My little nephew and niece (ages 4 and 6), are coming to live with my husband and I, as their parents have died. We are adopting them. They have pets that they are bringing along, who will also be integrated into our family - 2 guinea pigs and an 18 month old chocolate lab. We already have a 2 and a half year old yellow lab and a siamese cat in the house, so it's going to be a real zoo!

For clarification sake, our yellow lab is named Murphy, and the new chocolate lab is called Cuddles. Cuddles has always slept with the children at night, and I guess has done this since they got him as a puppy. However, Murphy, our lab, has never slept in bed with us. He has his own doggy bed in the living room and is well trained to sleep there at night. Since the children have just lost their parents, I'm not going to force them to not sleep with their dog, at least not right away. However, I'm worried that Murphy might be jealous because Cuddles gets to sleep upstairs and he doesn't. Do dogs get jealous about things like this? The dogs will meet each other next week when we fly home. I would appreciate any advice about this.

So much happening. I will do all I can to help now. So Murphy has been boarded out and now you are coming home with all sorts of new pack members? It helps that he? Is still fairly young. In another year, he might not adapt near as well. Both dogs are young enough they may enjoy having a pack member they are allowed to bite. Better yet if they are male and female. I would do the meet on neutral ground thing. I don't know that it is essential or even does much good, but it can't hurt. If Murphy is a kennel or at friends, maybe take everybody along to pick him up. He will be so happy to see you, he may not worry about the crowd. Keep both dogs on leash and allow them to do the doggy sniffing and so forth. Correct either one if they raise the hair on their back or do low growls with a stern, but quiet ''Bad dog!''.

I am sure Murphy and the cat have made their peace. Does the cat have any furniture, boxes with small holes and a pole to climb? Cuddles should find the cat fascinating. I am not sure just how dogs regard cats, lunch, a playmate to rough house with, or what? Most cats seem to see dogs and ruffians they want no part of. Be ready to correct Cuddles for unappreciated attention to the cat.

Who sleeps where is a big deal to dogs. Murphy may be much more comfortable with cuddles sleeping with the strange children than if with you. He may even be happy to cling to his old sleeping place in all the disruption.

Catch up on any spay/neutering and obedience needed. This isn't going to work unless you and your husband firmly take the role of top dogs. If you don't have a good dog book, check back on the thread on books. The kids have been through a lot and may respond to rules and order. Of course I see the need for all to be treated with unconditional love.

There are a lot of strong opinions on letting dogs sleep in bed. I see it as a matter of personal taste as long as there aren't status issues. Then the dog must be banished from the bed.

Some times it is hard to sort out the rough play most young dogs enjoy from aggression. Here is a picture of a visitor and my dog taking advantage of having a like minded dog in the same house.

If Cuddles has been on a different diet than Murphy, and you want them on the same one, make the change slowly over a week to reduce the chances of digestive upsets. You won't need that. Also change schedules gradually too. Give the other dog a treat when if only one is being fed.

Thanks for the awesome advice! I'm going to use all of it, and I'll come back here if I need to ask anything else.

You mentioned the cat. Well, interestingly enough, if you use the top dog scenario, our cat is definitely top dog! Haha. He lords it over the dog and also any visiting dogs. He also seems to take a perverse delight in eating just out of reach but in full view of a whining hungry dog. (his food is on top of a small filing cabinet where the dog can't get it). Anyway it will be interesting to see what happens with the addition of a new dog.