I had the opportunity to read a pre-publication proof of Whole Dog Journal contributor Kathy Callahan’s newest book, co-authored with Helen St. Pierre, and I can’t recommend the book strongly enough. Old Dog, New Dog helps dog owners anticipate the potential pitfalls of bringing a new young dog into a home already inhabited by a senior dog—and adroitly steer around them in order to seamlessly create a joyful, trauma-free blended canine family.
The book is a perfect collaboration between Callahan—who has made puppy-raising the center of her dog-training career and focus of her two previous books (Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog and 101 Rescue Puppies)—and St. Pierre, the founder of the senior animal rescue and sanctuary Old Dogs Go To Helen and who has provided hospice care to hundreds of senior dogs. Each author is acutely aware of the unique needs of dogs who are in the life stage of their specialty, so the text is able to advocate equally strongly for the new pup, the senior dog, and the humans who will need to juggle and balance the dogs’ needs!
This isn’t a long, technical read; there are just six short chapters, and they can be read overnight. The first talks about managing the health and wellbeing of senior dogs; the second discusses how to manage puppies from day one in order to support good behavior in their new home. The third chapter explains how to introduce the senior and puppy and manage their time together so they enjoy and do not frustrate or hurt each other.
The fourth chapter discusses how to add a new adult dog to a family with a senior dog. Given that these interactions are often more fraught with consequences than senior/puppy meetings, the advice in this chapter is particularly valuable.
Chapter five offers guidance through one of the most painful experiences that we dog owners go through: coping with and managing the last days of our senior dogs. It’s full of clear-eyed, practical tips and heartfelt, poignant counsel on how to fully care for everyone involved with the senior dog so the memories of those last days are not tinged with regret or guilt.
And chapter six helps the family move on with their new dog, even in the throes of grief over the passing of the old dog. It’s a small chapter, but brings up important issues that, if not addressed, can often affect and cloud a family’s relationship with the new dog.
When Otto was in his 15th year of life in 2022, I added puppy Boone to our family. It wasn’t a disaster, but there are a few things I wish I had done differently. If I had been able to read Old Dog, New Dog back then, I could have prevented a few regrets.
I’ll be buying copies of this book to give or loan to everyone I know who has a senior dog and will be adding a new dog to their family. It’s available now on pre-sale through Amazon.com; click here to purchase.
