A few concerns...(accidentally posted this in my profile or somewhere)...sheesh
 

My Abby is getting a sister in 8 days! She is adorable~can't wait to bring her home, but scared I won't know what to do having a puppy & an almost 2 1/2 yr old. Abby was so easy & is a perfect "dog". I'm nervous that I won't do as good with the puppy. Abby's always on my lap. How do I have the same type of relationship with the puppy when she won't be the only one in the house I'm giving all my attention to? I wonder how I will divide my time, becuz the puppy will take so much of it. Abby was easy to potty train, but that was all I did every day (forever it seems). I was always on alert & watching. If I'm spending all my time doing that, where is Abby in all of this? The puppy might not be as easy, & when she has accidents, will Abby regress & go in the house too? Having the pee pads down in places while she's learning, will Abby use them then & not bark to go outside? Of course, after having Abby a little over 2 years, she has her certain routine, but now I'll be so busy & the routine will be disrupted. She goes everywhere with us in a bag that looks like a purse & when we take her somewhere "dogs" aren't allowed, she stays in it, & no one is the wiser. She's little, so she just lays down & doesn't make a sound. Do I continue to do that & leave the puppy home or not take Abby anymore? We have a console car seat, so does one go in the back seat now or squeeze them both in the front? We've never taken her on a plane, so she stays with my sister on those vacations. 8 days has been our longest away. We have one planned in January for 9 days that now I wish we weren't going. Will that be too soon to leave a new puppy & put her in a different surrounding? I feel like that won't be good for her (sister has 2 dogs) becuz it will only be 5 mths that she's been with us. I guess I just want to do everything perfect for her & that she has it as good as Abby does/did. Abby learned so many tricks at an early age. Do I have Abby do them & teach the puppy at the same time (say prayers, wipe feet, high 5, stick 'em up, go in time out, walk, play dead, & all the other commands they learn). I would reward the puppy with a small food treat, while Abby doesn't get food treats for tricks like she did when learning them. Lastly, Abby has always been free fed, so how do I leave her food sitting out, & how does the puppy get free fed, because Abby would eat her food? That is bothering me the most. I don't see how it's going to work. I just want to do the right thing.

Hi Brenda and a big congrats to you on your upcoming new addition! I can't wait to see pictures of your little dollbaby! They say that when you have your new baby meet Abby, that you should do that somewhere other than your home. Did she already meet her baby sister when you went to see the baby? I know you are nervous about not giving enough attention to both of them. Abby will likely be a little ticked off with this new little puppy, but mine didn't take more than a few days to warm up to the baby and accept her. Just show Abby lots of love and attention and if giving treats...give her one first...if feeding...feed her first. It will all fall into place. As far as free feeding the puppy...when I got my babies...I fixed up a play pen with a pee pad, some food and water and a little doggie bed. Then I would put her in the playpen now and then which would give her the opportunity to eat if she wanted. That would also come in handy if you have to leave the house for a bit and can't take the puppy with you. You should also put her in the "purse bag" now and then and just carry her around the house so she gets used to it. I'm thinking there must might be room for both in your bag since they are tiny. That way you could either leave them home to keep each other company or take them both with you. Also, be sure to buy a tube of nutrical to have on hand for the baby in case her blood sugar should go low. I also used that to stimulate Faith's appetite when she wouldn't eat and it would normally get her to eat.

With teaching the baby tricks, maybe if Abby is with you, you can also treat her when you treat the puppy. Otherwise, have hubby keep Abby occupied and then take the puppy into another room to work with her.

As far as potty training...the baby may learn by watching Abby. Abby won't likely regress with her training...but I suppose it could happen. Everything will fall into place, Brenda...and you are going to have so much fun and be grinning from ear to ear. I hope I helped you some in all your question! Best wishes and I wanna see a picture of that precious girl!

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my lengthy post Connie! You are so sweet and so helpful...as you know, we've been thinking about this for a while, and can't believe we did it! Yes, Abby met her sister yesterday at the groomer's house. The food question was my main concern, I guess, so thanks for the tips. I know it will all work out, and I need to quit worrying so much. Omgosh, can u believe I'm getting a new baby girl next week? :D :animal-pa :animal-pa

You are just having new puppy jitters. Abby and you will teach her everything she needs to know!

I'm jealous...I still have to wait three more weeks!:( Everything will fall into place...I have two already so I know what you are feeling. Hopefully Abby wont be to pizzed off at you...like Raelle was with me! My girl wouldn't come near me for almost a week...now they fight over who gets it momma's lap first...its hilarious! Remember to post pics...even though I'm jealous, I still wanna see her! Congratulations!! Did I miss it...Whats her name?

Thanks anD yes, i know you are right! I wasn't this way getting Abby, but maybe I just don't remember! :confused:

Congrats on the third one coming soon! The new little girl is Marcy, and I'm counting down the days...even in my frenzied state! ;)

That's so exciting. I have brought several puppies in with my older ones. It only took a little time for them to get use to one another. Connie has given you a lot of the same advice I would give. Free feeding may be difficult with two. You will love having two. I can't wait to see pictures. Every time I bring a new one home I am so nervous but it goes away once they are in your arms.

Thanks Patti...I guess it is new puppy jitters like shelimcallister said! I am feeling less stressed tonight! ;)

P.S. Connie, Abby saw Marcy at the breeder's house, not the groomer's house!

Congrat's...I'm about to have two as well, only I'm doing it in reverse, puppy first, Oliver will be 6 months Monday when we pick Itzi up and Itzi just turned 7 today.

So I have a baby and a middle aged loves. I can't wait...come on Monday!!

Best of luck to you, it will work out...you'll see, I was worried about the food issue as well, we free feed Oliver BB grain free puppy food....we'll just work it out.
Take lots of pics!

So what did Abby think of her new baby sister? Did she seem excited and interested?

I wouldn't worry too much about the feeding stuff. Yumi and Yuri learned within a couple days to keep their noses in their own bowls. They have decided anything that gets knocked out of the bowl is free game otherwise Yumi eats hers and Yuri eats his with no problems at all.

Yuri has done really well with her, he still doesn't want to play with her much, but I think he's just lazy more than anything. He puts up with everything she does to him (she started chewing his ears the 1st week we had her and now she can reach him on the couch lol), and if she annoys him too much he tells on her rather than getting her. I always treat Yuri along with Yumi when shes learning tricks.

I was worried about Yuri starting to go in the house again with the puppy pads down too, or marking if she had accidents, but he hasn't shown any interest in the pads at all and no marking either

Can't help you with taking them places since my little dogs couldn't be quiet if their lives depended on it, and there are only like 2 places you are actually supposed to be able to take them here.

I had to learn to take a deep breath- Ziva wondered what I was so nervous about and didn't understand- once I calmed down she accepted Abby, I had to show them the same attention, it did take a few weeks.
Ziva has become a better eater with Abby (the little piggy) around, but I do have to schedule feed. An x-pen was our best investment, Abby is a year old and we still use it.(the 36" high isis)

Connie, there was so much going on in her house, and we didn't let Abby down, so she didn't know what was going on. We just held her and Marcy's faces close together so they could smell each other is all...I've been reading a lot about bringing a new puppy home to the pack, plus the good advice I've gotten from you guys here. It helps that Tom knows what he's doing too - I just wish he could take a month off work to be home and help me!!

Thanks guys to who I didn't respond to (ritapatt, hobbette, and Roxy's mom~yay-just a few more days!)...I am feeling better about the feeding issue and everything else with the advice I've gotten here...I have to quit worrying about what might or might not happen and just see what does happen!!

p.s. Connie...several people have told me in the past couple of days that they need matching outfits - duh...told them I've already talked to their tailor!