3 dogs (or...am I crazy?)

[FreeRangeMama]

What are the pros and cons of owning 3 dogs? I have read that 'three dogs makes a pack', so is that a good thing? Bad thing? Neither? Both?

We haven't committed to anything yet, first we would find a dog we loved, then make sure doggy got along with the rest of our brood. But before I meet (and inevitably fall in love) with someone I want to make sure it is a good idea

Thanks!

[CvilleC]

I only have one, but my good friends have three. Here's what I can tell you about their experience:

They all get along, although the two males have had little tests of dominance stuff here and there. Nothing serious, but your current dog's personalities should be considered. Would one have a hard time with a new member coming in? Dogs are expensive, so there's a big thing to consider. And there would be one more dog shedding, bringing in dirt, taking up space....my friend really wanted to give equal attention to all three dogs, so he worked hard to take them all for walks, etc. If they traveled, they would sometimes break the dogs up b/c it is harder to find a dog sitter for three rather than just one.

They did obedience work with all their dogs, so they listened and were well behaved. They could put them in the yard and they played together, so you didn't feel badly if you couldn't give them lots of attention at the time.

[justamama]

We have 3 dogs. Two basset hounds and a dachshund. I love having 3 dogs. The two basset hounds get food agressive with one another once in a while (one is a younger pup who needs spayed, the other is old and has a history of being food dominant). In fact tonight I had to break them up and clean a small gash on the older one's ear. However, as long as we keep them separate while eating (I was getting food for the kids, too, and didn't see the puppy had finished her food and then went to the older dog's bowl), they get along great. The three sleep together in an XXL crate that we have in our bathroom at night. It's plenty big, as they all have room to be standing up, turning around, etc in there together. Even with the space to spread out, they sleep all curled up.

As pp have said, it's nice when things are hectic and you can't give them full attention like you'd like to, because they can keep one another company. Its not something to rely on full-time, and you still need to walk them and all, but its nice for them to have buddies.

[finnegansmom]

We have 3 dogs, all lab type dogs. 2 girls and a 1 boy, 2 are 7 and one is 4. One of the girls is the dominant, then the boy then the second girl (who is the youngest).

They like to hang out, they each have a dog bed but they all sleep smooshed on one bed. They will play and chase each other. They keep each other company.

It's triple the dog hair, triple the mud being dragged in, triple frontline, dogfood, vet bills, poop to pick up (LOL), etc.

They have all been to obdience class (the girls are drop outs..hahaha stubborn). The boy went out to be a therapy dog in a nursing home.

I have to admit, the dogs are now more my husbands (even though one of them was mine when we met). I am stretched thin with the 2 kids and working from home 5 days a week (almost fulltime). We live in a house now and can let them out in the yard, but we used to live in the city in a condo - with 3 dogs - and it was kind of a nightmare. They are big dogs and I couldn't walk all 3 of them at once, it was a lot of work getting them out for walks....

So there are pros and cons - definately, We are lucky, our dogs get along great. We do have a very strict feeding routine since they do eat at the same time. We can feed them in the same room but they must wait until all of the bowls are on the floor before they can start (this prevents someone from eating their food and then moving to the next bowl). We also make sure they have enough room when they are given a kong or a raw hide, to separate.

We've had them all together for about 4-5 years now and have only had 2 fights (the alpha girl and the male).

Good luck in your decision!

[Sol_y_Paz]

I don't think you are crazy. 
The number of pets that is best or good for each household will vary on that particular dynamic, financial, space issues, training abilities, personalities of dogs and members of the family, and so much more.
Dogs are high maintenance pets but I love that about them.
Everyone is different, I know some people who have a houseful of cats but don't like but one dog, or no dogs, or no pets at all (gasp!)

Edited by Sol_y_Paz - 10/11/11 at 11:50pm

[sagewinna]

We had 3 dogs for several years, until Molly passed away, and it was really great when it was great. However, there were issues between the girls so we couldn't play with all three dogs at once or things got intense. It got chaotic when one of them got excited, 'cuz they all got excited. I couldn't walk all three at once , nor take them to the vet, by myself. My dogs aren't little ones, though.

I wouldn't have 3 again. 2 is much more manageable for us. YMMV.

[tessa_s212]

Growing up, we always had 6+ dogs in the house. My only dog is going to a temporary home (with a friend) until we can afford her again and find a place that will allow us to have animals. And it is soooo weird to not have a house full of dogs. Cheaper, but it just doesn't feel right without a house full of dogs... I think three is a really good number. Husband and I have agreed taht in the future, we could own 3 dogs,and have a fourth foster dog at most.

[mamallama]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom

It's triple the dog hair, triple the mud being dragged in, triple frontline, dogfood, vet bills, poop to pick up (LOL), etc.

This is the reason I don't have three dogs right now.

I have had three dogs. Three is a good number for us. I feel like we're missing someone with just two.

The dynamic does change with three. I don't think it's more difficult; it's just different. When I am calling three dogs off the mailman, my voice has an edge that isn't there when I'm just telling my two to knock it off. Maybe that would be stressful for some people...I guess it's stressful for me, but the flip side is more dog! More dog love! It balances.

[LeahBoo]

I have three. It started with Leah, my australian kelpie. I was content with one dog. She's great, travels well, but doesn't like people.

I didn't actively seek out another dog, but a friend's mother in law was about to put down her dachshund beagle mix (Buddha) because she was getting old and smelly. I said I'd take her, I didn't think I'd keep her, just couldn't see letting them put a 9 year old, otherwise healthy, dog down. In May, I will have had her for 5 years (and doesn't smell anymore, since I stopped feeding her crap). She likes people, but doesn't travel well.

I decided I wanted a happy, people loving dog that I could take everywhere, so I found Harley, a little dachshund terrier mix at the shelter. I took him home to foster (make sure he would work with Leah and Buddha). He did, I adopted. He's a troublemaker (he's a baby, he's learning), but I love him.

Leah didn't freak out as bad as I expected. He doesn't challenge her authority, and runs and hides when she bares her teeth. So she isn't threatened by him. They play all the time, it's great. Buddha doesn't play with dogs, only me. Harley tries, but it doesn't work.

I must say, with two dachshund mixes and a cat, I don't need many blankets on my bed.

[jewelsJZ]

I think it depends on the dogs. We had three in the past. The youngest one was a bit snarky from the start, very possessive of toys, that kind of thing, but awfully cute. They all got along fine for several years, then as the middle dog got older, the little one decided to take over. They fought horribly and the only way to stop it was to keep them apart. So we lived for several years with a system of baby gates in the house and kept them separated until the middle one died. The oldest dog, he stayed out of it with the other two, that was just his nature. So maybe this wouldn't have been an issue of 3 dogs, but the 2 in particular that were fighting.
For the years before that, it worked very well because the two that I am speaking about played together, were both high energy dogs and it was very useful to have them to entertain each other.

[mommaof3boz]

When we went from one to two it was somewhat more work. Then we tried to go to three and it just didn't work. However, mainly I think it was the dog we tried. COULD NOT get him housebroke. Thankfully the breeder we got him from took back and was going to try and rehome him to someone with a fenced yard where he could be an outside dog.