New DOOD is here!! A few questions about how to proceed...

[Jennifer Goaring]

Well after a 1 day delay, Mojo is finally here with us! He was a bit of a nervous nelly on the ride home. Lots of panting, some whining... I felt bad for him. He sat up in the front seat with me wearing a seatbelt harness thing which is always what I do with Sam, but it was probably a new thing for him.

When we got here I took him out to the back yard first... Sam started yelling and whining from his crate right away (as he can see the back door from there) but I made him wait a bit so Mojo could have a sniff around the yard and then I let him out.

They checked each other out some and chased a bit but then we all came back inside and let Mojo check out the house. I have the kitchen and family room gated off (basically 2/3 of the downstairs is available to them). We had been letting Sammy roam around more (leaving the gate open) but I need to make sure Mojo is not a major chewer and knows about going out to do his business and all that before I let him roam so for now, the gate will stay up.

I brought out a bully stick and split it in half (not an easy task) and let them both sit in the same room together and chew... seemed to go well -- they swapped sticks every so often but no guarding behavior or fighting at all. I also brought out a couple of new plush-unstuffed toys and they liked those as well and would take them away from each other at times, but it was all very playful. It is nice that they are only a few months apart because they are at the same stage of things developmentally... And while Mojo is smaller, he is MUCH faster so playing outside turns in to a game of high speed chase and Sam can't really keep up-- but it is so good to see him trying to and getting more exercise!

I need to get some video of them zooming around outside.

Speaking of video -- I promise to post some pictures -- it is just my battery went totally dead and is now recharging.

So Mojo has no training really. It is weird to have a 1 year old dog that doesn't know "sit" at all. He just looks at me like I am speaking French (which I am sure, to him, I am!) He doesn't really come to his name either... so I have my work cut out for me. I already managed to get sit by putting a lead on him and luring with a treat (the lead is just so he can't keep backing away from me). After a few treats, he was starting to get it.

My questions for you all are:
-how do I work on training him when Sam is always butting in the way? I tried sending Sam upstairs and keeping Mojo in the kitchen but Sam sat and whined and cried on the other side of the gate because he wanted in on what we were doing. SIGH.
-not sure how this alpha thing works? any big no-nos? I put their dog dishes down (fresh cooked turkey and kibble) about 4 feet apart and they both kept going back and forth eating out of both... they are sharing the water bowls fine (1 inside, 1 outside) they are wrestling around right now... in the house -- not sure if I should shut them down or not... this is the first I have seen of this since outside it was mostly just chase...

OK I put it to a stop because it turned into wild chase.

-Mojo doesn't know that we don't put paws on the table, don't jump on the couch down here (it will be awhile before I let him know that the upstairs couch is fine for dogs), and that we wipe paws when we come in the house. He seems very willing to figure it all out though, but it is definitely different than training a new puppy or much younger dog. Any wisdom on this? Treats seem to work well when he is staring at me like I am a crazy person... it is new for me though because Sam was more into just coming to us naturally, sitting naturally and we just encouraged it and gave him words for these behaviors... for Mojo it really is liking teaching him something that is totally new.

This is long enough for now... I know I will have lots of questions that come up. I will get pictures up as soon as my camera charges and I can get them to stay still for a moment!

Jen

[Adina P]

Sam needs to learn to be separated from you and Mojo -- so don't let his whining keep you from spending individual time (training or otherwise) with Mojo.  Crate Sam and work with Mojo and then you can swap and crate Mojo and work with Sam.

[Jennifer Goaring]

Yeah, Sam is being a bit of a goof about it all... I crated them both so I could go put the kids to bed because I knew they had stuff all over the play room (which is just a big open room upstairs that the bedrooms lead off of so I can't close it off at all) and I just still don't know what stuff Mojo will get into -- I doubt he gets the difference between his toys and the kids toys yet... Anyhow... so they were both crated and I hear whining and figure it is Mojo being upset about the crate and I come down to find that it is SAM who is whining and Mojo is lying down quietly i his crate.  SIGH.

 

But, I do honestly get that his routine is being thrown off a bit -- I normally take him upstairs with me.  He will just have to deal for a bit while I figure out what I need to watch for with the new guy.  Tomorrow night I may just tether Mojo to me and then everyone can be upstairs and I can keep an eye on him while dealing with the kids.

 

It is going to be a BUSY week around here (my DH is out of town so I have solo mom duties AND a new doodle!)

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Congratulations on your new addition. We recently added another "doodle" to our home and it really is not easy and certainly twice more work but definitely twice more fun. We were pretty lucky as our Johnny was someone's baby at sometime before he was found running up the freeway. He is perfectly trained in every way, so that was easy for us, but there were a few things that we had problems with and, like you have experienced, the other doodle keeps butting in when you are trying to correct them. Anyway, it has been over two months for us now and finally, we have a wonderful routine and my first dog had practically forgotten what it was like to be "an only child". Two is definitely the way to go...but be patient in the early stages as it just does not come naturally.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Congratulations. I think the most important thing is that they get along. I would keep enforcing the rules and keep enforcing the rules.  We got Clancy as a rescue last year.  He and Ned were both 2. At the time we also had a 6 year old Springer Spaniel and an 11 year old lab mix.  Clancy had no idea that he had a name, did not come when called, did not know that he had a food dish that was his and that the other dogs had their own food bowls.  He was a bit underweight and LOVES food. We had settling in issues that were more critical than training issues.  Our problems were a bit different because pack order and pack manners were a huge hurdle and it sounds like you aren't having that.  Clancy did mark in our house at first, but learned when corrected.  It took a while but Clancy has settled in nicely. We were patient and just kept at it and he has learned both the good and bad habits of our other dogs. As far as training without the other dog.  We have had a huge problem with this.  Our Springer now howls when left alone and we have Ned and Clancy in training classes.  We have to either take our Springer with us when we practice or find a doggy sitter.  Some practice happens in our front yard and the Springer is left inside. When we take the Springer we either tie him to a tree or we leave him in the car so he can watch. Can one adult in the home take Sammy and the other adult take Mojo to train or practice or for a walk?

[Jennifer Goaring]

When my husband gets back in town, then I can definitely have him keep someone here and I can go outside or vice versus... he just happens to be out of town this week (which really never happens -- it is his 50th birthday so his brother had him fly out to Florida and they are going to go see spring training games and visit with cousin he hasn't seen in a bunch of years).

 

It is only day 1 -- we will get there.  I am sure Mojo has had an overwhelming day.  I think he is doing well and Sammy is handling it all well too.  Just didn't think what a freak out Sam would be while I was trying to teach Mojo how to sit... Geez!

 

Off to go make popcorn for myself and the 3 year old who took a giant (late) nap... SIGH.  Wonder how the dogs will handle that... Sam LOVES popcorn and tends to pathetically beg for it but I don't always let him have any and if any... only if he chills out.

[Aimee Santa Monica]

Two doodles are so much better than 1 !  :)    But ofcourse, at the beginning is super hard with training and scheduling!  But it sounds like you're doing well!  

When we got our new pup Ayla, (2 weeks younger than our Storm) , the first few nights were rough, and one night i  let Storm & Ayla sleep together in Ayla's Huge crate, (they always sleep in another room & now are used to it)  i think it calmed her down, it got quiet fast!

  When we first had Storm, he had all the attention , and no distractions during trainings. But with Ayla, it was hard at first, because Storm would want attention too !  So, when i train Ayla, (with Storm at her side) i would reward Storm for being patient while watching us. He learned fast.  They both know Sit, down,  wave, ring bell,  but i am still working with Ayla on stay. Storm does "leave it" very well.   Ayla's first week with us, was all about gaining her trust. She was very hand shy, and would back up.  She is doing so much better now and  is coming out of her shell and more vocal and playful with me!  Storm & Ayla are the best of friends now. :)

[Bev]

My Callie was 5 months when she was shipped to me and she has been way more work than a puppy!! The breeder let the pups pee in a pool shaped object with pellets and somehow my family room carpeting has become the new pee pee spot in the house and she is 9 months old. My husband is the dog nanny so he should watch he better during the week. When I am home Fri, Sat, Sun, if I can't be in the room with Callie she goes into her crate. I can't have the other 3 doods picking up bad habits. Callie has been slow on commands and the breeder took her to puppy class and she passed. Again, the downside of an older pup. Good luck and remember the crate needs to be used.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I don't have time for a long reply right now, but I saw something right away that alarmed me. I am interested to know what everyone else thinks about this--I believe the front seat is a big NO-NO if you have air bags. Just like with a young child, the force of the air bag can break their neck. Just wanted to point that out and i will come back to this later! I have a new puppy right now and he needs to go OUT!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It really sounds like things are going so well, and congratulations on your new "addition".  They seem to be getting along great which is so important.  I have the same issue with training.  I spend a lot of time training Murphy right now, and my other Doodle doesn't like the idea that he seems to be getting so much of the attention.  I know they can't experience "jealousy", but he does know that I'm downstairs "working" with Murphy and he's stuck "upstairs".  I do try to give Guinness (the older dog) some one on one time too, but I don't think they really "get that".  They just know that "at that time" another dog has all my attention....and he'd rather that it was him.  That's just the way it has to be for now.  I do try to do a lot of the training outside (weather permitting), and that seems to avoid the issue.  They dogs are used to being walked individually, so when I go out to train Murph that doesn't seem unusual.  I've never trained an older dog....always a puppy.  I wonder if Sam will "help" with the training....will Mojo copy some of Sam's behaviors?  Keep us posted, and I can't wait for the pictures!

[Jennifer Goaring]

Pictures to add!

 

Sam in the background, Mojo front and center -- chewy on a bully stick.

 

This is probably as close as they have gotten to each other so far (without counting wrestling!)

 

His haircut isn't too terrible... but see how skinny the legs are and what a mop top they left on top?  You can hardly see his ears (they trimmed them up and trimmed the tail up too much too).

 

He sits totally crooked!  It is pretty funny.  Does it when he lies down also.  Cute!

 

We had some howling and whining last night when I first put them in their crates for the night... not sure who was making noise actually since I have the crates next to each other.  But them were quiet when I went to sleep and woke up happy to greet me and all the boys (I have 4 boys (humans)... I guess I have SIX now (total) :))

 

Jen

[Lynda Kamrath]

Hi Jen - Sounds like you have your hands full with 6 boys.  Wow!  And I thought my two doodle boys kept me busy!  I agree with Ginny that you should reconsider allowing any dog to sit in the front seat.  If you have a back seat (which I am sure you do with 4 human boys), it would be better to get him adjusted to sitting in the back seat.  My first doodle loved to ride shotgun in any car and would moan and cry if he did not get to sit in the front seat.  He never did any damage, but we stopped allowing him to do that when we got our second large doodle.  It is easier to start out with the rules you want to enforce, rather than changing later.

And congratulations - he is beautiful.  I like his brown little paws and ears.

[Jennifer Goaring]

I feel bad... I just figured that they sit so much further back from the airbag and often are lying on the seat (so the airbag would go over them).  But it does make sense.  Sam LOVES to be in the front seat, so changing it with him will be hard.  The new guy doesn't know any different (only 1 car ride) so changing things for him is fine.  We have a minivan with captain seats -- so the problem is that it is a bit open in the back... but with the seatbelt harness thing, I can put them in the 1 captain seat that doesn't have a car seat or booster in it!  (not sure how I will transport both at once... but for the near future, I don't see me taking them both together anywhere right away -- I need to be able to manage them 1 on 1 for a bit...)