Lillie-dog is a pet first but she has really found her calling with the arrival of our chickens.

She's my shadow and work companion. She kicks up work if I don't give her something. Checking the perimeter. Scaring off nesting birds so the cats don't get them. Counting chickens and children. Holding solicitors at the end of the driveway. :o Delivering wounded critters to me...ugh.

So, I'm loving my leash free aussie, she's 7 years old now....and I'm entertaining a companion dog for 'us'. A neutered male aussie that's 14 months old specifically. lol.

I've never introduced a new dog to an existing queen bee. We have the room for a 2nd dog, but does our dog have room for another dog? Is there a formula for introducing another dog or is it best just to be grateful for such a delightful girl and not press our luck?

Did i ever share this here? I needed a babysitter when the girls were first introduced to the yard because the cats hadn't taken them out of their food chain yet.

She's babysitting here for me. :)
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/009-1.jpg

I suppose I could take lillie to the rescue and see if she 'connects' with any of the dogs. Maybe that's unconventional. Gosh I just don't know.

Our great pyrenees lives in the house, but does her fair share of guarding, too. She's great at protecting the chickens. I I've been putting her outside in the evening when it's too early for them to go in to roost but late enough that raccoons might be about. She is so much happier when she has a job to do.

Oh I'd love to see her if you have a picture. I think pyrenees are just about the neatest dogs.

I'm all excited about possibly getting a Pyrenees or Pyrenees mix...just need a place for him to lay in the house. :p And our queen bee truly is - she's 14 yo and up until recently has done an incredible job of protecting the perimeter from deer, raccoons, squirrels, etc. But, she's half-blind and mostly deaf now so it's time for her to retire. She can't chase much anymore! And raccoons have started visiting regularly at night.

Not from my experience, but from what I have read, a male is a good choice. Dana loves our friends' dogs who are older, and male - they're great playmates. Two females and you're asking for trouble, I think.

Let us know how it goes! I am still toying with the idea. I had originally thought I'd wait till Dana passed, but she (hopefully) may be around for a couple more years yet, and there are chickens and soon bigger animals that will need defending. :D It's really just the size of our house (640 sf plus loft) that has me itchy about another dog. I really don't know *where* the dog would have a bed. Especially a Pyrenees. Maybe I'll look again at Australian shepherd. My mom has an Aussie/border collie mix and man, that dog would do your laundry if she could.

I'd do a pyrenees in a heartbeat but we just don't have a purpose for him and that's not fair. Our 2 acres may be a bit small too.

And of course, having him inside to clear the table with a single wag of the tail is such a treat. lmbo. Of course an aussie doesn't really have a tail so no problem there.

I'll have to pick up fiber spinning for all the fluffy hair. no, not really. Even I have my limits. I'm not wearing a dog scarf.

eta: I showed the dog to dh last night and dd this morning. They both gave a thumbs up. Or at least not a thumbs down. So now I have to work through my own anxiety for lillie-dog's welfare. :)

Katie, we had a border collie for 12 years. She was the sweetest most loyal dog and a great guard dog. Never bit anyone but would always bark to let us know someone was arriving.

She looks and acts is a similar fashion to the way you describe Lillie. Always rounding up the kids and could chase a ball and return it for hours. If you have land then one would suit you well.

Sadly we lost her last year to what we believe was a snake bite. It was devastating as she was our first baby. If I was to get another dog I would most certainly get another border collie. They are one of the smartest dogs in the world and my brother in law and sister (who live on the land) have several as working dogs.

But those pyrenees look adorable too.

We found when Cassie was younger she was very sociable with other dogs but as she aged she didn't fair so well, was very protective and definitely an Alfa dog. I believe the mistake we made with her was not "socializing" her with other dogs. But we had no use for doggy day care and she was always contained within a yard as she was known to wander but would always come home. Introducing a new pet to Lillie could be initially a bit dicey. I would probably recommend a young puppy that would be more likely to do as it's told and easily put in it's place whereas a young adult 1-2 years old would probably stand it's ground and there could be fights. Just my experience but Lillie isn't as old as Cassie was and may be more flexible and tolerant of a new comer. After all you've introduced cats and chickens and she's seems to have coped ok.

Good luck.:)

You're so right about the social thing with a younger dog. I really think we only have another 12-18 more months before lillie will just shut out the opportunity completely.

I'm so sorry about your cassie. :(

I have more thoughts but I've been indulging tonight and will wait to carry on in the morning....with my saltines and cuppa. lmbo. Omg the neighbors make great cocktails. :o "get a dog, get a goat, we don't care katie. Just don't get pissed if our cat eats a chicken." is what they've been saying all night. terrible influence on me. yikes

Get a goat Katie :lol:

We brought home our four and they are the cutest thing. i'll post pictures later.

As for dogs - we have 3 and when a new one has been introduced the others are all mad for a bit and then warm up. They get over it. It helps that you are a SAHM too because for the most part you are there for the initial intro and biondaing phase. I can't say I would get another dog if I weren't home for that.

Well we have a border collie/lab mix - but her temperment is very much like a border collie and she loves to work. My parents also have a much older one (15 years and going strong!) and when we visit, my dog wants to play, but she doesn't anymore. Still she tolerates my dog, though they don't socialize much. They need their own dishes and I have to be sure my young one doesn't touch the older one's dish, or the older one will get plenty snarly. She'd never bit, but she sure can get annoyed!! Having said all that, my parents ALSO have a minature schnauzer - their lap dog as their pet. Again, there's been no problems. They get along the same way as my young dog and their older dog. So, in conclusion, I don't think you'd have any issues at all.

Get a goat Katie :lol:

We brought home our four and they are the cutest thing. i'll post pictures later.

As for dogs - we have 3 and when a new one has been introduced the others are all mad for a bit and then warm up. They get over it. It helps that you are a SAHM too because for the most part you are there for the initial intro and biondaing phase. I can't say I would get another dog if I weren't home for that.

omg I totally snorted. Those 2 whethers sure breed like rabbits. :p

Well we have a border collie/lab mix - but her temperment is very much like a border collie and she loves to work. My parents also have a much older one (15 years and going strong!) and when we visit, my dog wants to play, but she doesn't anymore. Still she tolerates my dog, though they don't socialize much. They need their own dishes and I have to be sure my young one doesn't touch the older one's dish, or the older one will get plenty snarly. She'd never bit, but she sure can get annoyed!! Having said all that, my parents ALSO have a minature schnauzer - their lap dog as their pet. Again, there's been no problems. They get along the same way as my young dog and their older dog. So, in conclusion, I don't think you'd have any issues at all.

this is encouraging. I put in an internet application yesterday at a near-by rescue. :)