multi-pet households

[joquendo]

ABSOLUTELY.... my male was an "only child" for 2 years, I adopted a shep mix - they became great play mates for 2 years, then I adopted a 3 year old female rottie, who now totally adores him, they play all the time, I then adopted a then 8 week old pup - now 12 months... and now all my problems have begun... ;)

Multiple dog households are great, more than two becomes a pack and often leads to interdog politics... the whole heirachy /dominance thing -

Dogs love company, I worry less now about rushing home as I did when my Prince was an only child... now he romps all day with the other guys and when I get home - he falls asleep by my feet....

[rottix2]

I have always had a multi-dog household. The two I currently have are both rottweilers - one 3 and one 7. They are together all the time and although there is occasional bickering, they seem to adore each other. They seem to interact with each other quite a bit. Where one goes, the other follows. The female is always trying to get the male to play. I walk both dogs together all the time. I have two hands so I can pet or scratch two at once. If my crabby boy decides he wants my undivided attention, he will growl at my female and she will then back off and wait for her turn. It works well for us.

[K-9Girl]

My three love eachothers company....even the cats enjoy eachother and the dogs!:) One thing that I do try to do is give each dog their "own" time. If you let your dogs be together all the time then they become very dependant on eachother. I make it a point to do things with each dog without the others around...sometimes I will take each one on their walks separatley.

Anyway, I love my house to be full of animals....and it is obvious that everyone enjoyes the full house!:D

Sara

[joquendo]

You made a very good point Sara... about the dogs becoming very dependant on each other.. with my 4 dogs, although there is bickering.. they literally follow each other around, if they are out in the back yard and one sees a rabbit and runs to the fence they all follow suit, I can see them looking at each other for "cues".... I walk them two by two - but should probably spend some individual time so they can develop more independance from one another.... I too love having all my animals around me, gives me such a feeling tranquility... - even though they are all jumping over the furniture, playing tug, chasing each other for the latest toy... - yep pure tranquility ;)