Multi-Sheepie Households - Please Help!
Have any of you "multi' sheepie families had problems with them being agressive with each other or jealous of attention, etc? The new puppy would be just that - a new puppy coming home at 8 weeks. And my current sheepie is a male, 18 months, neutered and a Moma's boy! Any help, suggestions, etc are appreciated! Diane |
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| Hi Diane....we are a multi sheepie household....and also have a Border Collie. They will get along just fine. You'll have to give them time to figure out their place with each other...but...let THEM work it out. They will. I promise! Good luck! Let us know what you decide. |
| Hi Diane,
We just got another sheepie 6 days ago. She is just 12 weeks old and I was a little worried that Big Sister Lulu (3 yr old OES) would be a little upset and have her feelings hurt. That was not the case in our house. Lulu and Lexie are already playing with eachother. Lulu will put her in her place and so far we haven't had any altercations. I was amazed and so happy that I finally went thru with getting another puppy and now Lulu will have a life long playmate. Now if I could just get Lexie to stop barking all thru the night. I must have forgotten the crate training that Lulu and I went through 3 years ago. Good luck! Michelle, Lulu, Dudley and Little Lexie. |
| Adding a puppy when you have an 18 mos old? If the 18 mos old is well adjusted and (reasonably) well trained, how perfect is that? I'd have no hesitation.
I have <ahem  > six and no aggression or any other issues. Oh, I'm sure they all periodically wish they were only children. But they also play with and keep each other company. You just have to remember who's in charge (hint: not them  ) I'm babysitting three OES who belong to a friend. She dropped them off last night. You'd think nine sheepdogs between the age of 2-11 would be chaotic at least, but it's not. They just hang out with the crew and me. In this case it's sort of like bringing one pack into another pack, but since both packs are pacifists, it all works out.
A lot depends on the dogs, but some also comes down to the people. Set boundaries. Protect the resident boy dog from puppy abuses and make sure he knows he's even MORE loved now that you have this stinkin' puppy and chances are all will be well. Kristine |
9  |
kerry wrote: 9
Only till Friday. Then Chewie's coming to stay with us for a couple of days   
Notice none of them are under the age of 2 though 
The little kids' dad is among the dogs visiting. So cool. He's such a doll. We'll be back to normal - whatever that is - by Monday night.
Kristine |
| wow I want video of the morning routine:)
You are, as always, my hero |
Oh my gosh! If your boy likes other dogs, I'd think another dog would be a fantastic playmate. Things can get rough, but everyone tends to work things out after a while..even the adult uprights  |
kerry wrote: wow I want video of the morning routine:)
You are, as always, my hero And I bet your favorite book is "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"?
This is nothing. I once had four rescue fosters stay with me for about a week until two of them went to a new home and another foster home respectively. That was a bit interesting, but, again all dogs that got along with other dogs. That and bringing them into a "pack" that's peaceful already is the key. It's when you have a problem dog (or dogs) and especially when you decide to get a puppy "for the dog" because you think that will somehow help the resident dog that you're often asking for trouble. Would I want to live with nine-ten dogs normally? No. There's only one of me and so many hours in the day. The grooming alone in this breed. Yegads. But I know large groups of dogs can co-exists nicely, in this case a mix of neutered and intact males, spayed and intact bitches, and no issues (proving to me, at least, once and for all that reproductive status is subservient to sound temperament and socialization) and it's really interesting to watch them all interact with each other and me. Kristine |
| They will get along great. We got Sophie when she was 8 weeks and Beau was 16 months. The get along great. We also have an 8yo GSD. No problems. They have the pecking order all sorted as such. Beau is in charge, sometimes, when he wants to be bossy. Cheyenne is in charge sometimes when Beau doesnt want to be. Sophie is never in charge. They all get along that way and we never have any problems. I |
| I think a lot depends on the temperament of your current dog and if he's happy around other dogs. Some dogs are easier than others. I now have, and have had in the past, both types.
You might also consider adding a female rather than another male. If in doubt, talk with a professional trainer first... you might get a good recommendation from your vet. Maybe you can see how your boy reacts to other dogs and puppies under controlled situations. Good luck to you! |
| l Mad Dog wrote: kerry wrote: 9 Only till Friday. Then Chewie's coming to stay with us for a couple of days Notice none of them are under the age of 2 though The little kids' dad is among the dogs visiting. So cool. He's such a doll. We'll be back to normal - whatever that is - by Monday night.Kristine Yay for Kristine!! Yes, Chewie is coming to play with "the family" for the weekend. Todd and I will be in town for our Basset Rescue's annual fundraiser weekend, and it is a "basset only" event. We will definitely get some pictures - I hope! when we drop him off tonight.
We have a multiple dog household too, and all do well with added dogs. I have a young male foster that is going with to Bassetfest with us this weekend, and he blended in just fine. Like Kristine, mine are all well socialized and dog-friendly, so we never have an issue. Good thing, as it will be 4 of them in the Element driving over to WI today. (The 4th one is little Tazz, he is hanging out with us at the campground, out of the basset zone. No one to take care of him at home this weekend d/t his medical needs.) I think adding a puppy with an 18 month old sounds like great timing!! |
| I've always had multiple dogs over the years (fosters and my own), and my first oes almost 12 years ago. I've added new furkids to the family at different ages and I think the easiest transitions were when adding a puppy because an older dog doesn't view it as a threat.
Never had any issues at all until Bree who at 18 months old now seems to think she wants to be alpha and her mother isn't crazy about that idea.  |
Willowsprite wrote: Never had any issues at all until Bree who at 18 months old now seems to think she wants to be alpha and her mother isn't crazy about that idea. OH NO sounds a lot like human teenagers. |
cheyennebuford wrote: Willowsprite wrote: Never had any issues at all until Bree who at 18 months old now seems to think she wants to be alpha and her mother isn't crazy about that idea. OH NO sounds a lot like human teenagers. Yeah, I'm pretty sure the look on Sky's face often means "Who's idea was it to keep this one?" |
| I am still in the thinking stage. To answer one of the questions, my current sheepie is a male, neutered and this second would be a female. They are related somewhere down the line but I forget how!
A few questions if anyone can answer...when crate training the new puppy, did you leave the crate in the same area as the older dog who is uncrated? Did you feed them at the same time ( using different bowls of course)? Thanks for all your help!!! Diane |
| We feed our dogs separately only because Cheyenne is a big pig LOL and was getting overweight, the vet put her on a diet. So now Beau eats in his crate, Sophie in hers and Cheyenne eats where she always has.
Ours sleep in different places too Beau sleeps with us, Sophie still sleeps in her crate and Cheyenne has run of the house. Cheyenne usually sleeps with my daughter when she is home from college. |
| lets see. Marley and Morgan were puppies together ( ) they had seperate crates in the breakfast room. Cedric had a crate in the basement at that time - his choice it was a new house and he claimed the basement as his.) the puppies ate in their own crates. when they got larger they ate ate seperate ends of the room. now Marley eats in her crate and Morgan ussually eats outside - Cedric eats in the laundry/ mud room.
When we got Beowulf (this april) we set up a new crate for him in the bedroom and one in the breakfast room as Marley and Morgan had left their crates behind (they are two) Note I said - Marley eats in her crate. She reclaimed the crate we put in the breakfast room as her own. For a short time we had a crate in the entry hall for Beowulf (who BTW eats alone before everyone else) Now we have a crate in the bedroom, a crate in the garage for quick changes of dog walks, after swim naps etc, a fulll size walk in kennel in the basement and two large crates down there. We also have two portable crates that get used occassionally at home and an XPEN. We are fluid and it seems (other than the Irish Setter who has some compulsive disorder thing going on) the dogs go through stages. right now Morgan is sleeping in the study for some reason. Usually the dogs all sleep in the bedroom with us (only puppy is crated) |
Stacy wrote: Things can get rough, but everyone tends to work things out after a while..even the adult uprights
Yep, It can and does tend toward rough(says the person who is still feeling pain in the bruised ribs). I've rarely been without two dogs and they do keep each other entertained(when not trying to flatten me) but are also attention hogs. They keep me entertained also with the stuff they do..and get into. This time we went with an adult rescue and it was love at first sight but he and Simon who was 18months at the time had to work out some problems on their own and now we live as a happy, somewhat roughed up family |
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