Third dog

[fishnchops]

We have a lab & a goldendoodle, both female & get along very well. They're both calm and easy going. We're thinking of getting a third small dog and don't know if a boy or girl would be a better match (although realise temperament comes into this). Any thoughts?

I spent ages asking people about how it was to do from one to two dogs. It was fine and it was lovely as they have company and a great relationship.

I didn't take advice about going from 2 to 3, it's a lot more work and they become a pack, so the behaviour changes in some ways. It's also quite difficult to walk 3 together, especially alone, unless you live somewhere where there aren't loads of other dogs. Keeping proper control is more difficult. We've gone from relaxed off-lead walking to a lot more leadwalking and separate walks.

The older dogs don't like the new puppy much. It's very subtle and if you didn't know, you'd not notice. I was surprised by this as the older dog has always taken to the previous dogs easily.

Saying that, it's a joy having 3 in the house. Just a lot more thought required when out and about...

Our smaller dog is by far the most work too. It would depend on breed whether I had another boy or girl. Lots of variables.

Truthfully, I have had dogs for over 30 years (including large breeds) in September 2019 I decided to get a third small dog and never having had anything more than basic puppy training I have had to consult a behaviourist/dog trainer twice since then.

I honestly wouldn’t do it again, I think as per PP quite hard walking nicely on lead with 3 and more pack like behaviour including competing for attention. It also makes booking holiday cottages etc difficult as often they will only take two dogs.

I love them all, but it is really hard work.

As a single, three-dog owner I agree with everything which has been said above. Three is exponentially harder then two, particularly if you don't have another adult to help.

Seriously, I love my dogs but it's also a pain if people visit. If you have a good thing going just now, enjoy it!

Or give it a go but understand it's definitely exponential not linear!

I've got 4 large dogs and it does take a while to readjust the dynamic. They're all quite similar in temperament though - lazy and chilled out - so that helps!

I have three at the moment and it’s a lot harder than two. We have two dogs and a bitch. The bitch is boss and the boys fall in line however there has been some squabbles between the boys but it’s never been more than a few cross words. I think bitches tend to hold grudges whereas dogs move on. We have two neutered and one male left entire.

I have an older one and two younger ones (1 and 3) and they play together nicely and leave the old dog alone however there was a lot more adjusting than when we only had 2. The original two were very bonded and now dog1 has been a bit pushed out.

Walks can be a nightmare and I’ve had to split mine. It’s okay as long as someone else’s unruly dog does not run up to me and cause chaos or something like that but once I loose control it’s harder to get 3 to focus back on me. If one reacts they tend to all start. There’s always one that’s not in the same place as the other two, usually one falling behind sniffing and I can’t take my eye off any of them.
I’ve resorted to waking mine separately as 3 is a hassle and there’s a lot more pack behaviour than even taking 2 out. I find taking any combination of 2 they are less reactive than taking all of them.

I wouldn’t have 3 again, 4 might be easier as at least I would have two pairs but right now I have one too many as much as I love them all!

I had two bitches - one ridgeback, one miniature daschund. I got at third dog (ridgeback) at the end of the year. A dog.

It was definitely the right decision to get a dog as he is definitely bottom of the pack and the girls are dominant and he has fitted in really well.

I love him to bits and love having three dogs BUT it is much harder work than two as people say and they do act as a pack.

If I had my time again I wouldn't have three and would have kept with two (but the two big ones)

We had two dogs then got another one. It's surprisingly more work than you would expect and the behaviour dynamics are definitely affected.

Thanks everyone. I'm blocking my ears to all this talk about the third dog being hard work 😂. We found our first dog hard work, the 2nd was very easy. I'd assumed a third wouldn't be too much different but it sounds like it is. Not sure it will stop us doing it but good to go into it with open eyes! Thank you

Our 2nd was easy... that's why I didn't worry too much. 😁

The most I've had at once is 4 - that was definitely daft and walking became a chore....

My current 3 are little, big, little, ages 11, 3, 2, boy, girl, boy.

If your first two are pretty much fully trained then a new dog will fit in OK with some hard work. Unless you are taking them out separately all the time - you need eyes in the back of your head to manage poo pick ups, recall, horse manure, long lines, for each of them.

IF either of your older dogs is problematic - poor recall etc - then you might be in trouble. I'd work hard to make sure the basics, like recall, were VERY good with the existing pair and then think about a pup.

I was doing advanced obedience with my girl when I got the youngest at 6 months (after his owner died) and his recall was "haphazard" - she was brilliant at going to "retrieve" him from the other side of the park - she'd run over, engage him and he'd run back with her. She'd do it on command too 😎

It depends a bit on breed, but I've found bitches have a less dramatic teenage phase than the boys - they seem to settle down more quickly.

I have 6 and usually a few fosters lurking around.

2 is easy and fantastic. All the dogs get the love and requirement they need and you have not been driven to drink and have no guilt just pure enjoyment and love of dogs

3 totally changes the dynamics and tends to mean way more effort for the owners and stress and guilt begins to creep in.The window of three dogs needing the same exercise and needs is short. So to start with the puppy will not be able to go out with the other dogs, then before you know it the older one does not need the same exercise as the others. You need a bigger car, it is way harder to go on holiday with 3 and harder to go out to pubs etc with 3 dogs. Life changes with 3 dogs a lot. Getting dogs of different breeds means they may not play socialise in the same way and their needs can be very different.

4 is not harder than 3 in my opinion you are already committed and use to separate walks and making major sacrifices for the dogs.

5 and 6 just mean you do nothing else apart from dogs and dogs and dogs

The most I’ve had at one time is four. Currently just down to one old boy. The last time I only had one was 1992, other than a few months between losing one suddenly and finding the right rescue.

In my experience, two is the best. One is great if you want a super close bond and have the time and opportunity to give them lots of attention. (With five of us - including three teens who are actively involved in his care - our old boy has more than enough love, attention and care etc.) With two there is still enough love and attention to go around. It’s still feasible to walk and train two together (once they’re both at an appropriate level) plus, if you get the mix right, they will be company and/or entertainment for each other. Two are still easy to take to places like pub gardens without a big kerfuffle and holiday lets often limit dog places to two per cottage/unit.

When you get to three, two will often buddy up, leaving one on the outside. Fine if you have a naturally independent dog who doesn’t mind, or an old one who prefers to let the youngsters get on with it, not great otherwise. Walking three is harder, even if they are well trained, as you inevitably have to handle with three leads, whilst dealing with someone else’s off-lead hooligan. Age/health/breeds will mean different exercise needs at different times and that can mean double the amount of walks for you, plus at least one left at home every time. Three tends to take a bigger toll on your garden/lawn than two as well,

Four isn’t a big jump to be honest. We found two plus two easier than two to three, as you can usually walk two at a time without anyone being left alone. By this point though, you are already used to your life revolving around the dogs, so maybe it just feels like an easier jump.

I have three at the moment. But I didn’t go up from two, I went down from five as two of my old ones died, one last year, one two months ago.
I’ve had more in the past. Your life is very dog orientated. Well for me, rare breed, at shows all year round when there were shows before Covid. They’re not a huge breed so I don’t find any difficulties & can’t remember having just one dog. Holidays are no problem for us as we never stay in hotels or rental cottages, we have a big motorhome we all pile in. Pubs etc have never been a problem as the dogs get loads of fuss being so rare & ( they say ) glamorous

Ddog 1 was 3 when we got a dpuppy. Ddog 2 was 3 months when we got ddog 3! Managed 2 dpuppies very well and ddog1 passed on mostly good habits and some great training positives!!
Now have 4 but ddog1 died last year sadly.