maybe getting a second--any advice
 

there is a little sweet girl that I am trying to talk my husband into buying. I'm afraid to rock the boat. Snickers is 10 months old. Trained. Does not sleep in his crate anymore! --actually he refuses. Has the run of the house (well downstairs) When we get another puppy, what do you do? We will need to put the puppy in a crate and not give her free reign. Does it create stress? or do you stop giving free reign to both dogs?

I did the same thing - I brought Ruthie home when Oscar was about 9mths and he was doing really well with his training and actually slept in bed with me. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to put Ruthie in the bed too, so I wasn't really sure what I was going to do. BUT, in the beginning, when you first bring your new puppy home I really feel that it is important to keep your first dog's routine as unchanged as possible - in addition to paying more attention to him, giving him treats/food first, etc. I think it's important to continue to give him free run of the house, let him sleep where he's accustomed, etc. so that he doesn't feel he is being replaced or PUNISHED with the arrival of the new puppy. Does this make sense? I continued to let Oscar sleep in the bed with me, but after a week or so, he was sleeping on the floor with Ruthie in the ex-pen. I felt bad keeping Oscar up and leaving Ruthie on the floor (even though the pen is in my room and she can see me), but as they bonded more and more, Oscar seems to love sleeping with her.

You might find that an ex-pen will make things a little easier on you. In the beginning she will likely be too small to leave her unsupervised with your older puppy - I can't leave Oscar and Ruthie alone and when I do, I put Ruthie in the pen and Oscar has free run. The ex-pen has been a lifesaver for me with both dogs and I recommend it to everyone.

when we got maggie, kizzy is only 4 months older and had run of the house but only in the open area. not bedrooms or bathrooms and was trained at least 80%. We let them both run and play and actually it helped maggie about speaking to go out as I took them both together. But after kizzy was spayed something happened and she started going bkwrds on potty training so now we have them both blocked except the dining room, kitchen, and utility room. they do come in my computer room when i'm in here at night. But kizzys doing better and Maggie seems to do pretty good for her age. But i'm still glad I got them both.

I kept Jewels in an xpen when we goot her. Chachi was allowed all through the house. I kept her in there when she wasnt supervised untill about 4 months old. I really enjoy having two. One would be lost without the other one. My Husband and I were talking and we will be worried about our yorkies should something happen to one of them the other would grieve badly.

Thanks everyone this helps!!

What's an ex-pen?

How much is an ex-pen? I have been using the bathroom as the safe room for Sahara because there is no way I would allow them both to stay alone for a minute without me, maybe that would be better.
I have been sleeping with both the new baby Sahara and Dennis and so far it is working just fine though just last night she tried to break down the barricade and sleep next to him which right now is a No Nooooo; and the two other times it was because she had to go potty…... So she is an awfully good little girl, I thought she was sneaking off to see Dennis again, but as soon as I put her of the pad she went!

Too easy for her to fall off the bed and Dennis likes to sleep alone. I don’t get a lot of sleep because when she moves, I want to know why.

I got Oliver when Otis was 1. Otis runs free in the house. I contained Oliver only until I thought it was safe for him to be out all day. You know, after the serious chewing phase was over, and then I was very careful about puppy proofing the room they stay in through the day. They sit on the back of the couch all day, look out the window and "police" the sidewalk from inside the house. I'll probably never be able to move my couch from the picture window. I would DEFINATELY recommend getting a second, just make sure you do not change the first doggie's regular routine. It'll all work out!