Train Your Puppy To Be Independent
I see this all the time: the first dog is outgoing and confident in new situations, and can be alone without showing signs of distress. The second dog is less confident and has difficulty separating from the first dog.
Most of the time it started in the first few months of life. When dog owners have two dogs, they tend to do everything together. Why wouldn’t they? The problem is that if a puppy is with a dog 100% of the time they start to need the first dog being there.
Many of these dogs won’t investigate something until their mate has done so first.
Here’s what I did to make sure Loki could be as independent as Tinker.
The two dogs were probably still together 95% of the day but Loki learned being alone was fun too.
How do dog owners feed multiple dogs without some dogs missing out and others getting too much? It’s especially a problem with young puppies, who are easily distracted and just aren’t that interested in food yet.
The only good solutions are separation or supervision. Once again, crate training is an excellent strategy; you can leave your puppy with their food until enough is eaten. Alternatively, you can have a feeding room for your puppy. In my case I just made sure one dog was fed inside and one fed outside, and only reunited them when the food was finished.
If the slower eater is the smaller dog, it may be possible to construct a pen with a narrow entrance so that only he or she can get to the food left out.
Second Dog Sleeping Arrangements for a New Puppy and Older Dog
If you have a ton of room and a huge budget, sleeping arrangements for a new puppy and older dog isn’t an issue.
All you need to do is get two beds and place them on different sides of the room.
However, if space, finances, or both are limited, it can be a little more of a challenge to create an ideal sleeping arrangement for the two pooches.
So first, let’s talk about second dog sleeping arrangements when the new dog is a puppy.
There are a few things to remember here.
Puppies and older dogs tend to have a relationship like that of a loving younger and older sibling dynamic.
The puppy is full of energy, following the older dog around constantly and always trying to get him to play.
Meanwhile, the older dog (the older sibling in this case) usually puts up with it but wants to get away sometimes.
On the other side of that coin is the amount of sleep a puppy need versus an adult dog.
Unless your current dog is up there in years, your puppy will need more sleep than your older dog.
That means you need a space for your puppy to be able to snooze without cramping your adult dog’s style.
With both of these examples, you can see that it’s a good thing to have separate sleeping areas for your two dogs – at least until they decide they don’t want them anymore.
Some dogs become fast-friends and you’ll immediately find them snoozing way together in one bed or on your bed.
However, some dogs like to have their space. So what can you do if you don’t have a ton of room in your home?
Helping An Established Dog Like A New Dog
Of course we’ve all mixed plenty of dogs and it’s generally gone well. My advice: don’t take the risk. First impressions really matter with dog introductions. If the two dogs have a bad start, they may never trust each other again.
Some dogs certainly will need no preparation. You’ll already have some idea from when friends bring their dogs over how your dog responds to newcomers. It will be a bit different this time when he or she realises this one is staying.
Here are my tips to creating a harmonious bond between an existing dog (‘old dog’) and a new arrival (‘new dog’).
You’ll probably have to change some aspects of your old dog’s lifestyle to suit having two dogs. Try to make these changes well before the new dog comes so there’s no association between the other dog and any loss of privileges.
A first meeting should not be in an area that your dog perceives to be his or her territory. Find a neutral place like a friend’s yard. If possible exercise the dogs first so they can be a bit more calm.
Think like a dog. They prefer to assess newcomers first by smell, and it’s easy to do this without confrontation.
Before the dogs meet, put the old dog away and let the new dog into your old dog’s territory to sniff and explore. Then take the new dog away again and let the old dog explore.
Guaranteed, one or both will go a little crazy running around and sniffing the other dog’s odours. Ideally, keep repeating until the dogs change from this excited response into an ‘oh yeah, whatever’ attitude. Be prepared to even keep the dogs apart for a few days if you’re not sure.
Yep, sort of obvious. Use treats to reward good behaviour, or as a distraction when things get a little over the top. Make sure both dogs get some each time, starting with the older dog.
You want to be careful, so just letting them go for it with no restraint isn’t always a good idea. However, dogs on tight leashes often exhibit ‘on-leash aggression’. If using leashes, you need to be nimble on your feet so the leashes stay slack.
Alternatively, what I’ve done successfully is to use my pool fence, and put one dog on each side (the old dog on the pool side as he knows not to fall in). They can sniff and greet but can’t fully get to each other.
Just like with the odours, it’s time for the next step when the two dogs aren’t obsessively following or watching each other.
Should my new puppy sleep with my older Chihuahua? | Sweetie Pie Pets by Kelly Swift
Sleeping arrangements for a new puppy will require some preparation. If you’re adopting early, it’s very likely that this will be your puppy’s first night away from its mother and littermates. To get you ready to accommodate your new addition and make your puppy as comfortable as possible, we’ve put together some tips that should help smooth the transition.
Before settling in for the night, I recommend tiring the puppy out and making sure that any bathroom needs are taken care of. I strongly suggest you keep the puppy’s resting place near your bed for the first few nights to help her feel less lonely. If you plan to use a kennel or crate, wait until the puppy is in a calm submissive and relaxed state before closing her in. It is important that she not feel trapped and that she not associate anything negative with her sleeping arrangements. Remember that your puppy experiences the world with her nose first, so providing a towel, toy, blanket or other object with the familiar scent of her mother and littermates may help her relax. You may also want to include an item or two with the scent of your puppy’s new family members to help her become familiar with you and adapt to her new pack.
If your puppy tries to leave her bed, begins to whine, or tries to use chewing as a way to cope with the anxiety of being alone, give her gentle but firm corrections. The puppy’s mother set very strict rules for behavior, so she should need very little correction in order to get the point.
Some puppies may miss the feeling of a beating heart next to them when they sleep. To help your puppy along some, “beating heart” plush toys can be purchased at pet stores that mimic the sound of a canine mother’s heartbeat.
If you have another balanced dog that has demonstrated a gentle energy around the puppy, you can employ that dog as a surrogate teacher to help the puppy feel safe and get a good night’s rest. Remember, the best teacher is a canine one!