inversion of nostalgia

[dinahprincedaly]

She has no idea how her life will/is about to change forever. I am so sad for her this morning. I think I may be starting to feel/feeling about Stella's imminent singledogdom the way Agilejack feels about her extrees... Except I am feeling it in the weeks before because I KNOW it's coming. And I am also thinking that for anyone here it's very likely been

Comments

[sclmarm]

Beep came to me when we had five dogs and then the numbers went up and down from there. I was to the point where he was going to be an only dog and worried that he would be a terrible only dog. He would be lonely, would get even weirder without a buddy to keep him in line and that he has to share, so I got a Poppet. So, I didn't want my dog to be an only... just a different perspective:)

[dinahprincedaly]

Ok thanks for that. I mean at times I have wished for her to have a companion because she does love her little group of buddies she's grown up with in the park. I mean I can see her deep affection for them so yes there is that

But she is subtle about her needs. And I'm not sure we will catch her subtle cues and respond to the degree she needs--it makes such a difference. When she is worried or afraid or happy about something in passing means so much to her when we see it and respond and I can just see the multitasking of a puppy that will get lost.
She also really is deep about her little home routines...

[sclmarm]

I think the new puppy will create new needs in Stella as well as meet some of the needs she has too. Things change all the time and dog are very capable of adapting, even when they are older:) I'm sure you'll still be attentive to her needs, even though you may be distracted at times. She'll be alright.

[semperfido]

When I got Whisper, Zoe got really sick and almost died. She was only 5 years old. I don't really remember Whisper's arrival upsetting anything in Zoe's routine. She seemed happy for it. She is a dog who needs companionship all the time. But we already had two cars so it really wasn't a big deal to add a puppy.

[nosemovie]

I had HUGE worries about Ruben's life change if we had another dog. Plus my ex wasn't really keen at ALL about having more than one dog. Of course, by then, I'd been in agility long enough and met enough people who had MULTIPLE dogs that I knew I could do it, and that it was done successfully with all sorts of dog personalities

[dinahprincedaly]

I do know we will be happily ever after eventually and maybe even right away. But some things are lost. Do you remember what was lost?

[nosemovie]

Yes, Honestly. I remember what was lost

[semperfido]

Okay - here's the thing… Structure is so important when adding a new dog to the household. Luckily puppies require a lot of structure. Don't change existing dog's structure - except when doing separate training sessions. Puppy can be crated and should be crated often. Stella's rules should remain the same. I always feed new dog in crate - merrel still eats in her crate. Don't expect it to be happy ever after right away. It takes work, lots of crating and rotating. Hell, look at me with four females in the house the last few months. Everyone got along but it took/takes work.

[meecie]

I had single dogs for short stretches. Desie was a single dog for a while, and he hated it. He was always much more balanced when there were other dogs around.

Riley was a single dog just for about a month, after Siggy died and before I got Jodah. I think she would have been a great single dog.

Things I miss about having single dogs: it's so easy to take a single dog everywhere with you. It's easy to have just one dog on a leash walk, without feeling guilty that someone has been left home (if you have 2 dogs that are good on leash walks together, this is less of an issue).

In general, barking is less with a single dog. No pack mentality.

And ummmm, that's it.

There are so many benefits to having multiple dogs, that the balance is towards 2 or more for me. :-)

[nosemovie]

For a year after we re-homed Ruben I just had Razor (and of course Blaze, Nova and Fred!!) but Razor was "my" only dog for a year. I think BOTH of us loved that year very very much. It IS easier to just have to think about, train, feed and walk one dog, even if he's a crazy dog like Razor. I think we bonded HARD during that time and I certainly enjoyed it soooo much. But we're JUST as close now as we were then, and I think mostly he's cool with Rumble. Razor is ok with other dogs around. Ruben wasn't...

[matildasmom]

You saw the initial introduction of Joey, and then you saw more of the mix last summer. It will be interesting this summer with four dogs

[dinahprincedaly]

You had such an odd beginning. You got him he came home to the lake and then you were on the road. Nothing was normal