Congratulations on your new addition
I have a female 15 months old and a boy 6 months old so they are just 9 months apart. I made sure that the older girl (who was an only child
) got lots of individual attention and they went on separate walks when Ned was old enough to go out. I felt the separate walks were important as Ned being a young puppy had different requirements exercise wise than Maisie. His outings were more to do with experiences and socialization than exercise.
They do get on well but it is definitely on Maisie’s terms
. Ned loves Maisie but Maisie only loves Maisie
I have just started to take them out together but only on short walks of 30 minutes so as not to over exercise Ned. We still have separate walks though as I felt they are individuals and don’t always want the other along. Good luck with the two. I love having two dogs and my two have very very different characters. Maisie is feisty and has attitude whilst Ned is a kind, gentle, sensitive chilled boy. It is lovely to see them together, cuddling together on the sofa - well Maisie allowing Ned to cuddle up to her
You probably do this already, but I feed on opposite sides of the kitchen. When Ned was having four meals a day, I also gave Maisie four (splitting her usual feed into smaller portions) just so she wouldn’t feel left out.
Previously I had two litter sisters and at the beginning I used to take them out separately but Marley was very reliant on her sister and would scream the house down if left alone. I caved in and never left her on her own. I made a rod for my own back, as later when Stevie needed to go to the vets or anywhere on her own, I had to take Marley too as she simply couldn’t be left. I learnt my lesson and now the current two dogs are left on their own in their crates when I take the other one out as I feel it is important that they can be left alone and not reliant on the other one.
