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I'm going to be an owner of 3 by the end of the week... Reassure me it will be ok!!!

9 replies

JulietBravoJuliet · 14/07/2014 15:13

Posted a while back about a collie that was going to be PTS and I'd said I'd take him but the owners wouldn't let me. Then I took on a JRT puppy who is fab and settling in brilliantly :)

My friend saved the collie but her male dog isn't happy with having him in the house, so I've just been on a walk with them to meet him. He's a lovely lad, gets on well with my two and seems pretty chilled and placid (not what the owners said about him at all). So, it looks like I'm taking him on!

Currently in an open plan house with no proper garden, so dreading it at the minute, but I'm moving in about 6-8 weeks to somewhere far more suitable. I've had three before, but was in a far better property for it then! Plus my landlord will have a fit if he finds out but it's only for a few weeks!

Reassure me please! I think I'm crazy!!!

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TooOldForGlitter · 14/07/2014 19:52

No advice as i've only got one but I think you are fab for all you've done to save this collie. Best of luck Flowers

JulietBravoJuliet · 14/07/2014 22:05

Is it bad that I'm scared of telling my dad I'm taking another dog on? I'm 36 years old fgs but I know he's going to do the disapproving voice and I'll be asked how I can afford it! Which incidentally is something I'm slightly concerned about, as it's another insurance direct debit and more food to fork out for, but I'll find it somehow!

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Scuttlebutter · 15/07/2014 00:14

Um, oh dear, I'm going to be the voice of doom here. Firstly, it is a stretch having three, financially. It's easier when they are young, but believe me, those insurance premiums shoot up when they get middle-aged/older. Your dad is right to be concerned about affordability. It's not just insurance. Three lots of food (and they get through it so damn quickly - do you have somewhere to store large quantities?). Larger vehicle to transport them in. There's all the non insurable vet costs like vaccinations, worming, dentals etc. Even if you are insured, you will still usually have to pay upfront, and you can guarantee that they will decide to have an accident the very month you also need new tyres, or shoes.

Also don't underestimate the practical effects. Three dogs in a house really do up the ante when it comes to housework and wear and tear. It is more expensive when you go away (three lots of kennel fees) and it's also much harder to find someone to casually dogsit. If you have one dog, it's very easy to find someone to pop in, or have them overnight, but the number of people willing to take three is VERY much smaller.

You can also think about the practicalities of walking/exercising/training them, ranging from Can you manage all three on the lead at once, to do you have the time to dedicate to ensuring they have one to one training/exercise/attention, not to mention possibly grooming. It is doable, but it eats into your time hugely.

We have four dogs (short haired), and previously had three for several years, so am coming at this from experience. I love ours to bits, but when you are a multi dog household, the time taken is considerable. Most weekdays, especially when DH is away, I basically write off the morning as that's dog time, what with exercising, feeding, grooming, training etc.

I'd say I'm happy about this as my time is flexible and I'm completely besotted with our four, but I don't underestimate that they are now a way of life rather than a pet.

Lastly, I'd be hugely wary of taking on a collie without rescue backup, especially one that may have behavioural issues (and let's face it, collies are renowned for being intelligent, sensitive and a bit bonkers, so there's a high chance that there is an issue). One walk isn't really enough (unless you are a collie specialist, in which case carry on) to make an informed assessment of behaviour in all circumstances. Can you manage all the additional training and support this dog will need, along with the needs of the other two?

If you can, and are still determined, that' brilliant, but it's important you understand some of the reality rather than just the nice bits.

Good luck.

JulietBravoJuliet · 15/07/2014 00:28

I've had three before, plus a toddler in a pushchair at that point, so I'm fairly confident I can manage them. The two I already have are vaccinated on a vaccination for life programme, so I don't have to pay anything for them. I walk my current dogs three to four times a day as I don't have a proper garden, so no option to shirk on that! The only one that will need any particular grooming is my older girl, and she's always needed that, so nothing will change there. I currently have 45kg of food stored, as it was on offer, so I bought a load, and will replace each bag as it is finished. My financial situation will improve hugely when I move in a few weeks as will no longer be paying rent, so money won't be an issue then. New dog is neutered, chipped and doesn't need his next booster vac until April next year, so got a bit of time to save up and get him on the vaccination for life thing as well.

I'll manage, I'm sure. I only work part time hours out of the house, so I've got loads of time and can walk each dog separately to enable me to do some training. I've always had collies or collie crosses so I'm painfully aware of how bonkers they can be Grin and even if I only take him on a temporary basis until a home can be found through a reputable rescue, then at least he isn't being pts unnecessarily.

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KarinMurphy · 15/07/2014 08:48

You sound as though you know what you are letting yourself in for so I think you'll be fine.

We've ended up with three dogs again after planning to only have one this time. They are all bitches and are very similar ages, 1, 1 1/2 and 2, so I'm a bit concerned about fights as they mature. They've all just been in season together which was interesting to say the least. Grin

As long as you are prepared for the chaos and never ending hair and are willing to work with a rescue to find the collie another home if he doesn't work out then good luck. Multiple dogs are a lot of work but also a lot of fun.

EasyToEatTiger · 15/07/2014 09:03

It takes time for the house to settle down with the arrival of a newcomer. We've only had collies and so far not a bonkers one, or perhaps we just haven't noticed. All rescue dogs come with their own ishoos. Why is the alternative to pts? Dogs are hugely adaptable and can live without a garden as long as there is somewhere outside they can go and be. I guess the main problem is that they can't go out alone.

Insurance is a bugger. Until I realised how mad it was, I was paying over £150/month for 2 oldies. I spoke to the vet about it, and we decided that a teenage dog would probably be an unlikely candidate for invasive surgery and that treatment would be more for our benefit.

JulietBravoJuliet · 15/07/2014 10:32

They basically rang the RSPCA who said they couldn't take the dog, so they decided they didn't have enough time to ring round rescue centres (I provided them with the numbers for collie rescue and dogs trust) so booked him in to be pts. I've learnt that they kept the dog crated in a 24" x 36" crate for majority of the day and night, yet their other dog (that they are keeping - kind of kills off their story about not being able to keep a dog when adopting, which I knew was bullshit anyway!) is allowed to roam free and gets loads of attention. They basically didn't like the poor boy very much :( He's safe with my friend at the minute, but he needs some stability.

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Owllady · 15/07/2014 19:54

Oh well I am the collie owner with bonkers ones :o
I am sure it will be fine jb but you must contact a breed specific rescue if you feel overwhelmed. Have you had a collie before?
This one is 5?is he entire (I would get him done if not)

JulietBravoJuliet · 15/07/2014 20:46

Apart from the JRT pup currently on my chest, I've always had collies or collie crosses. Big dog is a collie x poodle and, believe me, nothing could be more highly strung and energetic than she is (was - we appear to have turned a corner this last year!). He's already neutered and seems pretty chilled, apart from the obligatory herding of everything that moves! I'm very unsure about having three, if I'm honest, but I've got to give the poor lad a chance.

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