We are adding a second member to our pack at the end of December! I want to be as prepared as possible for our addition and what I may expect. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Some of my main concerns that I would like help with are:
- How does everyone go about feeding? How do I keep them separate and to know that they each have their own dish.
- When potty training, should the puppy always go out separate from my other dog?
- In what proximity should I have their cages?

Any additional input you can think of would be great!

I started feeding mine in separate rooms until I knew and had any potential food aggression issues taken care of then eventually started feeding in the same room. I always watch. If anyone doesn't eat all their food, usually Kenzi, I take the bowl up so the other doesn't eat it. This makes it so he isn't getting more food than he needs and illuminates her need to guard it.

I would take her out with the other dog sometimes but not all the time. She will be looking to the other to learn from and seeing her elder potty outside can reinforce her training. Having alone time for each is important though.

What are some good ways to give proper alone time?

I agree with everything Jenn said. Its exactly how I handled it with Kohdi and Mishka when I got Mishka. Puppies learn SO much from the elder so its good to let them out together sometimes, but puppies are puppies (easily distractd) and having the elder out there can become a distraction for them too (like...if the puppy doesnt really need to go that bad, puppy might wanna play with the elder instead) so doing both, in my opinion, is best

As far as alone time, I can only tell you what I did. I used one of those child gates (ok, I lied, was actually one of those fireplace screen things...she was climbing up and over the child gate) and blocked off the kitchen from the rest of the house (and a whole "fence" of furniture/storage crates/etc...haha, to block the dining room from the kitchen (so she had the kitchen, with her crate in there as well for alone time) I chose the kitchen cuz its tiled, easy to clean and all that. I did the same thing when it came time for Mishka to be spayed.

pic of Mishka spying from the bottom of the fireplace screen thing, haha


I think its important too, in my opinion, to make some special alone time for the elder too...with you. Lets them know theyre still special, loved, etc...

Ahh, and congratulations!!!

I will often let one outside to pick through the yard while I keep the other inside for training. Sometimes I will give one something to chew on while I take the other outside with me and just walk to the mailbox or stake one out while I'm working on a car while the other gets to stay inside with a toy. Giving the other something to do so it doesn't feel left out is important. If I have to work on Kenzi's nails I always have to put Keno in his crate so he isn't barging in my way, so I give him a chew and lock him up. Same if I need to do some training with her. I want him to see it and hear the commands but I want him out of my way.

That pic of Miska and the fire screen is [b]precious!!![/n]

Thanks, great advice so far!