Expert: Susan Downes - 1/11/2008

Question
We have a 2 and half yr old male walker coon hound (fixed since 6mths) named Jango that we got when he was 10 wks old. He is a great laid back dog. We got a basset hound puppy when she was 9 wks old (not spayed) named Reba (now 10wks. She has been with us for only a week. Jango has taken to her very well I think and Reba to him as well. My question is in regards to how Reba acts toward Jango and was wondering why she does this and what I should do about it if anything.

Each dog has their own crate (they look exactly the same, and are in the same room). Reba will always want to go to Jango's crate to sleep (Jango is not in his crate when she does this). I was afraid at first when she I saw her in there since Jango loves his "house" and goes in there even without being told (we leave the door open), but he also has the run of the house. So I was surprised when he didn't mind seeing her in there, he just went and sniffed her and walked away. We are currently crate potty training so because of that and at first being afraid and thinking Jango might get mad at this puppy for taking his space/house, I would take her out and show her her bed/crate. Even after doing this much she still would go back or even at the second I took her out try and go right back in unless I locked her crate or started to play with her. Another thing is we are currently feeding the dog separately for two reason---they are on different foods, and Jango would eat her food too. I feed them at the same time---Jango food dish is out in the room (as it as been), hers is in her cage and we shut her crate door when she eats. When we let her out she will go to Jango's dish (it is normal for Jango to leave some of his food in the dish that he then eats later) and she will want to eat it. It is not because she is hungry because I will put more food for her in her bowl that she does not eat. Again I am not sure if I should let her do this or I should take up his bowl after Jango walks away and we let her out of her crate. I mostly ask not because of the worry of eating different food but just the behavior of taking his bowl.

Is this normal behavior? Do you know why she is doing is? Is she trying even at a young age to become dominant over Jango? What should I do? Let her do this? So far Jango has been ok with this, except for the food part I do not know since he has not been around when she goes after his dish/food.

Thank you for your help and any insight to this because I want a good relationship between the two of them.

Answer
Hi KimAnn, I think that I had already answered your question. The dogs seem to be bonding well, and if they compete over food, separating them is a good idea. It is not uncommon for dogs to want to sleep together, so maybe a larger crate to accommodate both of them might not be a bad idea. I would recommend that you spay the female so that there is not any problems in the future. Leave me some feedback and keep me posted on how things are going. Thanks for writing. Regards, Susan