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Is it okay to get a new puppy when I have an old dog at home?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Male | unneutered | 11 years and 10 months old | 80 lbs

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?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on January 3rd, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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!

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