More than one dog?

KJJ

KJJ

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OK my other post has started me thinking....

If you have more than one dog...

Do you ALWAYS take them everywhere together?

Do you ALWAYS leave at least 2 at home for company? (if you have more than 2)

Do you not take the dog out as it is not possible to take both? (If you only have 2)

Do you purposely do things with each dog seperately so they don't get TOO attached to each other?

If the dogs are different ages, do you leave one behind to take the other training OR do you not go to training as it wouldn't be fair to leave the other?

Your views please?

My view... Finn is MY dog... he comes with me and does what I do at weekends... Tinker is OH's dog and likewise.. BUT if OH isn't taking Tinker out then he will get left at home... likewise Finn if Tinks is out and I can't for example take him to sainsburys he will stay at home alone.

However if OH chooses not to do anything with his dog then that is HIS choice... (I'm thinking re taking to work) where if I have the opportunity I think I will take Finn with me.

If I can and Tinks is at home alone I will always take him with me where possible and he becomes, mums dog, a friends dog for the day.. but this isn't always possible...

As it isn't always possible for OH to take Tinks with him.

Your views please...
 
I have 3 dogs and to be honest they don't actually go anywhere except the vets once a year - on that trip they always go together.

My dogs don't go off my farm and are able to run around together all day long. When I ride out, I only take 2 of the dogs with me and the old one just stays around the farmhouse. She can't keep up with us anymore. Even if I am just walking around the fields, I usually tell her to stay at the house because otherwise she ends up getting lost and then she panics so it's easier to tell her to stay at home.

So in answer to your question - I don't know LOL!! But no I never take my dogs away from the property.
 
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I have 3 dogs and to be honest they don't actually go anywhere except the vets once a year - on that trip they always go together.

My dogs don't go off my farm and are able to run around together all day long. When I ride out, I only take 2 of the dogs with me and the old one just stays around the farmhouse. She can't keep up with us anymore. Even if I am just walking around the fields, I usually tell her to stay at the house because otherwise she ends up getting lost and then she panics so it's easier to tell her to stay at home.

So in answer to your question - I don't know LOL!! But no I never take my dogs away from the property.

[/ QUOTE ]LMAO!! - Thanks for that insight Tia!!
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When I go to the yard BOTH dogs ALWAYS go with me... everynight/everyweekend... (Go straight to work of a morning)

However if I were to take a walk I would take Finn and not Tinks... my reasons:

1) I can not hold BOTH dogs on their leads. Walking along is fine but if something is exciting I have no chance with a 9stone dog on one arm and a 2stone egging him on on the other!!
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2) I can let Finn off lead no probs, Tinker runs off and doesn't come to call until HE is ready

3) Finn is focused on Tinker and not me and I don't want this to be the case
 
I have three as you know. Officially Matty is mine and Sage and Dexter are husbands. However, as they go just about everywhere with me, I feed them, train them and walk them, they are probably closer to me than him. I don't split them up unless one has to go to the vets or I am training the pup. It is impossible to train one when the others are about!! I also walk them together. I use those extendable leads and yes I dread the day they all take off after a rabbit or something. I am thinking of getting a skateboard...think I would save a fortune in petrol!!! Braking might be a problem though.
 
I understand your reasonings. I'm trying to put myself into a "normal" lifestyle situation here.....so bear with me.

I think if I lived in a regular house with a garden and I had to walk my dogs and go off to work through the day, I would walk all dogs together and leave all dogs at home whilst at work. I wouldn't ever ride or walk with my dogs separately, but then all of mine come to call and always do what I say immediately. The old dog used to ride and walk out with me but as said previously she is too old and slow now and she has a habit of getting a bit confused if she can't see you.

I do sometimes walk down the lane to meet Megan from the bus and when I do this, all 3 dogs come with me, but once again they are never on leads and I just walk really slowly with the old dog. The other 2 young ones run around and play together the whole way to the bus and then when I get there, they all lie down until the bus arrives and then we walk home again.

I will take the old dog up our fields when they are cut and short as then she can see me, but never ever do I take her up there when the hay is growing, but the others do still come with me.

So this concludes that if I lived in a regular household, I would always take all dogs out for walks and I would take no dogs to work. Hope that helps.
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I have lots of dogs as u know
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I always take my Akita and Rotti to work me, as I work lone night shift....and that was the reason I kept these dogs in the first place.....I dont think I would get to much protection from my whippets if someone decided to break in and murder me
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So the whippets stay at home with each other.....and OHs deerhound that is kenneld next door to my Akita stays behind.....I can only fit so many into the car at once, and im only allowed so many in at work as they have to go into the kennels on a morning until I leave for home.
Also any rescues in at the time will stay behind......as long as they dont make a fuss or pine for the others...which they dont...I dont mind either.
I also often take my rotti to feed the horses...esp late at night when on my own....it is easy to grab her and leave my Akita as the Akita never gets of the lead in open public areas...so if i am in a hurry....I just take the one dog.
Also when we are going for walks we split the dogs into groups and do 2 walks, otherise we would be walking about 12 dogs at a time
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I have three dogs. Generally none of them leave the premises as they have run of the garden and paddock all day long. However, I do sometimes take the collie for a walk and leave the Jacks or vice versa. TBH, I think it depends what they're used to. Spotty has been on his own before and will quite happily be left on his own while the other get up to no good somewhere. Buster has never been on his own and is quite highly strung and is always to glued to one of the others. The collie too is quite happy being on his own . Its an individual thing.
My only concern for your situation would be upsetting the applecart as regards Tink's messing in case it was to do with a routine change ie another dog in the house but if you can cope with any potential fallout then I'd go for it. I'm sure in time they'll adjust.
 
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So this concludes that if I lived in a regular household, I would always take all dogs out for walks and I would take no dogs to work. Hope that helps.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's waht we did when our dogs were alive. We had 3 dogs and they all used to get walked together and then were all left in the house when we were at school/parents at work.
 
I have 3 dogs and they are walked together and stay at home together. The only exception to this is when the springer was a pup she came to work with me and I took her to training on her own. Now they all stay together because most of the time my OH's shifts mean he's at or I am so they are not left for long.
Don't take them out riding as roads too busy but do take them upto horses fields.
The only other time they are seperated is if the need for a vet arises.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have three as you know. Officially Matty is mine and Sage and Dexter are husbands. However, as they go just about everywhere with me, I feed them, train them and walk them, they are probably closer to me than him. I don't split them up unless one has to go to the vets or I am training the pup. It is impossible to train one when the others are about!! I also walk them together. I use those extendable leads and yes I dread the day they all take off after a rabbit or something. I am thinking of getting a skateboard...think I would save a fortune in petrol!!! Braking might be a problem though.

[/ QUOTE ]God I would be tangled up in knots if I used those leads for Finn & Tinks, Tinks is all over the shop sniffing out rabbits/pigeons.... Finn follows then comes back to check on me then heads off in a diff direction etc!! LOL!!!
 
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I understand your reasonings. I'm trying to put myself into a "normal" lifestyle situation here.....so bear with me.

I think if I lived in a regular house with a garden and I had to walk my dogs and go off to work through the day, I would walk all dogs together and leave all dogs at home whilst at work. I wouldn't ever ride or walk with my dogs separately, but then all of mine come to call and always do what I say immediately. The old dog used to ride and walk out with me but as said previously she is too old and slow now and she has a habit of getting a bit confused if she can't see you.

I do sometimes walk down the lane to meet Megan from the bus and when I do this, all 3 dogs come with me, but once again they are never on leads and I just walk really slowly with the old dog. The other 2 young ones run around and play together the whole way to the bus and then when I get there, they all lie down until the bus arrives and then we walk home again.

I will take the old dog up our fields when they are cut and short as then she can see me, but never ever do I take her up there when the hay is growing, but the others do still come with me.

So this concludes that if I lived in a regular household, I would always take all dogs out for walks and I would take no dogs to work. Hope that helps.
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[/ QUOTE ]Thanks Tia, so do you think am I being selfish in wanting to take Finn to work with me now I have the opportunity?!
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I have lots of dogs as u know
crazy.gif
grin.gif

I always take my Akita and Rotti to work me, as I work lone night shift....and that was the reason I kept these dogs in the first place.....I dont think I would get to much protection from my whippets if someone decided to break in and murder me
crazy.gif
grin.gif


So the whippets stay at home with each other.....and OHs deerhound that is kenneld next door to my Akita stays behind.....I can only fit so many into the car at once, and im only allowed so many in at work as they have to go into the kennels on a morning until I leave for home.
Also any rescues in at the time will stay behind......as long as they dont make a fuss or pine for the others...which they dont...I dont mind either.
I also often take my rotti to feed the horses...esp late at night when on my own....it is easy to grab her and leave my Akita as the Akita never gets of the lead in open public areas...so if i am in a hurry....I just take the one dog.
Also when we are going for walks we split the dogs into groups and do 2 walks, otherise we would be walking about 12 dogs at a time
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[/ QUOTE ]I guess the difference is that your dogs will ALWAYS have company.. be it each other or other rescues..

Tinker wuold be home alone if Finn went to work with me.

*sighs*

They are both fine if they are left alone at the moment, e.g if Finn is left cos Tinker has gone shooting then Finn sleeps, likewise if Finn has come to an event with me then Tinks sleeps...

Arrghhh decisions!!
 
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I have three dogs. Generally none of them leave the premises as they have run of the garden and paddock all day long. However, I do sometimes take the collie for a walk and leave the Jacks or vice versa. TBH, I think it depends what they're used to. Spotty has been on his own before and will quite happily be left on his own while the other get up to no good somewhere. Buster has never been on his own and is quite highly strung and is always to glued to one of the others. The collie too is quite happy being on his own . Its an individual thing.
My only concern for your situation would be upsetting the applecart as regards Tink's messing in case it was to do with a routine change ie another dog in the house but if you can cope with any potential fallout then I'd go for it. I'm sure in time they'll adjust.

[/ QUOTE ]Well as I just mentioned above - they are both quite happy at present when left alone... maybe I shoudl trial it!??
 

If I had more than one dog then without a doubt they would always come with me together or stay at home together.

I can see the problem in your situation. I think that on the days when Tinks is away shooting then it would do Finn no harm - infact would probably be a good lesson for him - to stay home alone for short periods, and likewise the other way around - but for short periods only.

I feel that taking Finn with you to work could cause issues for Tinks. Tinks has had a lot of change in his life lately, and I feel that taking Finn away from him every day would cause huge upset. As pack animals a dog naturaly wants to be with his pack, be that canine or human, and being left behind whilst the rest of the pack go off can be very stressfull for a dog. I think this could bring about more toilet issues as Tinks would be unsure of his position in the pack.

Also consider that if your work situation changes in the future (as we all know life can have a habit of throwing a spanner in the works) you then will have to re-settle Finn into the routine of staying at home during the day again - all be it with Tinks as company.

You only have to visit rescue homes to see how many dogs are taken into these places because they cannot settle at home alone and are distructive/noisy. You are very lucky, with the help of Tinks, Finn has adjusted and will happily stay home alone - this may not be the case 6 months down the line after he has spent every day at work with you. Also, Tinks may not adjust to Finn being home with him again and issues could arise between them.

I believe short "home stay" on their own will not do any harm (ie - trip to Sainsburys), but I think regular long periods of being left alone could cause jelousy issues between your two dogs and therefore could have a knock on affect on you and OH
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Hope this helps hun.
 
Thanks point taken... perhaps I will take him one day a week then as it IS all day that one or other would be left at home alone (by this I mean they are visisted to be let out etc) but with no issues.... that way we all win!! LOL!!
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Thanks Tia, so do you think am I being selfish in wanting to take Finn to work with me now I have the opportunity?!

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Aww K; it's really difficult for anyone to say what you should do or what you shouldn't do. You know the dogs, we don't.

I have to say if I were to take my shepherd with me to work and leave the other 2, then they would be fine. If I were to take my shepherd AND my bouncy dog, the old one would be fine being left. If I were to take the old dog, then the shepherd would get all upset and start looking for her, regardless of whether the bouncy dog was at home with her or not. If I was to take the bouncy dog - neither the old dog nor the shepherd would miss her! But she is the last dog I would ever take to work with me LOL!! That's IF I worked LOL!!

If you have the opportunity to take Finn to work and Tinker isn't upset by being left alone then I can't see any huge problems with it.
 
There would be murders if I left one a home and took 2 out! Mine all stay or all go out, unless there's a vet trip and even then I sometimes take all 3 just because it gets them used to going to the vets. I can see your predicament but I'd feel sorry for Tinks being left at home every day on his own now he's got used to having company. Perhaps do one on one off?
 
We have 4 dogs - JR, ESS and 2 x Labs

I can happily walk all 4 dogs together, or take out which ever dog/dogs I choose. All are happy to be home alone as that is what they are used to.

My JR normally comes up the yard with me everyday, I will sometimes take one or both of the Labs out with the horse, but never the ESS (she is a pain in the bum!!).

The Labs and ESS go shooting with my brother, and while I sometimes walk all four dogs together, my brother rarely takes my JR out (I don't trust him!!!) and will take either one or both Labs and or the ESS depending on what he is doing.
 
My mum and dad have 2 dogs and they generally go places together or stay at home together.
The one does go to a training class and the other stays at home, but she is at home with my dad, whilst my mum takes the other training. I think if either one was left home alone with no human or dog comapny then they would stress.
 
A great deal depends on the dogs in question, and how they relate to each other. They do not know that they belong to different people, and if they have bonded and formed their own micro-pack then it might cause distress to the one left behind if he is left on a regular basis. Dogs are pack animals, and as such are not really suited to being alone for days on end.
 
I have two and they both stay at home while I am at work and then i usually take them with me to the yard. When I ahve got home form work I try and take them with me no matter what as they have been home alone and it if not right to leave them any longer.
 
While I don't have a second dog, DH and I are probably going to move to a bigger place with a garden next year. If so, I wouldn't mind getting a larger dog as our second, either a Lab, a Flatcoat or a Shepherd/Chow mix from the shelter. Thing is, these types of dogs both require more exercise than my Bostie, and I do feel bad about the thought of leaving Stella behind while I take the other one for a walk.

Sorry to thread-jack, but do people with multiple dogs have breeds that require different levels of exercise, and if so, how do you deal with that?
 
My RR is older now, she's 8, whilst the Rotties are 17months and 5 months old. Obviously the RR is quite happy to sleep a lot more than the baby nutcases!! I am lucky because I live on a smallholding and they all have the run of a large garden and the yard area. The only place they can't get to is the horses fields. I tend to let them out in the morning and they do what they want all day.
 
I had 3 dogs untill last year and I now just have two bitches, one of my bitches is the sister of the one that died and they had been together for 15 yrs, I did tend to take them everywhere together, but did do things separately with them too, it was never a problem, and actually when the brother died, she has coped very well, but then she does have the company of my other dog who is very young. I would never have a dog on its own they are pack animals.
 
I used to take Ulla everywhere with me (ie; the yard!) until the miserable gits said I couldn't any more. Now she stays in the garden with the 4 others. I wouldn't have taken more than one with me anyway because they're sooo undisciplined!!
 
I have 2 dogs, one is small and well behaved and travels well. One get car sick is agressive to strangers and other dogs. Henry, the smaller one goes out to alot of places, country shows agility training etc. on his own. Rupies only schedued trip each year is to the vets, and then he is ecsorted straight in ie. not in the waiting room. Rupie is younger than Henry. When henry leaves rupie they dont mind, but if for some reason rupie goes out henry gets gelouse, and barks, more for you than missing him
 
I have five dogs, each one is able to be taken out seperately from the others,but I never leave one alone, they always have at least one other dog for company. I can walk them all together but tend to take the three fittest ones out and then the two oldies as they can't go as far or for as long. If the weather is really bad the oldies prefer to stay at home. The oldest of them all (14 yrs) will gladly stay at the yard all day with me, she gets on with the resident dogs, cats and horses plus any visiting dogs. My others couldn't be trusted with the yard cats, or to clear off up the lane!!
 
Our dogs are our shadows where we go they do too. They have been in kennels once together but as a rule if we go away for the weekend they're coming we accept other peoples children they have to accept our dogs.

Friend will come to the yard but sadly lara is too unpredictable and attacks other dogs so is left at home but only when oh is there otherwise they stay together. She always wants another dog which I'm fine about....
 
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