Am I sending the wrong message?

Question

On Wed night I got a new dog. She is 1.5yrs old. I already have a 5 yr old. They are getting on ok, not great friends but not snapping and biting either.
The older dog was/is very spoilt and I have been working on her for the last week with great results - food & attention wise.
She sleeps on our bed and I have had the other dog in the kitchen where she scrapes the door and whines all night. This morning I closed my bedroom door and left them both in the kitchen. I plan to do this from now on while we are at work and at night.
I love to spend a bit of time with them in the mornings and w/e mornings. Is it giving the wrong signals to let them into the bed at these times? Also is it sufficient to put them in the kitchen and close the door or should I do some kind of command/reward system.
Really want to be a better dog owner so all advice will be greatfully received.

I do love them loads but I think it is desperate unfair to separate them and I can't have them both in the bed with us - no room.
I doubt they would sleep in their bed next to ours.

Answer 1

Locking them in the kitchen isn't very nice but I think you sound like a real genuine dog person and so I think the fact that you show them so much love,means more then anything else !!

Answer 2

Is this what you have always done? The dog you have had the longest is going to have a real hard time (I feel) if you change everything in his/her life.
The new dog has not clue it is new.... Gradually change the routine is what I would do if you have too. If your older dog has always slept with you on the bed then all of a sudden is not, there will be some confussion.....
I feel that no attention is the wrong signal...Spoiling a dog is never a great idea.
We have four dogs. 2 our pretty new additions, 6 months or so for the saint Bernard (who's owner died of cancer and not everyone has the facilities for a big dog) and the Aussie pup. The two that have been with us forever have had a interesting time of it. If we changed the way we do things the dogs we have had the longest I feel would not have adapted as well as they have. It does take a little while before they all decided that everyone was sticking around.
I do have dogs dropped off on me (the last one was a wolf pup, we are trying to stop this dropping off crap) so my cow dog cross does not warm up to new dogs fast....he is used to them leaving.

"Really want to be a better dog owner so all advice will be gratefully received." Just by asking questions and wanting to learn tells me you will be a great dog owner!!

Answer 3

Glad to hear that you are getting really good results with your older dog. Its such a great feeling to see things working isn't it! Well done.

Both dogs will settle more quickly if you are very consistent with them. So, for the next few weeks, until you are happy that they have accepted the new rules, don't let them in your room at all.

Make sure that they are toileted and have water before you leave them in the kitchen at night. Don't leave the room until they have both settled and are resting. Withdraw your attention from both dogs for about half an hour before you physically leave the room. Then, just leave quietly. Do not return until the morning - no matter how much fuss they make! It won't take long for them to understand that they have to wait for you to wake up. As they get used to the system you will find that they don't take so long to settle and you don't have to keep so quiet to avoid disturbing them etc.

When they are 100% ok with sleeping in the kitchen - probably a few months down the road - you can bend the rules a little now and then and have them in to snuggle up with you. Alternatively, you can squeeze a comfy small sofa into your kitchen and go and snuggle up with them!

Its really impressive to see your commitment to your rules - its the sign of a good dog owner as this is what dogs really respond well to! Enjoy them!

Answer 4

You're the pack leader, and they should both be respecting you. Given the new dog, you as leader should be showing the same respect to both, however, your first dog may show signs of revolt towards the newbie if it is all of a sudden being treated differently than it did before. Ergo, old dog not getting into your bed any more might get a bit ticked off if this isn't happening anymore, and resentment could build and you come home one day to find your kitchen destroyed and/or one dog injured as a result of a fight.....

Spoil them both, do with one as you would with the other, and hopefully they'll become good buddies. However do not force them to be, let them take their own time to do that, but make it clear to them that you are the boss dog in the house. Get them their own duvet to sleep on in the bedroom, and move it around the house so they know their place - that worked for us.

Answer 5

i relay wouldn't shut them in the kitchen together yet you need to see that they are going to be ok they may fight so take them both to bed what the hell put the dogs bed on the floor in your bedroom until they are best of palls then when they are ok together then try putting them down in the kitchen but you will have two put up with 2 dogs in the bedroom for a while then once they are happy and you know that they are ok together then they should be fine in the kitchen i leave my 3 dogs in the kitchen when i go out i dont let them run around the house if im not at home but they are use to being in the kitchen if we are out and they are fine i always make sure they have there toys and pigs ears to chew on so the dont get board

Answer 6

Hey having your dog on your bed, sofa places that are yours isn't really a good idea once you start this its hard to stop it your giving your dogs the wrong signals your telling them that they're on the same level as you when your dogs should be under you, you should be the pack leader let your dogs know this. Locking your dog in another room and closing the door isn't a bad idea(make sure this is safe & comfortable for them) this is you letting your dogs know that this is your time now and that's their place to go they will get used to this you should always reward your dog when it
has done something good. Have you considered create training?

Answer 7

As long as you establish a routine, such as putting them in the kitchen at night and having morning time, then it will not be a problem. When ever I put my dog in her crate I always throw in a treat or two, just because I feel guilty about putting her up. It also distracts her from the fact that I just closed the door on her. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

Although I do not have a dog, I do think that you should show that the bed is out of bounds at all times so as not to be confusing to them. A reward system may be a good idea until they are used to the fact that they will be in the kitchen. I would definately reccommend that you do not allow them in the bedroom at all.

Answer 9

Locking them in the kitchen is fine, to whomever said it 'isnt very nice'.They are dogs, not children.I wouldnt let them into your bedroom at all, as if you do, it will just send them mixed messages,a dog wont understand it can only go in your room sometimes. I think you just carry on as you are, and keep the dogs together so there isnt any favouritism.

Answer 10

Sounds like you have added another adult female. Be careful.

Until you are 100% SURE they are best buds (may take awhile) I would not leave them unsupervised because they are adult age b-tches. Make sure they are both spayed.

To be on the safe side I would crate them both so you don't come home to a bloody disaster if they decide to challenge each other while you are gone.

Your bed is your bed not meant for dogs...sorry.