The padlock worked...

We put a combination padlock on Maeve's crate. It is the luggage type with three number dials so Zoe can work it easily. Houdini hasn't escaped since, although she has tried to chew the lock off.

Darbie has been acting weird since we got the new dog. She seems scared of her, and Darbie hasn't been eating as much as usual because Maeve keeps trying to eat every time Darbie does. Darbie normally eats 1 1/2 cups of Science Diet food each day. It seems to be the right amount, she is maintaining a healthy weight. Darbie tends to eat it over the course of the day as opposed to all at once. Maeve needs 2 1/3 cups of food because she is a growing puppy, and also eats it over the course of the day. Now they are sharing the puppy food and a food bowl (except sometimes when we give Darbie hers on a paper plate - poor Darbie).

Yesterday, I put 2 1/3 cups of food in the bowl and took Maeve outside, thinking Darbie wouldn't eat very much of it. When I came back inside, the bowl was empty. Darbie had eaten it all very quickly. A few minutes later I needed to go to Lowe's to get a new aerator and some plumber's tape for our kitchen faucet, so I decided to take Darbie with me. She could use the exercise, and Lowe's allows dogs in their store. Darbie normally only poops in the morning and/or evening - afternoon poops are rare. While we are in the plumbing aisle, Darbie suddenly starts trying to poop. She got a little turd out before I stopped her, then we got some paper towels from an associate to pick up the turd. On the way out of the store to throw away the turd and let Darbie poop outside, another turd flew out of her butt. I picked that one up with the paper towel and took Darbie outside. I threw the turds in the trash can right outside the store and Darbie proceeded to take a huge dump right on the sidewalk. Nice. I was a little embarrassed and afraid to walk Darbie around the store anymore so I put her in the car. I went back inside and bought the stuff I needed and acted like nothing had happened. All that food she had eaten forced the poop right out of her. I guess that will teach me to assume that Darbie won't eat all of the food in the bowl. She is a beagle, after all, and was probably doing it to spite the puppy.