Thinking of adopting another dog. Advice, please.

[Judith and Addie]

I have been playing with the idea of adopting a dog to join our household of myself, my 13 month doodle and my two cats. I came across a dog for adoption that seems like a dog I would like.

I am trying to decide if adding another animal is a good idea or a bad one. I live alone - well -  no other humans here. My daughter and her husband live 30 minutes away. My daughter is expecting in July.

The dog I am interested in adopting was found as a stray and is in foster care. They think he is a poodle/lhasa mix and about 8 years old. He gets along well with other dogs and cats. He is about 25 pounds - my doodle girl is about 28, so they are similar sized. I know my doodle, Addie, would like a companion, at least for playing. She follows one of my cats and grooms him. She also will run around the house, stopping in a play bow before the cat after each circuit. But she can get a little jealous of my giving attention to the cats, and she also looks for attention from me if I am talking on the phone.  My other concern is that with my daughter and her husband having their first child in July, there will be less time for my critters.

So I think I am talking myself out of another dog, although I really do want to adopt this guy. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think you should follow your heart - whichever way it is pulling you.  If you get the new dog there will be adjustments but it will work out.  If you decide not to, you and your current dood will be fine also.  If you are pretty close to your daughter, there will be a HUGE pull to visit often.  Grandchildren trump dogs, no matter how loved they are.  One thing to consider is that it is MUCH easier to take one dog places (like visiting your dd) than two dogs.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Okay -- so first, let me say that my Wally is eight-years old, and if he was lost and unable to find his way back to me, I'd want desperately to believe that he went to a loving home. Your thoughtfulness about this decision leads me to believe that you would love this new doodle and give him a wonderful life. The fact that your daughter lives only 30 minutes away would mean that you could get back and forth easily. You'd also have several months to acclimate the new canine family member to life with you and Addie before you become a grandma. And, an older dog can usually be home alone without needing to go out as often as a young puppy. If you can't get this guy out of your mind, and he's pulling at your heartstrings, maybe he is meant to be yours.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad you are thinking this through carefully, because this dog really needs to go to a home where he will stay for the rest of his life, no matter what. To have to go through one rehoming at 8 years old is traumatic enough for a dog, he simply must not be put through that again. So I would say, ask yourself if you can commit to him 100%, with no underlying thoughts that "well, if it doesn't work out we can return him to the rescue". He deserves no less. 

And thank you for considering adopting an older dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's another thought. This 8 year old may get along well with other dogs and cats in his foster home, but that doesn't mean he enjoys playing with them. The energy level of a 13 mo old doodle might be too much for an 8 year old dog. he may also be older than 8 years old, since he was found as a stray. 

Lhasas tend to be lap dogs, too, so he will probably want to be close to you a lot.