Re: So young to be a dad! Welcome to the forum Who owns the mother - the daycare lady? Mixing a 9 month old with a puppy would be...er....exciting. But not an impossible task. Were you planning on getting a second dog at some point anyway? How much time do you and other family members have to spend with the dogs? How much are you at home?
Re: So young to be a dad! Oops! Can't offer any constructive advice, just wanted to say Hello My instant reaction was *not a very good daycare* but I guess it depends on the definition of daycare. She was obviously aware he was intact, but clearly not expecting your young chap to be quite so "friendly". Its a blessing it was her own bitch or she would have been in bit trouble!! Good luck! Jac and Lilly.
Re: So young to be a dad! It sounds like you could manage it, time-wise, if your daycare lady will take a puppy. Even though they will have a lot of company I'd still plan on gradually getting them used to being left alone as a pair, and definitely also singly, for at least a few hours (e.g. for those times when they might need to spend some time at the vet's). Do you know if the mother has had health checks/joint X-rays done? I guess your boy hasn't had anything as you were not planning on breeding with him, but are his joints ok as far as you know? It's a bit late now I guess Just curious. What is your dog's name? He sounds like a nice, placid boy.
Re: So young to be a dad! I have two dogs 6 months apart in age, although unrelated. They are both neutered females. I brought Lochan home when Tarka was 8 months old. There are advantages and disadvantages to this age gap - essentially you have two puppies at the same time and together they are way more than double trouble. You are taking on a new pup just as the first pup is getting bolder and more confident and many people find the 8-12 month age a behavioural nightmare anyway without adding a second pup to the mix. It is absolutely essential you train the two separately; even having done this (and I have my two at a decent standard of training) they are still prone to the occasional "naughty glance" between the two of them before conveniently "forgetting" to respond to a well-proofed cue! As a rule of thumb, I would not want to add a puppy to the house until your first dog has a solid and well proofed recall and can do loose-lead walking reliably. On the plus side the two dogs get on really well and I love watching the interaction between them. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.
