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01-13-2012, 06:03 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Champaign, IL, USA
Posts: 50
| Need some advice managing two furbabies, please! Hi Everyone, We are proud parents to Sophie, who is 1 year and 3 months. On Sunday we brought home Rudy at 12 weeks. The first night was a little rough with Sophie snapping a lot and not really being that fond of Rudy. The next day we kept Rudy in her x-pen a lot so Sophie could look around, sniff, etc. Then alternated some time together and Sophie getting alone time. It's Friday and things are going really well. They play tug and chase each other. Sophie is still setting boundaries and snapping a bit when Rudy gets too close or does something she doesn't like. But there are still a few questions I have and would greatly appreciate your advice because I have never had two dogs: 1) Currently, they both have separate crates and I don't know if they'll ever want to share one and I will NOT push it until they show me that is something they're interested in. Do any of you have your furbabies sleep together and when did this start happening? Also, when did they or do they cuddle while napping? 2) Feeding. Right now I feed Sophie first. Before I do I put Rudy in her x-pen and then feed her in there. However, I don't want to keep this pen up forever, but Sophie gets very snippy if Rudy gets close to her or her food. She's not like this with us, we can take her food away, touch her mouth, etc while eating, but she doesn't like Rudy doing it. She also does this with certain chew toys. How can we eliminate this behavior? 3) We've been giving Sophie the same amount or even more attention than usual (which is TONS!), but I want to make sure we're not neglecting Rudy. How did you balance this? 4) Since Sophie is house-broken (99% of the time) I forgot what it's like having a pup who's not. Rudy is going pee outside and we even have snow on the ground! However, she only poops inside 2 hours after she eats! Sophie goes right away after meals. Any suggestions? In addition, the first two nights Rudy went the night without peeing in her crate. The other nights she's gone in her crate with no warning or whimpering to take her out. The crate is sectioned off so she has just enough room to turn around, stand, and lay. However, I do have a blanket in there or towel, should I remove those so she doesn't pee on them. And, when should she start being able to hold it through the night? Or should I just take her out even if she doesn't whimper? Sorry for all the questions, but I appreciate your help! Sylvia |
Welcome Guest! | |
01-13-2012, 06:50 AM | #2 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL
Posts: 1,400
| We have had Abby(6 1/2 mo) for a few months- Ziva is 2 1/2 yrs. Ziva is very bossy, quick and dominant , always has been and we love her fiesty attitude and quick wit. I picked Abby for her sweet,calm, peaceful attitude- lots to love there too! We keep them in separate crates at night, near each other, just getting ready to buy Abby a larger crate to match Ziva's. Abby is teething big time and we have had a random wetting incident overnite.It would be unfair to ask Ziva to sleep in that, and I think they need their own space.They have only cuddled when we had a short cold spell- it was adorable! I feed all the dogs (3 females) separately-on advise from my vet- Abby in her XPen- I can touch their food, but they seem to get edgey when another dog is near, they also eat at different speeds- Ziva picks- so it gives everyone time to finish. I was giving Ziva lots of attention but it backfired a little and she started pushing Abby and growling- I had to show that Abby was just as important to me, I held her in my lap while petting/loving Ziva... Abby has been hard to train -she too poops when she is getting hungry again instead of after she eats- hard to judge the timing (ie. she poops before meals!) Two is a lot of fun, Ziva was way too lonely and bored without her little shadow. |
01-13-2012, 08:14 AM | #3 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| Hello. You asked good questions. 1. All 4 of my Yorkies have their own wire crate. It is their own private room, they do not have to share anything in their crate. I feed my dogs in their crate, and this is why, they do not all eat the same food or amount (different ages, physical needs etc) I want to know who ate what and how much. There is no fighting over food. Rubin sleeps where ever he wants, usually in his open crate. Gracie sleeps with me, Abba and Ginny Joy sleep in their own crates, with the doors closed. They are still pups and do not have free run. 2. Guarding toys is natural. But that doesn't mean you have to allow it. I allow my Yorkies to have one special toy and each has their own treat Kong. I do not let them fight over other toys. I take the toy away from both and put it out of sight for awhile. You will be able to tell if they are just playing together, like chase or tug or if they are truly guarding. 3. Because you are aware of both dogs needing attention, you will do a good job. Remember to give alone time to the new puppy, so she can bond with you. You already have the older dogs loyalty. Soon things will settle into a routine. 4. It is helpful for the older dog to help teach the younger dog where to poop. Put the pup on a leash and when the other dog goes, walk her to their pee or poo. Let her sniff, if she goes potty praise like crazy, maybe even treat. When she makes a mistake in the house. Do not correct, just pick up the mistake and take it outside where you want her to go. I use washable pee-pads. I blotted up pee and took the pad outside to mark the outside potty place. I also placed poo on a pee pad near the fence. (for some reason my dogs prefer two spots one for pee, and one for poo. I use the washable pee-pad when they are confined to the x- pen when I can not be home. My pups Abba & Ginny Joy were able to go all night when they were about 6 months old. (Abba only had one accident in his crate) Ginny got me up almost every night to go out, and had maybe 5 accidents before she could go all night. Hope this helps.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
01-13-2012, 08:28 AM | #4 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Sounds like you are doing everything right. I believe it is a matter of the individual dogs when it comes to the amount of time required for them to settle into the togetherness. My second Yorkie was 8 months old when we brought him home, so it was not quite the same as bringing in a new puppy. Teddy was still puppy-ish and annoyed Max with some of his antics. We had some jealousy issues that took a few months to completely overcome. Max did not want Teddy sleeping in the bed with us, so I had 2 xpens hooked up next to my bed with a crate and bed inside. I think it was about 4 months when I took down the xpens and crate. Max and Teddy will fetch and walk cheek to cheek, but Max doesn't like to cuddle in bed with Teddy unless something is wrong with one of them.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
01-13-2012, 08:34 AM | #5 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Champaign, IL, USA
Posts: 50
| Thanks, everyone! I think I'll start taking away the toys that Sophie gets possesive of to teach her to try to share. I know Rudy needs to learn the boundaries, but at the same time I don't want Sophie like this forever. It seems like everyone feeds their dogs separately. Maybe once I can get Rudy to stay I can have her wait while Sophie scarfs down her food. So, we may be feeding in the x-pen for a bit. Thanks again and any more tips or advice are appreciated!! |
01-13-2012, 11:07 AM | #6 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | When I brought a new one home they were in a mesh playpen until they were potty trained unless I could watch them. During the day they spent most of the time together with no problems. Once they were potty trained they slept on the bed with me and the others. Nikki has his own bed that he sleeps in next to me. Other wise there are 2 other dog beds on my bed and a cubby hole in my headboard. Each one has their favorite spot but will sleep in any of the places when they feel like it. No one gets territorial over sleeping spots. I feed Nikki, Cali and Roxie in the kitchen and Pixie in the living room. Cali will wolf her food down and try and eat the others food. Nikki and Roxie won't let her but Pixie will. So in order for Pixie to eat in peace I give her a little space. It takes time but they figure out how to live and love their sister/brother.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
01-13-2012, 11:15 AM | #7 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Orangeburg SC
Posts: 567
| This is some very informative info. But I have a question. In the case of an older dog who has had their toys forever, are they expected to share with a new puppy? I just figured it would be easier for each to have their own toys just like human kids. |
01-13-2012, 11:41 AM | #8 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| My boys are not possessive about toys, but that varies from dog to dog. Back to the feeding...forgot to mention that I simply separated the bowls by about 2 feet, one against one wall, and the other against the opposite wall in the little passage way to our kitchen. Teddy tried to get into Max's bowl, and strangely, Max didn't complain. I supervised feeding for a couple weeks and that was it. Max eats faster than Teddy, so that helped.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
01-13-2012, 08:03 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Champaign, IL, USA
Posts: 50
| I did buy Rudy some new toys that I expected to just be "hers," but Sophie decided she wanted to play with them. They seem to swap off with toys and then play with some together. It's just a few of the nylabones Soph got protective of. But, I started taking them away today when she does that and it seems to have gotten better! |
01-13-2012, 08:05 PM | #10 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Champaign, IL, USA
Posts: 50
| Quote:
Thanks for all of your help! | |
01-13-2012, 08:06 PM | #11 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Champaign, IL, USA
Posts: 50
| Quote:
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01-14-2012, 05:25 AM | #12 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Merritt Island,FL
Posts: 1,400
| We have a huge bucket of toys- the only "good" one is the one someone wants! The nylabones were a issue- Ziva never paid attention to them til Abby came, I bought a new pack of 3 puppy ones- the blue nubby bone is prime, but of course there is only one!- can't win! |
01-14-2012, 07:21 AM | #13 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OK
Posts: 71
| Quote:
__________________ Peggy - Mommy to Sophie & Sam | |
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