where to keep new second dog at night and while gone

    • Gold Top Dog

    where to keep new second dog at night and while gone

     Hello again!

    We are bringing home our new rescue dog tomorrow and keeping him for the weekend to see how he and our current dog get along over a few days. I'm having trouble trying to figure out where to keep him at night and while we're out.  My current dog sleeps in our room, and while we're out, she gets run of the kitchen and back porch area (all one open spot).  The rescue said that the new dog doesn't bother anything at night, he just sleeps, but they do recommend crating him while we're out.  I don't want to keep the 2 dogs together unsupervised until I'm certain they can get along and won't hurt each other.  I can easily give the new dog run of the kitchen at night.  We got a very large crate for him, so once we pick a spot for it, it's going to stay put.  I wanted to keep it in the kitchen, so that at night, he can go in it if he would want.  However, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to give my current dog run of the kitchen while we're out, while he's locked in his crate in the kitchen?   Could it cause frustration for the new dog?

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    I would keep his crate in your bedroom to help him feel part of the family.  I'd keep him crated, even at night, until he's settled in and has learned the routine.  He may have done well in the foster home (assuming this, since he's from a rescue) but that might not translate to your home until he's been there for a few weeks.  I don't think I would worry too much about the frustration factor. Three of our four dogs are crated at night.  None of the crated dogs seem to feel any frustration that they are crated and one is not.  All of them sleep in our bedroom.  Yes, it's a dog house around here. lol

    • Gold Top Dog

     The only reason why don't want to keep the crate in our room is because this dog tends to go in his crate for naps and when stressed.  He will not have unsupervised access to our upstairs during the day.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Have these dogs met yet?  If not, I would introduce them on neutral territory, not at your home, then bring them home together. Once there, if you need to crate him until you're sure, then do.

     

    • Gold Top Dog

     Yes, they've met twice.  Once outside only, then outside and in.  They played a bit roughly, but no one harmed each other.  I am definitely going to be crating the new guy until I'm 100% sure they won't hurt each other.  I'm just not sure where to keep the crate. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    To be honest?  Your answer lies in TWO crates.  Being part of the "pack" at night is HUGE to a dog.  That "sleep smell" is a big deal to them in bonding and being a part of everything.

    But you don't want to schlep a crate back and forth so honestly a 2d crate is likely your answer unless you can completely dog-proof a separate room (and even then I'd rather use a wire crate so they can see/hear each other).

    I have a soft-sided crate I use this way sometimes -- put the sturdier crate downstairs for day, and just have a soft-sided one for at night in your bedroom until you feel comfortable having him loose (which is usually several months before they're "trusty";) -- but we love a soft-sided crate as a 2d because it comes in so handy when we travel.

    • Gold Top Dog
    We have two crates per dog at my house, as well! Soft sided are upstairs and wire are downstairs. I got a steal on a cheapy soft-sided one at Big Lots of all places...it's Wendy sized, I think 36''? IIRC about $40 as well.

    My dog set up is similar to what yours would be - Wendy is crated in the same room that Pirate is confined in. I've never had a problem with it :)

    • Gold Top Dog

     Unfortunately, I can't run out and buy another crate right now.  We haven't officially adopted this guy yet.  We're just giving it a trial run this weekend to see how the 2 dogs get along after a few hours.  I've already spent quite a bit of cash of basic supplies, a huge plastic crate, a vet visit, etc...   Until I know for sure that we're adopting him, I can't spend any more.  I've always kept any new dog in our room in a crate until they were trustworthy enough to pick where they wanted to sleep.  I don't like the idea of locking him in a crate downstairs where I can't hear him.  Ideally, he will sleep in my daughter's room, if we keep him.  I just can't lug the crate up and down the stairs.

    • Gold Top Dog

     I may just keep the crate up in daughter's room.  Put him in it at night and while gone during the day. I'll let my current dog do her usual routine.  During the day, while I'm home, hopefully he can find another "safe spot" to lay when he wants to nap.