of strange rescue dogs coming and going and well mannered, I was so wrong.

Along came a 15mo rescue, emaciated with open weeping lesions over 75% of her body. The smell was just beyond description. But her eyes, her beautiful intelligent GSD eyes showed a beautiful intelligent and trusting soul, and I was gone. There was nothing for it but to bring her home.

Friends were a bit taken back, and expected it to be a nightmare, an unknown animal, that couldn't even wear a collar to restrain her, what if things went bad, and they could easily have.

However it was all good.

The reward is exactly what I was going to mould for myself, but it was there from day one.

It took some time to see the outside as it was meant to be, but in time it emerged and we have the whole package.

Rescue animals come and go here, a couple have stayed because they were not suitable to rehome, I don't just fall for the first sad case I see, I see too many to be that soft.

My next dog was going to be special it was going to be another GSD it was going to be raised and trained just the way we like from 8 weeks. It was going to be my buddy, my companion when my old mate passed. It was planned and neatly packed away for when the time was right.

So much for plans, sometimes when that special dog comes along it just happens.

[mita]

Pups are lovely, they smell wonderful, you want to bury your face in them.

But that wonderful puppy stage is over so fast, and it is hard work, but rewarding.

So much for plans, sometimes when that special dog comes along it just happens.

Getting a puppy in a nutshell! Lovely description, including puppy breath smell.

Last puppy we had was years ago, with a border collie pup.

In recent years, the youngest was a 7 months old p/b sheltie, who'd grown too tall for showing. Magnificent, healthy girl but she'd been kept in kennel conditions (with great physical care, tho'). So she hadn't had all that socialisation which has to be hard-wired in, during those early weeks. So lot of work getting her used to many things, when she was anxious about them. But she gained confidence.

Since then we've had an adult rescued sheltie (a saint of a dog!). And adult age tibetan spaniels retired as pets from breeders who'd already put much love & care & socialisation into them...from their earliest weeks of life.

Age we got them ranged from 4 yrs to 9 yrs. When people admire their lovely natures & behaviours, I've always truthfully said, 'They came like that!' And no trouble bonding with me. All of them have been 'heart dogs'. So I'd happily take an 8+ yrs.

I also agree with Cris's last comment. Always keep a door/heart open for the dog or pup that just comes along. Like the mixed-breed puppy we once found, thrown from a car. And who lived to be almost 23 yrs of age. Then known as Gran & much loved by many.

Edited February 20, 2011 by mita

[The Spotted Devil]

As others have said, I'm not necessarily "into" puppies, but I love being able to mould, shape and train from 8 weeks. Both my dogs came to me at that age. It took a little time to bond with my Dally because he was such hard work (and I was so stressed about getting it "right" I suspect!) but I just adore him now. Little Em has been a relatively easy pup, despite her very high energy levels, and I bonded with her very quickly. She has slotted into the household like she's always been there but I'm much more relaxed about her than I was with Ziggy.

I have cats with very different personalities and it's great to be able to teach pup how to interact with each of them. One of my Burmese girls came to me as an adult (younger Burmese girl's mother) and we bonded with her very quickly. She is a gentle, special soul but rules the house with an iron paw ;) And as to the comment about keeping a door/heart open for the dog or pup that just comes along, the exact thing happened with my foster failure kitten: one eyed tabby boy, food stealer, dog/puppy wrestler, retriever and a complete PITA :rolleyes:

There is no doubt that the older my lot get, the more I understand and adore them.

Edited February 20, 2011 by The Spotted Devil

[poochmad]

I'm in two minds about this one. Puppies are such hard work! Yet, older dogs can have problems as well. We got Henschke at 8 weeks and he was a terror, but we were able to socialise him and he is great around people, kids and dogs. Jindi we got as an older pup 7 monthish and she was not socialised with people (great with dogs) but fearful of people, but was a breeze around the house without being destructive. I think it would depend on the dog - if it ticked all the boxes, then I would not hesitate to get an older dog again. However, hubby would always want a puppy so he can 'bond with it'. Even though he loves Jindi, he feels closer to Henschke, probably because he was such a nightmare pup (chewing, howling, digging etc) and now he's almost perfect, he can see the hard work that's paid off.

Edited February 20, 2011 by poochmad