blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 20, 2015 15:45:02 GMT
we have 2 dogs- a medium sized 9 yr old pitbull/corgi, and a 3 yr old 10lb chiweenie. both were craigslist finds that worked out really well for us. well, the little one is a bit of a barker, and when it's cold/wet/we're busy she'll poop in the unfinished basement, that's not cool. but overall, everything's fine. they are mostly lazy, sleep all day with 3rd shift DH, sleep all night with me or kids. p/c likes to be the boss, she was standoffish to the little one when we got her but soon came around and grooms her, cuddles with her. doesn't play with her, with toys, or our kids at all.
I have always loved bostons. a coworker's friend just had his GF and her daughter move in, they found out daughter is very allergic to his 7 yr old boston terrier, so they're looking for a new home. dog is 7, submissive, potty trained and lazy supposedly. 22 lbs, so on the smaller side. all dogs mentioned are fixed females BTW.
of course I want to take this dog home like now lol. she seems like she would fit in nicely. our boys are 7 and 10, and can take on more responsibility. but 3 dogs.. seems like a lot! we have the space, are just finishing up our lower level this weekend and having a fence installed in the yard within a month or so. DH is like no way..well..no way. we can afford the small bit of extra food and vet bills.
were you doubtful about 3 dogs, and now you're so happy you got that 3rd? did the new dog's good habits rub off on your other dogs, or did they corrupt the new one into their bad habits? did you realize it was just too much? good lord there would be so much dog shit in our backyard... |
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
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Post by scrapaddie on Mar 20, 2015 16:03:37 GMT
I don't like to have more dogs then I have hands. They all want to be petted at the same time. I have had three dogs, two males and one female, and they all got along fine. But I found I would have to pet two with hands on one with foot
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loco coco
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Post by loco coco on Mar 20, 2015 16:14:45 GMT
we have 3 dogs, 1 small male (8 years old) and 2 larger females (rescues around 2 years old). They all get along great, we have dog beds all over the house but they prefer to lay like this  they are my babies!! |
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calgal08
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Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Mar 20, 2015 16:19:16 GMT
We had 2 dogs, then adopted the mother of our male (the breeder was very sick and couldn't keep her). She was 11 and a true alpha female and had grown up with 5 other dogs. Not sure if it was having 3 dogs of the same breed, or bringing an older dog to the mix but overnight our original 2 went into full pack mentality. Nothing mean towards each other, but there was a definite competition for our affection/who got fed first etc. Actually, meal-times were interesting, you can put 2 dog bowls down at the same time, but 3, impossible  |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 20, 2015 16:20:09 GMT
We have three Shetland Sheepdogs, and it works well for us... our thinking was, 'what's one more? It's not that much more dog hair' when we thought about it. They're all the same breed / same size, so the increase in amount of food wasn't that much; the biggest expense increase was really the increased vet bills and the pet-sitting fees when we go on vacation. (but all together we have 3 dogs and 3 cats, so we're pretty much crazy anyway.)
The first two we got are BFFs- they've been together for 4 years and play together all the time. When we got the third one, our breeder had a retired show dog she wanted to adopt out, and after thinking about it for about a year, we finally adopted her-- we're her 'retirement home' lol! She's about a year older than our next-oldest one.
I was really concerned that the third dog would feel 'left out' from the 'BFF' relationship the other two have with each other, but since she's a retired show dog, she has a totally different personality than the other two-- she pretty much just chills out and hangs out with us. She's more submissive than the other two, so there's not really any alpha/dominance issues; we do feed all three of them at the same time right next to each other, and once she learned she needed to eat RIGHT NOW so they wouldn't eat her food, there weren't any issues.
like I said, the increase in vet expenses is probably the biggest thing, for us- heartworm, checkups, shots, county registration. (And keeping track of which dog needs to get what shots when.) Plus, our dogs have dental issues, so getting teeth cleanings / extractions performed on 3 dogs isn't cheap.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Mar 20, 2015 16:25:04 GMT
I've heard it's an adjustment to go from one to two, then from two to three and from three to five  Anything more then five at one time is supposed not be that bad, not something I want to find out though!!! We have had two and then three then two then three again. Dh prefers two at a time, but I don't mind three. It's fun to have three faces looking at you with love and attention. Even if I know what they really want and care about is the treat or food I do agree it can be hard to walk or pet three at a time. But we have a good routine and balance with ours. They do all get along. We have a 9 yr old, a 3 yr old and a 7 month old. The baby and the 3 yr old play together and she babysits him fairly well They do tend to learn things together, both good (sit/down) and bad (begging) but that is more us then them. They all have their places in the pack and their places in the house. The 9 yr old always sleeps on the floor at the side of my bed, the baby always sleeps in his crate in the dining room until he graduates out of it and the 3 yr old sleeps either in the bed with me, in her crate or on the couch. |
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,012
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 20, 2015 16:30:06 GMT
The not enough hands factor hadn't occurred to me, but then hopefully the boys can pick up the slack.:-) we actually feed by pouring food from a bowl into theirs, so they are all fed at the same instant so hopefully no fights.:-)
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 20, 2015 16:30:46 GMT
when we walk all three of ours, my BF walks the two younger ones and I walk the older one (she sort of moseys along). I have never tried to walk all three of them at once, but it probably wouldn't work just because of the difference in their pace.
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Post by lucyg on Mar 20, 2015 16:31:55 GMT
My sister, who is a major dog lover, says three dogs was just too much. She has kept it to two dogs at a time ever since.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,012
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 20, 2015 16:33:36 GMT
Regarding sharing playtime and walks, I think it would even out because the oldest dog doesn't want to play, or walk, out do anything really other than sleep and fart. Two boys, two playful dogs would work out.plus they ate putting in a dog park about 1000 ft from our house..
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,012
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 20, 2015 16:37:06 GMT
interesting about sleeping arrangements.part of dh's "no" was that he didn't want to sleep with three dogs in bed. Pointing out that we just got a king bed, so really it's not any different dog-to-bed space ratio, didn't impress him.:-P but maybe this one would sleep on floor or something. |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,316
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Post by lindas on Mar 20, 2015 16:40:41 GMT
I have 4 so I'm the last person to tell you not to add another.  CoCo is the queen bee and she makes sure the others know it. She is also the one that will growl if one of the others comes near her food dish so they learned quickly to wait until she walks away then it open season on anything she left. We do have a bit of a jealously problem here, everyone wants attention at the same time but since they're little I can spread out my fingers and reach two heads at a time. I say go for it! |
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,098
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Mar 20, 2015 16:41:31 GMT
I have 2 shelties and a huge 120 pound german shepherd mix. No one sleeps on our bed but are in our room. Three is fun. Vet times three though!
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 20, 2015 16:44:24 GMT
yeah, none of our dogs sleep with us, either (the cats do if they want). Partly because of the dog hair and partly because of not-enough-room. The oldest dog can't jump up on the bed, anyway. Their crates are all in our bedroom- that's where they are during the day... at night, they just sleep on the floor wherever they want- either in our room, the bathroom, the hallway, or maybe downstairs in the hall.
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Post by checkwheelsdown on Mar 20, 2015 16:56:50 GMT
My parents have a yellow lab, a black lab and a golden. Mom would tell you that they are no trouble at all...but she gets all the doggie love, and Dad deals with all the poop.
Personally, I think she's insane having to deal with three big dogs at almost 74 and my dad will be 75 with two knee replacements. Shouldn't they be down - sizing lol?
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Post by putabuttononit on Mar 20, 2015 17:33:18 GMT
We have three- a Pembroke Corgi, a Fox/Rat T, and a yellow lab. It's a lot, but you adjust. The dogs work it out so don't fuss over their relationships too much. We usually do two at a time for play time. In the house they all get along well. Very different personalities. We never take them all in the car at once. Also, it's two females and one male. That matters too so take it into consideration.
I'd suggest a trial period. See how everyone does before making it the real deal.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,012
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Post by blue tulip on Mar 20, 2015 17:45:07 GMT
I agree, we'd definitely do a trial period, for us and the dogs. he does have a backup home for her, tho that one would be basically a foster to avoid the pound.
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Deleted
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Dec 15, 2024 23:43:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2015 17:49:58 GMT
we have 3 dogs, 1 small male (8 years old) and 2 larger females (rescues around 2 years old). They all get along great, we have dog beds all over the house but they prefer to lay like this they are my babies!! That's awesome! |
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Post by pmk on Mar 20, 2015 17:57:04 GMT
We've had three because our first dog was getting quite elderly so when we had the chance of a puppy we took it. Our thinking was that the puppy would make the transition back to 2 dogs a bit easier. As it turned out the puppy gave the elderly dog a new lease of life and she lived for another 2 years. My only concern about going back to three are the kennel costs when we go on holiday. We have no one to look after two let alone three so have to pay for them to go to brilliant kennels. Even with a discount it's a reasonable chunk of money!! edited to add: I'd have another dog in a heartbeat. DH is not so keen but I'm planning to win him round  |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Mar 20, 2015 18:14:33 GMT
We have three. One 9 year old mini-doxie, and 2 beagle puppies (sisters) that are about 1-1/2 yrs old. (All females). They all sleep with us in a king size bed. It's crowded. Lol. But honestly, I have a hard time sleeping without them when I go on vacation because I'm so used to a dog (or 2 or 3) sleeping against me. It's great in the winter, but ridiculously hot summer.
The downside of having three would be the vet and kennel costs. But, I love having three. It makes me happy and they are just about the biggest joys of my life. (After my grandson, of course!)
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 20, 2015 19:56:59 GMT
as to the kennel costs, we lucked out by having such a great pet-sitting service; our pet-sitter does overnight visits, so someone stays over at our house from 6 pm till 6 am when we're gone. The dogs don't have to go TO a kennel, and get to stay in their own home- less chance for anxiety and for them to get sick, and it's someone they know and like. (Plus, if we kenneled them, we'd still have to pay the pet-sitter to take care of the cats.)
I love the pic of all three dogs in one dog bed!! We have a dog bed that size, but our dogs don't ever sleep in it together; they just kind of sleep near each other all sprawled out on the floor. Only one dog is ever in the dog bed at one time-- or sometimes, the littlest cat. (she's tiny, but she intimidates the crap out of the dogs-- if she walks over to the bed, they will actually get up and leave it, lol!!)
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Post by gmcwife1 on Mar 20, 2015 20:09:20 GMT
as to the kennel costs, we lucked out by having such a great pet-sitting service; our pet-sitter does overnight visits, so someone stays over at our house from 6 pm till 6 am when we're gone. The dogs don't have to go TO a kennel, and get to stay in their own home- less chance for anxiety and for them to get sick, and it's someone they know and like. (Plus, if we kenneled them, we'd still have to pay the pet-sitter to take care of the cats.) I love the pic of all three dogs in one dog bed!! We have a dog bed that size, but our dogs don't ever sleep in it together; they just kind of sleep near each other all sprawled out on the floor. Only one dog is ever in the dog bed at one time-- or sometimes, the littlest cat. (she's tiny, but she intimidates the crap out of the dogs-- if she walks over to the bed, they will actually get up and leave it, lol!!) We got an RV so we could vacation without kenneling  The things we've done for our dogs! My cat sleeps in my bed at the head of my bed, the older Samoyed is on the floor at the side of the bed and the GSD is at my feet on the bed. Luckily dh works nights so I don't have to find space for him - even though the GSD is HIS dog she sleeps with me She can not sleep with us when he is home as we only have a queen bed! She does sneak into bed when we are camping though |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 20, 2015 22:42:24 GMT
We had two for many years, and then at one point went to three when DH had a lab that was gun shy and he wanted a hunting dog. So he added another lab pup that he trained himself. When the older one died, I will admit releasing a small sigh of relief because three really IS a lot especially with two being big ones. Well, that sigh was short lived because not long after that he learned about another lab that needed a good home, and here we are again with three. Three that SHED. Constantly. Ugh. Dog hair (and dog poop) is the bane of my existence.
All of them are old now (8,9 and 14) and I have already told DH that when they are gone we WILL be taking a break from pet ownership for a while. I'm a dog lover, but after having multiple dogs for the last 26 years even I have my limits and I'm ready to be done for a while. I would like to be able to take a vacation just once without having to deal with finding someone willing to watch three dogs.
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Post by lovetodigi on Mar 20, 2015 22:56:55 GMT
We have three, a Jack Russel, a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua. Not much more trouble that having two. It does add to the cost with the Banfield Pet Health Plan but she doesn"t eat all that much. Would do it all again in a minute. No regret at all.
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Post by ladytrisha on Mar 20, 2015 23:03:20 GMT
We have 3 dogs and 2 cats ... personalities and hair galore! LOL
We have Zeke, a 60 lb border collie/dalmation mix (yeah, calmness is not a virtue) who's 11 now - has a licking and a need to touch you or lean on you (rescued from a shelter in Arizona on vacation - cuz isn't that what people do on vacation out of state?);
we have Molly, a 55 lb border collie mix (we've pretty much figured out she's border collie in color only and is probably pointer/pit bull mix - she's hard but awesome) - hubby and son rescued her while I was at a crop. She's been on the furniture since day 1!
our last addition was Lucy, a chihuahua/jack russell - she's so ugly (bad teeth) but cute, was a puppy mill rescue at the shelter. She LOVES my husband with all her being ... but she eats poop and her breath is bad.
Cats (Max and Sabrina) are just ornery and they will be the last we ever own. All black, siamese mix brother and sister pair rescued by my friend who had 6 cats at the time. She kept the runt, and told us 2 would be easier. We believed her. She was wrong. All 3 have litter box issues. Plus our boy now has seizures and falls down furniture and looks at you like you pushed him.
ETA - we also have sleeping beds all over (Costco has the best prices) ... but all 3 sleep in our bedroom on the $3500 sleep by number bed. I can't sleep on it - I think Molly's number is 65. Lucy, the chi, has her bed and microfiber blanket on the bed but sneaks out to sleep next to hubby's back.
We can't imagine life without them. Hubby is the packleader (he feeds and gives treats out so they think he is awesomer than me).
How could you miss all this? bwahahaha!
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Post by Woobster on Mar 21, 2015 0:35:58 GMT
We have three... The hardest part is trying to figure out how to walk them, or take them to the vet , by myself. Short leashes work wonders!
I am a "the more, the merrier" girl when it comes to animals. I would have more if my husband agreed.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,878
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Post by scrapngranny on Mar 21, 2015 0:54:54 GMT
We have three fairly large dogs, the border collie in my avatar and 2 boxers. We lived in the country and it was fine, 2 years ago we sold our farms and moved into town and I would never have 3 dogs in town again, there is just too much dog in our house. All of the are between 13-10 years old, so they won't all be here that much longer. We will won't have more than one dog at time after these guys are gone.
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Post by CarolT on Mar 21, 2015 1:53:44 GMT
I have one dog, but right now, there are three dogs in my house. Dd moved back home (with her corgi) a couple of years ago - at that time I had my one, little (non-shedding!) westie. This weekend, we are also pet sitting my son's 3 year old whippet. We have the whippet here several times a year, and he gets along well with the westie and corgi. BUT it's a bit crazy around here when all 3 get going... I'm always happy to have him here, but I know that when ds picks him up on Monday evening, things will be much calmer around my house I have to admit - I love dogs and can't imagine not having a dog, but I don't think I would choose to have 3 dogs. |
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Post by baslp on Mar 21, 2015 2:25:24 GMT
We now have 4 dogs.--female pug who's 9, large male mutt who's 7, male springer who's 3 and we adopted a female 3 yr old chihuahua mix.Having 2 females has been an issue at times. They will fight at times over sitting in our laps. They can't ride in the same car. They act like they want to kill each other. So you may want to do a few play dates at your house and see how they get along. I think it is much easier introducing a puppy into the pack.
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Post by mlynn on Mar 21, 2015 7:02:07 GMT
It is nearly impossible to get three female dogs to get along. Even well behaved, well trained ones.
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Anything more then five at one time is supposed not be that bad, not something I want to find out though!!!
CoCo is the queen bee and she makes sure the others know it. She is also the one that will growl if one of the others comes near her food dish so they learned quickly to wait until she walks away then it open season on anything she left. We do have a bit of a jealously problem here, everyone wants attention at the same time but since they're little I can spread out my fingers and reach two heads at a time. 
The things we've done for our dogs! 
