Hello from Stacy and Hildie

[hobbywobby]

Hello all! I haven't posted since my last thread on losing Hobbes. I wanted to give you an update that hildie and I are doing well and getting into our own little routine. She had a rough couple of weeks trying to decide what had happened to her brother and her "leader" but now I think she's enjoying having the rule of the house and 100% of the attention. Good news...I got engaged! Luckily he has a Black Lab named Jake, so Hildie will have someone to look up to again. Here's the problem...and I'd like any suggestions.... Hildie is an inside dog, I mean a VERY inside dog basically has free range of the house. Jake is an outside dog, he has a room on a sunporch with a doggie door but doesn't get to come inside. Is it unfair to Jake if we make him stay outside like he is and keep Hildie inside? Let me know what you think! - Stacy

[rute_paredes]

hi Stacy
nice to meet you. I'm glad you're both feeling better after losing Hobbes.
i'm only a young doggy mum myself and have limited experience but this is what I think:
ideally, I imagine it would be good if both dogs were treated similarly, i.e., jake be allowed inside too, unless there is a strong argumet against it.
What you might consider is a healthy compromise - both pets would play outside during part of the day and spend another indoors.
This is just my take on things. As long as both pets get along and are well-behaved in and outside, why not have the best of both worlds?

but this is just me!
best of luck and congrats on getting engaged!!!!

rute, miguel and iago

[marjolein]

I don't really believe this should be a problem. Dogs don't have feelings like guilt and envy. As long as you walk them properly and give them the attention they need, they'll be fine. My dogs are usually kept outside during the day, and sometimes I decide one of them can stay inside. They just take this, no probs. Don't try to see them as little human beings, they are not, although they are damn clever!

[ralph]

I agree with Marjolein, a dog can't grasp a concept like compromise. (that's where many problems related to dogs start, we tend to think they can compromise but they can't)
So in my opinion it would be best to keep things as they are, one dog inside, one outside.

gr. Ralph.

[Wetdog]

Hi Stacy, congratulations on your upcoming marraige--I hope you and your fiancee are very happy together.
As for Jake, with dogs, old habits die hard---I have a feeling you'll find that in the end being a "house dog" is probably something he's not too wild about. I had Collies in the past, and my male Collies loved to come in the house and get some attention and treats, then after about an hour or so, they were ready to go back outside and would go sit at the door. I have a feeling you may have a similar situation with Jake. I also think that once Hildie and Jake get to be friends, you'll find Hildie less inclined to stay in the house and a bit more wanting to be outside with Jake, it is only natural that she'd like being with her pack.
I will bet the dogs will sort things out by themselves with little intervention on your part.

[moonbeam]

Congratulations on your engagement Stacy.

Mariy

[rute_paredes]

I'm sorry if I didnt make myself clear, but the compromise was not meant so much to be understood by the dogs but by the owners.
A compromise between the habits each of them inforces.

ralph said:

I agree with Marjolein, a dog can't grasp a concept like compromise. (that's where many problems related to dogs start, we tend to think they can compromise but they can't)
So in my opinion it would be best to keep things as they are, one dog inside, one outside.

gr. Ralph.