Those with 3 (or more) dogs

[maneandfeathers]

Considering taking on a 3rd rescue. My own dogs are lovely so no issue there but walking...

How do you walk them?
Separately?
Together?
2 at a time but then ones left at home?

All of my dogs will be walked regardless, just wondering if I’m destined to 4-6 walks a day forever

Oh also what sex has anyone got. Males, females or a mix and how many of each?

I have just got a 3rd. A puppy who has just started joining us on walks but oldesr dog is 13 and quite deaf and probably only needs 1 walk a day now. I haven't had to face it yet as all children st home at the moment and we can share walking duties. By the time things get back to normal old dog may not be going far at all.
Before puppy I would do a loop and bring old dog home then do a brisker loop with other dog.

We have 3. They don't always walk off the property (we have space for them to run) but if they do we generally walk 2 at a time.

Thanks both of you.

I will have an 11yo, 5yo and a puppy. 11yo is still active and enjoys walks but can’t go as far as younger dog. Puppy will need restricted exercise due to growth.

Just wondering if it’s ever possible to manage 3 safely or if I’m better off walking them separately!

@notquiteruralbliss is your one left behind quite happy to be left? I’m a bit worried one of them will be upset at being left if I take two?

We have 4 ddogs. A dpuppy, a 9 yo, and 2 who are 6.. Family walks every night all together, dpuppy each morning and apart from now due to lockdown dd's take 2 after school..
Dh walks the husky stupid miles also (pre CV).
4 ddogs is great!!

Sounds like the older one & the puppy might be good walking mates initially then see how it goes.

Is the third one a specific dog you need to rescue or is it just a vague' might get a rescue puppy'. I wouldn't get the third by choice myself, but would if there was a specific need iyswim.

It’s a rescue puppy @BestOption. We have wanted number 3 for a while though not an impulse and have been on the breed rescue list for 2 years. It will be a lot lower energy than our other younger dog.

@Windyatthebeach i might end up with 4 one day

I've got 3 males. The two little terriers I walk together. The other one is older and needs less, so he gets a separate walk.

The most I've had is 5 dogs and I used to walk 3 together and the other 2 later.

I’ve got 4. 15yo is walked round the block alone.

I walk the other 3 together. 2 1yo puppies. And a 7 yo small cross breed. We had a large breed 10yo dog until March when we sadly lost him. He either had a short walk with the 15yo or we did a separate walk with the 7yo and the puppies separately .

All of mine are rescue, it’s lovely having lots of dogs. Lots of cuddles and each one is so different.

Forgot to say all ours are girls!!. 1 (9yo)was a rescue although known to our other older ones.
Dpuppy is chaos in this lockdown time...

@maneandfeathers Sorry I didn't mean that quite how it reads! I meant is there a particular puppy in need of rescuing (friends dog or something) or were you just considering getting another dog (that happens to be a rescue) but actually it's kind of a third option! A rescue you've been waiting for!

I just meant I couldn't say no to a family/friends dog that needed a home, but I wouldn't set out to get a third!

OTOH if it was the breed I really wanted I'd be VERY tempted 🐶. I have a spaniel suzed hole in my life! (Can't fill it until we sell this place & buy somewhere more suitable!!)

We'll be needing photos!!

My in laws have five.

FIVE.

3 massive German shepherds, one collie x kelpie, and one big mongrel type thing that has lab and Rhodesian ridgeback in him.

Some get walked on their own, two get walked together sometimes but mostly they’re walked on their own, an alternate days I believe.

I suppose we are setting out to get a third @BestOption Maybe that’s a mistake!

It’s a breed we both love and have extensively researched. We have two already which is enough but then what’s the harm in a third if we can give it a good home

To be honest I would stick with two if dog1 wasn’t getting old. He is 11 and slowing down. Dog2 is still young and would be happy with a friend to play with which would hopefully leave dog1 in peace
I really don’t want a single dog for a number of reasons but I know I may not get the chance of a puppy again for a while which is pushing us to go for it!

My current two are well behaved and walk nicely together. They have good recall and come back when called. Dog2 needs double the exercise of dog1.
DH is happy to walk 1 while I walk 2.
All 3 will be large breed!

2 girls, 2 boys.

The girls are little and go out together.
One of the boys is huge and DH takes him.
The other boy is big but he’s elderly, and has terminal cancer, so one of us will give him a little trot round the block - usually a DS.

It sounds like it's maybe a little sooner than you might have chosen, but actually, before your older dog gets very old Is probably the best time & your youngest is a good age to get a puppy...

It's a breed you really want...

My name is BestOption & I am an enabler 😊

We've had three: old dog, middle-aged dog, manic puppy. I used to walk them all together plus extras for the puppy for training, but as the old one got more decrepit she just came on the short walk, and maybe somebody would take pity on her and give her an extra little trot round on her own.

We have four dogs a twelve year old small terrier cross, a seven year old lurcher ,a three year old toy poodle and a two year old Staffordshire bull terrier! All boys. We did have five dogs before we sadly lost our lovely Yorkshire terrier bitch last year.
Our four boys are walked together daily. Our twelve year old is now very deaf and often stiff so he’s limited to staying on the lead most of the time rather than tearing about with the other three off lead. Our two youngest dogs were regularly walked on their own as well, in addition to group walks for training when they were younger and if we’re going bike riding or to the park with the children we will often only take one or both of the younger dogs with us.
We had never planned to have so many dogs at the same time, but working where I do we regularly come into contact with dogs needing homes and it’s impossible not to bring some home .
It can be chaotic with so many but if they’re well trained and you have a good routine it’s totally doable

Our dpuppy has rejuvenated our 2 x 6yo ddogs!!
Dpuppy is the black one.
Nn The Pony!!

I have more than 3. 2 is certainly easy and fits into daily life better,eg do not need to get a bigger car, enough room in the house for dog beds,easy to take out for a pub meal,meet friends , easy to find holiday accommodation that will accept 2 dogs etc.

Three starts to increase the anti slightly. However it depends on your lifestyle. If you are happy to spend social and down time with dogs then go for it -if you have any other interests or DC's who do think carefully about it.

I do walk mine together usually but I have some private land and live (usually not during lockdown!) in a quiet area with wide areas to walk the dogs.

I have at the moment mostly males but one female -just the way it is not really planned.

I would advise walking a new dog individually for a while to help with training and your bond.

We have four and I walk them together on two double leads. Various ages, 3 same breed, one interloper

3 walk together.. Dh walks the husky on a waist belt /lead.