9mth puppy - when is best to add a new puppy into the home?

[wax lyrical]

Wife and I (no kids) currently have a 9 mth old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (girl). We'd quite like a second dog - for her company and for us as well - but not quite sure how and when to introduce a new puppy onto the scene. Will it matter what breed the new one is/ size/ sex/ etc.?

All comments and advice appreciated!

[moorx]

Has your female been spayed yet?

[wax lyrical]

Not yet, but she will be in a couple of months.

moorx said:

Has your female been spayed yet?

[moorx]

wax lyrical said:

Not yet, but she will be in a couple of months.

moorx said:

Has your female been spayed yet?

I would leave it until a while after that to be honest - spaying is a bigger op than castration (we've just had our female done) and didn't yours have a hernia that needed repair too?

The generally accepted wisdom is to add one of the opposite sex - I would always do this with an existing female. I've never had a problem with multiple males but have had an issue with two females. Having said that, I have two females now (and a male) but it wasn't an easy decision and only possible because our existing female was an ex puppy-farm dog who had been used to being around other females and is very easy-going.

[wax lyrical]

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, she's had her hernia op (umbilical and inguinal) a couple of months ago and has fully recovered from that.

moorx said:

wax lyrical said:

Not yet, but she will be in a couple of months.

moorx said:

Has your female been spayed yet?

I would leave it until a while after that to be honest - spaying is a bigger op than castration (we've just had our female done) and didn't yours have a hernia that needed repair too?

The generally accepted wisdom is to add one of the opposite sex - I would always do this with an existing female. I've never had a problem with multiple males but have had an issue with two females. Having said that, I have two females now (and a male) but it wasn't an easy decision and only possible because our existing female was an ex puppy-farm dog who had been used to being around other females and is very easy-going.