Della's sleeping habits

It was a year ago today that the puppy adopters gathered here and signed their adoption contracts. The pups started going to their new homes over the next week or so. We kept them until they were at least 10 weeks old because I believe in the importance of that time in the litter and that time with their mother. It's hard to say what behaviors are instinctual to the species, specific inherited traits, or learned behavior.

One of the adorable things about the pups was the way they always piled up on top of each other to sleep. You can see how it would be advantageous for warmth and security, but these pups never lacked either. Still, I would never have thought it was anything other than a survival instinct for litters of pups, but that doesn't quite explain Della's sleeping habits.

I've never known an adult dog who likes to snuggle up with another dog, puppy style, the way that Della does with Serena. It makes me wonder if it's a personality trait, either inherited or learned, that the puppies got from Della. 

From the very beginning Della has moved in on Serena, even "sharing" a crate that is big enough for one Dane, but not really meant for two. Serena tolerates it when Della does it, but she won't initiate it herself. If Della is in the preferred crate, Serena will go elsewhere, but if Serena is in it first, Della won't hesitate to move in and make herself a space even where there is none. Della doesn't do it with any other dog, but she has always considered Serena to be her sister. Della has no desire to chase Serena out, she clearly wants to share the space, close though it may be.

Whenever Della was present, the puppies would, of course, pile up on her. 

The puppies continued to pile upon one another to sleep even when the bed became too small.

Della loves to snuggle with Serena even if it makes for cramped conditions.

The look on Serena's face says that this was not her idea, but she never objects.

Notice the intertwined legs.

I make one of them get into the second crate when I'm actually going to close them in there.

You can see that there is plenty of room on the bed, but they are all piled up on one end of it.

It doesn't matter what position Serena takes in the crate, Della finds a way to share it.

The puppy piles were more about togetherness than anything else.

P.S., Luna is settling into her new home even faster than I expected. It was harder on me than it was on her, and I'm glad about that.