Do I Want Another Dog? Should I Get Another Dog? Are There Dogs Who Might Appeal To Me?

SUMMARY: Those are not the same question.

From Facebook again--some editing and additional links, etc.

A friend (Carol S, parent of many pets both feline and canine) emailed on Dec 24:

Merry Christmas to you all.  My sister-in-law sent me this wonderful 2020 take on the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas", (from Chewy.com, "'Twas the Year Our Pets Saved Us") and I thought it would bring you all a smile.  Consider it your present from our Irving Menagerie - I wouldn't let the dogs and cats out to shop during the pandemic, so this is all there is!

May we all have a better 2021! - Carol

That (poem) could serve as a blog post all on its own. Charming illustrations, too.

BUT I can't stay silent of course.

Sad/mixed feelings addendum:  So, read or not. Short version is: I think I might want to get a dog to fill the void left by Chip in June. But maybe I don’t. But maybe it doesn’t matter because there are no dogs available.

Two days before Christmas, last week, I was trying to explain to a friend why I’d want to get a second dog now. 

Chip leaving in June was bad timing because of COVID's effects on my life in general. OK, seriously, no  time is good timing for a barely 9-year-old dog suddenly dying. I vowed not to immediately fall in love with another dog’s face like I did with Chip as Tika's heart was getting bad, or right after Tika and Boost died in 2015 and I was left with only Chip and then saw that big-eared mixed-breed's face. I think I shortchanged Chip, myself, and the new dog (Luke, aka Zorro) by not having reasonably dealt with my grief. (Here’s at least one of my blog posts on this topic-- Do Not Get Another Dog Right Now.)

So it’s been 6 months. I find that this thing drives me: I don’t want to suddenly find myself with no dog in the house.  

Dogs die unexpectedly. Or vanish (have at least 4 friends that has happened to). That’s also a down side to knowing so very very many people with so very VERY many dogs— seeing all the ways that the dogs leave us.  But that’s not what hits me—it’s wanting to have that happy tail, the dangling exercised tongue, the sparkling eyes, the fun and the mischief always. That unconditional love. That companionship as I do the laundry or take a nap or work in the yard or go for a hike. (Spouses or partners are fine, sometimes, but sometimes not.) 

I went through this after Amber died in 1992, which was lonnnnng before I knew many Dog People. We still had Sheba and for two years I couldn’t face the idea of trying to *replace* Amber because no dog possibly ever could and I didn’t want my heart to break so badly ever again. But, as Sheba turned 14ish, I realized that I did not want to wake up one morning to a dog-empty house, and my stomach clenched but my heart opened to new possibilities and that’s when Remington appeared.   

I've had 2 or 3 (briefly) dogs ever since. (If you’re not tired of reading, here’s one of my blog posts on that topic: Maybe I Should Try Not Having A Dog.   Oh.  Erm.  And another one: One Dog, Two Dog, No Dog, Three Dog )

Now I’ve had only one dog for 6 months. And am thinking about... do I want another dog? I know that Zorro misses having a yard buddy, but I always tell people, don't get a dog for your dog. But he and Chip enjoyed each other much more often than not.  —but again curse COVID, there are no dogs available! [this is not technically true: nearby shelter has maybe 10, but they’re all bigger than I want these days (I’m hoping for 25-40 lbs) or special needs that I’m not prepared to deal with emotionally right now.  Rescue groups I’ve checked (and I have a ton of friends who foster and do rescue) say that their cupboards are bare.]

Soooooo I don’t have piles and piles and miles and miles of dogs to choose from! This is great for the animals. Probably great for me, really, seriously, because when I’m feeling as down as I do too often in the last couple of months, probably not a good time to get another pup anyway.

All of my dogs except maybe Sheba have been pure luck and falling in love with a pretty face. (Blog post—which clearly needs updating, and doesn’t really look at things from this perspective, but close. Choosing A Dog)

My first views of some of my dogs (which were photos, not the actual dogs); who could resist?

What I want is to be hanging out at a dog event and someone walks by with a gorgeous friendly dog and I admire her and the person says, I’m fostering her and she’s looking for a home.  Or someone posts a dog’s face on Facebook and I fall almost in love almost immediately.  But: No one is posting photos these days of available dogs because there aren’t any!

So maybe I’ll go back to making the house puppy-proof (aka new-dog-proof) again and then try again in a while.

Oh, BTW, while struggling with the emotions over all of this-- I turned to Facebook and of course my dog peeps are Total Enablers:

Ellen Levy Finch

December 22 , 2020

Shared with Your friends

Is this a bad time of year to make off-the-cuff decisions about adopting another dog?

I'd say the answer is yes.

But suddenly all day today I can't stop thinking about it.

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with xmas being postponed for another year or 2. 🙁

But the local shelter is slashing adoption fees for adult dogs until the end of the year.

I wouldn't get a puppy anyway.

And Zorro is lonely for a dog yard-buddy; I know that to be true.

Talk me out of it please. 🥺

[and so it begins… 80 comments!!]

• Narae Kim Ellis
Go for it!!

2

• Adina Pierce
I say yes!

1

• Elayne Fletcher
Talk you into it? Yes, absolutely.

1

• Kerry M. Forni
Absolutely!!

1

• Marla Cooper
You seriously expect your dog loving friends to talk you out of it? Lolol. Get the dog!

10

• Lloyda French
Go for it....

1

• Vickey Meyer
Yes!

1

• Karen Marcroft
I wouldn't know how to begin. Clearly the things that deter me have no effect on you. 

2

• Sharon Williams
Do you really want to risk another severe illness when this new dog is diagnosed? Fingers crossed that either way it will be the right decision.

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
I think they're self-selecting out--Zorro is and Chip was about 35 lbs and that's good for me; their lightest dog at the moment is 44, a Sibe, and I don't want another; already did that.

2

• Gwen Jones
Ellen - you’ll know, and Chip will confirm 

2

• Ellen Levy Finch
Well, Zorro might. I don’t get messages from Chip. A lovely thought, though.

1

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• Ann Levy Burns
My only question would be whether you can handle two dogs, since you said that it was much easier with one dog going for walks and stuff

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Ann Levy Burns Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. Maybe.

4

• Ellen Levy Finch
The thing is, it was typically very easy going for walks with Tika and Boost. It was not easy going for walks with Zorro and chip. So, it depends. I am trying to ignore the fact that it took lots of training and experience to be able to do that with Ti… See More

• Tina Scott Jeffrey
Is it EVER a bad time for a new dog?

2

• Tanya Lee
We are all enablers....you should know this by now...

7

• Cynthia Heyman
Tanya Lee right? Lol and when we take our puppies to trials everyone is so bad and let's puppies jump all over them. 

2

• Ellen Levy Finch
Cynthia Heyman That’s the worst for sure!

1

• Aostara Kaye
I would never talk someone who gives dogs such a great home out of adopting another, unless you can't afford it either financially or emotionally

1

• Susan Fallon Paulsen
Do what your heart says

• Dorothy Diehl
Think of poor Zorro.
Go for it and please post a picture!

1

• Leslie Halliday
Actually, the comment about easier to walk one dog than two is valid. I think it depends on your energy level. Because we know yard dog buddy won’t be the end of it.

1

• Marla Cooper
Leslie Halliday True. I have 6. Yes. Crazy dog lady. I walk one at a time.

2

• Ellen Levy Finch
Marla Cooper Walking six dogs one at a time is what’s crazy!

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• Deborah Lage
Play GIF
GIPHY

1

• Penny Larson
Why not!! Zorro would probably like a pal too. There’s somebody out there waiting for you!

1

• Nancy Gyes
What about another special puppy that you plan for. Your last one turned out very wonderful . 

2

• Joni Grace
Good luck! I won’t talk you out of it because I think it would be good for you and Zorro. You’re a great pet parent!

1

• Christine Louise Armstrong
https://petharbor.com
PETHARBOR.COM
PetHarbor.com: Animal Shelter adopt a pet; dogs, cats, puppies, kittens! Humane Society, SPCA. Lost & Found.
PetHarbor.com: Animal Shelter adopt a pet; dogs, cats, puppies, kittens! Humane Society, SPCA. Lost & Found.

1

• Bruce Garlinger

[posted several animated gifs of happy dogs]

• Millicent Conover
Go for it!!

• Julie Rice
Don’t expect me to talk you out of it. Raising Winnie was a great thing to do while i waited for my grief over Zodi to subside. Getting Trissy has made me smile and laugh again and it’s been a long time since my heart has felt so light.

1

• Gailanne Molver
yes

• Dawn King
Remember how easy it is to take a hike with one dog v.s. two? Remember how you can keep the vet bills/food bills/toy bills cut in half with one dog? Half the wear and tear on the yard. Probably easier to get renters if you only have one. Oh heck. … See More

4

• Ellen Levy Finch
Dawn King Thank you, Dawn!

• Janelle Stroschein
My only worry is a Siberian too much dog to take on as you are still healing?

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Janelle Stroschein Never again a Siberian. No worries on that count.

1

• Janelle Stroschein
They are awesome dogs but I weighed the possibilities that come with certain dog types. I like a nice older dog. Just because I’m getting older too. Not old yet!!!

1

• Cat Springer
Oh, golly, *another* dog? I just don't knooooow. (Heck, yeah!)

• Cat Springer
Buster shakes his head "no". (But then, he shakes his head *everywhere*.)

• Cat Springer
Play GIF
GIPHY

• Fiona Gillies
In Australia it’s apparently quite difficult to get a rescue dog as so many people have adopted in the pandemic. If you are able to adopt where you are, maybe that’s a siiiiign

2

• Ellen Levy Finch
Fiona Gillies It looks like all of the smaller dogs are have been adopted. In my previous life, I’d have gladly taken something the size of a German Shepherd, But I’m not there now.

• Ellen Levy Finch
Fiona Gillies (And it’s unusual not to see a ton of small dogs, particularly Chihuahua mixes, available from every pound and every rescue group. Now, not so much.)

• Julie Stokes
I say go for it. One will be available when the time is right. But go small

1

• Billy Vitro
I’ve been looking at getting another little dog. It’s always good to have a spare. 

3

• Ellen Levy Finch
Billy Vitro Dave Barry would call it an emergency back up dog.

2

• Billy Vitro
Ellen Levy Finch you got the reference! Damn, we’re old...

1

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• Kathleen Carlsen
What’s one more? Keep looking for the right one. I think you will have plenty of enabling friends to help you

• Cathy Barber
I have the same desire. I want a dog for Sparkle. Doodle Bug is mostly cat in a dog’s body and doesn’t play with Sparkle.

• Brenna Fender
It's the best time! Do it!

• Cheri Scannell
It’s been a good year for rescues. There must be a reason for that. 

• Lisa Williams
The responses crack me up. Your friends are enablers! I would wait for the right dog that may not be available right now due to the high adoption rate during the pandemic.

7

• Ellen Levy Finch
Lisa Williams I know that I should’ve expected it. But I thought that maybe my sad face was compelling. 

• Mary Schultz
Wrong audience to ask.

3

• Mary Schultz
How about a kitten, or a robot? Or me?

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Mary Schultz Can you sleep curled up in one corner of my bed? On top of the covers? Without bumping into me during the night? I have high standards.

1

• Mary Schultz
Ellen Levy Finch while I don’t look forward to my dogs’ demises, I do look forward to a one dog home

1

• Sue Dowell
Definitely yes

• Ronald Horii
Do you feel comfortable going to the animal shelter and vet during the pandemic?

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Ronald Horii I’d have to make an appointment with the animal shelter if I see a dog that I’m interested in. I cannot roam the adoption areas. They will bring out just the dog of interest. I have been to my vet during these times, and they seem very goo… See More

• Wendy Gurney Bruce
if you feel a heart connection to a particular dog, then the timing/cost is irrelevant. Trust your heart and your gut to connect you!

• Linda Levy
Want the link to the group we got Abby from?

• Ellen Levy Finch
Linda Levy ok.
The rescue through whom I got Jake (indirectly) and Remington has no dogs available for adoption at this time. The nearby animal shelter doesn’t have any medium size dogs really. If I could see them in person (In canine), it might have c… See More

• Linda Levy
Ellen Levy Finch https://www.coppersdream.org

COPPERSDREAM.ORG
Copper's Dream Rescue Home
Copper's Dream Rescue Home

1

• Charlotte Dodie Duncan
Nope. Not talking you out of a great, and well-timed decision. Why would I do that?!?

• Sara McAulay
So... how are things progressing, decision-wise? I’m having serious puppy envy— not that I’d get a puppy under any circumstances!

• Ray Fischer
Here in B.C. there's been a shortage of available dogs
https://www.cbc.ca/.../bri.../high-demand-for-pets-1.5637516

CBC.CA
Shelters struggle to keep up with skyrocketing demand for pet adoption during COVID-19 | CBC News
Shelters struggle to keep up with skyrocketing demand for pet adoption during COVID-19 | CBC News

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Ray Fischer Here, too. Everyone I know who does fostering and rescue and works at shelters has been talking about that for months. And yet there are still plenty of dogs who are larger, or who have special needs, or who are older. I just haven’t so far… See More

2

• Mandy Book
Talk you out of it? What kind of friends do you think we are? Lol

2

• Libby Myers-Buhite
Merry Christmas!

1

• Ellen Levy Finch
Libby Myers-Buhite awww!

• Nancy Shanken Damarodas
A friend knows someone in bc rescue fostering some border collie/ springier spaniel pups- if interested I can get you more info

One Dog, Two Dog, No Dog, Three Dog

SUMMARY: Title chase this weekend, plus: What's the right number of dogs?

If all works well, this post will post itself while I am off having the time of my life making perfect weave entrances at the SMART USDAA trial in Prunedale. And working the score table. And maybe participating in:

• Boost getting a Jumpers and a Standard leg to finish her MAD.
• Tika getting a Steeplechase Q to finish her Tournament Master Gold.
• Boost getting a Steeplechase Q, too, which will put them both halfway to qualifying for Nationals in the Big S.
• Tika getting a Grand Prix Q, too, which will put her halfway to qualifying for Nationals in the Big GP.
• Tika getting a Snooker Q to complete her Snooker Silver.

No, I don't really have anything I want to accomplish this weekend; why do you ask?

So, in case none of my dogs achieve anything this weekend and I need to replace them with something more qualifiable, let's talk about What's The Right Number of Dogs?

An agility friend is seriously in the midst of probably most likely adopting a third dog, first time she's done that (two was a leap, I believe), so wanted my opinion, me being an absolute wealth of useless, ambiguous opinions, and I agreeably rambled on about it. Here's my updated response, with photos.

One dog, December 1978 through August 1981

Amber joined me as a puppy. We were happy together. I took her many places with me. It's easy to travel with one dog. It's easy to play with one dog. One dog fits well into small spaces. It's easy to do training with one dog. And when all the Mystic Mints disappear from the box or there is poop on the carpet you know whom to talk to about it. And Amber was generally a Good Dog who generally came when called and stuff like that. Plus she'd hold a biscuit on her nose.

Two dogs, August 1981-July 1992

So I got married and figured that two people needed two dogs. Well, the new dog was very sweet but did NOT come when called and did NOT play and did NOT have any interest in doing training and could not hold a biscuit on her nose even if stapled it there (editor's note: Stapling is just a metaphor, no actual staples were used). At least Sheba and Amber got along--once in a while they'd chase each other around the yard, and they'd take turns eating from the same bowl even though we conveniently provided them with two independent bowls with actual food in both.

Sheba was not much fun to travel with and she always had to be on leash, always, or she would end up in Sheboygan. So we didn't go places with the dogs much. But at home one or the other was usually doing something entertaining, or being cute, so when one was slacking off and just hanging out, the other would gamely amuse us somehow. But if the carpet was torn to shreds, we couldn't ever be certain who was responsible, although we had a 99% probability guess on that one, SHEEEba!

One dog July 1992-May 1994

When Amber died, it just about broke my heart. This is one disadvantage of having dogs. They die. They break your heart. If you have one dog, they don't do it as often as if you have two or more dogs. The number of dogs dying seems to be proportional to the number of dogs in the family. I realized now that dogs die and furthermore, Amber died, and I would never be able to have another dog like her again and so why bother. Plus there was always dog hair everywhere and dust and dirt from the dogs everywhere and I was just tired of it, and Sheba was 11 anyway so if we just waited for her to die, which would undoubtedly be soon, then I could have a clean house again and no carpet ripped up and no spots on the lawn all the time and no worrying about dogsitters when we went places without the dogs, which was often.

Two dogs, May 1994-January 2002

When Sheba had rambled on to 13 and showed no signs of slowing down for or even being within a hundred miles of the exit from the highway of life (more metaphors, are you impressed?), it suddenly struck me that my own life would be very, very, very empty indeed if there were no dog in it, plus since Sheba did NOT play and did NOT hold a biscuit on her nose, she often bored me to tears, and wanted a dog who would be more doglike in those particular ways rather than just shedding everywhere and occasionally escaping and trying to thumb a ride to Sheboygan. And within a month, Remington came home.

Sheba was not happy about it. It was no longer easy to snuggle with both dogs, because one would be pissy about it. They did not share food bowls. Remington was generally a Good Dog but if we left him at home and took Sheba for a slow elderly walk, he shrieked, and if we left Sheba at home and took Rem for a brisk youngster walk, she'd be gone when we got back.

But, oddly enough, Sheba took one look at the young whippersnapper doing tricks for treats, and she wanted to, too! So the dog I had failed to teach even to sit when she was 3 learned, at 14, to sit and lie down on command, to shake, and to hold a biscuit on her nose! I loved it! And for the first time I really appreciated how dogs can affect each other in ways that are good for me. So maybe having more than one dog was a Good Thing.

Then I discovered dog agility. Rem went many places with me and learned many things. But Sheba was too old for that sort of stuff and her health was starting to fail. Meanwhile, "All my FRIENDS have two agility dogs, can I please please please, really, I'll take care of them!" The spouse wasn't smitten with the idea of three dogs (two dogs, two people, remember?), but meanwhile Jake became available and I really really wanted him to come home with me.

When Sheba died at 17, Jake was in our yard within a week. And we started doing agility.

So I discovered--duh--it's blatantly twice as expensive to have two dogs when you're competing in agility. It's not just twice the food and twice the basic vet bills and so on--it's twice the weekly lessons (money and time), twice the training in the yard (time), twice the entry fees (money), twice the work at a trial (pottying, warming up, cooling down, planning different handling strategies or courses because they run differently and have different strengths and weaknesses).

On the other hand, if one was injured, the other was still running. If one was having zero-qualifying weekends, the other was doing SOMETHING right so I wouldn't sink into a self-pitying pit of rancid despair (not quite worked into a blatant metaphor but close enough). So there were definitely advantages.

And, for two Basically Good Dogs, walking two dogs wasn't too hard, snuggling two dogs wasn't too hard, training two dogs wasn't too hard because one would wait when told.

But these two dogs despised each other. Fights were too common. It was extremely unpleasant. Plus they were boy dogs, so instead of making dead patches on my lawn, they peed all over the sides of things. And, once one did it, the other had to, too.

Three dogs, January 2002-March 2003

Both dogs were getting older. Jake had arthritis in his back. I figured that neither of them had more than a couple of good agility years left. I wanted to bring a third dog on board so that I wouldn't be left without an agility dog. After a divorce (really only very little to do with the dogs), and the purchase of a new Agility House, Tika came home with me.

Jake was grumpy about it, but Tika knew how to keep out of his way. It was a lot of fun having a new dog to teach from scratch to avoid making all the training mistakes I had made with the first two. I really enjoyed getting started with her, although, boy, training classes for THREE dogs was quite a wallet-unloader.

I used to go for nice peaceful mile-long walks every day with Jake and Remington, but Tika was a tremendous handful. I did it anyway because the other two dogs were manageable, but it became a bit stressful trying to walk her, too.


Tika entered her first trial with one run the same weekend that Remington first showed obvious-enough signs that something was wrong with him, so I never did have complete entry fees for three full dogs at a single trial, but my two "elderly dogs" up to that point (Rem 9, Jake 11) were still competing just fine so it could have gotten quite pricey--and REALLY busy--at trials.

But now I could take one dog for a walk at a time and not feel guilty because there'd be two dogs at home together. This didn't stop them from complaining about it, but I always felt much better that they were together. This way, I could work on Tika's leash-training by herself, could walk an ill Remington by himself, could walk Good Dog Jake for just a nice relaxing peaceful walk by ourselves. There were advantages to three dogs.

Plus, the things that Jake and Remington both did well at (not running out the front door, for example), Tika seemed to notice and learn from. (She was not so good at it later after Rem died, so actually having TWO other experienced dogs in the house was a very good thing for a rambunctious youngster.)

But three dogs on the bed was a real mess, especially with the two boys being picky about their personal space. I tried to train Tika to sleep in a crate off the bed, but my training failed--on me. So I had to manipulate myself all the time to sleep around 3 dogs on a king sized bed who didn't want to be within 3 feet of each other.

Two dogs, March 2003-2004ish

So, after Remington died, I discovered again how much I liked having two dogs. One on either end of the bed. One on either side of me for snuggling. One per hand when out walking. Two at a competition was plenty.

Three dogs, 2004ish-2005ish

And then I got a renter housemate who had a dog, too.

This actually worked out well, because I could play with and even dabble in agility with the third dog, but then turn him over to his mom for vet bills and feeding and walking and grooming and all that stuff.

Jake, whom I thought would have retired from agility years ago, kept going and going, but I knew that at his age (13ish), it couldn't last forever, and then I'd be down to only one agility dog again, and that's a terrible thing (what if one is injured? Then I'd have NO agility dogs!). I had thought that I might make little black Casey my 3rd, but then they moved out.

Two dogs briefly in 2005

When Casey left, Tika was already 4, and I figured it was time to bring in a 3rd dog again. It was a hard choice from a living perspective, though, because I REALLY liked having just 2 dogs everywhere except for competing at agility trials. But, still, Boost joined us shortly thereafter.

Three dogs April 2005-Feb 2007

Once again, I delighted in teaching my young new dog all kinds of wonderful new things. A puppy is a challenge, but also a joy in seeing her catch onto ideas.

But three dogs are harder. Harder to line up for photos. Harder to snuggle with--you just cannot do 3 simultaneously. More gear to carry and more space taken up at agility trials. One dog you can tuck in almost anywhere. Even with two dogs, you can get by without your own canopy if you're clever. But with three dogs, you gotta have the whole shebang (not to be confused with Sheboygan).

Harder to sleep with and manage in hotel rooms and vehicles. Two crates fit neatly across the back of the minivan, but not 3.

Two dogs Feb 2007-present

Abruptly, I found myself again with only two dogs. Sure, I missed Jake, but I don't miss having the three dogs. Except when I want to walk one dog at a time, or take one dog somewhere, I don't feel comfortable leaving the other dog home alone, so I am doomed to always have two dogs with me wherever I go. Don't like that part.

General discussion about how many dogs

First, I think that if you have found a dog that seems right to you and you have the time and energy for another dog, you should take him/her home. I've looked at so many dogs and thought "welllll allllmost but not quite," that I value it when I have a take-home response to a dog.

Second, I find two dogs much easier than three. I can walk 2 dogs at a time, pet 2 dogs at a time. Three dogs--depends on the dogs--gets to be a challenge, because now you're using one hand to manage two dogs. Some people just never do that--I've talked to folks who always just walk one dog at a time, whether "out for a walk" or just pottying at a trial. Tika is a tremendous chore to walk with. I managed it with Jake and Remington because they were pretty good on leash, but I find that her bad habits on leash tend to drift over to Boost and the thought of adding a 3rd dog to this mess deters me. So some of that really does depend on the dogs.

However, I also have the question lingering all the time about what happens when my current dogs get older, from an agility perspective. One answer would be to drop out of agility for a while. Sometimes I feel like I'm ready to do that. Sometimes I don't. Assuming that I'm still in an agility frame of mind, in 3 years, Boost will be 6 and Tika will be 10 and I'd want to start thinking about a puppy or young dog that year. I'm guessing that Tika won't be competing when she's 11 or 12. But I've been fooled before (witness Jake at 15). If I *don't* get a 3rd dog, and if these guys live good long healthy lives, let's say Tika dies at 15, boost will be 11 and might not be competing, either. That could be a long dry spell w/out competition.

On the other hand, having only one dog competing would be considerably less expensive. :-)

Somehow I've managed to keep 2 dogs competing most of the time. Tika had just attended her first couple of trials when Remington got sick and died, so I had 3 dogs entered in maybe 2 or 3 trials. Boost had just attended her first couple of trials when Jake suddenly went. At trials where I've had only one dog to run, it has been both relaxing and boring. And one or the other of them usually does *something* well, whereas back when I was one-dog with Remington and he didn't do well (which was often), it really bummed me.

Jake and Remington fought. I hated it. I don't miss that part, but that was the same whether I had just them or added Tika. But I wonder how I'd have felt if, say, I'd already had Rem and Tika and then added Jake. Dunno.

Adding Boost to the Tika/Jake combination was both good and bad. Jake was a grouch but there was something about the way Tika handled his snarfs that made them cautious partners. Tika's the only dog that Jake would play fetch around, and she'd run in and scoop up his toy or ricochet off him half the time and he usually let her get away with it (after a 2 or 3 month adjustment period, at least). And he'd imitate what she did and follow her around, and she'd pay attention to things he did to earn rewards. They were never friends, though. Tika loved Boost. They play with each other regularly. Jake hated Boost and she really felt the brunt of it, being a puppy. I tried to keep them apart but sometimes I just slipped up and he'd be all over her. And I don't know how much of it was because she was a puppy, because she was new, because she didn't know how to deal with him like Tika did, because he was jealous in his own weird way at her taking time from Tika, or because he could.

I am one of those sort of ambiguous dog people. I love having my dogs around. I am so tired of the dirt and the hair and the overhead. I would really miss not having a dog around. I might actually enjoy living without dogs (but it's been so long since I've really done so that I'm not sure about that). The thought of losing them both for some reason sometimes terrifies me. It happens to people, losing two dogs in a short period of time. Three dogs seems less likely that you'd ever suddenly find yourself dogless, sort of an insurance policy of unconditional love or something.

And I don't think that 3 dogs makes it any more complicated in feeding--I just use dry kibble--or keeping the house and yard cleaned. If I'm going to sweep the floor, it doesn't matter how many dogs have shed on it. If I'm wandering around the yard picking up poop twice a day, it doesn't matter how many individual poops there are.

But expenses definitely go up with a 3rd dog. Half again as much food. Half again as many medical bills. If for some reason you need to board them or otherwise cared for (I seldom do, but sometimes), the expenses are per dog. Same if you have them groomed (I seldom do because of the cost, but would if I could afford it). If you have all of them in classes of some kind, it's per dog.

Overall, I prefer being a 2-dog person. And the odds are good that someday I'll find myself with 3 dogs again. But here's the other thing: Several people have told me that 4 dogs are easier than 3, because you can do everything 2 dogs at a time without one dog feeling left out and making a fuss or being resentful. Huh. Dunno. But just in case you find TWO dogs you really like--well--you can give it a try and let me know.