Beds are the same. Both have working heating pads, both have a blankie, one is red, and one is animal print. Schnauzer is typically the one that gets cold but it is very observant of you that doxie looks curled up. He does and I had vet ck his spine and no problems. Doxie is 15 YO. Maybe the next step will be to separate the beds and see what happens. These dogs like each other and play together but they don't cuddle together.

Our two dogs are like that. The younger wants whichever bed the older is in. Typically, the younger will give up and accept the unoccupied bed. The older will bark ... bark ... bark ... until we intervene. We never have figured out how to make both beds "equal" in their estimation.

My Doxie is a very anxious little one. Except for the first year of his life, he's lived with us all his life. He was a rescue. The person From whom I got him ran a shelter for some other kind of breed but she told us that her friend that worked at the local animal control begged her to take this Doxie baby b/c his number was up in this kill shelter. She said she couldn't say no and of course the story was enough to convince us that ours s/b his forever home. We always suspected he was mistreated and hoped that with lots of love he would regain self assurance. But it has never happened. He freaks out if voice tone is too loud, if you touch him unexpectedly (even if to pet him), just a very anxious little dog.

Pondering the subject led me to a blog that discussed swaddling, as a way to comfort insecurities. B/c the schnauzer is heavier, he has created a "hole" in his bed. I am thinking that the appeal to the Doxie is the hole so he goes to the schnauzer bed in order to sink in it. Last night, as an experiment, I surrounded him in his bed with two towels, similar to swaddling a baby, and he never moved. I'm thinking he was looking for this extra secure feeling.

Congrats! .....it seems you've figured out the problem!

Did anyone on the blog suggest a sweater to help the Doxie feel swaddled and more secure?

Great detective work! I've heard of a lot of people using Thundershirts to help with anxiety. We got our dog one for when there's a lot of fireworks going off outside, but she rejected it...of course. If it weren't so big, I'd send it to ya!

In Houston area doggie sweaters are a 1-2 day thing and both of my pooches quickly let you know they're hot. So, no, sweaters not as comforting. He has been enjoying the towel but I must admit that he has gotten in schnauzer's bed since I posted.

could also be attention seeking, as i get up from where I'm sitting and stand over him til he moves to his own bed. Then I praise and pet him for moving. Dunno. These dogs rule me.

LOL! I think he's trained you well!

Why in the world would you need a heated indoor bed for a dog? Most dogs have no trouble staying out in sub freezing temperatures (no sweater required) with appropriate shelter.

Sowen, possibly b/c people have conditioned their pets to be less tolerant of the elements. But same w/people. I think a caveman was way more tolerant of the outdoors than I. But even if unnecessary, I don't mind overindulging my pooches with heated mats, sweaters, caps and other silly things.

My dogs can't stay out more than 10-15 minutes in subzero weather. Even wearing coats, they are shivering by the time we get back from our walk.