Loving my Oldies Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 No contest LOL. Kelpie/Basset/Basset Cuddles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meea Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 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. Same and fwiw in our house a basset doesnt constitute a 'large' dog!! Petite little flowers - no trouble at all :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 Having lost 3 old dogs in the last 6 or so years I'll add it can get super expensive if a couple have age related health complications. Just things like arthritis meds, liver or kidney support meds, prescription diets, arthritis supplementation etc. Consider the costs of having 3 dogs around the same age all needing separate meds. Ruptured disc surgery comes in at about 5K here at the moment. Cancer treatment - as high as you want to go. :laugh: I've had four dogs at one stage and I shudder thinking about people who have 4+ dogs. :laugh: I had two old girls on separate arthritis meds and supplements, and one of those on Denosyl and other liver supplements plus her usual prescription diet for the skin. I know how much I've spent as a veterinary staffer per year in the last ten years as it says on the computer at work, and that's not including one of those girls having specialist surgery for ruptured disc, ruptured gall bladder (did not know until we did an ex-lap and once we were in there we may as well have attempted to fix it) and physio + underwater treadmill for her after the disc surgery. Two emergency centre stays before and after disc surgery and a week at the specialists after gall bladder with a plasma transfusion. My first boy was only mildly expensive - on heart meds for a few years towards the end. I won't list any more it gets scarier the more I think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 6, 2013 Author Share Posted July 6, 2013 True of course, hence my little spare bank account. My kelpie is actually quite a bit older than the two bassets. One of our worries has been how stressed Josie would be if something was to happen to Sascha as she is getting older now, she's already on some supps and oestregen for a weak bladder LOL So it would be our kelpie going through all the old age stuff first and then down the track the two bassets at a similiar time as they are both about the same age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 Had 3 and now I have 2 and in no rush to get a 3rd dog.. but I will eventually get another dog in the future. Even if I wasn't expecting a baby, I'm happy with just 2 at the moment. It's very easy at home and I also have a young boy, who needs to grow a few more brain cells before adding to the mix. Maybe a trial run will be a good idea :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 having gone from 3 or 4 for several years down to 2 I do find it much easier with just 2. But will be adding in a 3rd next year so back up again. Everything is doable :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 I have three, got down to one once and didn't like that at all, now back up to three. Two are mine and I do everything with/for them, one is my husbands working dog so I do stuff with/for him but he mainly goes with OH around the farm, working sheep etc. He is tapped, I couldn't have more than one of him. The whippets I could easily add another :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 4 is my magic number... I feel naked with less. I currently have 3 large crossbreed dogs and 1 medium one - all female... saying that it requires some management is a little bit of an understatement. The 2 older girls will fight to the death if something sets them off, so they need to be separate at all times to avoid this. We have a routine set up so each dog gets plenty of one-on-one time with me, and shared time with the others they get on with. Each of them are also fine with being alone if necessary. I also foster puppies for rescue - where do you think the last 2 additions to my household came from... little buggers decided to steal my heart and stay! Saying that, I also have access to a wonderful vet clinic that does reduced rates for me because I'm attached to a rescue - and I get all meds and the like at almost cost (or even sometimes for free). At one stage a few years back, I had 5 Rotties at the same time - 2 intact males and 3 females (desexed) - all ran together without issue. They were completely cruisy to live with... and I'd happily do it again in the future. Must be a Rotti thing... *grin* If you are happy with your current situation, maybe a trial period with the new dog might be a good start - that way, if she settles in fine, you can keep her, but if she doesn't slot in well, you can return her to the breeder. You will never know until you have her at your place I suppose... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 I have three dogs ( Am secretly hankering for a fourth but I know I have to wait a few years :D ) Logistically I do not have a problem with three dogs. I do usually walk one separate to the other two but that is mainly because the one needs more one on one training at the moment. If you have obedient dogs, walking three is fine. The only thing I would mention is, you may need to apply to your council for permission to keep 3 dogs, especially as you say you are on a small block. Also depending on the time til your new home is built, is it a possibility that you could have to leave the rental property your in? (if the owner decides to sell or something), finding another landlord that will accept 3 dogs would be that much harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smisch Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 We've got 5 here on occasion 6 when we have visitors, 4 of the dogs are great little house dogs and just are nice to be around and are cruisy as can be lol but you add the other terror in and somedays are good some are crap... but I do love them all and enjoy having them around :) it depends on how well they gel anyoner like I said yesterday the nutter was ay work with OH and I had everyone cruising the house and yard, one resided on the couch or near to me in whatever room the other 3 were outside playing and sun baking. just peace I didn't find myself yelling or having to crate or chase anyon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 I had 2 dogs for years, went to 3 and then to 4 and back to 2 all in a fairly short time frame. I actually prefer 2. I can do more with them in terms of taking them out for the day or away for weekends. I am planning a fair bit of going away for weekends and with 3 it would be much more of a handful. 2 fit into the car better too. I did use to take all 3 away to herding days. I would now consider only having one dog. Never thought I would say that! I found 4 dogs easier than 3. You could take 2 out and still leave 2 at home. I had cats and ponies as well so it was pretty chaotic and I did feel all I was doing was feeding animals. It was lovely in some respects but the quality of time with each animal just wasn't there. I always felt one missed out a bit as he was so easy going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaCharlie Posted July 6, 2013 Share Posted July 6, 2013 We have 11 :) 3 would be a breeze! I had 2 for a while before I started fostering, but usually fostered 2 at a time which gave me 4. 4 was a jump from 2, but that was made harder because you don't bond with a foster like you do your own. I did have 3 for a while though, and seriously considered keeping the 3rd as he was such a lovely dog, he just wasn't high drive enough for me. Having those 3 really weren't much different to the 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 7, 2013 Author Share Posted July 7, 2013 The rental situation is very secure so no worries there, we will be here until we move in to our own house. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 The rental situation is very secure so no worries there, we will be here until we move in to our own house. :) That's great. Do you know what your council rules are, regarding numbers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl85 Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 I had three, tragically lost my old girl about 5 weeks ago, and one of ours is going on a meet and greet today, we've been trying to rehome him for 6 months now. I'm looking forward to being a one dog household again, one because I work full time and I'm also nearing the end of my degree, but we're also expecting a baby at the end of the year...I'll consider another pup in about three years if we're in a better place then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melzawelza Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 The rental situation is very secure so no worries there, we will be here until we move in to our own house. :) That's great. Do you know what your council rules are, regarding numbers? Her profile says she's in NSW which means there will be no pet limits :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 The rental situation is very secure so no worries there, we will be here until we move in to our own house. :) That's great. Do you know what your council rules are, regarding numbers? Her profile says she's in NSW which means there will be no pet limits :) So it's not done on a council to council basis in NSW? I did not know that. Each council has their own rules and prices, in Queensland. In that case I would say, bring on the extra Bassett cuddles :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 Actually, in a few Sydney councils they do have dog number recommendations - I don't know if they are actually enforcable under law in NSW, but the council area next to mine has a 2 dog rule - whereas mine doesn't have a limit. T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 I love living out west. We currently have 6 dogs here and as long as they are not a nuisance there's no limit. Although 6 IS our limit :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 7, 2013 Author Share Posted July 7, 2013 We are in a regional area of NSW so no worries as far as numbers. She rang today when I was out and left a message to say she would give us a call tonight. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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