This morning we had some much-needed rain. As much as we desperately need it, it certainly makes dealing with dogs a pain. Normally we go out to potty around 6 am, then Chester gets to snuggle with Daddy for a while and Lola goes back in her crate.
Then it’s breakfast around 7 am, a short training session (oh the joys of trying to train 2 dogs at once, especially one with almost no training), out to potty again (if needed), a short play session, then our walk.
But it was mildly raining when we went outside. They both pottied, they played for a short while, but I decided it didn’t look like it was one of those rain showers that would dissipate quickly so we went back inside.
My husband has had problems figuring out what to do with the dogs after I’ve gone to bed. He’s usually up a couple of hours after me, in the office. Chester was never a problem, he went in his bed & he’d stay there when my husband left for short periods of time.
However, he couldn’t get them to settle down together or apart. The last couple of nights he’s watched tv for a while while they’re snoozing in their crates, and then put them to bed before going in the office. Even though Lola isn’t house trained, she luckily doesn’t need to go out often (in fact, so far she only poops once a day!), and she hasn’t had any problems at all holding it all night. In fact, when I take her out at 6:30 she doesn’t really seem to feel the urge, whereas Chester does his business right away.
I hope that her bathroom habits don’t change as time goes on — that is, that her ability to hold things isn’t just part of the honeymoom period, but rather just the way she is. She is, in fact, much better at holding it than Chester is. There is just something not quite right with Chester’s digestive tract, and he’s been like that since day 1 — but he’s much better now. At least now I’m pretty sure that it’s nothing I did, it’s just the way he is.
So this morning I took them both in the office with me. I put Chester in his bed on the chair next to me (although he immediately jumped into the bed on the floor, which I intended for Lola, and did not want to get out — he loves his beds). I then tied Lola to my chair, short enough so that she couldn’t wander far. It took a little while, but she eventually curled up in her bed and sacked out. Maybe my husband will try it tonight; maybe not — but at least now I know it’s an option. I don’t like to keep them crated all day when they’re not playing or outside, but they both have to be confined for differing reasons right now.
Whenever you introduce new animals, unless you’re very lucky, there are such highs and lows. For instance, maybe the highlight of my day today was being “attacked” and almost licked to death by two chihuahuas after our nap. But the low was when I had them gated in the kitchen, preparing their dinners, and Gizmo decided to come in.
Gizmo is used to coming in when I get Chester’s dinner ready. Chester is in his bed, and if he gets up, he’s still on a leash since he’s still recuperating from surgery. Gizmo usually just jumps up on his stool & I give him a little food.
But Gizmo just freaked out when he saw two dogs coming towards them, despite the fact that they were nothing but friendly. He then came back in a little later, but freaked out yet again — hissing and bopping — and not just little bops — at the poor dogs.
I feel so selfish sometimes. I love my boys more than anything; so how could I inflict such chaos on them? It seems so unfair to them. My husband loves Chester to pieces, but he’s unsure about a second dog. And of course sometimes I have to wonder if he’s right. We had a routine with Chester, and Gizmo mostly tolerated him. Is two dogs just too many for Gizmo? I just feel so bad to cause him such anguish.
And yet people have multiple dogs with cats all the time.
It is later in the day, and I feel better. I still feel sorry to cause Gizmo such anguish, but I do believe in time he’ll come to tolerate both dogs. It just takes time. He isn’t off his food, and he still comes to me for affection. I suppose the fact that he even came in when the both of them were in there says something.
I did get “attacked” by my two chihuahuas this afternoon. They tried to lick me to death — apparently they decided that’s how they’re going to let me know it’s time for supper. Gotta love that.
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