Advice needed

Dogs.... I have always had 2 strong thoughts about owning dogs. Only ever have one at a time and never introduce a young dog to an elderly dog who maybe is not as much "fun" as it used  to be.

More to this story than appears but 4 years ago when Heidi our last dog was very frail, I walked separately a westie George, for a lady who had a stroke, needed carers and her husband left her as she was a burden.... Sadly she died and the husband took George away, I was offering to home him as I had then just got Domino and I would try them together.

George is now coming up to 12 and has chased one of the husbands' ducks? and it had to be put down. He contacted me and asked us if we would still like George? Why not separate the animals? I think his new wife is influential.

I have a couple who are showing interest in George but don't want their 2 indoor cats upset which is understandable, they have just had to have their rescue greyhound put to sleep.

I'm having George bought over on sunday, I wonder how Domino and my cat will react? I just want George to have his last few years in peace. At present he is not allowed out in their garden.

Anyone got any advice?

We had something similar a few years ago  for a long time we had 2 dogs (2 Border Collies) Skip and Tess Skip sadly died on new years eve something I don't think I will ever forget as he was at the vets due to being ill mom and I went round to see him and I will never forget the look of please take me home on his face as we left   still upsets me every new year even now.  Anyway for a long time we said we wouldn't have another dog as it was unfair on tess who was a rescue dog and had a really bad start to life > After sometime mom decided she wanted another dog so we went to The Boarder Collie Trust to see what dogs they had thye showed us some older dogs and let us take them and tess for a wlak then they showed us the puppies oh boy what a mistake thatss whenn we meet Rory (he's brother had just gone to a new home) in the end we picked Rory.

In the years since we have had no problems sadly after a couple of year we lost tess   but during the time we had them both they were good together Tess would sometimes put Rory in his place if he got to overwhelming.  Wen mom and dad used to take Rory to training Tess would always keep looking for him

My advice would be to make sure you treat them equally and make sure that Domino know hes still loved and wanted

Let us know how you get on

Thanks for your thoughts. I understand how you feel about New Years Eve..... This will be 2 male dogs. They knew each other when Domino was a pup and they played. I want George and Domino and the cat to be happy. Tall order. We've agreed a week's trial but cat might have his bags packed by then!

yes ive had an email from the cat asking to move in  but Bandit has put his paw down NO MORE CATS

all i can say is goodluck

At our vets they have a little story on the board about two cats that didn't get on when they were introduced and a diffuser that can work initially to calm any stress, feliway or something like that helped.  It is pheramones(not spelt correctly) in it.  I have used a similar diffuser for Archie when he was stressed out and it helped him.

http://www.myvetmeds.co.uk/dog/dap-dog-appeasing-pheromone/dap-diffuser.htm#product-desc

This is the link, maybe worth a try.......good luck and hope he settles in ok as he is sure to have a good home with you

Lou

Yes out vet promotes that too but good you feel it worked . D Day tomorrow, we'll keep you posted.

I don't think Domino recognised George and he was not pleased when he came into his house. George remembered us and settled down quickly. Domino has bowls of dry food and biscuits and bonios lined up on the hearth. George found this freedom of food fascinating. I've got bonios all round the lounge.

Domino was not nice to george and went for him and made his ear bleed. Both animals have eaten separately and been out together for 2 walks and George went on a bus for the first time.

Our cat after being chased has run out and not been seen since. The couple who hope to have George met him today and will have him by day tomorrow. I hope they keep their cats separate to begin with.

We're off to bed soon, I will put both dog beds in our bedroom and sleep with eyes open and ears listening.
I don't think Domino would enjoy George's company permanently and I hope the cat comes home in the morning.

George went off happily this morning with the couple interested in him. A calm night, he slept in Domino's bed in our bedroom. Anne's cats are shut in her conservatory hissing at George. not promising. She's going to try an overnighter. Our cat came home at 6pm tired and hungry. No second dog for us.

sorry to hear it didnt go well but at least the cat and Domino are happy

Not good at Annes and her husband got chest pains going up and dowm the stairs chasing cats. I've taken George who is a poppet to a friends house where there are no cats. He was a bit sick yesterday bless him. I've phoned and e mailed Bob the owner but he is not replying.............
I dreamt he abandoned George on me.  

George's owner has replied and is picking him up sunday. He says the dog George lives with is missing him terribly, which is something he did not consider. I've hinted that maybe some fenced off area for the ducks and chickens and an area for the dogs. Not rocket science is it.

I've booked George in for a bath, trim and tidy on saturday alongside Domino who goes every six weeks. Hopefully he will feel a lot better, he's really sore underneath. I'll lock my cat in the bedroom when George is here next. I think George's life will improve after this exercise, I hope so.

awww poor George

We used the DAP with Douglas we had the defuser collar and spray - i would say it didnt really work with Douglas he was just tooo poorly. But patrick had the diffuser on when we picked him up (didnt want anything to go wrong with him)

Id like a companion eventually for Patrick but this house is far tooo small for 2 dogs
Patrick is almost fully grown just needs to plump up now hes off to be stripped soon he has lost half his puppy fur and looks a little homeless!

Patrick is on facebook you should get Domino on there - loads of doggy friends to have!

George went home today. He went home cleaner and happier than he came. Let's hope he sees it as a holiday and never know what it really was all about. He has been given a reprieve but I worry about his future quality of life. He was such an easy dog to cater for. I just wish Domino was a tad more friendly and loving towards me but I know deep down he loves me and is very loyal.