I have a 4-yr old chocolate lab (who thinks she's still a puppy) that I'm watching for a friend for a couple of months. She's got one of the nicest, sweetest, friendliest personalities I've ever seen (in any breed). She's great with people and other dogs; great with my Maine coon cat and pretty much anything or anybody she meets.

I have been planning on getting a golden retriever puppy for quite some time. I want to know if I get the puppy while I'm watching the lab - if it will be traumatic for the puppy once the dog goes back with her owner (which would be a couple of months).

I've seen that puppies can become very co-dependent on each other if they "grow-up" together, and I wouldn't want to hinder the independence and development of the golden puppy, but, on the other hand, the chocolate lab is very sweet and would be a great surrogate "mother" to play with and socialize with.

What's your advice? Should I wait until the lab is gone or will it not matter?

I can only speak from my experience. I had an older dog (a Lab, as it happens) and got a puppy. The older dog died (very unexpectedly) about two months later. The puppy grieved and grieved and I got another dog.

I don't know what anyone else has experienced.

A lot depends on the age of the puppy you're planning on getting. A newly weaned pup, or any puppy coming away from the litter, will benefit by having an adult around for a short time. The pup will miss the adult when it goes back, but two months isn't really long enough for family bonds to set.

If the Lab is obedience trained, working both of them will be a huge boost for the puppy.

If the Lab or your Golden can go visit once in awhile, that would be good, too.