is 3 dogs too many?

[ditavonteesed]

thinking about maybe getting another dog in a couple of years, we have a border terrier and a working cocker, both high energy high need dogs but such fun. I keep dreaming of adding a whippet to our little doggy family. We love whippets and both our dogs love playing with whippets. (and you can buy them pyjamas) But would 3 dogs be too many?
I am on a course at the moment so it wouldnt be until I have finished and am working due to the extra costs.
What is the difference between 2 and 3 really like?

[HcachumBabow]

Well, we've got four so I'd say three isn't too many at all

I found the biggest jump was going from one (who had been an only dog for about six years) to two, after that it wasn't much extra work to add another. Once you get beyond two you do start to limit yourself a bit with regards to stuff like home boarders (I've not yet found one who would take more than two dogs from the same household) and holiday cottages. I can't think of any other downsides off the top of my head though, aside from the obvious extra expense.

Whippets are awesome little dogs, three of our four are whippets and I'd happily have a houseful of them

[EasyToEatTiger]

Too many for what? It is harder to go away with more than 2. At the moment we have 4 as well.

[MothershipG]

I have 3, but mine are smaller than yours, obviously there are the extra costs, but you have 2 already so that won't be a surprise to you. So if you can afford it I don't see why not.

[ditavonteesed]

I dont take them away we have an excellent dog sitter who is a dog walker by trade and a good friend so apart from the cost not a problem (even the spaniel comes back shattered)

[Chattymummyhere]

Number 3 just kind of slots in we found 2 to 3 easier than 1 to 2.

[MerdeAlor]

3 here, obviously there are additional costs - vaccinations, food, and kennels on holiday.
Three dogs can change the dynamics, perhaps a little more competition for attention.
Our house smells much more with three than it did with two but that may be just because of the last dogs breed.

It can be extra tiring with three, particularly when walking them. Plus all the extra dog shits in the garden to pick up!

We love our three but have decided that we wouldn't have three again in the future. Mainly because of the extra work and cost involved. Saying that, we have no regrets about our three lovely doggies.

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

We had three and have had problems with holidays this year. There are places that will accept three dogs, but far fewer than those that will accept two. In fact we had to rule out one specific area we hopes to visit, as there was literally nowhere that would accept all three dogs.

The dynamic has also changed for us. DDog1 is now rather aloof and plays with DDog2 much less. DDogs2&3 are devoted to each other and will play together constantly. DDog1 finds them too rough and quickly gets bored of the growling and kicking. He contents himself with tucking his feet primly underneath him (so they don't get stepped on) and aiming disparaging looks from the sofa :o

I can happily walk all three together, but DH prefers not to and will split the walks unless I'm with him. He just finds it harder to keep an eye on three and is more confident with one or two.

Having said that, I wouldn't change them for anything. I think that once you have one dog, your options WRT days out, holidays etc become more limited anyway. A second, third, fourth dog only removes a small amount of extra options.

[moosemama]

I had three until a couple of years ago. Then one, now two.

I would say it depends on the dogs. If they're three that can be walked together easily then it's not such a problem, but splitting walks and making sure everyone is properly trained and exercised can be quite a commitment time-wise.

We've never had problems with holidays because we usually go to a family owned holiday home and on the occasions we haven't we would kennel the more closely bonded pair (we've been using he same kennels for over 25 years and the dogs love it there) and take the other one with us.

I thought I would always have multiple dogs and was still thinking of adding a terrier into the mix a couple of years down the line, so that the younger one doesn't end up alone when we lose our older lad, but now we have these two, despite regularly falling for rescue dogs online, I really don't feel I could handle another. Thinking about it, we had three before we had our dcs and having a small house, three dcs (one of whom has SNs) and two dogs, the house is full - and chaotic enough. If the dcs had come first, I doubt we'd have gone for three dogs in the first place.

I should say though, that I have health issues at the moment, so that's probably colouring my point of view. Also, the younger of my two is particularly high needs, so that complicates things somewhat as well.

Dh won't walk both together either, so while I'm ill mine are getting less exercise than I'd like, because he has to split his available time for dog-walking between them.

[Reggiesmom]

Aslong as you can look after them and care for them dont see it being a problem and as far as im concerned no amount is to many - Mad dog lover.

[musicposy]

We've got four - not intentional, just kind of happened (sucker for rescue websites) and I really enjoy them all.

Things I've found -

Holidays. Should you want to take them, we've found Owners Direct brilliant. We recently wanted a holiday in Scotland and I emailed 3 places I was interested in. I worded the email carefully to say they would be constantly supervised etc etc and all three agreed to have the lot. Worth asking any independent places as lots will bend the rules if you sound responsible.

Divide and conquer. We found that walking the whole pack can be a bit much for one person. We tend to walk them in two twos. Luckily we are 2 adults and two older teens, so there are plenty of people to share the walking. If I had to do school runs etc with younger children and had no help I might be less keen. Likewise, two sleep in our room and two in with my elder DD. This way they are less in competition with each other.

You very much notice you have a pack. This has good sides - our two more recent rescue dogs very quickly picked up the house rules by copying the established two. It also has bad sides - any jumping up, barking etc will quickly be adopted by all 4. You really do need to take a bit of time to play and train individually, too, or it can get a bit chaotic.

It's pricey. We hardly noticed the expense of one dog but 4 does not come cheap. Food alone is around £100 a month (I'm not prepared to feed them crap just because there are 4) and flea treatment, vet bills etc adds up massively. When we had one dog we had him insured but I just cannot run to 4 - I just have to keep my fingers crossed and we would take a loan should we need to.

We do have the odd spat but generally I think they are quite happy all together. I wouldn't be without my little dog pack now :) They are all different with their own characters and each one gives us pleasure in different ways. However, worth considering all the wider implications before you go for it.

[Adarajames]

I have 2 but love 3 as a pack number, have fosters so have often had an extra in addition to my 2. Would've lived to keep my last foster, she was gorgeous and a total sweetheart, and loved having 3, just something about it that made that many feel so right, but I just couldn't afford it so had to let her go