[ropinirole]

As many of us know managing a multidog family can be a lot of work, especially when you have bully breeds.

But I was just thinking. From those already managing a Multidog family. What would you advice potential owners to consider before making the leap from a single dog home to a multidog home?

Thought it could be a helpful and educational thread.

---------- Post added at 03:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------

Obviously you should be prepared that the dogs might not get along. And cost/financial situation. But what else?

[pKgGpUlF]

There's always the risk that the dogs could get along very well. And if the owners don't maintain training and relationships with each dog seperately, the dogs may become very independent and not be very invested in their people.

Dogs can get "doggy" if owners get lazy.

[Fluivelip]

My life hasn't changed that much after going from one dog to two, then three and now four. The food bills have gone up a lot, the vet bills aren't bad because I spaced the dogs out so that they were through with their puppy shots and check-ups before the next dog came. I also spaced them out so that 2 need their annual vet visits in spring and 2 in fall to make it easier financially.

The best advice I can give is to really make sure you spend individual time with each dog equally and then spend time as a group if they all get along. Also, a routine helps. And be prepared for some "backsliding" from an older dog when a new pup comes in. Sometimes they decide to act up because they are unsure about the new addition.

[qwerty1]

Also something I learned was that one older dog and a puppy COULD be beneficial. The older dog could.make house training alot easier. However like someone else.posted you need to make are both dogs are getting time with the owner to avoid them banning together. (Which I think happened to me and I didn't realize until I started crate and rotate )

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[Fluivelip]

See, I had the exact opposite happen, Destin. My older dogs were a good example for potty training the pups at first and then they all did a backslide thing and I had to re-train the older ones

[Fdmnrnba]

My life hasn't really changed much with all these damn dogs. I'm just more poor all the time and I clean up more shit and spend more time taking them on bike rides.

I do however drink more than I used to.

[UJRonald]

I own 9......

Have crates for everyone and never leave your home without crating each dog in their own crate, I don't care how well they get a long....

Never feed together

Keep toys and high value items up and away unless you can be there to supervise

Spend time with each dog everyday

Never leave dogs alone unsupervised

Having more then one can be more time consuming when it comes to care, so keep a detailed chart for each dog really helps, I give all heart worm meds, baths and flea meds on the 1st of the month no matter what day that falls on. I write it on each dogs chart.

For me it really is no different then having 1 dog I just do it X9

[Fluivelip]

Yup! I do my bathing and grooming on the same day for each dog and I have a dry erase board on my wall with each dogs name and the date they are due for vaccinations plus a reminder that the 25th of every month is heartworm and flea med time.

Also, if you choose not to spay or neuter dogs of opposite sex, you can never overestimate what a dog will do to get laid. Whatever plan you have to keep them separated when a female is in heat, check it and recheck it. Make sure everyone knows the protocol and that breaking protocol will result in great bodily harm.