I’ve shared this before but just because these pictures crack me up, I’ll share it again. When we got Cooper, Vince was concerned that Oscar wouldn’t like him. Oscar can be a bit difficult. Cooper is energetic and can be aggravating and Oscar isn’t very patient but I felt like IF Oscar was a problem, we could work with him and they would become friends.
One of the problems that took a bit longer to resolve was if Oscar was sitting close to me, he didn’t want Cooper to come near me. If Oscar was off doing something else, he didn’t mind that Cooper was with me. I don’t even know when Oscar stopped fussing about sharing me with Cooper but everything seems fine.
When we first got Oscar, I had a recliner and Oscar loved to stretch out on my legs. Speck always did that too but then we got rid of the recliner so Oscar wasn’t able to sleep on my legs. Now that we have a recliner again, Oscar wants to sleep on my legs but he’s a bit heavy so I usually will hang one leg down towards the floor so that gives Oscar room to sleep on the foot of the recliner, still close to me, but not on me.
Yesterday I took these pictures. Oscar was sleeping right up against me (you can see my right foot) and Cooper was sleeping across Oscar.
Cooper changed positions and they slept like this for a couple of hours.
There’s always someone on the dachshund groups saying they want to get a companion for their dog but they aren’t sure if their current dog will accept the puppy. There are numerous responses with pictures of two dachshunds curled up next to each other or with one partially on the other one. For a few months, I didn’t think that would ever happen here and, with Oscar’s weird little personality, I kinda expected it to never happen but it makes me so happy to see them curled up together sleeping.
They seem to be like typical siblings – fighting one minute (but only play fighting – it’s rare that either of them squeals) and all snuggled up the next minute.
They have such different personalities. Cooper is just as bull headed, if not more so, than Oscar but he goes about things totally different. When Oscar wants something, he’s like a bull in a China cabinet . . he’s going to get it even if it involves going through obstacles, blood or getting in trouble. With Cooper, it’s like he thinks about it, plans his strategy, waits for the opportune moment, makes his move and then acts like “I didn’t do anything!”
If Cooper has a toy and Oscar wants it, Oscar will just go over, nudge Cooper out of the way, and take it. If Oscar has something Cooper wants, Cooper will sit directly across from Oscar, stare him down, wait for Oscar to be distracted, and then Cooper will run and get it. I doubt they have the ability to think like this but sometimes it seems Cooper will go get another toy that he doesn’t really want but knows Oscar wants it, so when Oscar comes to take that one from Cooper, then Cooper will run get the toy Oscar walked away from.
I’m glad they get along. The only time I watch them more closely is when they’re playing rough, both showing their teeth but still playing, Oscar gets tired before Cooper does and Cooper hasn’t learned that sign . . “I’ve had enough!” and I’m afraid Oscar may get a little too rough. Cooper never seems to know when to stop so often, when I see Oscar appearing to be frustrated, I’ll put Cooper in the crate to calm down and he’ll end up sleeping.
I’m glad we have both of them!
Sherry Bobak says
They look so precious sleeping together!
Cilla Houle Tyler says
as you know I’ve been in Dachshund rescue for over 23 years. I have had 100’s of Dachshunds come thru here. For the most part I’ve found that Dachshunds are breed snobs. That is, they like or tolerate their own breed. Other breeds could be iffy. Now, having said that I have had 3 total that took a dislike to one or another. Rare but it happened. One was part of a trio that came together from one man owner surrender. Did they fight there? No idea. That F sure did like to fight her brother and tiny little sister.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Yes, I know about your Dachshund history and I always welcome your advice and suggestions. A lot of times, with these two, I find myself thinking . . what would Cilla do? Both of these want to play with Rita (chihuahua) but, with her being blind, she is scared to death of them. They’ve never tried to hurt her but they move at a speed that is totally out of her comfort zone. Oscar gets grumpy with Cooper when he gets tired but I scold him and he backs down but once I see him being grumpy and snippy, I don’t leave them alone. I was working around the house and yard today almost all day and they were in their crates way more than normal. We both would come down, take them out, play fetch for a while but they were missing us. When I did come downstairs and sat, Oscar was not wanting Cooper on the sofa at all. I think Oscar was wanting my undivided attention. Cooper seemed to sense it and he played with his toys but when Oscar was asleep and covered up, Cooper got up on my lap and they ended up sleeping together for a couple of hours.