Maybe no. 3 dog in my house?????

BarbV - If it is your desire to have 3 dogs and have made you all thinking about the negative things and you found them completely outweighed by the positive things, then do it. :yes:

Personally, I would never, never do it.
I have not the heart to share my love with 33% each, I would always have such a bad conscience.
 
I'm going to chime in... I have three dogs and although it's crazy hetic, I love it. Ruutu and Oshie are about a yr and 6 months apart. As we got done training and gluing Ruu we gained Oshie. I have to admit, pottying them without a fenced yard sucked for the short time (Dec- Feb) but it was manageable. We now have a huge house and a large backyard so no big. All three love and hate each other. It's fun to see Honey acting as a puppy as she ages. We can see her declining a lot recently but she still has spurts where she'll go run with the boys and battle it out. Oshie and her actually play tons... I thought Oshie would be a good playmate for Ruutu (not the main reason we got him) but he actually loves to play with Honey over Ruu. I never seen Honey take to a puppy as much as she loves her Oshie. It's weird. Yes, three is more and it just adds a little more time you have to spend with the dogs. Yes, someone gets jealous aka Ruutu in my case. But all in all, I wouldn't trade my dogs for anything.
 
Although I sometimes think I would love a third (another Sheltie of course). I don't think Milo would do well with another dog in the house. He is very territorial and accepted Lacey without a problem, but I would worry about another one. So we will stick to just 2.
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. You've given me a lot to think about!

One of you mentioned that perhaps I was still searching for my heart dog, after Bacca's passing. I actually think I found it with Callan. He is truly exceptional, even if is a brat! Bless indy for putting up with him! Indy has ,earned his to play again, and has gotten less aggressive with other dogs since Callan. I have to admit, indy was never my heart dog.

I honestly don't know why I want a third. I just do. I've talked to two of my past breeders. Callan's breeder has a litter that is 2.5 weeks old. She is encouraging me to me cautious too in this decision.

Believe me, I am!

I think what resonates with me is that Indy IS going to be 7 this week. If there was a time to do it, it would be now, especially since he has found his playful side again. Neither Callan or Indy is dominant in these two. They take turns. It's interesting to watch them. Callan truly encourages Indy to play fight with him. He gives indy a toy and then tries to take it away. Indy responds in kind!

So yes, a 3rd might disrupt this. And I can imagine jealously too.....yeah, thinking hard.....
 
Barb -- I am glad Callan is indeed a heart dog. I probably missed a lot of your updates and didn't realize that.

We had a heart dog (Shay) who we both adored. I added Melli and she is my best friend but not my heart dog. I felt the home was off balance in some way I couldn't really define. We added Cubs. It balanced things out. Shay has morphed over to my husband's heart dog and Cubby is my heart dog. Melli is my best friend.

Some people feel complete with one or two or three . . . If I remember correctly, going way back, you had considered three before but the whole cottage thing was a challenge. If you just feel you should, never apologize to anyone, and find a dog or pup with the personality that meshes in and enjoy.
 
Lots to think about, Barb, and lots to consider. About adding a dog. About health issues with the dog. About getting-along issues.

In the mix, don't forget to consider yourself and your own health and where you may be in 10 years. Do you have health issues that can worsen? I look at my three, and know that in 10 years, health issues I have will be worse.

We are pulling for you whatever decision you make, and it is your decisions. We can give you all the opinions in the world, all the advice, but it is still what you want and know you can manage.
 
Thanks everyone!

I am yet undecided, but I am about 70% in favour of getting a new pup.

Frankly, the only thing that is working against it is, yes dealing puppy training, and Callan barely out of training himself. Yes, he is house trained, but not chew proof, so he is still in his xpen when I'm out of the house. He is such a rocket though and loves other dogs and people, it just seems right to introduce a puppy now.

I'm really torn.....and wi

ll give this another week or so to get a grip.

btw....someone mentioned age as a factor.....Well, I like to think that I'm ONLY 53.....:winkgrin: I'm really not planning on kicking anytime soon. Jeez, my parents are still roaming the world and spending my inheritance! LOL!
 
BarbV said:
btw....someone mentioned age as a factor.....Well, I like to think that I'm ONLY 53.....:winkgrin: I'm really not planning on kicking anytime soon. Jeez, my parents are still roaming the world and spending my inheritance! LOL!
Click to expand...

Seriously? I'm 62, and the only way anyone is getting to inherit my house is to swear before a lawyer that they'll cherish the heap-o-Shelties I'll leave behind to mourn me!
 
Chris said:
Seriously? I'm 62, and the only way anyone is getting to inherit my house is to swear before a lawyer that they'll cherish the heap-o-Shelties I'll leave behind to mourn me!
Click to expand...

:yuckyuck

Chris, I am with YOU! I am 61 with no kids and my pets are my life! My will states... my estate (HA!) must be used to provide for the life of my remaining animals... I adopted them and I feel it is MY DUTY to provide for them after I leave this earth! I do have seniors, so I am am sure I will out live them...
But, certainly accidents do happen... best to be prepared! :yes:
 
I got Epic when Revel was 12 and Yogi 8 because I wanted a young dog and also didn't want to leave Yogi alone if anything happened to Revel. Also wanted to get the pup before Revel was too old to cope. Having three was great in some ways, and less good in others. I found it harder to take three dogs out to places (one more dog in someone else's house seems a lot more) but three seemed a nice number to walk together and I could take one out and not feel bad about leaving one by himself. Management didn't seem much different but grooming three dogs took a whole evening rather than a couple of hours and there was noticeably more dog hair.
When Yogi died I would not have rushed out to get another pup as quickly as I did except I was terrified (again) that something would happen to Revel and Epic wouldn't cope with being alone. Getting Angus proved to be the best decision ever, although I've not had two so close in age before. But I would not have contemplated a baby pup at that point even if I felt the other dogs would have coped with one. Personally I prefer to have a minimum of three years between dogs so can focus on bringing on the youngster and training him and the older dogs don't exactly take a back seat but they do not need the intensive work that a pup does. I do not anticipate getting another puppy now for at least 3 years. I also like to space them out so they are at different life stages.

I would say weigh up all the pros and cons, as you are obviously doing, be honest about time and commitments and where a new dog will fit in with the temperaments of the others and if getting another pup still looks like a good idea after that then go for it. :smile2:
 
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