The Right Personality?
by Susan P.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
My Maltese, Cotton, will be 7 years old in May. He isn't around other dogs that much. Occasionally, he will spend time at my parent's house or just visit and then he is around my parent's toy poodle who is 11 years old. When he is there he is always taking away whatever she might be chewing on or playing with. When she comes to get it back, he will snarl at her and a few times has snapped. If you give her another bone to make up for the one he took from her, he will drop the original bone and take the new one away. My husband is his #1 person. If my mom's dog comes over to my husband, Cotton will push himself between her and my husband and beg for attention. He does that even when it's just my husband and I. If we sit on the sofa together or if my husband is on the sofa and I'm on the floor beside him, Cotton will get up on the sofa and put his body between us. He might have half of his body on my husband and half on me, but he is definitely between us. I would love to get another Maltese - I love them so much! But my husband says that Cotton does not have the personality that would accept another dog in the family. I don't want to believe him, but I thought I would ask for everyone's opinion from their own multi-dog experiences.
DISCUSSION:
Susan - your Cotton sounds like my Bichon Baxter only older. Baxter does the same thing squeezing between us on the couch and he is daddy's baby. I got a Maltese - Bella who is 3 pounds and is 9 months old (Baxter is 15 months)she is my baby. If I sit in arm chair Bella will jump into my lap and then up comes Baxter I have to watch he doesnt sit on her. If Baxter is in daddy's lap Bella will sometimes jump up on my lap but not always. The dogs get along fine but Bella does the same thing to Baxter - she takes his bones, his toys etc and wont give them back and she snarls at him. If I give them a treat I always seem to give Baxter his first then Bella - he will drop his to see what Bella got then go back to his - she just takes hers and runs away with it - he is more into food she just eats enough to keep her energy up. I think they really remind me of my kids when they were little. All laps were for my son only - no one else could sit on daddy, mommy or granny's lap he would come and say no and push you off - my sister-in-law used to tease him unmercifully. I think it is good for Baxter to have the companionship of another puppy even if she takes all his stuff - when I let them out they run around the yard like crazy. Yesterday we were going out and Baxter was placed in his kennel in the van and since Bella hadnt been out she went for quick walk down the street first - she was looking at Baxter as if to say hey look at me I'm going for walk and your in your box ney ney. If you get another dog expect them to act like little kids with sibbling rivalry whatever sex you get.
Shirley
When I got Holly, she was the only dog for me. I didn't want another one. She became very spoiled (like Cotton) and jealous of anyone and everyone. She thought it should just be her and I (and quite frankly, so did I). I always thought that I really should have gotten two right away, but I could never have brought home another baby, she would have had a fit!! After she passed away, I decided to get another Malt and within 2 months of getting Bear, we got Dolly. I made sure that Bear got extra special love for the first few weeks, so he didn't feel threatened by her. Now they love each other and play great together.
Katy & Bear & Dolly
Susan - I kept laughing when I read your post. Kiwi and Cotton could be clones. Kiwi behaves exactly like Cotton. If we give her something first, she will still take Scout's and then guards both bones. We were concerned about a second dog too. One of the reasons we chose a Sheltie (aside from the fact that we love that breed too) was that Shelties are generally not lap dogs. This has proven to be true. I feel that it really cuts down on the competition. When we had a cat, Kiwi liked her, but she alwyas pushed the cat out of the way and the cat did not get nearly the attention she had before we go Kiwi. These little guys are sooo cute!
Deanna & Kiwi & Scout
Susan, I too wondered if my Mollie would be okay with another maltese but I knew that she eventually would really enjoy the company so I took the plunge. She has always been around other dogs but never a small one such as herself. Mollie is also very attached to me (joined at the hip). We have had Chloe for a month and they are finally warming up to each other. You can expect them to take things away from each other regardless of how old and friendly they are, just because they are pack animals with an alpha dog and that is how they operate. I think having two of these cuties is just heaven on earth worth all the adjustment time in the world!
Robin MC
| Please bear in mind when reading topics pertaining to health issues, that most of these questions were answered by helpful Maltese owners with no formal education in veterinary medicine. When in doubt seek a professionals advice. |
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