wyrdsister
Well-Known Member
Okay, so I was an utter idiot last week. I handed my PhD thesis in on Friday (oh the irony!) and by the Saturday had put a deposit down on a new puppy. A little black working cocker bitch, with a white splotch on her chest, and little white toes on her back paws.
Now, the slight problem: this pup picked us, in that she was the one running up to greet my 3 year old working cocker, A, whilst she sat outside the fence, and the pair were happy to play with each other when introduced. A isn't the most confident of creatures, but loves a good game with the right friend, so it seemed ideal. Given their enthusiasm for each other, I wasn't too concerned about how they'd get on at home. I was mildly worried that my other spaniel, T, might be a bit hostile, since she's now 15, although she coped just fine with A's arrival 3 years ago.
Here's the crux: T thinks that pup's arrival is awesome! She's curling up with her, bossing her about, playing musical toys with her, and simply going to sleep with pup when she's had enough. A is horrified. She spent yesterday hiding behind the waste paper bin and just staring at me aghast when I tried to coax her out. I know it's early days, and things are better this morning - A was playing with pup and a sock a few minutes ago, and is now sprawled out sleeping at my feet, while pup sleeps with T on my other side - BUT is there anything else I can do to reassure A, other than carry on as if everything is normal?
Thanks in advance!
Now, the slight problem: this pup picked us, in that she was the one running up to greet my 3 year old working cocker, A, whilst she sat outside the fence, and the pair were happy to play with each other when introduced. A isn't the most confident of creatures, but loves a good game with the right friend, so it seemed ideal. Given their enthusiasm for each other, I wasn't too concerned about how they'd get on at home. I was mildly worried that my other spaniel, T, might be a bit hostile, since she's now 15, although she coped just fine with A's arrival 3 years ago.
Here's the crux: T thinks that pup's arrival is awesome! She's curling up with her, bossing her about, playing musical toys with her, and simply going to sleep with pup when she's had enough. A is horrified. She spent yesterday hiding behind the waste paper bin and just staring at me aghast when I tried to coax her out. I know it's early days, and things are better this morning - A was playing with pup and a sock a few minutes ago, and is now sprawled out sleeping at my feet, while pup sleeps with T on my other side - BUT is there anything else I can do to reassure A, other than carry on as if everything is normal?
Thanks in advance!
