How to introduce a new dog to my senior dog who's always been alone?

Question

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 dog. What are the considerations of getting another dog? We are afraid Cookie won't get along with the other dog. Should the dog be a young or old dog? Should the dog be male or female? Cookie is a female dog. We want another Chow mix. Thanks, Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | unspayed | 15 years and 11 months old | 79 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

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 them can help ensure things go more smoothly during the transition.

How to introduce a new dog to my senior dog who's always been alone?

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