Oh bloody hell...

[andiesays]

We currently have three dogs, a Great Dane, Ace, a St Bernard, Finn, and a Greyhound, Ella. The GD and SB have been with us since before the kids were born (5 years now!) and the Grey is a rescue dog who was dumped for being black. I'm currently pregnant with twins but... my wild party lifestyle cousin is relocating to Dubai and doesn't want to take her Staffy, Phoebe and Welsh Springer puppy, Winnie with her. She knew we were looking for a dog a couple of years ago so has offered them to us. And... despite all her faults, she has trained them beautifully.
I want them badly. Would it be a bloody terrible idea to take them? I do so have a soft spot for a Staff and the Springer is just beautiful and has managed to worm her way into my heart.
Or should I wait until the kids are older and get my dream Lab puppy?

How big is your house?

Ermm, big! Large garden, 5 bedrooms, we built it new on a piece of land I liked.

Take them in, you love them and are clearly good at looking after them.

Do they get on with your dogs? Are they good with children? How will you manage with walking 5 dogs?

@Booboostwo they do get on fabulously with my dogs, I wouldn't even entertain the idea otherwise. They are lovely with my children especially the Staff. Springer is still puppy so does mouth a little bit but not a lot.
Walking 5 dogs... we would do an hour walk in the morning with DH, he would take Finn, Ella and Winnie and I would take Ace and Phoebe. We would also do two hours walk after school combined with offlead. Is that enough?

Do you think the walking will still be possible at the later stages of your pregnancy and when the twins arrive?

I have a puppy at the moment and he is quite hard work, worth it but hard work. He is a bit like having a baby/toddler but all accelerated. So for a while he needed my total focus and attention, something which may be difficult if you are very pregnant and when the twins arrive.

I don't want to put a downer on things, just asking questions and options as I think it will be very sad and difficult for you if you take the dogs on and then struggle to look after them all.

I agree @Boobostwo, I don't want to make a mistake. We had already decided that when the twins come and in later stages of pregnancy that we would employ a dog walker that we have already used and is very good. I don't mind the expense at all.

How old exactly is the puppy? Will she be through the worst of it by the time the babies arrive?

She's 7 months. She is very well trained, I've taken her out before and she's had great recall and is house trained well.

Why are you even asking, of course you're going to have them! They sound gorgeous & will have a fabulous time living at your home. Could you really bear to let them go to new homes? They'll all play together & they'll wear themselves out playing if you can't manage the long walks when the twins arrive. You can always get the Lab too in a few years time...

3 hours walking a day sounds like heaven and a lot more than most dogs get, and you sound like an experienced and sensible 'owner', so I'd say go for it. But go for it in the knowledge that it might be a difficult few years with twins in the mix as they will absolutely throw you into chaos all by themselves!

But with a trusted dog walker and your sensible head then I should think having 5 isn't too different to 3, to be honest! Good luck and well done for not seeing them being put into kennels - they can live in their 'pack' and will be happy for it.

That all sounds positive. My experience is that after a certain number of animals another one is hardly noticed as your life has already changed to accommodate them all. If your existing dogs have good habits, e.g. good recall, the puppy is more likely to follow suit and the dog walker should help a lot. Go for it! And post photos of the pack, they'll look brilliant together!

Thank you @AliCat36 and @TattyCat, it is true I couldn't bear to let them go.

Thank you @Booboostwo and I'll try but it's very difficult to get them facing them camera all together

My parents have five (just been asked to rehomed a fifth) they manage them brilliantly and they are well trained and looked after.

My mam says once you go up too 3 you don't notice a difference with any more.

Rehome a 6th that should say.