Having three dogs can require way more than three times as much effort as having one. Adding a third dog is a big jump up in time, energy, and expense. Generally, most people can comfortably own one or two dogs.
Whether getting a third dog is a good idea depends on your lifestyle and home environment. Dog hoarding is a situation in which an individual accumulates more dogs than they can adequately care for. Humans have less bite force than many dogs. Male dogs are usually more affectionate than females. Having multiple dogs means more time playing and working with each one.
Is Getting a Third Dog a Good Idea?
Adding a third dog is going to be more cleaning for you to do. Another dog will undoubtedly bring some extra dirt and dust into your home, so expect to get working with the old vacuum cleaner a bit more often.
Transportation can be a challenge if you add another dog. Moving your dogs around town can be more difficult with an additional pet.
Pros and Cons
It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making such a decision. While having another furry friend around can certainly be fun, it may also bring added stress and responsibilities.
The Pros
- More Playtime!
- Additional exercise opportunities
Effectively managing fights over food/bones or even space must be mastered, leaving room for understanding dynamics which result in less strife and better bonding.
The Cons
- Increased cleaning responsibilities
- Extra costs
- More attention required for each dog
- Possible transportation issues
Adding a third dog to your home is not a decision that should be made hastily. While there are plenty of benefits to increasing your fur-family, it’s crucial to understand that this change brings increased responsibilities.
Managing Three Dogs
The more dogs you have, the less private attention each dog will get from you. And that can be where problems start.
Generally speaking, the time it takes to care for a dog increases only incrementally when you add more pets.
As dogs are pack animals, a family of two or three dogs is generally better than one solitary animal. However, it’s important to consider if you can provide the needed individual attention to each dog.
Bottom line: If you love dogs, have the time, space, and money, getting a third dog is fine. The transition from two to three dogs can be manageable if you are experienced with spending time with each dog and can handle the increased responsibilities.