hiya as some of you know i have 2 dogs and i really want another but according to my mum of we have 3 dogs then it will lead to trouble she says that getting a puppy will lead to my other dogs gettin jealous or that if one dog something wrong then it will encourage the other dogs to do the same would this be true another thing is last time we had 3 dogs we had a lurcher a doberman and a patterdale terrier and somehow is was always the terrier and the doberman that would pick on the lurcher.
but the thing is i know how to socialise the dogs and treat them all equally so they will not get jealous but i want to be sure that getting another dog will not lead to trouble out of my hands.
and besides i want to persuade my mum into letting me have another dog lol everything ive tried is not working so this might

I think your mum doesnt want a third dog and she is using this as an excuse ;)

Three dogs isn't simply a matter of adding another dog - you then gain a 'pack'and this takes a LOT more looking after and needs an awareness of pack dynamics way above having just 2 dogs.  Your Mum probably doesn't feel ready to take on this responsibility along with everything else she has to do, and it wouldn't be fair of you to emotionally blackmail her in this way :(

I grew up with two Afghans and a Bichon, all entire males.  The Bichon was last to join and he was in charge but there was rarely any disagreements.  I suppose it depends on the dogs :)

I have 4 dogs...yes its hard work but I wouldn't change things
Archer

I have 7 and its really easy to notice pack order in mine luckily because mine know their places i dont get fights its when one wants to work up to a higher place you would get a problem. How old are the ones you have now i wouldnt say definately dont have one but i will say look into it loads make sure the breed/age/sex fits in well with yours. Mine also learn bad habits from each other if one does it they all do it mine never dug in the garden till Ollie came along now they all do it

I agree with digger ....it becomes a pack ..but with careful handling it can work out ok ..i have 4

This is interesting, we currently have 2 bitches(both spayed), the older one is definatley higher although occassionally the younger will try and 'climb', she is larger but is very submissive to the older one. We are due to get our puppy(dog) in January and i was wondering how, if, the situation will change? We were told the dog would be bullied, which I didn't really believe, but what are other people's experiences of 2 bitches and one dog living together? I have the 'meeting' sorted in my head but would appreciate some opinions! :)
Thanks
Emily xxx

Mine can be hard work at times.  My youngest boy 21 months is being a real pain up the u know what at the moment with my new arrival who is 6.  Luckily the 6 year old is so laid back he doesn't retaliate and looks down at my young one with such distaste :d 

It's actually gone worse since one has been taken away (girls problems you know) but hopefull she'll be back around new year and things will get back to normal and she'll soon tell Anton to behave as she doesn't suffer fools especially when she's 11  !!

I now have 5, all bitches, the oldest is 6, then 5, 2 ,18 months and the new young one is 15 weeks, it took about three weeks for the pup to be fully integrated into the pack, I must admit mine are all fairly laid back, the oldest an ESS, then a PLS,(she is the trouble maker if theres gonna be any, then 2 Spanish water dogs, then the baby is a cocker spaniel, I too think it depends on the breeds to some extent, some are more on the lookout for trouble than others, I hope to breed from one of my Spanish this year so then hopefully it will be 6 bitches, maybe 7 the year after if my other spanish has babies, I think I need a bigger house, lol !!!!!!!

Jenny B

Funnily enough I have got from a 8 dog household to a five dog one in 18 months & my alpha(& only bitch)actually misses my two collies dreadfully I hope to get another BC next year(another male as I don't do females)& I know that there will be no problems as the GSD rules the cavaliers & takes a veery maternal protective stance over any young puppies that come here

I lost my Alpha Bitch in June, and I now find that she did all the hard work, I have 6 Labs, males & females, none of which are capable of maintaining alpha position, therefore I have had to become the pack leader. Luckily all my dogs are very laid back and I have had no problems YET. I still have three puppies of differing ages which at some stage will 'try it on', which will be completely disruptive to the pecking order. Proper handling and training works wonders, but I have the time to do this, maybe your mum doesn't, as she has a family to look after as well.

i have 2 bitches and a dog, the oldest bitch is definatly the boss, then its my youngest who is a bitch and last its my dog who is in fact the older than both the bitches. he does get bossed around but nothing too serious, he knows his place and he seem s happy with that, when im giving them a treat i always give them in order of heirachy, dont know if it makes any difference but i like to think it just reinforces their place in the pack. They all play together, but the alpha female always gets the best seat in the house (after all the humans!!)  etc. 

I have read these posts with interest. I would welcome some advice on how you sort out the pack order, I have 3 dogs, one knows he is bottom and accepts this no problem but the other two  both want to be top dog and seem to have a problem working this out.
Is there a way to help or is it best to let them get on with it until one gives in.In my  opinion they are both as strong as each other so that does not help.

sandie i think what you need to do is to show the two dogs that YOU are boss and not them but really the oldest of the two dogs needs to be alpha you should make them see it buy always fusing the older dog first and make sure he eats first like when you give them dinner give the oldest dog hes food first etc then they should learn but they do need to know that your the alpha not them or the will try to dominate you lol

Hi Sandie,

Kerrie is right in that "top" position is of course you - but you probably know that ;)  However it doesn't always work out that the oldest of the dogs is the natural "alpha" figure.  "We" don't *sort out the pack order* - simply maintain it :)It's hard to advise on how best to work this out without seeing the dogs and knowing a lot more about them.  Their breed(s), ages, particular character/temperament traits, what specific instances make you think each is pushing for top position, etc etc.

HTH, regards, Teri

Hi Kerrie,

Keeping multiple dogs is fine providing they are all well cared for (equally), well trained and your finances will stretch to the costs involved especially the unpredictable ones ;)  That said, if your still at home with your mum, then really it's a bit unfair to expect her to agree to adding to your two existing dogs if she's not keen.  Everyone in the household has to be happy about doggy additions but in particular the principal care giver :rolleyes: which in our place is ME, ie. the *Mum*

However I'm a pushover for four legged furbies so I'm the one in this home who has to keep myself in check :D

Teri

I've just read this post with interest. I have kept anything up to 7 dogs at a time. All knew there place when Bridie was there. She was the boss. No questions asked. The others just fell into place behind her with no-one next in line. After I left my hubby I took 2 with me. They argued now and then (they were half-sisters) After the youngest gave birth everything changed. Mum was boss. Her sister couldn't move without permission. It eventually got so bad I had to re-home one of them. She is now very happy in her one-dog household. The 'pup' again was fine, until she had a litter. She then became very protective, and wouldn't let the oldest bitch move. This went on for two years, until I lost the old bitch in September. Obviously this was a maternal thing.

I have now brought in a new puppy. I forgot just how much hard work it was bringing one in. Though I think places have been sorted out, it has been much more difficult than breeding and keeping one. The new pup has to learn my ways, and I have to learn hers. Which we would have done from the beginning. We still have a very long way to go - after all she's only 8 and a half weeks old!

I would seriously look at your reasons for wanting another dog. Can it wait a while? Don't take this wrong, please ;) , but do you want a new one just because you like puppies (who doesn't :D ) or because you think one would finalise your family? It's easy to take 2 dogs out for a walk. But have you thought about the time and effort 3 will take? The pup WILL need to be taken out on it's own for traing, which could upset the older dogs. They may feel neglected and take it out on the newcomer when you are not present. It's not all doom and gloom though. They may all love one another on sight and want to be together all the time. :D Our original 3 were definately the 3 musketeers :D Where one was you could guarantee that the other 2 would be there. ;) The nature of your own dogs, and the new one, would have to be taken into consideration. :)

Good luck in what you decide. :)

hiya kerrie i have three dogs i started of with a collie cross seven years ago then 3 years ago my hubby rescued a jack russsel pup from a farm he was working at then 18 months ago we got afemale staffy the dogs took brilliantly to each other and we have no arguments between them to the point were they can all eat out of the same bowl my staffy is in whelp at the moment and iam concidering keeping one of the pups! my advice is as long as you treat them all the same and just let get on with it idont think youll have any problems with a third dog good luck