Post Punk Kitchen Forum

So we just sent off an application to a rescue group to potentially bring home a friend for Hank. We've never had two dogs before, so while we've done a heap of reading about different sexes being better suited to each other and stuff, I thought I'd come to the PPK for some real world advice. How should we prepare?

As a bit of background, Hank is around 18 months old, and a smallish mixed breed of some description (no one can really figure it out). The potential new puppy is female, an English Staffy/Maltese/Shih Tzu cross (yeah, I can't imagine the mechanics of how that happened either) and 12 weeks old at the moment. She's located in a small country town between here and our hometown, so we would be picking her up mid-road trip next Friday, when we're on our way over there for Easter. She looks really similar to Hank, and we think she'll end up being pretty much the same size as him.

Hank was raised in a foster home with ten other dogs, which he loved, but apparently he didn't get along with either Boyfriend's sister's dog or our best friend's mum's dog (both of whom we tried to have him stay with) while we were in Europe over Christmas. But given that the other dogs were both younger and not as well-socialised and Hank was on their territory, I'm pretty skeptical that it was Hank's fault. Regardless, I accept that he could just be curmudgeonly about the whole thing and I'd like to be prepared for it.

Any advice or stories are appreciated! For now, there are too many words here so here's a video of Hank at the dog park.




(Boyfriend liked the Drive soundtrack a bit too much.)

Hello! I'm the aforementioned boyfriend.

Girlfriend told me that she'd posted this here, so I came and had a read. I wasn't going to reply, but then I saw Girlfriend's supposed slight on the Drive soundtrack, and felt compelled to defend myself.

So this is to Erinnerung;

Shutup! Drive was awesome!

Thanks :)

I have no advice, but Hank's frikkin' adorable! I love his flappy tongue and his curly tail!

Ack - too cute! Looks like Hank is super well socialized so you probably won't have much problem. I would just suggest meeting on nuetral territory. If you can take a nice long walk with both dogs before letting them loose together - it's a great way to let them get to know each other in a very non-threatening way.

If Hank has any special toys etc that he might want to guard, hide them away until everyone's settled in. Maybe have a couple of new toys you can introduce to both at the same time.

Don't fuss too much over the new dog (at least not while Hank is watching) - let her find her fit.

Good luck! Can't wait to see video of the new family member!

New dog acquired! Meet Pants:



She and Hank are getting along super. We picked her up on the drive to our hometown over Easter, so they met in a park we'd never been to (with Hank on his leash) and spent the first week with us at my parents' place. They had a couple of incidents, mainly when she tried to take Hank's food or woke him up from a nap and he snapped at her. After that we tried to be careful to feed them in different rooms, and to always feed Hank first (we initially tried doing both at the same time). So far she's more of a problem when it comes to playing rough than he is- she doesn't seem to realise that she's a lot smaller than him and needs to play nice.

Getting a puppy actually seems to have calmed Hank down a lot. He's less excitable and more grown up. He seems to be taking his big brother duties very seriously.

Too many words, not enough dog pictures! Here they are at the beach:



(Eek, giant pictures.)

So glad it's working out well. They are adorable and so is the walker! Is that you?

So cute! Congratulations! Just from watching Hank in the video (I really don't know much about dogs) but it looks like he'd enjoy a new friend in his daily life. He seems very social! <3

Pants (an awesome name, by the way) is the most adorable puppy ever! I'm glad she and Hank are getting along.

PUPPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

<3 thank you <3

OH MY GOD, the CUTENESS!!!! In my experience, more dogs = more joy.