Transitioning Reesie (new pup) w/ Snickers (soon to be big brother!!)

[viviansnickers]

Hey everyone!! Ressie should be coming home to me soon (either MLK weekend or the 22nd weekend whoot!!) and I have some IMPORTANT questions to ask you all. Snickers is doing AWESOME with his Sep anxiety and he is still contained in his packNplay when we are not home and is doing spectacular. He will be staying in there when Reesie comes home and Reesie will have his own x-pen. They will not be next to each other, but they pups will be able to see one another-I feel this will soothe them both knowing neither is alone. The 2 pens will be set up on opposite sides of our grand room. (Reesie is coming from a home with many dogs, so I don’t want him to be lonely either.) BTW- BOTH REESIE & SNICK ARE MALE!

Now…sleeping arrangements. Snick sleeps with us usually, and also has an elevated bed next to us which sometimes he likes to sleep in. Generally he starts in his bed and then ends up walking on our bed and sleeping in between us. Reesie will have an x-pen next to our bed on the floor. Questions:

-We plan to keep the arrangements for sleeping the same: should Snick still start in his bed or should we start him in his usual spot in between us?? I have a feeling for the 1st week or 2 Snick might want to sleep with Reesie (I know, a big NO-NO!!) and might want to keep looking at him. I’ll prob keep him on the bed so he doesn’t jump into Reesie’s pen from his elevated bed. He won’t jump from our bed.

-Can I use Snick’s Packnplay for Reesie to sleep in or should I bring Reesie’s xpen in every night into our room?? Either way it doesn’t matter to us, but I was just curious if Snick will feel his pen is HIS??? He LOVES that thing, and would be in it all day even while we are home!!!

-Should I leave food/water out all night for Reesie or can I just have his bed, and potty pads in his bed at night??? Reesie will be 11-12 weeks old when he comes home.

-Should I praise Reesie and encourage him to potty on his pad at night & in the middle of the night or let him sleep and wake up and do his potty thing on his own?? I of course will ask the breeder of Ressie’s nighttime habits.

I know to introduce them on neutral grounds….anything else you want to share with me when transitioning a new baby into the home???? I APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK!!! We have already bought SO MANY THINGS for REESIEBABYBEAR!!! So excited!

Thanks a MILLION-
Snick & Viv

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Hey everyone!! Ressie should be coming home to me soon (either MLK weekend or the 22nd weekend whoot!!) and I have some IMPORTANT questions to ask you all. Snickers is doing AWESOME with his Sep anxiety and he is still contained in his packNplay when we are not home and is doing spectacular. He will be staying in there when Reesie comes home and Reesie will have his own x-pen. They will not be next to each other, but they pups will be able to see one another-I feel this will soothe them both knowing neither is alone. The 2 pens will be set up on opposite sides of our grand room. (Reesie is coming from a home with many dogs, so I don’t want him to be lonely either.) BTW- BOTH REESIE & SNICK ARE MALE!

Depending on their personalities, this may agitate them more than not seeing each other- I know if mine knew the other was there and couldn't get to them they would be upset, they would probably just tear through the pens and make it happen, You may want to start them out in separate rooms first.

Now…sleeping arrangements. Snick sleeps with us usually, and also has an elevated bed next to us which sometimes he likes to sleep in. Generally he starts in his bed and then ends up walking on our bed and sleeping in between us. Reesie will have an x-pen next to our bed on the floor. Questions:

-We plan to keep the arrangements for sleeping the same: should Snick still start in his bed or should we start him in his usual spot in between us?? I have a feeling for the 1st week or 2 Snick might want to sleep with Reesie (I know, a big NO-NO!!) and might want to keep looking at him. I’ll prob keep him on the bed so he doesn’t jump into Reesie’s pen from his elevated bed. He won’t jump from our bed.

I don't know why it is considered a big no no for them to be together if they are getting along- like I said before mine would want to be together. But if you think it is an issue, keep Snick on the bed where he can't jump

-Can I use Snick’s Packnplay for Reesie to sleep in or should I bring Reesie’s xpen in every night into our room?? Either way it doesn’t matter to us, but I was just curious if Snick will feel his pen is HIS??? He LOVES that thing, and would be in it all day even while we are home!!!

I would think its fine to just use the pack n play- use Reesie's blanket from his ex pen and not Snicks blanket though- this will help if there was an territorial behavior.

-Should I leave food/water out all night for Reesie or can I just have his bed, and potty pads in his bed at night??? Reesie will be 11-12 weeks old when he comes home.

Thats a personal decision really- I don't personally like limiting water for a dog at any age- mine always have access to water whether I crate them or have them free. As far as the food- ask the breeder, if she has not been leaving food out and the pups sugar levels are fine, then you don't need to leave any, if she has been giving access to food at night you might want to continue.

-Should I praise Reesie and encourage him to potty on his pad at night & in the middle of the night or let him sleep and wake up and do his potty thing on his own?? I of course will ask the breeder of Ressie’s nighttime habits.

I know to introduce them on neutral grounds….anything else you want to share with me when transitioning a new baby into the home???? I APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK!!! We have already bought SO MANY THINGS for REESIEBABYBEAR!!! So excited!

It will be hard but make sure you give Snick extra attention- greet him first, feed him first, pick him up first, etc. This will help to prevent any jealousy from forming.

Thanks a MILLION-
Snick & Viv

My answers are above in RED

[viviansnickers]

Thank you thank you thank you Ellisa...I Hope mpre people are patient enough to read my looooooooong post!!!! Much appreciated!!!

Hugs-
Snick & Viv

[YorkieMom82]

My boys are in the same room, Tocho is crated because he wont use puppy pads, and Aiko is out in a small room with his crate. Aiko has become very dependant on Tocho and crys if he is seperated.

Try not to worry to much, I drove myself crazy at first, trying not to hurt anyones feelings and they are already best friends. I do give Tocho a little more attention to try to preven jealousy and they each get individualised attention every night, I think that helps.

[Maximo]

Regarding Snickers' xpen: I'll be curious to hear from you if he is territorial about it or if he allows you to use it for Reesie.

Max would not let me use his wire crate for Teddy even though Max doesn't use his crate for anything. It just sits in the corner of my bedroom. Teddy slept in a double xpen when I first brought him home and I tried to put the crate in the pen for him to have a little den. Max went nuts. I had to buy a second crate. Silly boy.

Wishing you a great homecoming for your new baby.

[Breny]

As far as the food and water:

I'm a firm believer that my puppies should have access to food and water 24/7. Makes me feel better. Plus puppies tend to eat sporatically, meaning a little here and there.

Cain does that now...he will grab a piece and run and play, grab a piece and run and play....LOL (lots of spunk!!!) So I recommend he have his food 24/7.

You will get a huge booklet full of instructions hehe

[viviansnickers]

Originally Posted by Breny

As far as the food and water:

I'm a firm believer that my puppies should have access to food and water 24/7. Makes me feel better. Plus puppies tend to eat sporatically, meaning a little here and there.

Cain does that now...he will grab a piece and run and play, grab a piece and run and play....LOL (lots of spunk!!!) So I recommend he have his food 24/7.

You will get a huge booklet full of instructions hehe

You're the BEST!!! I was going to do whatever you told me to regarding his food and the other misc stuff. THANK YOU.......can I come get him now??? Lol...the wait is KILLING me!!!!

XOXO-
Snick & Viv

[107barney]

When we brought Teddy home, Barney and Daisy were 8 years old. They had been raised together as puppies and although they are dog-friendly, they were not around puppies often. We kept Teddy separated in his own room for several weeks and supervised visits between him and the other dogs. He really liked them, but they thought of him as the annoying intruder with bad manners. Daisy accepted Teddy first, after a couple of weeks, and started to play with him. But, Barney did not accept Teddy, he was always telling him off and for good reason! But eventually, they settled in to the happily little trio they are today.

Oh and Teddy slept in bed with us right away. He was (and still is) a real lump on a log. So once his little head hits the pillow, he doesn't move. So he was in between our pillows almost from the beginning. The other dogs did not mind him around at all when he was sleeping - it was when he was awake snapping his jaws at Barney's face or biting Daisy's legs that they tried to get away.

I always tried to make *good* things happen when Teddy-the-Bad-Mannered-Intruder was around at my dog trainer's suggestion. We played, we used upbeat tone, we used chicken tidbits and did training. My trainer said this was very important in getting them acclimated to Teddy. She said while dogs don't "hold grudges" they can associate good or bad things with the new puppy so we made sure all experiences Barney and Daisy had with Teddy were positive.

Also I wanted to add that my dogs have fresh water 24/7 but food is fed twice a day for our adults. Our puppies were allowed access to kibble in addition to their home cooked meals. Daisy did not know how to eat when we got her so the kibble being around for her when she tried was very important. (I don't think you will have that issue coming from a breeder though.)

[viviansnickers]

Thank you so much everyone. I'm going to see how it goes and discuss much of this with my breeder, but I like to hear about others experiences to get some more insight as all pairs of pups are different.

I am planning on having 3 full days without interruption with my boys before life starts to go back to normal so I will see what their habits are and how Snick is with his territories.

Keep the feedback coming!!!!

Thankfully-
Snick & Viv & BabyReesie

[viviansnickers]

**BUMP**

Need some more experiences!!!!
Much appreciated!
Snick & Viv & Reesiebabyboycuddlebunssnugglypoo