Two Dogs: Maybe This Isn't Going As I'd Hoped

3832 Views 9 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Thracian, May 3, 2009

Thracian

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2009

After being a one-dog family for a while, I got a puppy a little more than a week ago. (You can read more about that here.) The short version is that Cupid was curious and had his tail up when we met Clayton, which he hadn't done for any of the other dogs we saw. So I brought him home.

Clayton adores Cupid, and during the day Cupid . . . accepts, I guess is the word . . . Clay. Cupid seems to most enjoy their walks together. They both get lots of attention and love, but they typically play separately--Cupid is a fetchaholic, and Clay's interest there is like any other puppy. He's interested for a little while, then moves on to something else.

The problem is bedtime. They are both sleeping in my bed now (Cupid has been for months). Usually one on one side of me and one on the other--they are small dogs, so there is plenty of room.

But now Cupid sleeps practically on top of the pillow. It seems clear he's trying to get as far away from Clay as he can. And the past couple of nights, after we've gotten out of bed for potty breaks, he goes to the couch to sleep.

I wouldn't object to this if he wanted to sleep on the couch, but I get the feeling that he's trying to add distance. And this makes me sad. Cupid is my skittish boy, so I figured it would take time. It's just hard for me to think that he's not comfortable in his own bed.

Basics: Cupid is 2 and neutered. Clay is 12 weeks old and won't be neutered until at least 6 months.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

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Thracian

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 25, 2009 (Edited)

Thanks for the responses. I was initially looking for a girl, but once I found Clayton, I knew he was the one. I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to make it work.

As for open hostility . . . Cupid will growl when Clay gets too close to him while he's working on his Kong or on one or two other occasions. Or one night when Clay jumped on his back while he was trying to sleep. But I don't blame him for that.

Cupid does have a crate, but he doesn't use it much. It's in the car now, so I'll bring it inside and see how he likes it. I didn't know much about crate training when I first got it, so I'll give it another try.

I have ordered a crate for Clayton, but it's not scheduled to arrive for another week or so. But I will follow your advice and have Clay sleep in a bed by my bed. I love the pup very much, but I don't want to set Cupid back in any way.

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Thracian

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 25, 2009

Ladyshadowhollyjc, thank you for sharing your experience. I really needed to hear that. I'm hoping Cupid and Clayton get to the best friends point as well. Two nights ago, Cupid was lying down next to me on the couch, and Clayton came and cuddled next to him. They stayed that way for about five seconds, LOL!, but it gave me hope for the future.

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Thracian

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 3, 2009

Thanks for the advice and success stories. Things are a bit better now with sleeping arrangements. The dog bed in my room didn't work out--the puppy kept getting off it. So I pulled out Cupid's crate, set it on my bed, and was starting to section it off so it would be small enough for the puppy. Before I could, Cupid jumped up, hopped in the crate, and laid down.

So now he sleeps in the crate on my bed and comes out partway through the night when he feels comfortable. Clayton sleeps on the other side of the bed, usually by my hip. Once his crate arrives (this week, I hope), I'll work on his crate training as well. I think it's working out nicely even if it isn't what I'd planned.

The newest issue is that Cupid doesn't want to go outside to potty. I got off to a bad start by sending the boys out together, and Clayton would often just follow Cupid around. Not too conducive to comfortable elimination. Now I'm sending them out separately, but Cupid still prefers to wait until we are on a walk. I'll keep working on that. And suggestions, of course, are appreciated.

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