Adding a second dog

Michen

Michen

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Hoping for some advice! We are adding a second springer to the house in the new year, and I have never had two dogs before. My older spaniel is very well trained and well behaved in the house.

I’d like to make sure both dogs are independent and don’t become too reliant on eachother, particularly the puppy. Obviously we will do seperate walks, training for the puppy etc but-

Would it be unfair to have the puppy crated/sleeping in a seperate room to the older dog? This would be the same room that puppy would have for quiet time etc.

i don’t want to be in a situation where we take the older dog for a long walk and the puppy can’t cope with being left alone, etc.

Any tips on managing two dogs like this in general?
 
Exciting!! Not sure if we have just been lucky but we have always taken ours out together and separate. Always crated pup with company at night but didn't fuss if older dog was going shooting for the day. Pups never fussed either. We just got on with it. We had a pup cam just in case but it was boring watching thankfully, pup asleep!
 
If the puppy is crate trained this will become its ‘safe’ space. You need to make this comfortable so it’s considered home. I don’t think it’s necessary to separate the dogs if you have this type of set up. Sometimes it’s easier to have one upstairs to sleep. I have a crate in the kitchen which l use to feed my puppy in but he sleeps with the others at night now he’s older.
 
gallopingby said:
If the puppy is crate trained this will become its ‘safe’ space. You need to make this comfortable so it’s considered home. I don’t think it’s necessary to separate the dogs if you have this type of set up. Sometimes it’s easier to have one upstairs to sleep. I have a crate in the kitchen which l use to feed my puppy in but he sleeps with the others at night now he’s older.
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That makes sense. I was thinking a seperate room may be necessary if the puppy sees us leaving with older dog from main room (all open plan to front door) to avoid upset.
 
When I had three (two adults who did not grow up together and did not get on, and a puppy) I did not let one see the other 'leaving without them' where at all possible. Various configurations over the years, but puppy slept alone in the crate in the hallway (my house is very small, literally five steps from my bed) and eventually joined one or the other adult dogs in the kitchen, but because they never lived in each others pockets and were walked separately, it wasn't a huge ordeal for them to be separated. Although the van could get quite noisy as they could obviously see each other leaving but I guess that won't be an issue as I'm assuming if they are in the car together, they'll be going out together, unlike mine!
 
Yay! A second dog 🤩 I used a crate with my lad to give my older girl (sadly no longer with us) certainty of peace and quiet. The crate worked really well until my terrier was old enough and the two were settled enough with each other for it to be no longer needed. As I made sure from the off that both dogs could go out together or separately, it was never really an issue but whoever was left behind always got a small, distracting treat on our departure. Quite often, where one dog was going, it was good for 2 dogs as well.
 
Same as everyone else. I am lucky to have a dog room with space for both crates and beds. Puppies always crate trained but everyone sleeps in the same room.The older dogs can choose if they go on using a crate but the door is never shut. Obviously a puppy is shut in until they learn it’s a cosy place to be. A new puppy needs very short exercise time and lots of sleep, so I always did something with the puppy first, then she would sleep while older ones went for a longer walk.
I have owned 2, 3 and even 4 dogs. Walked all together or in any combination of numbers. It’s really important if one has to go to the vet that the other doesn’t fret. It’s honestly not that difficult. Walks, games or training done together or separately.
Good luck, have fun!
 
And don’t overthink it, they aren’t like horses and although we’ve always had multiples the pup has always been fine being left in their crate while we go out with the others. If they’ve had some interaction and an empty bladder and you give them a kong or whatever they’ll be grand.
 
Like everyone else, just make whatever you do run of the mill. If you don't make a drama out of it, neither will the dogs.
I would leave the pup in a closed crate in the same room as the adult dog overnight. I don't think it’s fair to take a pup from its mum and litter mates and leave it alone for hours while you are asleep when it's not necessary and I won't have dogs upstairs.
I think crate training is important, so that if a vet stay is required a crate isn't a terrible shock and it keeps the pup safe when left with the adult dog.
We've had up to 7 dogs living here, some slept in the house while the others had a kennel.
 
Yeah the problem is if the puppy is going to be left in the same room overnight as the adult dog, she will then need to have the crate in a seperate room during the day because of the configuration of the house with two of us working from home. Otherwise, the room her crate in is the main sitting room/kitchen/working area and the puppy won’t have her own quiet place for day time naps.

But maybe that doesn’t matter, I just thought it would be best the puppy has a room where she’s not over stimulated etc by activity where she can switch off during the day.

So basically she either has her crate in that room or she has her crate in a small seperate room where the door can be shut and she’s not disturbed.I guess I could shut Pepper in there too at night but I’m not sure she’d appreciate that, she loves greeting us at the bottom of the stairs in the morning when she hears us get up. Maybe I’m being precious 😀

The other option is I leave the door open and Pepper can choose to sleep with the pup or not.
 
As everyone else, do what you want them to do when adults (be independent) and take advantage of the many hours puppies sleep to help this become embedded when they are young. I have always had the crate in the kitchen or a fairly central place. When they are that young they exhaust enough they sleep with noise going on, which I think helps them cope too when they are older. Also (mainly) because you need eyes on constantly to help with toilet training.

For what it’s worth I think having two is easier than one! We now have three… which is tippling into dangerous territory as it’s slightly more inconvenient than two, to the point where an extra couple wouldn’t matter. Thankfully we don’t have space!

I think it’s vital to crate train. You’ve cited a great reason with transporting over seas and also any dog that needs hospitalisation will be crated. The last thing they need when feeling rubbish is to be terrified as they are also being crated for the first time in their life!
 
Thanks that’s very helpful! I guess central area it is then although if the puppy isn’t fairly chill we may need to rethink as noise won’t be ideal for work. I remember Pepper having a bit of a howl at first but I don’t think it lasted long.

Glad you find two easier, I am a little apprehensive as Pepper is just soooo easy and well behaved but when weighing the pros and cons I do think a second dog has far more benefits.
 
I agree, a quiet room isn't a good idea for citing a crate. You want the pup to be able to switch off from extraneous noise rather than react to.it. Our crate is in the living room.

Eta I wouldn't allow the adult dog unsupervised access to the tiny pup. Too much damage can be done very quickly. And speaking of damage, until.pups are past the chewing stage they are better confined to a crate when left unsupervised.
 
Michen said:
Yeah the problem is if the puppy is going to be left in the same room overnight as the adult dog, she will then need to have the crate in a seperate room during the day because of the configuration of the house with two of us working from home. Otherwise, the room her crate in is the main sitting room/kitchen/working area and the puppy won’t have her own quiet place for day time naps.

But maybe that doesn’t matter, I just thought it would be best the puppy has a room where she’s not over stimulated etc by activity where she can switch off during the day.

So basically she either has her crate in that room or she has her crate in a small seperate room where the door can be shut and she’s not disturbed.I guess I could shut Pepper in there too at night but I’m not sure she’d appreciate that, she loves greeting us at the bottom of the stairs in the morning when she hears us get up. Maybe I’m being precious 😀

The other option is I leave the door open and Pepper can choose to sleep with the pup or not.
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Why can’t you have two crates? 😀 a night time one and a day time one? Think of them like dog beds initially. Probably best if Pepper can stick to her routine most dogs her happy with a puppy around but some puppies are more difficult than others! I’ve only ever had one male puppy and he was definitely harder work than the bitches, he needed a bit of ‘education’ from the others as he thought nothing of hanging on to ears or tails as he got older.
 
Michen said:
I didn’t think two would be good for the pup, kind of a lack of consistency type thing? But again maybe overthinking :)

Pepper loves puppies, she will adore having a little sister I hope.
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As long as you only use the night time one at night l don’t think there should be a problem. It’s surprising how quickly the time will go by. My lot know they get a night time biscuit and then it’s sleep time. Even the naughtiest puppy ever settles once he’s had his biscuit and the light goes off - although he’s no longer officially a puppy.
 
Too many crates?! I have two metal (folded and stored), four airline style (one in the car, one in the house, one in her kennel with no door and one disassembled and stored) a light plastic transport box and a heavy plastic double transport box (both stored in garage). I only have one dog right now, I appreciate I may have a problem 🤣
 
Our 2 older Labs share a crate overnight, next to the crate where the younger one sleeps. Except that if Daycare Dog is here, she has older dogs' crate and they sleep on the settee. Any of the 4 choose to sleep on a bed that isn't in a crate, or an open crate, at any time. They really don't need that level of consistency, you are definitely overthinking this OP
 
We've always had two: always a dog & a bitch at the same time. Don't know quite how we've got to that arrangement, but it always seems to work well, so we just perpetuate it every time a doggo needs to be "replaced".

Current "pack" is an older rescue dog, we were told she was a Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever when we had her, and having looked up the breed-spec I'd say that was about right for her. She was apparently from Cyprus originally, where she would probably have been in a pack just roaming around the bins in the holiday hot-spots, so she was quite happy to live with the little Lakeland boy we had when she arrived, but sadly we lost him. She didn't seen that bereft about it tbh; and for about 9 months was happy as the Only Dog.

Then I was offered a little working dachshund (Tekel) pup from someone i know in the Hunt. So he arrived, absolutely tiny & full of mischief. Other Dog dribbled and mooched around for a few days when he arrived; I felt it was important to reassure her and give her as much (if not more) attention than she'd previously had as Only Dog. For night-time, everyone sleeps upstairs in the bedroom, crated, which is what we've always done. So Pup went in his crate as well overnight the first night, with Other Dog next to him, but in a separate crate. We had a bit of whining that first night, but over time the two have got along fine. We also have cats, about which Older Dog is very chilled and she'll quite happily let them rub against her, there's never any aggression, so Pup has also learnt to be a good boy around our yard cats (we have eight), which is good.

Sadly, Older Dog is getting noticeably more "aged" now; she has to be around the 12/13 mark if she's a day, and frankly I'm not sure if she'll go on till next Christmas this time, poor old gal, she's been a good dog. The problem will then be how Little'Un copes with it, Sally is the only dog he's ever properly known in his life and he is a typical daxie in that he is a sensitive, affectionate little soul, and I think it will affect him very deeply, bless him.
 
My dogs sleep in different rooms. My older dog sleeps upstairs on the landing as she has severe separation anxiety and has to be with me all the time and the puppy sleeps in a crate in the lounge. He was already crate trained when we got him at 13 weeks, so we've never had any issues. He goes to work with OH, so we have plenty of puppy free time, which certainly suits us. My dog has the patience of a saint, but she's older (11) so it's important that we don't take advantage of her good nature I think.

From my previous experience of Spaniels, I'd say they will be more bonded to each other than my dogs are, so I think separate walks etc is an excellent idea.

I also have a dog and a bitch and that was on purpose as I felt the older bitch would accept a dog and the puppy being a boy would be more likely to just accept his place as inferior to her 😂. It has worked exactly as I planned so far. She's already spayed so no worries about making babies.
 
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