Is this a terrible idea? Rescuing 2 dogs. We already have 2.

[bouyou]

Ok. I have 2 rescue dogs. Beagle X and Collie X. Both Quite high need. We love them and everyone is happy. They aren't easy but we're quite used to separate walks etc due to reactivity. Beagle has no recall (and will never go off lead as her prey Drive is too high). Love canicross with her.

Collie is highly intelligent but injury prone so no ability etc. Lots of brain games. Take him to the stables each week. Beagle doesn't come. No worries. Both excellent at home with children. No destructive tendencies, separation anxiety... both good in the car.

So... last weekend I was at the stables driving out and discovered 2 stray terriers. Very friendly but looked like they'd been dumped. One had a tag. Ended up popping them in the footwell of my car - don't think my collie noticed. Drove them home. Discovered owner had dementia. Made safe and son turned up. Was there for a while.

Now I have been offered the dogs as the owner can no longer look after them.

The kids who were with me at the time are really keen, but they're 9&7 so they would right? One thing about our current dogs is that the kids can only be involved so far. They're too strong on the lead. Kids are involved in other aspects like grooming and feeding.

I'm so tempted to 'try' these little ones. Kids would be able to handle them. We'd exercise them differently but our set up is abnormal anyway! I work part time and these little ones are 'old lady dogs' and are ok to be left. They're likely to be more companion types.

I have left out some identifying details. DH isn't keen but he hasn't met them and I haven't been able to discuss it properly yet. He thinks we have our hands full, which is true BUT... my argument is as follows:

We will never own any other animals. We will always have dogs. Kids would like hamster and lizard but not going to happen.

Our home, car, jobs, holidays etc are all geared up for dogs.

Kids could take responsibility for little ones including training and exercise. They have been interested in our current dogs but it can only go so far due to the dogs need/limitations. Not through lack of child interest.

I'll stop typing now. Is this crazy? I wouldn't have gone looking for these 2 but man they're cute!

No harm in fostering the dogs is there? If it works they can become permanent?

If you have the time and money then I am sure it will work out. Sounds like they have landed on their lucky paws finding you!

Oh good positive first posts. Thankyou.

Yes time and money ok, and secure garden. They keep escaping from their owner... well wandering off as it's not secure and she forgets them

I think fostering could be the angle to try.

They won't need training at that age and will probably be very easy to live with, especially compared to your other two.
It would be difficult or impossible for them to be rehomed elsewhere so do give it a go. I bet you'll soon love them.

When I say 'training' I mean we go workshops for socialisation, impulse control etc with the other 2. Just for maintenance really

Definitely foster, those dogs are so lucky!

I had two big older settled collies ( neutered boys ) and my friend had two similar aged terriers ( neutered boys ) that I adopted and they all lived happily together , I kept the them apart in pairs if I was out but the rest of the time they were a really happy bunch of boys , they were all about 6 or 7 when they first all lived together but knew each other well for about 2 years prior to that .
Go for it !

Just waiting for DH to come home but I mustn't become irrational and upset. He is very calm and rarely 'puts his foot down'

I was thinking someone would tell me it was a silly idea here!

Ok well the news is in. He says no. I'm trying not to cry. It's like with the husbands who say no to another baby isn't it?

Whoever says no gets the casting vote. Can't believe I feel so sad about it.

He keeps just saying it's too complicated. I reiterated my arguments above but ultimately I have to expect his decision.

Respect not expect

I see these dogs as similar to an unexpected pregnancy - a happy surprise! Ask him if he will at least trial having them. If you can cope with two then I think you'll be fine with four. They will probably melt your husband's heart and move in permanently anyway!

I tried that. I asked for worst case scenario and what the potential outcomes would be.

I reminded him that nobody would ever have animals or children if they wanted a clean quiet house.

I also said it's specific to these dogs, I wasn't scouting for rescue dogs. A year ago I wouldn't have entertained the idea as our circumstances were different.

Go for it!!!!

You'll never know unless you give it a go. We adopted two 'old lady' sister dogs, Labradors though, not little dogs. Best thing we ever did. If anything, they had a calming effect on one of our higher need doggy boys. He ALMOST learnt to greet other dogs nicely by following their lead!

We went from 1 dog to 3 pretty quickly (and unexpectedly). Turns out, 'the more the merrier'! They are great company for each other and learn from each other. Infact we find it's easier to have 3 than 1!

You can respect his decision, do it anyway and disrespect his decision or get divorced!

I'd say go for short term fostering which is a good compromise to see how he feels.

I have spoken with the owners family. I've said dh isn't keen. There might be someone else interested but will know more later.

Problem is I'm not being rational now. I just feel so emotional for them.

UPDATE

I told dh I'd let the family know our position. Attached a photo (why didn't I think of this before??)

He came back and said although he thinks it's a bad idea he will compromise and support fostering them if there's no other option for them. With a view to finding a permanent home.

Phoned owners and relayed info. They are in the process of talking with someone else who might be interested.

I did phone and leave a message for the rescue centre we had our beagle from. I want to talk to them about us fostering with a view to finding a permanent home but only for appearance sake, I don't actually want to try very hard

So that's where we are now!

When they arrive make sure dh is the one to hand out the treats. . Make them love him and he won't be able to resist keeping them surely?

I guess we'd meet on neutral ground first. Gentle introductions. I don't believe in any alpha bullshit, but I've introduced new visiting dogs by meeting outside neutrally then returning to the house on foot, coming into the garden so it doesn't feel so intrusive for residents and intimidating for the newcomers.

🤞

Dh will meet them next week without me or our dogs

Please carry on sharing stories or thoughts!

You could talk to the Cinnamon Trust. Their whole raison d'être is to support older people who can't look after their dogs anymore - supporting them with volunteer dog walkers, finding foster homes, permanent homes etc depending on the situation.

If you did it through them, you'd have backup and it might just be good to discuss the situation with them, if only from a legal point of view - they may have change of ownership documents that you could use.

I volunteer for them and they always seem very approachable on the phone!

We went from two dogs to four by kind of accident. I happened to be browsing a rescue website, not seriously looking, just browsing, and came across this dog who really pulled at me for some reason. She was very scared and shy and needed a home experienced with the breed and with other dogs.

Our eldest dog was 12 and we knew wouldn't be around forever and we had thought our then 4 yo dog would struggle without him. It took a bit for DH to agree but he did and we went to meet her.

Fosterer was keen for her to go as a pair with her kennel mate, from whom she drew comfort. I said a very firm no. We took our lovely dog home. A month later she was still hiding under tables and other dog had had a good few failed viewings. We started to wonder if we should have had both.

It took a lot of persuading DH (mainly my teen girls did the persuading as he found that harder to refuse) and we got the other dog. It was a good move as they were a real pair, very close, always got on amazingly. We had a wonderful three and a half years.

Sadly earlier this year we lost our by then 15 yo dog and, tragically and suddenly, the first dog of the two we adopted (just started fitting one evening and vets couldn't save her).

We'd always said we wouldn't have that many again although we adored them all as it was undoubtedly harder work. Walking all of them needed two or three of us and we were forever herding them in and out of rooms! But when we were suddenly back down to two again it felt so empty, as though something was constantly missing. Two was very easy in comparison- too easy. I missed our little dog pack.

I don't think we will go back to four at the moment but we have just in the last couple of weeks adopted a rescue dog to make number three. He needs a lot of training and I still miss the two we lost terribly (as does the dog we adopted second) but I think we did the right thing.

If you can foster, give it a try. Expect the first few weeks to be hard work until all the dogs settle as a group of four and you get them all into a routine of how everything is done. It gets much easier. Even though I look a bit "mad dog lady" when out and about, I do really enjoy it. I'm no professional but if you want any advice on coping with four, I have the t shirt! (And waterproofs and poo bags )

Honestly, in your situation with 'difficult' dogs that you clearly understand and manage well, I think they would be fine. I have friends who've gone from 2 to 4 dogs by accident and you don't really notice if they're not massive ones. It's going from one to two that's the issue. One you're in multiples, it's all okay :)