I can understand your concerns and I'm a wee bit surprised that they are willing to do the meet the day after his op - surely that isn't the right thing to do?

But I also think that it might be better if he had the op and recovered before he is introduced to Cosmo and potentially comes home with you? I know what you are saying about the others wanting to hump him, but wouldn't this still happen if you had him home for awhile first?

Might it be more difficult to introduce him as in intact male and then change his status after a few weeks?

(pmsl at Cosmo's idea of TLC )

They won't hold him long enough for him to fully recover stitches wise (which would be about 10 days) before introducing him to our dogs, as they want him in a home not in the kennels, so whilst they wait, an equally good home may pass him by.
I'm still waiting to hear if they will delay the neutering.
I am thinking that at least if he is home and settled and relationships have been established, that it is less likely to cause upset,at 8 months he is just becoming hormonal, wheras Cosmo is hormonal. He doesn't hump dogs outside of the house, but he spends his life trying to hump Biff at the moment. I would imagine he would do the same to a funny smelling new male in the home, but is less likely to do it to an entire one. We also have the neutering up our sleeve for is Benji gets too big for his boots (with training alongside of course....)

I just feel it is a lot for Benji, who hasn't lived with other dogs, to be subjected to....and a meeting the day after castration isn't ideal...

Hhmm, I see what you mean.

Hope you can get something sorted

Your dilemma seems to be getting bigger by the day!!!

Please remind me Ailsa as I can't completely remember how Cosmo reacted to the last guide dog pup - but I seem to recall it wasn't all positive? Bearing that in mind, would an older dog be better?

As Hali has said, the cruch point will probably be whether Cosmo likes Mr Chuckles or not.

An idea - why not ask the rescue centre if you can either foster Chuck or take him overnight or for a weekend to see how he fits in?

I think same breed dogs certainly seem to understand each other better - and often play well together. However, there are also breeds that definitely compliment each other - my collies and GSDs for example. I would imagine a Beardie x and a FCR would be great together, as they are both fun loving, high energy, goofy (in the nicest possible way!) characters.

From a purely aesthetic angle though - two same breed dogs look FAB together!

Sorry, not really helping, am I?!

Noooooo not at all. The dilemma over whether we want him has now gone and safe to say in terms of our human household we are good to go!!!
We, as the humans would love him.
The dogs however are a different story but are equally important in that they are the ones that will be with him 24/7!
Cosmo isn't too bothered about other dogs when free running but loves canine company in the house...he really does want Biff to play but Biff can only manage about 2 minutes a day, on a good day. Cosmo tries to entice him into play and has now taken to humping him, but entirely playfully, if you see what I mean. He just wants Biff to enjoy life like he does! That sounds worng...but it isn't a dominance thing, it's a 'please play and interact' thing and Biff isn't up to it.

Cosmo was a muppet with the pup....over boisterous at points but he learned what he could and couldn't do. He is now exceptionally good with pups so we have no worries there and he enjoys playing with them....infact owners use him to socialise their pups all the time as he is a fairly safe bet!

My concern is that Mr C will be giving off strange smells for 3 months whilst his hormones settle...especially for the first month and that could really make Biff and Cosmo react strangely. I also think it could mask how he is actually going to be in the house.....

No you are...I also think the mix would compliment each other...but so would 2 FCRs wouldn't they?
Two same breed dogs do look good together too....
Sigh.....
Well...I was decided til you started...

Sorry!

Can we see a pic of Mr C?

I'd feel bad about posting a pic as he isn't ours...

Okay so now I'm sitting wathcing the muppet playing with my son and have no worries about them rolling around on the floor together with my son lying down with the toy under him, getting Cosmo to find it....would we have that level of trust with Mr C ever??????