Is it wise to add more dogs to my already large dog family?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Great question. I think this depends on how well they all get along. If you screen the new dog properly and do a meet and greet, and they all end up being great companions, I think it's a great idea and shows you are thinking ahead. A death of a companion can be very devastating not only for humans but for the other pets in the house. Having another pet around would hopefully distract from and provide some relief when one of your other dogs passes. I think if you are ready for another dog and are willing to take on the financial aspect of it, it's a great idea. Best of luck with you and I hope you have many good years left with all of them.

Hi, you have quite a collection of animals! I would not advise a puppy because your animals are older and a puppy can be too much stress for them. A puppy can seem to tolerate older animals then reach sexual maturity and challenge the older animals of the house. I suggest going to your local shelter and bringing your dogs to meet some possible candidates. i suggest any age over 2-3 and spayed or neutered already. Try some visits and see how the new dog will react to the animals you have. Also have the shelter to a cat test to make sure the new dog won't chase them. There are plenty of adult dogs who need homes with excellent temperaments. Good luck, i hope this helps!.

It sounds like you definitely have your hands full! :) Deciding how many dogs you want to have (and are able to care for) at one time is a very personal decision - so only you can determine if this is a good choice for you and your family. But, I can tell you that it would be **extremely** difficult to do a good job of training six puppies at once - one puppy is plenty for most owners! I would never consider keeping an entire litter of pups personally, because I know there is no way that I could give this many puppies enough personal, one-on-one time and attention to help them thrive. If you feel this way also, I would suggest talking to your fiance about finding homes for some of the puppies sooner rather than later, as they will only become more difficult to place as they get older - especially if they are poorly socialized and untrained.

Thank you for using PetCoach they can be very difficult to train even 32 puppies at a time, three puppies and a special-needs puppy will require an extreme amount of time and discipline on your part. It is not impossible, but will take a lot of work. Deaf dogs require very specific training for their safety and the safety of people who interact with them. This website can give you some more info. http://www.deafdogs.org/training/ Also remember expenses for food and veterinary care will be doubled or tripled depending on the number of pets you keep. Siblings will meet with each other if not fixed or meet back with their parents if everyone remains in tact. So it is strongly advised to spay and neuter related dogs. Even if fixed having more than two dogs can result in territorial or resource fighting. I would strongly recommend consulting with a trainer or behaviorist before keeping 3 pups to get a better idea of what you need to expect. These websites may give you some more resources as well. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&sterm=Training%20puppies&species=All This is a great book. https://drsophiayin.com/product/perfect-puppy-in-7-days-how-to-start-your-puppy-off-right/ https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/a_foolproof_potty-training_plan/

This is not an easy question at all and would depend on a vaste variety of factors indeed. If I may, I would recommend this simple test sponsored by the american kennel club about having a new dog (or a dog for the first time). https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/quizzes/are-you-ready-to-get-a-dog/ Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

With proper supervision and enough energy, a new dog can certainly be a welcome addition to a family with a baby. However, this decision varies widely from family to family since a new dog will require a lot of training, attention, exercise, and supervision. There is never a guarantee that it is safe having a dog around a baby. Dogs and babies or children should never be left alone together without direct adult supervision. That said, many dogs and babies live together safely and successfully. Babies and young children must be taught not to pull on dogs’ fur or tails, take toys or bones from them, or interfere with their food or treats. This could result in pain or resource guarding, which can lead to aggression in even the most tolerant of dogs. If you are rescuing an adult dog, be sure that the dog’s temperament has been evaluated around babies and children. Should you choose to adopt a puppy, be aware that the puppy will have more energy and a bit less awareness than an adult dog and could accidentally jump on a baby or cause accidental injuries. Essentially, this is not a straightforward decision and you must consider your entire family dynamic and ability to factor in this additional responsibility.

I am sorry to hear you lost a dog recently. Whether to get a puppy or an adult will depend on your lifestyle/schedule and the personality of your other dogs. Puppies require much more frequent care than adult dogs, so if you are gone for long periods of time this can be problematic. Puppies can also be pestering to older/senior dogs, so if your other dogs are older or have some mobility issues they may be less tolerant of a puppy jumping on them/biting them. The plus side to having a puppy is you have first hand opportunity in all his training. If your schedule doesn't work well with a puppy then I would consider fostering an adult dog from a reputable rescue on a trial basis to see how it goes, and if it seems a good fit you can adopt the dog!