Need help please, do i get a third dog?

[Cinnamontoast]

Love the Porcelaine, huge long ears!

 

[Antw23uk]

I say no. Why are you set on making her miserable by adding a third? She was the first in, its her home and she doesnt want fussing inside, there is nothing wrong with that. Inside time should be quiet relaxing time anyway so why cant they just be quiet and relaxed in the same house but not in the same bed? I'd stick with what you have and enjoy them for who they are

 

[oldie48]

I say no. Why are you set on making her miserable by adding a third? She was the first in, its her home and she doesnt want fussing inside, there is nothing wrong with that. Inside time should be quiet relaxing time anyway so why cant they just be quiet and relaxed in the same house but not in the same bed? I'd stick with what you have and enjoy them for who they are

when our elderly BT died we still had an 11 yr old BT. Although he was very quiet for a couple of weeks he gradually settled into his life as sole dog in the house. We often discussed getting another dog but decided to wait until Barney "went". I'm very glad we did. Barney was fine on his own and as he aged and slowed down we were able to adapt our walks to his needs and I honestly think he was happier having us to himself making the last few years of life very good for him. He hated having our daughter's dog come to stay and took himself off to his crate in disgust except when there was food around. Our neighbours got a lab pup a few weeks ago and their 10 yr old BC bitch is totally ignoring it and is rather unhappy and snappy, i'm sure Barney would have been the same.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I found that having a 3rd dog altered the dynamic and not in a particularly good way. I had two lab bitches, one older than the other and when the older (brown) one was middleaged, I thought that getting a third would be better than waiting until I just had one left and then getting a pup. As it happened I rehomed an adult bitch, rather than getting a pup but she was the youngest of the three. The middle (yellow) one never took to her and would always move away if she went to lie down as part of the group, the oldest one tolerated the (black) newcomer but wasn't particularly fond of her.
Interestingly, my circumstances changed and we all moved into a house with another two bitches (whom they knew well). The larger group worked well and although the yellow and black ones never did get on well, it didn't matter and the group worked well as a whole. We then acquired 2 JRT pups and they just fitted in.
I just think that 3 is an awkward number.

 

[Shady]

I say no. Why are you set on making her miserable by adding a third? She was the first in, its her home and she doesnt want fussing inside, there is nothing wrong with that. Inside time should be quiet relaxing time anyway so why cant they just be quiet and relaxed in the same house but not in the same bed? I'd stick with what you have and enjoy them for who they are

I love your responses Ant, especially in the tack room, so direct and to the point I'm a bit of a waffler! , it's a good, helpful response by the way and i do take your point, it's why i posted.
I honestly thought Jess would love having a another dog when she was 2 and i think if he'd lived in the garden she would have been delighted! other dogs stayed with us and were allowed on her sofa next to her and she wasn't bothered at all but obviously she is smart enough to know who was staying permanently and who was visiting!!
we missed the first Weim so much when he died and Jess looked a bit lost, didn't want to do much and would just stand outside looking down the lane, normally she is off on the land all the time. I thought it would be different this time but it's not and i wondered if getting a third would give her more peace inside rather than this newbie pup hassling to snuggle up to her all the time. x

 

[MotherOfChickens]

tricky one, especially as bitches are potentially less affable (dont hate on me, I've only had a coupleof girls and they were no problem at all but both very much knew their own minds). I have two males approx the same age (16/17 months) and they are good buddies, play well together etc-but while one wants to cuddle up with the other in a bed, the other will have none of it unless he's too tired to move!.

I can also say that two young dogs is alot of work especially when you are fitting in another dog's needs too-I dont get any help with mine saving the occasionaly day OH wfh and takes one of them and I am constantly training each of them. They are both fabulous but quite different characters and if I get a bit lax about training I do know about it! so the temptation to get a third for me is definitely on hold.

 

[Shady]

I found that having a 3rd dog altered the dynamic and not in a particularly good way. I had two lab bitches, one older than the other and when the older (brown) one was middleaged, I thought that getting a third would be better than waiting until I just had one left and then getting a pup. As it happened I rehomed an adult bitch, rather than getting a pup but she was the youngest of the three. The middle (yellow) one never took to her and would always move away if she went to lie down as part of the group, the oldest one tolerated the (black) newcomer but wasn't particularly fond of her.
Interestingly, my circumstances changed and we all moved into a house with another two bitches (whom they knew well). The larger group worked well and although the yellow and black ones never did get on well, it didn't matter and the group worked well as a whole. We then acquired 2 JRT pups and they just fitted in.
I just think that 3 is an awkward number.

Yes, it could be like people, 2's company and all that. I see it with my friends 2 mares as well, they are fine together but the hooves fly if another joins them!. I have found with cats that when you get past a certain number of Siamese/Orientals they are just one big gang, doesn't matter if you keep adding, the heap just gets bigger

 

[Shady]

tricky one, especially as bitches are potentially less affable (dont hate on me, I've only had a coupleof girls and they were no problem at all but both very much knew their own minds). I have two males approx the same age (16/17 months) and they are good buddies, play well together etc-but while one wants to cuddle up with the other in a bed, the other will have none of it unless he's too tired to move!.

I can also say that two young dogs is alot of work especially when you are fitting in another dog's needs too-I dont get any help with mine saving the occasionaly day OH wfh and takes one of them and I am constantly training each of them. They are both fabulous but quite different characters and if I get a bit lax about training I do know about it! so the temptation to get a third for me is definitely on hold.

MOC, hate on you??? NEVER
I have just found Mr Weim pup chewing the hell out of my horses sweat scraper, how he got it i don't know , sneaky blighter, so i am rapidly going off the idea of getting another!!! x

 

[planete]

We have four dogs, two bitches and two males. They are happy to share the indoor space but it is obvious they would each love to be 'the one' and we need to be very on the ball in our doling out of attention to each one of them. The dynamics are even trickier outside where the senior bitch will not tolerate any attempt at equal status by the younger one who will get chased and told off if she tries to play with the male or has the audacity to overtake the senior bitch when they are running. We are used to managing them but I am absolutely sure any of them would be fine as an only dog. I have found that, to be fair to multiple dogs, you have to be prepared to give them individual attention so not a good choice if your time or energy are limited.

it sounds as if your older bitch needs you to make sure she can be left in peace when she wants to be and your younger dog needs you to keep providing training and stimulation and perhaps to set up some socialisation scenarios with dogs who match him energy wise. Another young dog in the house might well mean the two young ones will bond with each other more strongly than with you and run amok ignoring your wishes. This is why most serious breeders are unwilling to sell two pups to one buyer at the same time. It can be made to work but it would need a lot of time and effort spent training and bonding with them individually.

 

[Shady]

We have four dogs, two bitches and two males. They are happy to share the indoor space but it is obvious they would each love to be 'the one' and we need to be very on the ball in our doling out of attention to each one of them. The dynamics are even trickier outside where the senior bitch will not tolerate any attempt at equal status by the younger one who will get chased and told off if she tries to play with the male or has the audacity to overtake the senior bitch when they are running. We are used to managing them but I am absolutely sure any of them would be fine as an only dog. I have found that, to be fair to multiple dogs, you have to be prepared to give them individual attention so not a good choice if your time or energy are limited.

it sounds as if your older bitch needs you to make sure she can be left in peace when she wants to be and your younger dog needs you to keep providing training and stimulation and perhaps to set up some socialisation scenarios with dogs who match him energy wise. Another young dog in the house might well mean the two young ones will bond with each other more strongly than with you and run amok ignoring your wishes. This is why most serious breeders are unwilling to sell two pups to one buyer at the same time. It can be made to work but it would need a lot of time and effort spent training and bonding with them individually.

Thanks Planete When i decided on a Weim i read a really good book by an English breeder, she said she would never sell two pups together and i took note of that and as tempting as it was to get 2 at a reduced price ( especially as they are gorgeous pups)i remembered this and i realised very quickly that she was spot on!! baby Weims are no problem but they grow like mushrooms in the night and before you know it youv'e got a fair sized dog at 4 months old needing some serious training. I made many mistakes with the first one, i found it hard to get the balance as they are very affectionate , needy and sensitive but very, very stubborn and naturally want to be top dog. I am doing well with this one and i try always to be fair to both and stop the pup hassling Jessie as much as i can. We are out in the forest most days for a good run or he's free anywhere on the land he wants to go but i think you are right, that given the Weims character as i know it, bringing in another could easily create 2 naughty dogs as i do have to work really hard sometimes and other times not at all. x

 

[Antw23uk]

I love your responses Ant, especially in the tack room, so direct and to the point I'm a bit of a waffler! , it's a good, helpful response by the way and i do take your point, it's why i posted.
I honestly thought Jess would love having a another dog when she was 2 and i think if he'd lived in the garden she would have been delighted! other dogs stayed with us and were allowed on her sofa next to her and she wasn't bothered at all but obviously she is smart enough to know who was staying permanently and who was visiting!!
we missed the first Weim so much when he died and Jess looked a bit lost, didn't want to do much and would just stand outside looking down the lane, normally she is off on the land all the time. I thought it would be different this time but it's not and i wondered if getting a third would give her more peace inside rather than this newbie pup hassling to snuggle up to her all the time. x

Thanks Shady that actually means a lot to me, lol. I know im blunt and I am rather intolerant of the human race but I genuinely mean well when I 'try' to give advise or a different perspective. Im just rather abrupt, lol

Not sure if you read my post about a rescue puppy we got .. well it didnt work out for a few reasons but our collie is our world and vice versa and although she loves playing with other dogs and even other dogs visiting she really doesnt want them staying. She loves her cuddles, she doesnt want to share and actually she is a bit of a green eyed monster when it comes to cuddles so although a negative experience having this puppy it really did teach us the valuable lesson that although we thought she would love the company, actually she is happy being an only dog with play mates but not stay mates