Multi Dog Household Question

[ihartgonzo]

Puppy socialization window is short!!! IMO, puppy comes first... if you can only bring one dog, bring Didgie, because socialization is important for the rest of her life. Did you feel guilty bringing Trav out to socialize him and leaving Kaylee at home? I think you're just used to babying Trav and doing everything with him, but part of having 2 dogs is establishing priorities. Socializing the puppy is #1!

That said, do your best to make it up to Trav with one-on-one time and training, while realizing that it won't always be like this! One day (sooner than you can even imagine), Didgie will be a grown adult Koolie, she'll be well trained and well socialized and you can bring both of them everywhere and split up one-dog outings evenly.

I didn't feel too guilty about Gonzo, when I got Fozzie. Gonzo was thrilled to have a little brother so I think that made up for it! I would bring Fozzie to events, fairs, pet stores, friend/family houses, etc alone... so that I could focus on giving him positive experiences with people and other animals. I would take Gonzo to the park or lake almost every day, sometimes with Fozzie and sometimes without, to keep him happy. I would take Fozzie along with me and Gonzo to flyball and agility practice, dog playdates, etc and bring crates so that I could spend individual time with each of them and also time together. When ever I left Gonzo, I'd give him amazing chewies, stuffed kongs, raw bones, and he actually started looking forward to me and Fozzie leaving! In the end, Trav did get your undivided attention when he was a puppy, and Didgie deserves lots of training and attention too. Not only for socializing and training, but to cement your bond with her. You and Trav are already bonded, he's very well trained, and you don't need to feel guilty if you have to put working with him on the backburner to work with Didgie during her foundation of life. I'm sure Trav won't mind as long as he gets plenty of swimming and ball time. ^.^

 

[Bahamutt99]

I HAVE to do one on one time because my dogs hate each other. I've learned not to let it get to me. As long as Loki got the last time, Terra can go this time, and so on. The only time they go together is when they are crated, or when I have 2 people.

 

[Teal]

We rotate. I've always had multiple dogs, so it's what I've always done. I'm probably a big meanie, but I really don't feel bad leaving one/multiples while I do stuff with the others. It's just our routine.

This.

None of my dogs have ever been a singleton (though Ruger was for a few months once, and he hated it!), and they're all used to the routine of some staying home while others leave. No one guilt trips me about it, which is nice LOL We do activities that allow different combos of dogs... they go for individual walks and trips to the coffee shop for visiting... sometimes in pairs if we're going to the creek or walking trails... if we're going to a show, it's two dogs (the bulldogs, or a bulldog and a sighthound if it's UKC)... if we're going to one of our all breed races, I'll pack up the whole lot of em!

 

[chaospony]

My girls hate being apart. They won't even take a walk without the other one! I have to coax and wheedle for awhile before they get the hint. Luckily my mom and I share them so she is usually up for going along too if it is someplace I feel I can't handle two myself. Of course now that we are adding a third it might get tricky!

 

[Bailey08]

I've found it to be somewhat difficult.

It's not just that Bailey is my first, but also that B has separation anxiety and having a new puppy added to the mix has caused some genuine anxiety (and "jealousy").

Anyway, I have had separate time with them largely by virtue of the fact that, until very recently, they have had totally different schedules (B went to daycare during the day and G stayed home and had a walker). I spent extra one-on-one time in the morning with Grace, after Bailey left, and spent time with just Bailey in the evenings.

I also have to be careful that Grace doesn't become overly dependent on Bailey. I think she could pretty easily.

So, while I hope it has been easier for Trav than Bailey, I understand how hard it can be when your "baby" is is having trouble adjusting.

 

[sassafras]

I'm another meanie. As long as everyone gets some one on one time and some together time, I don't feel guilty about leaving anyone home to do something with someone else. I rarely do anything with all 3 together anyway, so either one or two are almost always going to get left behind, anyway.They're always sleeping when I get back, anyway.

I think it helps that I have specific things I do with each dog. For Pip it's the dog park (although I've started taking Squash occasionally by himself, too). For the youngsters it's mushing. So everyone is fairly used to the other dogs coming and going with me but still getting their "turn".

 

[StillandSilent]

Despite having two, mine are such opposites on the spectrum of what they can handle that it's seldom an issue.

Gambit goes places that there will be other dogs and not many people. He is also the one who goes walking in the evening with me and my neighbor. Since he is limited in what he can handle as far as going places, he's also the one who gets to ride in the car when we go through a drive thru or something similar.

Argon goes when there will be crowds. He goes downtown with me, he goes to stores, he's my buddy for hanging out. Plus, he doens't have the same exercise requirments as Gambit, which means its easier to leave him at home.

Sorry, I guess that wasn't much help.