Dogs are affectionate and loyal, which is why they are the perfect household companion.
For some people, owning a single dog is not enough, such that they go on and care for more dogs as long as they can.
If you are one of those who can’t contain your love for dogs that you eventually find yourself with a couple or more furry friends in your home, below are some of the things that you need to remember when taking care of multiple dog breeds.
Consider the size of your space
One of the first things that you need to consider in taking care of multiple dog breeds is the size of your space. A single dog will occupy a certain portion of your home and the more dogs that you have, the more space they are likely to take up.
It also follows that you will have more cleaning up to do with more dogs in the house, particularly when they shed dog hair. In this case, the dog lovers behind Kim’s Pet World suggest that you get a special pet hair vacuum to ensure that you are on top of all the shed hair in your house with all the breeds that you are caring for.
This is different from a normal vacuum because these are designed specifically for hair removal. Also, keep in mind that you need to spread out multiple dog beds and just like siblings, they may need timeouts in separate rooms.
Think about your budget
Caring for a single dog will cost you with a certain sum because you need to pay for its food and other needs such as vitamins, treats, toys, and vet visits.
This cost will of course double when you care for another dog and multiply depending on the number of dogs that you will be taking in. For this reason, you must have ample funds allocated for the care of your pets to ensure that you can provide for their needs.
Otherwise, it is a good idea to stick with a single furry friend for the time being or until such time that your budget already allows you to add more members to your family.
Learn time management
The more dogs that you care for, the more fun times you will certainly have. However, this also entails the need for you to manage your time wisely to ensure that you can allot the proper attention for each of your dogs. Each of them will surely crave for quality time and bonding with you.
Alongside this, you also need to set a specific time to train each of your dogs too. In case you need to go on a trip without your pets make sure to entrust them with a sitter who is willing to fill in your responsibilities for the time being such as walking your dogs or picking up after them.
Consult with a vet
When taking care of a furry friend, you must take them to regular visits with your vet, much more so when you are caring for multiple breeds.
Better yet, before you go ahead and get more dogs, discuss with your vet about the possible challenges that you may face which include multiple vaccinations, as well as flea or tick treatments when necessary.
Nevertheless, your vet may also provide you with a discount for each visit if you bring all of your dogs at once. You can even consider pet insurance to ensure that the medical emergency expenses of your dogs are covered.
On socialization and training:
● Walking
Like in caring for a single dog, you also need to remember introducing all your dogs to social situations, making it clear to them that other dogs are not necessarily a threat. For instance, you can introduce a new dog to another dog in your family by taking them for a walk.
Try to go for two dogs at a time wherein they are loosely leashed. Ask for another person to walk with you especially during this getting to know stage so that one person walks one dog. Soon enough, both dogs will be more comfortable in each other’s company, allowing you to single-handedly walk them together.
● Training
As much as possible, train your dogs separately because attempting to train them all at the same time can only pave the way for unnecessary stress. This includes giving them separate food dishes to prevent aggression or feeding them separately.
You can also consider crate training, which is often done in conjunction with potty training your furry friend. It is even a better idea to ensure that your current pets are already trained before getting a new dog in addition to your family.
● Assert authority
In taking care of multiple dog breeds, it is also important to assert your authority, making it clear that you are in charge and on top of the hierarchy. None of your dogs should have the idea that they are more powerful than you, their owner. If you don’t establish this as soon as possible, your dogs may fight with each other to achieve supremacy in your pack.
● Be on the lookout for warning signs
With multiple dogs in your household, you can expect a fair amount of play between them. However, you need to be more observant and be on the lookout for warning signs that rough play is already replaced by real aggression.
This will allow you to step in promptly as necessary and ensure the safety of each of your dogs.
To wrap things up, it is sure fun to have several dogs in your home but it can be quite challenging as well. You have to think about your space and your budget to ensure that you can provide the needs of your dogs.
Aside from this, you also need to learn how to manage your time to ensure that you give proper care and attention to each of your dogs. Rest assured that in the end, all your efforts in taking care of your dogs will all be worth it.
