Multi dog owners - do you feel guilty?

[yv0nne]

This post puts into words by biggest fear when I get my nextdog. Nextdog will be my agility dog and even though I know Penny doesn't enjoy agility, I'll still feel incredibly guilty about her no longer coming to training sessions and the like. Glad to see it's a common worry among multiple dog owners!!

 

[Southpaw]

I do sometimes. Happy wants to go everywhere with me, but she can't. I don't take her to the dog park or the neighborhood park where I let Juno off leash. It's just too difficult with her. And she whines and wants to come but... oh well.

I include her in as much as I can or try to make adaptations for her - we can walk to the neighborhood park, and Juno can be let off leash to run while Happy and I continue along the path - but inevitably she gets left out sometimes.

Likewise for Juno, sometimes we don't do as many off leash activities as I would like, since I try to include Happy.

So I get tiny twinges of guilt but I know nobody is really being left out. I just didn't want my relationship with Juno to change because of adopting Happy, so Happy tends to get the raw deal more often.

 

[AmandaNola]

I have four dogs. 1 working line Mini Dachshund (Nola, female), 1 show line who was supposed to be a mini but is over the weight limit (Auggie, male), and two rescue/rehomed situation Dachshunds (Boston and Phoenix, females).

It's no secret Nola is my favorite. Nola is the perfect dog for me. I couldn't ask for a better dog if I tried. Every single thing I want and need in a dog, she has. Her temperament and personality mesh so well with me it's ridiculous. She's not only my pet, she's my best friend, working partner and companion. She's my heart dog.

I've had Nola the longest, and she held me together while I watched my life and family crumble in front of me. I rebuilt myself and my life for the better with her at my side.

I got Boston, Auggie and Phee to be pets. Adored, well taken cared for, members of the family, but just pets. I got Nola to be my sports dog in addition to my companion. My relationship with Nola is so different from the others I don't really think of her as a pet.

They all live inside, get top quality food, individual training and play, top notch vet care and everything they need. It's a human thought that one dog is getting it "better" than the others (when they're all treated correctly!).

 

[Hillside]

No, not really. Saga doesn't really enjoy doing much. She HATES doing dog stuff and is happier just hanging out on the couch or occasionally going for a walk in the park when it's nice. I used to feel kind of guilty until the logic part of my brain kicked in. There are times when I am doing something with Nico when I wish Saga could come too, but then I remember she wouldn't enjoy herself.