[Tiger's Mom]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

We are getting our 2nd yorkie on Sunday...a baby girl...and I am having a hard time deciding what I am going to do with her during the day. We live in an apartment, so not only do we want what is best for the puppy, but we don't want either dog to bark. Hobbs, the yorkie we have now, is 8 months old, fully potty trained, and gets free run of the house during the day at the moment. He does not bark when he has free run of the house. These are the 2 options I am considering:

1. Put her in a large wire crate with her bed, pee pad, food, and water. Let Hobbs continue to have free run of the house.
Advantage(s): It is a small space where she'll feel secure, she won't chew anything up, she won't potty everywhere.
Drawback: She and/or Hobbs might bark bc they want to play with each other or bc she wants to get out.

2. Put Hobbs and the new puppy in the kitchen together with a baby gate or x-pen.
Advantage over the crate: She will have the companionship of Hobbs (I am not the least bit worried that he would hurt her).
Drawback(s): I am not sure if it is a small enough space in order for her to feel really secure, and Hobbs will probably bark bc he wants out since he's used to having free run of the house.

So, I'm taking a poll....which one do you think is best?! Or, if you have another suggestion, PLEASE share!

I suggest you first separate them when you are gone so there won't be unnecessary barking or distraction. On the first weekend after your girl's week at home, see how they react together with Hobbs outside the pen and the girl inside. . .from there you can gauge if they will be quiet or not. This is what I did when Annika first came home. Tiger is 8 months.

My Annika is such a yapper, but only when I am around and ignoring her (not really but attending to other things). When I am gone, complete silence. They retreat to their beds (crate for Tiger, daybed for Annika) until my arrival. But I did separate them for a couple of weeks just to get her situated in her new environment . . .

Good luck on your new puppy . . . and hope everything will work out smoothly as it should be