Dog sitting with our own dog

[mrsfeatherbottom]

MIL has asked us to dog sit her dog for a weekend this summer. Her normal kennels are fully booked and sometimes DH's cousin will house/dog sit but isn't free that weekend. We have done it before but the difference now is that we have our own puppy who will be with us.

I tend to be more anxious about things and DH and his family are a little too relaxed (IMO). I'm worried about having the two dogs together all weekend.

Both dogs are crate trained and will sleep in crates in separate rooms. Both are girls and under 1.

Am I worrying about nothing? Any tips for helping them get along? (They have met once when our pup was very little and seemed to get on fine but haven't seen each other since as we don't live near them). TIA

You will have to watch them closely and not leave them alone at all. They may get on brilliantly but if not Bitches can really go for each other while with Dogs it can be a bit Handbags at Dawn.

Both under 1?

I'd expect them to be fine, tbh - though may wear each other out. Set the house up so each get space for seperate rest. Don't plan to get too much else done with two young'uns on your hands

It might be easier all round if you stay home with your pup and DH goes to dog sit at MIL’s house.

Not an option as we're going there on our way back from a holiday.

What are both pups like with other dogs normally? I'd risk it with my pup but only for a weekend, as the main risk is she just won't settle easily with another dog around but I think I could manage that behaviour for a couple of days. I wouldn't want to risk any longer.

Both pups have been fine with other dogs

Given their ages and the fact their both fine with other dogs they'll probably become firm friends;my dog and my parents dog adore each other.

Are they male or female? Neutered or not? Do either of them have any behavioural issues?

Two young (adolescent?) dogs will be a fair bit of work in terms of behaviour, walks and keeping them calm!

I'm not sure what you're worrying about?

they're both puppies, they'll likely get on just fine, if not, you can just separate them, it's only a weekend and there's 2 adults.

Do they spend time with each other at the moment? Do they get on? We have a staffy and look after our friends pug a few times per year - we keep them separate when we are out or if we are not supervising. They are fine with each other on a whole.

If they are both fine with other dogs, I shouldn't think there would be any problems having them together for a weekend.

Two (and bit?) days with two reasonably sound puppies is likely to be fine, if just a bit hectic.

Definately give them time to settle apart as you may find they play so much they don't let each other rest. Do all the sensible things and...

a) pick up all and toys that could cause arguments
b) make sure to have several water bowls so no friction there
c) re-introduce them on a walk, even if it's just a couple streets away from the house and you walk them back in together
d) make sure they have their own beds - which it sould like you are with the crates
e) don't feed together, seperate then prepare dinners and feed in different rooms, e.g. one outside and one in
f) have a their leads to hand and don't be afraid to use them IN the house, if the dogs would benefit from being kept apart in the same room - an e.g. might be in the evening if you want to get them both to settle in the living room but they seem unable to do that because of the other

Thanks everyone. I don't know exactly what I'm worried about - I think when you're an anxious person you tend to doubt yourself and I wasn't sure if my concerns were unreasonable- essentially I guess I was worried that they would fight.

@SirSniffsAlot - those are brilliant tricks and exactly what I need.

I think I can kiss goodbye to a relaxing weekend, anyway! But we are hoping that the dogs do become firm friends so when we visit in the future, we can bring the dog.

Under 1 I wouldn't even flinch!! We have 4 adult ddogs and had a friend's dpuppy overnight last night! They have met 3 once and 1 many times. All had a great time!!
Except by 1 dcat she is welcome back any time!

It'll be good if they get to know each other so it'll be easier in future. We have a cockapoo who doesn't really like other dogs... but we've had dogs to stay and visit and she's been fine. She needs a time out space when she gets grumpy about it. Which is our room, she'll take herself off up there when she's had enough.

Feed separately and introduce them outside - so your dog isn't going into the other dog's home. So in garden or neutral ground like a park.

But just don't fuss and they'll be fine.

The cat on the other hand moved out for a week when we had a bouncy retriever to stay.

Sounds fun and perfectly manageable.
Be great for them to spend time together so hopefully your MIL can return the favour for you sometime.

Slight update: we arrived last night. The pups ADORE each other but don't have an off switch - literally on the go together, wrestling and chasing constantly. When we separate them for down time, feeding etc they just cry, bark and scrape at doors. It's relentless. Hoping they just exhaust themselves so much that they pass out but no sign of that happening yet. They both normally sleep brilliantly in their crates but both were very unsettled last night. MIL's dog has a bark that actually hurts your ears.

It's going to be a long three days!