#2 Dood comes home in 2 weeks

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

We will be picking up Lucca's cousin in 2 weeks. My question is regarding sleeping arrangements. At 2 years old, Lucca has the run of the house. Puppy will be crated at night in the kitchen. I will also have a gate in the kitchen for during the day. Puppy will not have free reign of the house until s(he) is potty trained.

When I put the puppy down at night I will leave the kitchen gate open for the 2 cats and Lucca to have access to the kitchen. I also did this when Lucca was a pup (he was crated) and it worked fine. I have a video baby monitor that will be aimed at the crate and will get up 1-2 times at night to let puppy out. I usually get the puppy out of the crate quietly and bring him (her) out to pee then quietly put her back in the crate and go back to bed.

My question: Lucca usually comes up in the middle of the night to sleep with us. I have a feeling he will want to stay with his new cousin. Do you think he will get the puppy excited when I get her out of the crate to pee? Should I keep Lucca upstairs with us at night?
My thought: is that one of Lucca's beds is in the kitchen and if he sleeps in it he will be keeping puppy company but I don't want puppy or Lucca to think the middle of the night is playtime!!!

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I know I am fretting over this and most likely all will go smoothly....just like it did when I brought Lucca home.

[Lynda Kamrath]

We are just going through the same thing and Groucho does not want to be around the puppy at night. He prefers to be on his bed in our bedroom and he does have the run of the house. He needs to have his scratches at coffee time and his breakfast before he wants to deal with the puppy. The puppy goes to bed at 8:00 and I get up once at night to take him out. Then he goes right back to bed until the coffee is ready a few hours later. When we take the coffee into the bedroom, the puppy is invited to join us for scratches. Afterwards they both have their breakfast and then go outside to play. By that time Groucho is ready to play and utliize the dog run.
Don't worry too much. You have thought about your schedule and Lucca's adjustment and they will let you know if you have forgotten anything. Have fun with your new puppy. I have taken a few photos and will process them on my computer and post here later.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Thanks Lynda. I feel like I am over thinking this and it will all come into place.
We need to all get together after puppies have had their shots and meet the new little ones. Hopefully before the Romp in April:)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Here are the photos I took. I know that I am "different" but I have a thing about crates. I have his crate in the car (but we are already beyond that). Harpo and all my puppies have used a playpen in the house. Yes, let's get together when the shots are all taken care of. Harpo gets the last of his tomorrow (another rabies as California does not accept the Texas rabies shot), and we have already spent time at the local dog parks and beaches. We can meet you somewhere, but my favorite spot is Carmel Beach. Do you ever come down this way? I remember you and Lucca from the romps in San Mateo.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

What a great idea:) I did the wire crate with Lucca and covered it with a blanket at night. Puppy will only be in the crate when I'm not home which is very rarely these days. I will have the kitchen gated from the rest of the house too. We only used the crate for Lucca until he was around 6 months so it was very short term. Although during the day I kept the door open and he did use it as his bed for awhile. We have beds all over the house too and every dog has their favorite!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Kona is not interested in playing with the puppy all of the time. He sleeps in our bedroom at night and the puppy is in a crate downstairs. We are use a wire crate for Owen, too. I used to be Kona's and is huge. Kona slept in it until he was over a year old. Then he got so big nothing was going to contain him. He's 27 1/2 inches at the withers and 94 pounds. I actually close the door when Owen goes to sleep in there even during the day. He is very happy in it. We are finding that Owen is harder to housebreak than we remember Kona to be. He has an accident every day. He is within 3-6 feet of us at all times and still will just pee. Then everyone jumps into action... one carries him outside while the other cleans up the wet. sigh. Hoping this part of puppyhood ends soon.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Oh Gosh...memories!!! I keep looking at my carpet under the kitchen table and am considering pulling it up for awhile. You also just reminded me to get more Natures Miracle!!!!! LOL.....

[Bonnie and Kona]

;o)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Two weeks sure goes fast, doesn't it? Best of luck with Lucca's new little brother (sister?).

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I know...I can't believe it's tomorrow