Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just a quick question. Things are going very well with my 10 week old siberian. She knows who is boss and listens to me very well. My roomate has a 1.5 year old yellow lab as well that the siberian (sonya) spends all of her time with, they share a cage together etc... Does anyone think she will get to attached to the other dog and stop wanting to spend time and play with me? I seperate them and spend time with both of them individually but I'm starting to notice Sonya would rather play with the lab than spend time with me. She is very submissive to me and all humans right now but Sonya is going to become my hiking companion and I want and need a very strong bond with her for when we are on the trail for days and weeks at a time? Any advice on how to create a stronger bond with Sonya?

I'm thinking you may have your own answer to your question. With Sonya being only 10 weeks old and being crated with your roomate's Lab as well as spending all of her time with her... she is going to bond more with the other dog than she will with you. You didn't say if the Lab was another female or a male but no matter, it really isn't advisable to crate them together. Should they get into a scrape there isn't anywhere for them to go. I would obtain another crate and keep Sonya with you as much as possible... even keeping the crate in your bedroom at night. Some extra quality time with Sonya wouldn't hurt like taking her for some nice long walks... etc.
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Bob

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Thanks bob. The lab is female and she is great with the puppy. She had her own puppies in september and is great with other dogs and watching them together for the last month I don't think the lab would hurt sonya at all but I could be wrong. You really think I should crate them seperatly? I have no problem with that but I thought putting them together while i'm not there during the day would keep them busy. When she was alone in her own crate she would cry and seem unhappy which can only be true. Now that they are together she never cries etc... I do however think your right about them bonding more with eachother. She will still follow me around and not the lab when she has a chance but when they are outside and i'm not around she sticks to the lab like glue.

When it comes time for you to hike, she will bond to you within a day or two. This happened with my husband who just finished hiking the appalachian trail. He adopted a husky in Vermont (he was a southbounder). She was part of a large husky pack of dog sled runners. She obviously spent more time with other dogs than one particular human. But after about 2 days on the trail, the two of them were inseparable! If you read a post I posted previously, you'll see where we actually had issues with separation anxiety when my husband came home and he'd leave her to run errands, etc. When you hike, especially on extended hikes where you are definitely her source for food and water - you will bond pretty quickly! Good luck to you! Huskies are great hiking companions!

Would she still cry if her crate was right next to the lab's crate--where they could see and smell each other? You could also put a blanket in her crate that you've rubbed on the lab.

I agree with Bob: two crates and lots of long walks together!