Greetings. We own a female cairn, Lola, who is about 2 1/2 years old. She is very well behaved and actually quite mellow as far as cairns go. Overall, she has been a joy. I stay home all day and have 4 children. We have started seriously considering a second cairn. I am interested to hear your thoughts and opinions on this. How is our timing as far the age of Lola? Should we wait until she is older or is this a good time? Also, would it generally be better to get a male or a female?

Thanks!

I think 2 years and older is a wonderful time to add a dog. The general thinking is right about 2 years old, the dog has developed its full adult personality and temperament. At this point you know how well Lola appreciates and tolerates other dog companions. I've seen all combinations of sexes work out, but generally male/female is supposedly the best to have harmony and peace, while female/female is thought to have the highest risk of dog fights which can be terrible. I think it really depends on the unique personality of each dog. My next-door neighbors have five female dogs with no problem.

Timing is good as long as lola knows the rules . Misty is 2 and 2 mo and we just got our pup last month- I also stay at home but I have no children...big difference!I do think a male works well-have plenty of toys . and I would only add another if my kids were old enough that your not always supervising them too-the pup and the 2 year old is a handfull in itself-you may want to wait for spring -he will be teething right through the holidays-hard to watch with so many decorations around and extra visitors etc(if you celebrate them) if not its as good a time as any. really think this out with the dog you have now and the kids-it can make one edgy.

The timing is perfect in terms of adding a second dog. General wisdom is to add a dog of the opposite sex - but that's based on the assumption that one will naturally submit to the other just because they are different sexes. It does not always work out that way! It really depends on the temperament of the second dog - and on that I would rely on the breeder of your proposed second dog.

BTW - because a dog is "mellow" does not necessarily mean they will not want to be boss. I added a second dog for my very "mellow" Abby because she was so dog-crazy I felt she deserved a companion of the same species. It's worked out very well and my two get along together great. However, what we did discover is that mellow Abby is a bossy little pest who spends much of her time hen-pecking Rudi. Fortunately, Rudi is good natured and puts up with it - but I'm not sure I would if I was in his place!

While I had two cairn females for years, when I lost one a year ago due to cancer, I went in search of another. Breeders encouraged me to get a male and I was hesitant. After always owning females, I really didn't want a male. But, I found a little guy I fell in love with, brought him home to his older sister, and they are best friends (now 10 months later). He has breathed new life into my older female cairn and is just so sweet.

Here's what I found:

1. the male cairn has been the easiest to house break of all my female dogs over the years

2. the male cairn is protective of his sister

3. the male cairn is extraordinarily lovable...especially to females

Go for it!!

I agree that 2 yrs is a nice age gap, although I do have 2 that are 6 mths apart and do just fine. I have 3 females & 1 male (westie). My oldest female, Kiara has the same attitude w/ the male, Ninja as she does the females. She's alpha w/ all of them. The 2 younger females, Abbey & Hannah and the Ninja get along great. I just think it depends on the dog. Kiara gets along the best w/ Abbey, and seems to tolerate Hannah & Ninja.

we recently added a female terrier pup to the house, and had an unfortunate experience. both were alpha and the pup would attack the cairn, and the fights got bad quick... i tried to train it out, reinforce alpha for the older cairn, i did lots of research and worked with both dogs for about a month or so, but in the end i had to rehome the new pup (a lakie)... it was bad, not just growling or small scraps... i'm talking full out fight to the death... it started happening about once every week or two... i had bloody dogs and several bites in my hands (one through my thumbnail)... i dont know what the odds are of picking two dominant alphas, but it happened to me... individually the dogs are fine with other dogs, and of all the lakie has never shown any other agression to any other dog (and i go to an indoor 20-30 dog playgroup with her)... its only her roomate... very very sad situation.

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