Keep a Third Dog?

[mschrisgo2]

Eleven days ago I got a dog back that I helped place 6 months ago. At that time, she was on the slender side, and could have been fine gaining a pound or 2. Now she weighs a TON- no kidding, I can hardly pick her up, much less carry her. She probably weighs 32 lbs, and should be between 18-20 lbs. She is a pretty red and white parti cocker spaniel. They gave her up, because they really didn't like her, and because they thought she was peeing on the floor- no, it was the 17.5 yr old chi mix, poor guy... But their 3rd dog was bullying her, she hid under furniture if she was out- but mostly she was kept in a crate, like, 24/7. And fed 3 cups of white rice a day. She was neglected emotionally and physically.

She has fit right in with my 2 cockers, my boy taught her puppy play, and they tumble a few times a day. She plays with toys, races around the yard with my 2, and is slowly regaining her confidence and spunk. They can all be found lounging on the floor together. She sleeps back to back with my girl beside my bed at night. She also had a bad leg/hip/foot? too long nails? that is almost resolved, she only limps occasionally, rather than continually. Initially she lost a bit of puffiness, but no weight changes since.

I have a vet appt for her next week. We'll do blood work to see if there's a medical reason for the weight gain. But I expect not, and she will get put on a very low calorie diet.

She is an easy keeper. She doesn't look for anything from me and enjoys the other dogs' company. Several of my friends have commented "How nice! you should keep her." Six months ago I had my pick of 18 gorgeous retired show cockers, of which she is one, and decided not to keep any of them. I have 2 young dogs, just 1 and almost 4. Vet care is expensive, and I didn't want to plan for expenses for 3.... I could probably find her another home, but she's already been moved 3 times in 6 months, I don't know if she would be ok another time. I just really don't know what to do. Ideas, anyone?

[iris lilies]

Well, three makes a pack, that number is very different than two. They form alliances. Is she the only female?

you could keep her a good long time to find truly the right home and get her weight under control. Poor little doggie. Why isnt her breeder placing her?

[Teacher Terry]

I would keep her. We always have between 3-4 dogs.

[mschrisgo2]

Yes, 3 makes a pack. So I don't have pets anymore, I have a pack of dogs, 2 girls and one boy. I much prefer my pets.

Her breeder has dementia, and she wasn't able to take care of them anymore, which was why all of them got placed.
I like the idea of keeping her long enough to get her weight down.

[iris lilies]

In my breed, bulldogs, we really dislike placing females together. It seems that eventually they want to kill each other even when spayed. But a bunch of boys will live together as easy going bros. Go figure.

[Teacher Terry]

I think it’s traumatic every time a dog has a new home.

[iris lilies]

I think it’s traumatic every time a dog has a new home.
Yes, no one wants to bounce them around, thats for sure. Sometimes it cant be helped.

[Tenngal]

We've had 2 female pugs for years. They get along fine. One is a little bossy and the other one does not really care.

[JaneV2.0]

Congratulations on your new family--er, pack--member!

[Teacher Terry]

We have Maltese and a husky shepherd mix. A mix of genders and it’s never been a issue. Even when we had 4 females and 2 males. Although we are reducing our numbers mainly due to the cost of vet bills and medications. At one point we were spending 400/month just on medications.

[razz]

Where is the emoji of shock when one needs it? $400/mth!!!!


We have Maltese and a husky shepherd mix. A mix of genders and it’s never been a issue. Even when we had 4 females and 2 males. Although we are reducing our numbers mainly due to the cost of vet bills and medications. At one point we were spending 400/month just on medications.

[Teacher Terry]

Right now I spend 150/month on the 2 generic medications the big guy takes. The 2 little Maltese that have since passed were both on 3 different medications 3x’s/day.

[iris lilies]

We've had 2 female pugs for years. They get along fine. One is a little bossy and the other one does not really care.
Pugs!
I have been looking at Pug rescue sites. I miss having a small dog
I can pick up and carry around. Our (nice) Frenchie was our travel dog, she was well behaved in hotels. As much as I love my big goofy bulldog, and I DO adore him! He is no,travel,dog. He barks in hotels when crated.

We will not do more Fremchie since I am burned out of them, they be crazy. But a pug! That may be the ticket.

[iris lilies]

Her breeder has dementia, and she wasn't able to take care of them anymore....

we had a similar situation and took in 6 French bulldogs from elderly breeders on one day. That was an adventure i will tell you.

[Teacher Terry]

All of our Maltese have traveled well. I also fly with them. My 5lb one I would carry in a sling and still have both hands free.

[Teacher Terry]

IL, did you keep all the dogs or adopt them out?

[iris lilies]

IL, did you keep all the dogs or adopt them out?

We kept the two oldest dogs, ages 10 and 12 at the time. They were a bonded pair, mother and daughter. I thought “how long can these dogs live anyway? We will just keep them until they expire, should not be long“.

hahahah

hahahah....Nope!

the eldest outlived the entire pack and died at age 16. She was sweet, but lord were they yappy. And her little daughter who was supposedly “bonded “ to her got crankier and crankier as she aged and finally could not get along with any dogs, even her mother. Had to keep all of them separate, 3 female Franchies, fights every day if not separated.

Of the Six Pack we gave three away to dog people who we kinda-sorta knew thru the dog world grapevine. The pretty one inthe group died fairly soon of a heart attack.

We gave one away to a veterinarian involved in Frenchie rescue.. She seemed very sick to us, so who knows how long she lived.

All of these dogs died before our two elderly ones. Frenchies are crazy popular right now and
I would not touch them with a ten foot pole. The dogs we had were bred by
Herschal Cox (well known breeder of blonde French bulldogs) well before the Frenchie craze invaded America, and they were all .champions. I will say that if this is the best the breed delivers, ah, no thanks. They are yappy, not-bright, bossy, and poop eating. No doubt they are better as individual pets. “Our” dog, related to the six pack, was actually a lovely little,
dog on her own although quite bossy.

[Teacher Terry]

Your story reminds me what I said to my husband 4 years ago. Noki is 9 how long can he live? He is now 13 and today is having surgery for a tumor on his dew claw. We have to remove it because it is growing at record speed. His blood work is excellent and I have his hip pain well controlled on 2 medications. Nice of you to take all those dogs in. The breed doesn’t sound like something I would want to deal with. The Maltese are needy but I don’t mind that. We rescued a Westin mix that had issues from abuse. She was a challenge at times. My plan now is to have just 1 or 2 Maltese. Cheaper and easier. I have to brush the big guy daily because he gets skin infections. He is also a 80 lb shedding machine but he is so sweet and loving. He puts up with all sorts of crap from the little ones.

[Tenngal]

they have been the most easygoing dogs.......really laid back.

[lmerullo]

We recently added a third to our herd. I tell hubby that he needed us. He was at a rescue, and too old and sickly to be desirable. He has a,heart murmur, a fatty tumor and no teeth. Oh, and they say severely overweight! And as ugly as sin - not that Schnauzers are attractive to anyone but a schnauzer lover.

I agree the female dog can be a real bitch! Our existing male is unpacked and the new guy doesn't inflame the female, just sort of ignores her. It's the best personality trait I've ever seen!

[Teacher Terry]

We have adopted a few like that Imerillo because we knew no one else would. That was nice of you. It is so sad when dogs are homeless in old age.