Crate life sucks for a dog. Although we do have to put our youngest in one to for meals. Otherwise she, being the largest of our animals, will bully her way into eating everybody elses food. She's got the idea now and will just stay in the cage with the door open till we tell her it's ok to come out, lol. She's a good girl and I think she understands whats going on.
Andy is such a pretty boy! Got a nice healthy shine to his coat and those eyes are sparkling with life. As long as he doesnt try to compete with Piper for dads attention too much they should get along just fine. Being separated from his human he could get a little depressed so some extra love and attention will make it easier for him. Try to get Piper in on the love and affection with him. So she doesnt feel left out or replaced. Thats gonna require dad to do it mostly since she chose him. My dog (Minnie) didnt accept our youngest (Hope) until I started playing with both of them together. Then she slowly started to play with her. She wouldnt accept Hope with mom or my daughter. Just me. Guess I had to give the ok for her, lol.
Just remember that dogs, even though they have a pack mentality, are individuals with their own personalities. Just like people. Sometimes they click and sometimes they dont. But they both look like they will do just fine together.
I set his crate up for him in the living room which is central to the house. He goes in and out whenever he wants to. I have been putting him in there when we go to sleep because I didn't know if there would be any kind of confrontation or anything weird in the middle of the night and he's so used to being in the crate anyways that he doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. I'm afraid that if I don't put him in the crate he'll try to break down the gate in the hallway to come try to find us in our bedroom. He doesn't cry or anything when he goes into the crate for bedtime. I've also been feeding him in there too because Piper would happily barge her way in and eat anything that he is too slow to get to. She is doing pretty well with all of this and tolerating it okay but she isn't very chummy with him yet. LOL fortunately she belongs to my husband and apparently Andy has mostly chosen me. I tried to get them both involved in the same things at the same time. Yesterday, Piper even wanted to play at the same time, but not with Andy specifically. But she still wanted to be involved somehow. I take that as a good sign.
Yeah. The crate will help him feel somewhat "normal" since he is used to it. And he most likely attach to one person (you) since he was with only one other human for so long. It's just what he is used to.
Sounds like the two of them will at least grow used to each other. Which hopefully there wont be any major conflicts. As long as they can draw boundaries with each other right? Lol
There was a scuffle. Lol Piper is not feeling well now, likely from stress (and the extra treats). Lol