Life With Three Dogs?

[kelpiecuddles]

I got an offer today that I'm finding a little hard to turn down and my husband, who normally would say a flat out no, has said 'it's not a hard no' LOL A lady came in to my work who turned out to be a basset hound breeder, I mentioned that we had a basset and after a chat it transpired that my girl shares some of the same lines as her dogs! Anyway she asked if I might be interested in taking on a 4 year old girl that she is hunting a basset friendly home for. The timing isn't great which is the only reason my husband didn't say a straight up yes, if our new house was already built and we were on our half an acre then it would be no problem. For the time being we are renting but there is no issue with us having whatever animals we want as long as they don't wreck the place but out block is fairly small. It sounds like it might not be a straight away thing anyway so we might be a bit closer to building by the time this girl is ready to go to her forever home.

Anyway, so I'm just wondering how other with three larger dogs find it? My two girls are both quiet well behaved girls, right now they are sleeping in their beds in the corner of the loungeroom. Another thing that had me more curious is that she has been shown in neuter and was intended as a breeding girl but got pyometra before her first breeding, it sounds like she has done quite well at the neuter shows so I thought that if the breeder was amenable to the idea it might be a good entry in to dabbling in a bit of showing myself and seeing how I like it.

Thoughts? :laugh:

Edited July 13, 2013 by kelpiecuddles

[Diva]

I like having three dogs, don't find it much more work than 2 and I can take one with me and those at home still have company. With 2 I feel I have to take both or none

Btw, the dogs don't 'dictate' that I don't leave them alone, it is just my personal standard of care.

Edited July 6, 2013 by Diva

[Dame Aussie]

We are planning on a third dog once we get a bigger place, hopefully in the next 1-2 yrs so will be reading with interest!

I don't imagine three would be that much worse than two though and she isn't a puppy so that makes it easier :laugh:

Diva good point, I sometimes just want to take one dog out but I feel bad leaving the other :laugh:

Edited July 6, 2013 by Aussie3

[huski]

To be honest I have gone from having three for years to just two and I love just having two. It is probably more about the type of dogs I own, but I am happy just having two. If I had lower maintenance dogs I might have no issues having two or more, but I am very happy with my two.

I only take one out at a time and they don't run together if I go out so for me it isn't about having two at home keeping each other company etc. I personally find it easier.

ETA: I am sure at some point when I want another dog I will add one but for the first time ever I can say with confidence I have no intention to get another dog for some time! (Famous last words lol)

Edited July 6, 2013 by huski

[mish13]

I have five so three would be a breeze :laugh:

Maybe the breeder would let you have her on a trail basis first. That way you can see if she fits in with your other dogs and guage how much extra work it would be.

[kelpiecuddles]

Can I ask Huski how what it is about having two you have found easier? I'm just trying to work out if your reasons might apply to me if you know what I mean... My girls spend most of their time sleeping or lying in the sun so they a very cruisy little duo right now and it sounds like this breeder keeps her dogs much the same way I keep mine so I suspect the adjustment to a new home and new set of rules would be pretty quick.

I must admit the point about being able to take one does really speak to me, out current basset gets quite distressed if I take the kelpie out on her own for a more high energy exercise session so a friend would possibly solve that issue.

[kelpiecuddles]

I am hoping that Mish13. I have sent her an email this eveing basically saying that we might be interested depending on the timing and how well she gelled with our household.

[Starkehre]

We are a 4 dog home, have been 5, all Rottis. They all run together, inside and out, no kennels, runs or yards. No problems. Mixture of entires and neuters, no issue there either.

IMO success is largely owing to owner management/commitment/time/leadership skills.

Our yard is small. We take our dogs out often - swimming, training, herding, agility, long trialling/showing trips, drives (we drive, not them LOL) running etc. They have a great life and are healthy, well rounded dogs. That said, we work from home with flexible hrs, so can put in a lot of time with them. Also my husband shares the dogs and we both enjoy our dog sports and shows together, so that helps.

I am a big advocate for altering whom I take and where. I mix it up, never necessarily take all dogs out together. It is important to me that they are comfortable with being left at home, either alone or with one other or whatever. I won't let them dictate not being left behind and set things up this way on purpose. I would never feel guilty about it. it is an important training session leaving a dog alone at home when others are being taken out and all part of learning to be confident and comfortable in their own company.

I have also done neuter class showing with my older bitch. Go for it I say. Very enjoyable, you will have a ball.

Edited July 6, 2013 by dyzney

[RiverStar-Aura]

Diva I totally understand about feeling guilty leaving one dog behind. My two dogs both require some firm one on one training, but I've been unable to suck up and leave one behind without feeling so guilty.

As you currently have a Bassett Hound, the cost of feeding wouldn't really be impacted as I imagine you'd put them onto the same food. It's not like my situation where I'm buying bags of both Mini and Medium breed kibble for two dogs.

I have a friend with three dogs and hers do occasionally have scraps so you'd need to make sure your current dogs don't have issues with the new one -- this might be made easier by the fact you'll be moving so the yard will be more of a neutral territory for them.

[kelpiecuddles]

It's actually something I have been actively working on recently Dyzney. I guess my issue in the past has been that with a young family I have only ever had time to walk them both together so there hasn't ever been much opportunity for them to do things seperately. Now my kids are getting older and i am getting more opportunities to go out without the kids a bit easier while they are at school, etc so I've been leaving her home with my husband when he is around and taking the kelpie out so that she has someone to tell her when she needs to pack it in and chill out LOL

[kelpiecuddles]

I'm a pretty firm hand with my dogs and coming from a breeder whos dogs live all together in the house when not in season she's very used to pack dynamics so hopefully with some intelligent introductions we should be OK there. :)

[Diva]

I'm a pretty firm hand with my dogs and coming from a breeder whos dogs live all together in the house when not in season she's very used to pack dynamics so hopefully with some intelligent introductions we should be OK there. :)

I find breed matters too, a lot of hounds were kept in packs and needed to be able to get along together. Never had a fight requiring a vet visit here.

[kelpiecuddles]

Very true Diva, they are such pack critters, that's why they love kids so much too I reckon, other life forms with short legs! The only time we ever have an issue with our girls is if the kelpie tries to stick her nose in Josie's dinner bowl, then Josie will give her one of those little growly snaps to say "Oi, not yours!" Easily manged by just feeding them a few metres apart and Sascha is a kelpie so I've told her no a few times and now she knows to stay out of it ;)

[mixeduppup]

3 dogs isn't much more work than 2 IF you get a dog that complements your current pack. Maybe a trial?

[huski]

KC I just find it easier overall. Less time consuming to feed them, one less dog to train, walk, worry about, cuddle etc. it's not that I didn't love all my dogs but now that I only have the two to care for I find it easier. My youngest dog is a working line dog and does take up a lot of my time, I don't walk my dogs together even though they are together when I am home I personally prefer to spend walks, training etc as one on one time

I think if you had three lower maintenance dogs it would be easier, although it's not so much that three dogs was hard work for me, I just like only having two. I think it's personal preference really!

ETA: before I had my youngest dog I was always wanting and planning another dog even when I already had three. Now I have her she requires a higher level of management than my other dogs ever did so it is more work and I would be quite happy having her as an only dog! Not because she's harder work but because I don't need anything else in a dog than what she gives me. It's hard to explain but I think it comes down to what you want another dog for and what you are happy to live with.

Edited July 6, 2013 by huski

[sas]

I've had different numbers and different energy dogs due to being a foster carer and 3 works just fine if everyone is easy and just does their thing and all their energies match.

But place 1 non-compatible in there and is just feels all wrong for everyone.

[Snout Girl]

we have 3 dogs, 2 pugs and a border collie. they all get on well, and I manage with walks etc but you need to factor in the $$ element. Another dog means another lot of vet bills, vaccinations, worming, flea treatment, obedience fees, food, grooming costs etc. Plus its harder to find accommodation in kennels that will allow you to keep the 3 together, whilst a lot have the facilities for 2 to stay together.

saying all this, I wouldn't hand any back :)

[kelpiecuddles]

I work in a pet supply store so luckily I get a good discount on all that stuff :p (Except for the vet bills but that's just part of life sometimes, I have a savings account that is emergency money for vet bills and things. We don't do obedience club and grooming is just done at home ourselves so there's no real extra cost there just a little extra time. So far we've never had to put the dogs in kennels other than when the defence force flew them up here and they were with dogtainers for a couple of days, other than that we either travel places with them in tow or we have a friend come to stay to look after them.

[Alkhe]

I've got a bit of a different opinion, actually. I actually find the jump from 2 to 3 dogs quite significant, much more than 1 to 2, or 3 or 4. It is very much dependent on the individual dogs in question, but a third dog changes the dynamic completely. It can be brilliant, but it can also be a nightmare, and unfortunately it's kind of hard to tell until you're in the midst of it! :D

We have 2 dogs of our own and also foster, so usually have 3 dogs (sometimes 4). I'm quite ok with having 3 dogs around, but it does mean that everything requires more planning. How you manage it and how 3 dogs fits in with your life and lifestyle will of course be different to me, and to everyone else. But in my experience, 2 dogs are just much easier to handle. You can walk 2 at a time, and in my case take them up the street and grab a coffee, then walk back home with the dogs in one hand and coffee in the other. It's easier to stick two dogs in the car than 3. It's easier to find someone to look after them if you need to go away.

In a nutshell, I think the more dogs, the more actual management. But of course, it all depends.

[kelpiecuddles]

Of course Alkhe :) I'm hoping she will consider letting us trial her for a little while and see how she fits before we make a final decision. Walking three doesn't bother me, I will often grab a neighbours dog and take it with me if I'm in the mood anyway, my girls walk so well that adding another isn't really a problem even with three in one hand, plus my oldest is now of an age that I'm happy for him to hold one of the leads. The going places logistics is the only thing that has me a little iffy since currently we can put bags in the boot with the girls having half the boot, but a third would mean the bags wouldn't fit. It would probably just mean investing in a roof pod for the car or similiar.