Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Will my blind, calm, senior dog accept a new, more active dog?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | spayed | 5 lbs

We have an old dog whose blind and very calm. She mostly just cuddles all day. Would it be harmful to her to get a second dog? Would she appreciate the companionship or be annoyed about having a more active dog around her?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on December 7th, 2017

It should be fine to get another dog! Some dogs do tend to like having the companionship, but it can be a transition for the existing dog. Given that Maria is blind, I would slowly introduce a new dog to her. I will put a link below on how to introduce them to each other. I hope this helps! https://bestfriends.org/resources/blind-dog-and-cat-faqs

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have an 11 year old blind dog Lost her companion 4 months ago. Would another dog help her and if so how old so I get one
Oh poor little girl! Sorry to hear that. I think it would help as long as it is a dog with the same demeanor and activity level. Companionship would be good for Peanut but I would recommend that you foster first to make sure it will be a good match. Try a dog of a similar age and definitely not a puppy. Best of luck with peanut!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We have a 15 year old Chow mix. We rescued her from a neighbor who abandoned her when they moved 9 years ago. She has been alone almost all her life. We are thinking about getting another dog but we don't know if Cookie can get along with another d
Without knowing how Cookie interacts with other dogs, it would be hard to say. I would recommend bringing her to a local park to see how she reacts- is she interested? Does she want to play? Or does she avoid and shy away from the other dogs? This may give you some idea as to how she may interact with a new dog in the house. If you do decide to get a new dog, I highly recommend bringing Cookie with you to the shelter or other place you are looking for one. Most shelters will allow you to introduce your current dog to any potential new family members to see if they are going to get along. As for age, it really depends more on your dog's personality and that of the new dog. An older dog that is super hyper may not work well compared to a very calm puppy, etc. As with any new pet, take introductions slow. Even if they got along outside the home, they may still have some scuffles over shared items, spaces, etc. Separating the two until both are calm, and then trying again to reintroduce
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 12-13 yr old Golden Doodle. Would it be a good idea to get another dog while he is still with us, or should I wait till he passes before bringing a younger dog or puppy into our home?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This really depends on the dog that you bring home and Wordsworth's reaction to the situation. I do think that you can bring along another dog. However, I think it is key to make sure that they are a good match before adopting. For example, try to avoid getting a puppy or a high energy type dog if Wordsworth is not an energetic dog and viceversa. For that reason, I recommend that you foster first before adopting and that way you can get a sense of how they are going to get along. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We have a very skittish 12 year old cat. Would it be unreasonable to try to bring a dog into our family?
Hi there, it sounds like Sarah is a sensitive type, and (I know its not what you want to hear) but bringing a new pet into her home will probably upset her more. Its unlikely that a rambunctious dog will leave her alone, as she may feel threatened and start showing other signs of anxiety such as soiling in abnormal places, overgrooming, or even she may get stress cystitis. If you have a large home and can guarantee that Sarah will have a safe quiet and protected area of the home, then you might consider adding a family member.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
Hello, today my family has adopted a blind dog who is week, we also have another dog who is completely healthy. However, in order to introduce them we made our current dog meet the new one on the neighborhood walking and everything was fine, my old d
Outside is neutral territory; inside is your previous dog's territory. There isn't much other than allowing him time to get used to having a new roommate. Try to keep things as normal as possible. Continue the walks outside so they can bond. You can also use Adaptil diffusers or DAP collars to provide calming pheromones.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We are planing to take one more dog st. Bernard . Will he be friendly with my old dog?
This is difficult to predict. I would recommend setting up a meet and greet first in a neutral location. The dogs should be introduced to one another both on leash so they can be adequately controlled in case something should happen. Let them smell one another and get a sense of one another. If they are behaving well, they should both be rewarded with treats and praise. If you do decide to take the other dogs on, they should not be simply thrown into the same area together. I would integrate them slowly and carefully, particularly since one of them is old. In some cases, dogs can be extremely accepting of any newcomers which is great. However, you shouldn't bank on it and should instead handle things methodically and slowly to encourage the best possible outcome. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist in any other way.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Is it true that dog like of my dogs age are tends to get aggressive if i bring dog lf same or elder age to home and if i bring puppy to home they can adjust with puppy but hard to adjust with elder dog
This can be a difficult question to answer because it will vary from dog to dog. The dog's personality will determine whether or not they adjust well to a new housemate. It does not necessarily matter whether the dog is older or younger. Some things you can do in the home when introducing new dogs are keeping the interactions very limited and making sure the dogs are under supervision the whole time they are getting to know each other. Also avoid feeding the dogs or giving them treats while they are together as this can sometimes cause aggressive behavior. Just be patient and work with the dogs individually and together and they should be able to get along fine. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 5 year-old bulldog female in need of a mate. We recently lost 2 dogs by cancer and old age and she is now lonely. What breed, gender, age would work better
I'm so sorry you recently lost two dogs. Please accept my condolences for your loss. I would look into getting a dog around a year old for Maya, or possibly two to three years of age. This way, the dog would be fully vaccinated and house trained. It also wouldn't be as active as a puppy, but could still play with her. The dog should also be spayed or neutered. You can have either a male or female, I personally like having an even ratio of male to female, so I'd recommend a male dog. Breed, you could do something like a lab or Golden Retriever. Those are great dogs who get along with other dogs really well. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have two older dogs and am wondering if getting a third younger dog for them to bond with before either of them dies will help the older dog that remains after the first one passes
Hi and thanks for using Boop by Petco! Great question. I think this depends on how well they all get along. If you screen the new dog properly and do a meet and greet, and they all end up being great companions, I think it's a great idea and shows you are thinking ahead. A death of a companion can be very devastating not only for humans but for the other pets in the house. Having another pet around would hopefully distract from and provide some relief when one of your other dogs passes. I think if you are ready for another dog and are willing to take on the financial aspect of it, it's a great idea. Best of luck with you and I hope you have many good years left with all of them.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Since we recently (2 months) lost our 16 yr old dog, our 6 yr old springer has lost her energy and spring! She has always been an outgoing, energetic playful pup who loved being outside a lot. While she has slowed down a little this last year and l
Yes dogs can grieve and get lonely. Most dogs enjoy having company so getting another dog could be a good idea if you have the time and energy for another dog. You may consider a rescue dog, that way you can try them together and make sure Rosie likes the new dog and they get along. Young puppies can be very annoying to a grown dog and Rosie may not adjust well especially as you will need to spend more time with a puppy and may inadvertently neglect giving Rosie the time with you that she needs. Fostering a dog also is a good option as you can help a dog in need and if it's not a good fit for you and Rosie it will leave when it finds the right home. Many people keep the foster dog after they get to know them and they settle into the home. A puppy can be a good solution too if done right and it would certainly get Rosie up and playing again! I do think getting Rosie a companion is a good idea as she sounds like she needs one. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Ro
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Supplies Dog Food Dog Toys Cat Supplies Dog Health & Wellness Dog Collars, Leashes & Harnesses Dog Clothes & Accessories Senior Dog Food Dog Calming Aids and Supplements Calming Dog Collars Seniorbliss Dog Supplies Seniorbliss Dog Health & Wellness Seniorbliss Dog Vitamins & Supplements DOG by Dr Lisa PetAlive Dog Calming Aids and Supplements Healthy Aging Dog Supplies Seniorbliss Dog Hip & Joint Supplements Complete Senior Dog Food Sojos Senior Dog Food Best Friend Mobility
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored