Flash30Aus

Thanks Perse for your opinion. You've summed up my dilemma! If you make the wrong choice you end up with unhappy furkids - not good! And she does seem happy for now. Lappie: we did let them know, but we didn't take her in, and no temp test has been done. That might be something to investigate. I was really only considering a mature or senior doggie this time around. I need something with abit of sanity that won't need to chew on the cats tails etc! LOL C

Thanks very much for your reply and welcome Yellow! Lucy gets along seemingly fine with other dogs. We have had her meet a few on our travels at the horses. There are always other dogs around and my good friends Labrador loves her. They get very excited when they see each other. We've had no growls or barks just excited circling and running. You wouldn't think she was aged when you see it! LOL

Hi Folks, This is my first post to DOL although I've been reading up on lots of the great info on the site. I'm a newbie dog owner. I've always had dogs as a child, but up until 4 weeks ago, not as an adult. I do have 2 cats and 5 horses, and not a newbie in that area! I recently found an aged Border Collie on the side of a busy road. We took her in as she had no ID or microchip, and our search for her owner has proved fruitless. Her name is now Lucy, she is approx 10+ years old, pretty deaf, placid, sweet, some arthritis, fatty tumur on her side, terrible flea allergy which is clearing up nicely, hair growing back and had a weight problem which is slowly fading away with the regular exercise she is now getting, she is now moving better as well. She is great, and we adore her. I'm tossing up on the idea of getting a second dog. We are a busy family, both of us work 5 days a week, and my 5 year old daughter just started school. Lucy seems to be happy and settled, and sleeps most of the day. She gets walked at 5:30am for about 20 mins and again in the evening for about an hour every day. We have horses and she comes for company, and has a great, safe place to run around in. It seems to wear her out nicely and is good exercise for us too! I'd like to have some company for Lucy at home when we aren’t there. I would also like another dog who might be more of a watch dog than Lucy. I think she'd go fine as a warning system, apart from her deafness! I am concerned that another dog may be too dominant for her, and I don't want to make her unhappy. I really would love to save a mature/aged pound/shelter/rescue dog. But I'm concerned that maybe I lucked out with Lucy, in that she is so placid and gentle. I would never have picked a Border Collie as a breed having had no experience with them, but now I think I've converted! If I could get another Lucy - who could hear, I'd be set. What do people think? Should I venture down this path and get another dog? Should I leave well enough alone! LOL I know my cats and horses both go much better with a companion, but what about an aged doggie? Any opinions would be greatfully received. Thank you, Christie

I'm no expert, but even looking at the Rivergum website makes my skin crawl. The mumma dogs look so scared and skinny in some instances. These are the staged photo's where the dogs are plonked down infront of a curtain. So these are the "good" ones. Makes me ill. Christie