From: schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis)
Subject: New Puppy Finally Arrives
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 17:24:10 GMT

Well, we picked up our second puppy the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.
After an interesting week off, I think I'm ready to ask a few
questions.....

Both our dogs are male Havanese.  Our first dog, Max is 9 months old
and Mardi (short for Mardi Gras) is 12 weeks.  We introduced the dogs 
in the front yard before bringing Mardi inside.  The whole week has 
been full of mounting, and rough play.  At first I was a little scared, 
but determined to let them work it out unless it turned from play to
fighting.  This weekend Mardi started showing the first signs of
understanding what house training is all about.  (Yes, we're crating.)

The funny thing is that Max gets after him when he messes up.  If he
starts to do something in the house, Max tries to drag him by the ear
to the back door.  The whole time this is going on, Mardi is trying to,
well, make a mess!  What a sight.  Mardi is also the first dog I've ever 
met that can pee while in a sitting position.  This makes getting him 
outside really interesting.

We've been very careful about the attention we give both dogs.  Max
gets greeted first, fed first, etc.  However, he is still very aware
of any attention Mardi gets, and has to mount him as soon as he is out
of our arms to let him know who's boss.

My questions are:

About how long will this last?  Forever?  Will Max eventually feel
that Mardi gets the big picture and stop doing this?

Max gets neutered Friday.  Will it slow down after that?  

We're not keeping them together during the day because Mardi isn't
house trained yet.  After he is, how will we know its safe?  We'd like
to keep both of them in the kitchen.  It's large enough and we can
easily confine them using child gates.  We do this now with Max.

When will be able to walk them together?  I tried once, but now its a
two-person job.  

How many of you felt your oldest dog was jealous when you brought your
second dog home?  Max went off his food for three days and basically
lost is perky personality until this past weekend.  He still gets a
"hang dog" look every once in while when we're doing something with
Mardi no matter how much attention Max is getting.  Will this stop?

Last week someone (sorry I didn't keep the name) described the
differences in the personalities of his two poodles.  Already, we're
noticing the same thing.

Max isn't a big eater.  Missing a meal is no big deal.  For Mardi it
would be a capital offense.  Max is very neat and spends time cleaning
himself up if he gets dirty (like a cat, almost).  Mardi, would swim
in his water bowl and roll in his food bowl if he could.  Max is very
polite.  If Mardi takes a treat or toy from his mouth, he'll go find
another one.  Mardi wants whatever Max has and doesn't mind taking it.
Max is quiet, Mardi is always making some kind of noise.  Max hated
his crate and didn't sleep through the night until he was 5 months
old.  Mardi loves his crate (if someone is in the same room) and has
slept through several nights.  

Also, interesting....Max was the dominant pup in his litter and Mardi
wasn't.  However, it's obvious already that Mardi will be the dominant
dog.  

schalene