Am I mad to take on a third dog

[frenchygirl]

We have taken on 2 terriers. Unknown to us the female (who we think is about 3 years old) was pregnant and has now given birth to two gorgeous puppies. The other dog is a male and we've been told he's roughly 9years old. They were dogs that had been used for breeding and never got a chance to learn how to play and so are quite serious and not at all playful.
I've found a home for one of the puppies but would dearly love to keep the other one. Is it too much to have 3 dogs. We live in a detached house with large garden and I'm home all day most days. I've got 3 children. The youngest is 6. I'm just wondering if it would be all too much. Has anyone else got 3 dogs and if so what's it like. My main worry is going for walks. The male is aggressive to other dogs (a recent development) while the female is just so obedient and laid back so no problem there.

We have 3 dogs - 2 older ones and a 8 month old pup. If you can make time to train and look after the new one, go for it. I think it would be sensible to get to the bottom of the new-found aggression of the dog. He may be protective of his pack, or may feel threatened by the new arrival. The dynamics of 2 dogs will be thrown with a 3rd, and a new way of being has to develop. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers have a good website and should help you find a trainer. One of the dog magazines should have information about behaviourists and how to find one.

We love having our new dog, although it has been some time since everything in sight was eaten or chewed! It has been a long time too since we have had to take training seriously.

Our elder dog is so much better with a younger one. His problems seem to have melted and he is much less of a horror than we had expected of him. Our bitch is more lively too. So... We are now a 3 dog family.

Go for it.
I often think a group of 3 is a good one for dogs - means they can interact on different levels. And the pup would be closer in age to the bitch - so perhaps would make her more inclined to play? Also, dogs learn habits from each other, so likely you will have a nice dynamic on the go.

Another yes vote here. I have three dogs - 2 GSDs, aged 3 and 7 and a 10 yo Lab x. I've had 3 dogs for most of my adult life, raised my children with them singlehanded and fostered dogs too.

Personally, I would say it depends on how much time you have. It sounds like the two adult dogs you have had had a very poor life and been very under socialised. If you keep a puppy you will need to spend a lot of time socialising it, training it and walking it on it's own, and you also need to do that with Mum, and Dad, particularly Dad it seems. You really need to spend at least twice as much time alone with each dog as they do with each other to ensure they are 'switched on' enough to you and not more interested in each other.

There is also a huge leap between having two and three dogs. It's not really just on extra, it really changes the dynamics of everything.

I think the main problem you will have is that you already have a dog and a bitch. If you keep a dog puppy you risk problems with Dad when he dog reaches maturity. If you keep a bitch you risk problems with Mum when pup reaches maturity. This would apply to any well socialised and adjusted dog, let alone where two adults haven't been well socialised. As someone very experienced currently in the situation where I am having to keep two very well socialised, (especially with other dogs) bitches apart from each other as they seem to have developed a grudge and will fight instantly on contact, it's really no fun at all.

I think if you do want to keep pup you should get a behaviourist out to give advice on Dad prior to making a definite decision and prior to pup being weaned.

I have five dogs so what can I say! Except my life is dogs dogs dogs and dogs. Ok I do feed my DC now and again but most of my time is spent with dogs. If you are ok with that go for it.

You will have issues if one of your dogs already has problems and will have to walk the new dog separately to prevent any of his behaviour rubbing off. Also if you go away people seem to accept two dogs but three is a problem.

Thinking long term as the needs of your children change would you be able to accommodate the three dogs again what can I say as I have 5 DC but at times when one of my children was very poorly it was extremely difficult.

I guess the sensible answer is two is great but three may be a handful but when have I ever taken the sensible option! It will be hard work though

thanks everyone for all your ideas. Good to hear such a positive response. Seems most people think yes but be prepared for hard work. Silentcatastrophe,thanks for the weblink will look into that. My only worry is the cost. We will also have to have the male neutered. More money as his teeth need doing and have been quoted £300. But if his aggression to other dogs was sorted it would make life a lot easier. Threeliitleducks, agree think it would cheer the mum up whose naturally a very serious little dog. Wow, Valhalla, respect. Midori, yes think I would feel happier if dogs was sorted. That's my worry that they're will be a clash between the sexes. Would a behaviourist not be able to help with your situation? Minimu, you're right - life's too short to be sensible!

We have had a behaviourist out, but bitches can and do bear grudges and we have always known this but never been unlucky enough to experience it. Sometimes they simply will never get on and always have to be kept seperate. The behaviourist actually knows someone who competes very successfully at obedience with al of her dogs, but has to keep two of her bitches seperate. I have also known breeder friends occasionally have or know of similar predicaments.

It doesn't bother me, my dogs are pretty much my whole life, but obviously it is a situation that needs constantly monitoring so neither dog, nor my children (who could theoretically get 'caught in the crossfire' if the dogs did fight, both are excellent with the kids) in danger. Hopefully we can resolve it eventually, but that isn't going to happen overnight and rehoming one just isn't an option.

Interesting about behaviourist Midori. I suppose you still had to pay them. Shame it's not results based fees. Btw how much did you pay for the behaviourist to come out?

I was happy to pay him. We didn't just have him out for that reason, although he did give advice regarding the girls and he was here for the best part of three hours. It was £60, which is very reasonable, IMO. I knew prior to him coming out that bitches once they start to bear a grudge can keep it up permenantly. It's just unfortunate that personal and difficult circumstances in our home life allowed it to start in the first place. As I said, I am an extremely experienced dog owner, but dogs are still dogs and to expect them to never behave like a dog is unrealistic.

We had two greyhounds and then did fostering. That worked really well, until our last foster was one who nobody came for and we fell in love in with so we now have three permanent dogs. I don't regret it for a second and often wish we could have a fourth! Yes, you get through more kibble, your sofa is frequently occupied, and we spend more on things like pet insurance, vets bills etc. However, greys are generally much happier living with other greys (they do this in working kennels) and they get on very well together. We have occasional fun with "knitting" when I am walking all three by myself in the week - this happens when one decides to sniff one side of a tree and the other two decide to go round it in the opposite direction. Sometimes think I should put out a hat and ask for donations for the entertainment value. Ultimately, I suppose really it depends on how much of a dog person you are - with three you can't say they are just part of your life, they play a much more central role. For us though that's how we like it.