Sleeping Arrangements

[Julie Fletcher]

I have too cavaliers charlie I have owned 9months and LuLu 4 weeks,they have both been sleeping together in a crate and no problems what so ever, now I am comfused, I read an article that said dogs should not sleep together for the reason being if they have to be separated they will find this hard. Is this correct, or do They continue as they are.

[Luciann]

Well Julie, I don't know about in a crate but my two chis sleep with me on the bed and I know that when one has to be gone for some reason the other searches for them for several days if it is an extended stay. but i think that this will occur even if they don't sleep together if they are separated.

[Andre Mendizabal]

I agree with Luciann, both my dogs sleep next to each other in their own beds, but when somebody is missing, the other one starts looking for her, so they will miss each other, it doesn't matter if they sleep together or not. In fact, I found they liked to cuddle with each other, specially on winter.

[Valerie K]

I agree as well. Both of my shih tzu littermates now sleep with us in the bed, but do share a large crate during the day when I can't be home. When they were puppies they had separate crates next to each other, but they prefer to be together and will often curl up on top of each other on the couch or chair. At night, sometimes they sleep next to each other, sometimes not, I think it has to do with the temperature of the room, but even though they will look for each other if one is not there, they eventually settle down with us and go to sleep. As much as they rely on each other, we as their humans are the most important thing to them.

One of my dogs has congenital kidney disease and isn't expected to have nearly as long a life as the other so we do make lots of effort to have one on one time with each dog, and I take them separately to the groomers sometimes as well so they have a whole day apart from each other. They also eat at the same time but on different sides of the kitchen, take some separate potty walks, and sometimes spend a weekend day one with my husband and the other with me. I don't know what effect it will have on the other one when her sister is no longer there, but we will deal with that when we have to. We originally got two dogs so one wouldn't have to be alone all day while we were out -- shih tzus especially hate to be alone, and if need be, we will look for a rescue dog if Esmee doesn't seem to adjust when Zoey is no longer with us. (ouch, it hurts just to think about that....)

[Luciann]

Valerie,
i hope that you darling is with you longer than they expect. I think you are right thou, giving each seperate attention is a good thing. i try to but with my two when i take only one out as long as they are within eye sight of the other they are fine other wise we have a searching fit, looking for the other one