A third dog.... your views please?

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_Acolyte_

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As you know I now have Islay and ickle Flickle at home, who are 5 and 2 years old respectively (in fact it is Flick's birthday tomorrow I think! must check that
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When I was with my ex-husband we had four lurchers/greyhounds and that was definitely too many for me - dog walking logistics were hard etc
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Since my divorce I have had two dogs, and have been happy with that number.

But for some reason now I keep thinking about getting a third dog - am I mad
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I work full time but go home at lunchtime for them (GRWE are aware of this when they rehome to me), my house is a standard 2 bed Wimpey home so not huge but it is just me there, small enclosed garden and walks at the livery yard or in a local field twice a day.

I cant decide whether I should just forget it, or whether it is a possibility
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What do you think please?
 
We usually have 2 dogs, then had 3 for a year when Bailey came along. We then lost our border collie Jed to cancer. It seemed odd having 2 to be honest. I found that if I wanted to take one out, or to the vet, I had to take both as neither wanted to be left alone - understandably. Now we are back to 3 and it just seems right.

I don't think size of home matters so much as the outdoor activities the dogs get. I know plenty of people with huge homes who restrict their dogs to only one room. I always think that as long as a dog can stretch out they're happy
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forget it lol
i went from 2 dogs to 3 about 5mths ago and its chaos.
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wish id stuck with the 2
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Now 4 was chaos for me, but I do recall that going up to 3 was really not a big deal
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Like BM said, it means you can take one to the vet and leave the other two at home.... at the moment both of mine come to the vet and cause chaos there, as one is there just for the ride
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your mad...

lou x

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Well yes I know, that is a given really
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, but what about a third dog? I take it that is a 'no'?
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prob doesnt help that my jack russell bitch is constantly attacking the husky lol
while my poor old rotti is good as gold !!!!!!!!
its embarassing having to remove a 1ft dog from a huge husky all day long
 
Personally I wouldn't or at least leave it a couple of years. It is nice to have a good age difference between so they dont all get old at the same time. My Mum has 3 dogs it absolutely fine but I think she (very quietly) wishes she only had 2. When you walk 2 you can easily have 1 each hand and 2 fit very easily in the car whereas 3 somehow take up most of it.

I believe you are just about to start a new job and arent on quite as much money as before. Another dog will cost you money, even if they are 100% straight forward. Just to feed & give annual jabs to it costs............

Say no to temptation, this time & put that extra bit of money towards doing something fun with Bob??!! x
 
Ah Joss the voice of common sense
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I am not even sure why I am thinking of another one TBH, most odd, but all the things you say are very valid - thanks
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I think the money aspect which is the thing which reinforces it to me most, it costs me £20 per dog per month to insure them - plus food/worming/vaccinations
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You should have had a greyhound Kao - they hardly take up any space
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someone said to me once that they are thin so I should be able to fit more in my house - I had a vision of them all lined up like slices of toast in a toast rack
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It must be something in the air as I've been dithering about getting my fifth..... and like you I have no idea why I want another one
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I think I feel like if I can I should as there are so many dogs piling up in rescues at the moment. Having said that my voice of reason(mum!) gave me a good talking too yesterday and I've decided to wait until Indie's gone as she's getting a bit knackered and I can forsee large vet bills (but then I might get 2!)

However, yours are both young so I think you owe it to dogs to get another
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I said that and that was my vision when I said it, 3 greyhounds all nicely sandwiched together in a line, really, hardly take up any room at all
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I agree re the 2 hand thing too, I think my dogs torment me on purpose by all coming up for a stroke at the same time. I am thinking of being like Jake but with three arms instead of three legs
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I said that and that was my vision when I said it, 3 greyhounds all nicely sandwiched together in a line, really, hardly take up any room at all
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I agree re the 2 hand thing too, I think my dogs torment me on purpose by all coming up for a stroke at the same time. I am thinking of being like Jake but with three arms instead of three legs
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LOL I couldnt remember who it was who said it BM, I just think it is a fab mental image
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I think of it often when mine are standing next to each other demanding fuss
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3 dogs is by far my prefered number, and the number of dogs I would still have had it not been for moving to this "wild" country
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. 3 of my dogs are worky/pet-types; 2 collieXspringers and 1 shepherd dog; the other 2 are Livestock Guardian Dogs, here to protect my stock from wolves and bears and suchlike.

I have had 2 dogs for short periods of time, and it's okay, but 3 dogs are definitely what work for me.
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How do you sleep at night Tia?

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Well, when they are not shouting the odds to the wolves, and the wolves are not shouting back ... I sleep very well, Lol! Thankfully the wolves generally only stay here for a few days a month until my big girl goes and sees them off.
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Opportunists though, they keep coming back! Hence my buying another (what will be one day soon) big white dog a few months ago!
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Have now been a dog owner for about 19 years, and if I counted correctly, about 12 of those years I've had 3 dogs. I can only say that it feels empty and strange with only one, but haven't really felt it causes any/much problems with having three. And I am planning on adding a fourth one, about three or four years into the future.


I believe that buying a new puppy every third to fourth year is my ideal, but haven't managed to get that plan to work until recently. Only that, in a way, it still didn't work because I ended up getting two new ones. Anyhow, I agree with the user suggesting that you think about what age difference you get between your dogs. Young dogs can unfortunately also die, but if they do die being adult or old, then to put it blunt, I don't want them being so close in age that the risk is higher that I lose them during a short period of time. I've also heard that for playing together it's easier if you own an even number, but I think that depends on the dogs themselves.


Only you can know why you want a third, and if it's right for you and your dogs. I also think it depends a lot on the dogs own personalities, some dogs if you have two you have your hands full, but with other personalities you can have six and it feels totally manageable.


from Sweden.
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do you have any pics Tia?
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Actually you know thinking about it logically Acolyte, how wide is a greyhound? about 8 inches? I am sure you could fit more than 3 into the average lounge and still have space to walk around them, or even, if feeling energetic and with a new years resolution in place, leap over them..think of the calories you will burn.
 
PMSL at you lot, honestly
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I have asked on the Hound Lounge too and the girl who re-homed Flick with me has advised me to wait at least 6 months for her to settle completely before getting another one. Which is quite good in a way, as if I am still thinking about it in June/July time then I am obviously committed to the idea of a 3rd dog
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And I will also know how my finances are adding up (or not) with the new job
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Perhaps I will have won the lottery by then
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yes but my rotties are a bit wider than a greyhound and Layla is not going to be a skinny either..I shall need a pole vault, let alone a good leap...I have to say though, it is tempting, it would have to be a youngster but rather in a loving home where they can have fun than in a rescue centre. but NO bad Arnold, do not turn this around, this is YOUR dog we are looking for, now go see your namesake and also, you have to go see sweep and ifor, go on, you know you want to
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