The settling down routine was a bit different, but they settled. Buddy upstairs as usual, Salty on sofa.
We heard two brief spats but they sorted themselves out.
I tried feeding them both in the kitchen this morning, one one end, one the other (it is only small though). Buddy does a good sit and leave so I got him in position, Tried the same with Salty, holding her collar, and put hers down first, then Buddy's. Went ok for a second or two, but Buddy literally inhaled his in his rush to get to hers. She on the other hand is a s,ow, messy eater so he was desperately trying to get to hers. We lost any control over him at that point so dragged him into the lounge and shut the doors. But we knew the doors don't close well so he just barged through. Think we will need to keep them very seperate as it seems they are both food guarding at the moment. I threw away what she didn't eat immediately because Buddy would have just got it.
They then behaved very badly, BOTH very possessive of us!
However I just took them out on the field where they ignored each other for a while until another dog came up to us. He doesn't usually play at all, but Salty started trying to get him to play
When Simba lost interest, she allowed Buddy to play and I locked the extending lead and let them at it. It was great, they had such fun. We must try to improvise a long line for the rest of the week.
Then Bud went into the river for a drink and Salty followed him! BUT she is too fat to climb out, so I tugged on the lead to give her a hand and the collar slipped off, so I had to climb down the muddy bank, kneel in the mud and haul her out!!!!
Still, I managed to get the collar back on her and we are all fine now, but back in the house they are ignoring each other again. Early days.
Must say, at first I was thinking that she definitely wasn't going to be staying, but now I'm back to having a more open mind about it. I know it's early days but first thing was so much NOT fun, I didn't want to have to be coping with that for ever. Guess I'm also a bit stressed by the busy day ahead of me (all planned before we knew Salty was coming, obviously)
Thanks for thinking of us, keep the advice and encouragement coming please.