Dear Management

Life Advice from a Senior Rescue Dog

Dear Management,

My 7-year-old son has been begging for a small dog for months. He is autistic and he wants a small companion to take with him places and share his bed so he isn’t sleeping alone. The problem is our 10-year-old rescue boxer, Honey, who has been the queen of our castle for five years now. She's wonderful with our family, especially my son. But….she isn’t a fan of other dogs. She gets very reactive and grouchy on walks when we see other dogs. And when they walk past the house, she'll bark, pace, and generally act like she's defending us from enemy infiltrators.

We love Honey dearly and would never want to stress her out or make her feel displaced, but our son's heart is absolutely set on a small doggy best friend. Is there any way to help an older dog set in her ways accept a new little furry sibling? Or should we wait until Honey crosses the rainbow bridge before expanding our pack?

Thank you for any wisdom you can share.

Sincerely,
Torn Between Loves