We currently have a 2 year old Shih Tzu and are bringing home a new Labrador puppy in a couple of weeks and I need advice please!
Background for context:
Our first dog was a Labrador and we crate trained her easily and it was brilliant for her, she loved it and we knew she was safe etc. When she was about 5 we got a Shih Tzu puppy who was not having any of it being in a crate and as she was tiny and we were tired (still had little kids) we just gave up! She never became reliably house trained as a result I think. We then got a second shih tzu a couple of years ago which we didn't bother crate training. We lost number1 shih tzu a few months ago and we are now getting a new Labrador.
So new pup must be crate trained as chewing will be an issue and we want to take her to our office and she will be easier to manage if we can pop her in a crate when needed. (I know all about short spells etc)
My quandary is about sleeping. Do I put new puppy in a crate in the utility room at night and leave Shih Tzu in the kitchen where she normally sleeps so they aren't bothering each other? And can I run two crates or do I move the crate at night time (which will be a pain but not impossible) or will this confuse her. Or do I just put her to bed in a crate in the kitchen and ShihTzu sleeps where she fancies - or Shih Tzu could come up and sleep with us? Too many options and it is blowing my mind!!