After some objective opinions

[bumper]

Right...I have 3 dogs. Monty is 4, Poppy is 3....and we have recently (a month ago) acquired Roxy, 3.
Monty (My baby, I've had him from 6 weeks old....yes..I know, there were good reasons:

Pops:

Roxy:

So, I am almost 400 miles away from my widowed Mum, and am due to visit in October. Mum has a 5yo beagle x collie bitch, and a 4 month old lab boy. I've taken Monty and Pops up there before...but there is no way I can take 3 dogs she says, so, I'm respecting her position on this.
Monty and Roxy are full siblings, from the same parents, but she was the litter after. Poppy was bred by the former owners of Roxy, from their JRT bitch: they have just emigrated, so, I took on Roxy. Pops was used to sleeping ON her as a pup. They all get on well.
So. I'm not leaving one on their own....we have found a friend of a friend who takes dogs into her own home. I'm thinking of taking Roxy, as I don't want her thinking she is going to yet another home..what do you think?

 

[Rudolph's Red Nose]

Right...I have 3 dogs. Monty is 4, Poppy is 3....and we have recently (a month ago) acquired Roxy, 3.
Monty (My baby, I've had him from 6 weeks old....yes..I know, there were good reasons:

Pops:

Roxy:

So, I am almost 400 miles away from my widowed Mum, and am due to visit in October. Mum has a 5yo beagle x collie bitch, and a 4 month old lab boy. I've taken Monty and Pops up there before...but there is no way I can take 3 dogs she says, so, I'm respecting her position on this.
Monty and Roxy are full siblings, from the same parents, but she was the litter after. Poppy was bred by the former owners of Roxy, from their JRT bitch: they have just emigrated, so, I took on Roxy. Pops was used to sleeping ON her as a pup. They all get on well.
So. I'm not leaving one on their own....we have found a friend of a friend who takes dogs into her own home. I'm thinking of taking Roxy, as I don't want her thinking she is going to yet another home..what do you think?

Would your friend of a friend just take all 3 and then you dont unsettle any of them (apart from staying at a new house) ?

 

[WandaMare]

You are so lucky, they are lovely dogs....I've got one collie cross but I would love to have more, but OH isn't keen.

Obviously not knowing your dogs its difficult to say but I would think either plan sounds fine, leaving all 3 or taking Roxy with you. As long as this friend of a friend is experienced I'm sure she will help them to settle and make a special effort with Roxy as she will understand the situation. I would want to meet her first and see where they would sleep etc, and know their daily routine.

We have a cattery and so many of our customers find themselves taking on a cat unexpectedly just before a planned holiday and then worry the cat will think its going back into rescue etc. In reality they are always fine, we make a special fuss and before long they are back resettling in their new homes.

I think both dogs and cats are pretty resilient tbh, as long as they know they are safe, fed to a routine and handled kindly in their owner's absence

 

[bumper]

Thank you wandamare! They are collie x mastiff x lurcher x lab.
Quite frankly, I don't want to leave any of them....
I reckon taking Roxy might be the best, after some thought, as the other two are more used to being together. Yes, I'll go look at the place first, and take them to meet them as well.

orbie, yes I could leave all 3, but ....to be honest..I'd quite like to keep the cost down a tiny bit! Thinking about it more, Roxy needs recall work, whereas the other two do not, so it'd be safer to leave them, and give me a week with Roxy and some good one-to-one recall training.

 

[PorkChop]

It depends how long you are going for, if its a few days then I would leave all three with your friend, I think Roxy will benefit from staying with your other two.

If you are going for a week or more then take Roxy, I know how expensive it can be, have you thought about getting in a housesitter, they often don't charge.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I don't see the difference between two or three going. However, if your mum objects, could she not visit you instead if you pay for her to fly, maybe? That or have you got a good mate who could dogsit?