OK so i have been reading these forums for years now and managed to track down my old log on but never posted before. I have a dilema and I need some dog lovers advice, hence why i'm up at 1240 stalking dog forums. However I'm hoping all those people out there who love dogs and animals as much as I do can offer me some much needed advice.
So let me start off by a bit of background, I'm a 28 yo married female, no kids just me my hubby and my animals. .
3 and a half years ago i rescued my bc boy from the local animal shelter. He was on death row and is the absolute love of my life (other then the other half of course). I love him like a child and he is the best behaved dog ever! Very loyal very well trained and never had a problem with him at all. he has been with me through many ups and downs of the last 3 years. I can't explain how important he is to me.
Anyways the last 6 months or so he has started to dig in the yard almost every day and he lays around and hardly wants to play anymore. A few people I have spoken to said he might be bored. Me and my husband both work very long hours but I try walk him at least 3 - 4 times a week before work and spend a fair bit of my weekend with him. So for the past few months we have been tossing up getting a play mate for him to keep him entertained during the day when we are away, more like a pet for my dog then for us if you know what i mean.
So we have done shelter runs and kept an eye on the urgent rescues here but my dog is very particular about the types of dogs he gets along with, he likes my mums little dogs and SIL puppy but nothing as big or bigger then him. So we decided that if we did get another dog it would have to be a puppy so it could learn to be submissive.
So we have been looking for awhile and nothing has jumped out at us, but yesterday i went past a local pet store that sells pups from local backyard breeders, i trust the pet shop most days they let the dogs out of the glass windows in crates in the shop and I know someone who has had an "accident" with their dog and sold to them so I don't believe it is supporting any puppy farming or anything.
Anyways I went past the pet shop and in the window was a beautiful BC x girl who stood out to me and hubby. After about half hr in the shop playing with her and talkign to the girls about her temprement we decided to purchase her and take home for a playmate for my boy.
Things seemed to go ok yesterday, at first they seemed a bit equally scared of each other but they warmed up to each other and played nicely chasing each other around most of the day and seemed fine. Even with NYE last night all seemed to be going well. This morning when i got up all seemed well as well she kept following my boy around he let her crawl underneath him and stuff so i felt other then a few puppy issues (like playing in the water bowl) everything was going well. Because it was going so well me and hubby popped out for an hr or 2 to get some lunch and run some errands.
When i came home when i tried to pat my bc boy she jumped on him and he kept running away from me, then he growled at her and now she wont come near me either. Also when i tried to get them entertained with a game of chasing he flipped her on her back with his mouth around her growling, i think he was just putting her in her place and she is submissive of him but still was a bit scary. And finally when i was giving her a cuddle after i found a bite mark on her ear, dried up blood so had to be from earlier in the day. My boy also seems to have a confused/ sad look in his eyes.
Now i know it takes time for dogs to settle in together but have I done the right thing in getting a puppy. I love my boy to death and thought I was doing the right thing by him and I want to do the right thing by him because he has been the best most loyal friend, but have I made a mistake? The pet shop said if it doesn't work with my dog they are willing to take her back or I would be willing to find a home for her, there is noway she is going to a pound!
But on the other hand its not fair on the new puppy to ship her back or to a different home when she has done nothing at all wrong and as an animal lover I can't find it in my heart to do it but I don't want to do the wrong thing by my boy as well.
Sorry for the long post if you got through and are more wise on this subject please do shed some light. I'm sure things will look better in the morning when i'm not in bed having a panic attack. I do love dogs alot and I do want to do what is right by everybody.
Thanks guys xx