Those of you who have read my blog post about visiting dogs know that I have four dogs: Ralf, Kato, Allie and Alfred.
2 years ago we only had Ralf. Over the next year, however, we expanded the pack, so we ended up with four dogs. During the first long time with four dogs, I was often met with many questions, and people who generally seemed incomprehensible. "Why have four dogs at all?" "Isn't it a lot of work to have four dogs?" and the like.
I never knew what the right answer was… because why four dogs when the plan was to only have one dog?
Looking back on it now, I can see that I could have answered it quite simply: because it feels right. We all know that feeling when something just feels right from the start, right? That's exactly how it felt with our group.
When questioned about the amount of work involved in having four dogs, I was always quick to respond that there was about four times as much work involved compared to having one dog.
I regret that answer now that I think about it. When we are at home and the dogs are just part of everyday life, needing to be fed or wanting attention, it feels exactly like having a dog. But when we go out for a walk on a leash, or when guests come over, it can suddenly feel like they take up a lot more space than "only" four times as much as a dog.
When you have a group as close-knit as ours, it can be difficult to take on challenges. When you get excited because guests are coming, they cheer each other on… suddenly they're all over the place and approachable.
When we meet another dog on the walk that Kato reacts to (Kato is a bit reactive to dogs and has been since we got him at 9 years old), he can quickly make the whole pack seem violent and reactive. In such situations, it is difficult to analyze and react to the individual dog - they therefore take up much more space than just four dogs. The energy levels are different, so exercise and general activation cannot be done in a whole pack, but must be shared. At the same time, there is a bit more economy in four dogs: four times the food, vet, equipment and fur care.
So to make my answer to life with four dogs a little shorter:
Four dogs are fantastic! The joy and benefit they get from each other is something that we can't give them in the same way. That's why we had no doubt that four dogs weren't one dog too many. BUT! And it's a big but: There's a lot of work to get a good pack that can be taken together. It requires training of the individual dog, of two together, three and later four.
If you're sitting out there considering dog number 2, 3, 4 or maybe 5, I can only recommend thinking it through carefully. It's absolutely fantastic, hard work that I really wouldn't be without.
A few tips before getting the extra dog(s):
Think it through carefully. Can your finances handle it? Are you ready for the extra hours of work? What is everyday life like in terms of space, time, etc.? Is there time/finance for fur care?
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and now independently.
I am the happy owner of no less than four beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred, Kato and Allie.
When four paws become sixteen
Those of you who have read my blog post about visiting dogs know that I have four dogs: Ralf, Kato, Allie and Alfred.
2 years ago we only had Ralf. Over the next year, however, we expanded the pack, so we ended up with four dogs. During the first long time with four dogs, I was often met with many questions, and people who generally seemed incomprehensible. "Why have four dogs at all?" "Isn't it a lot of work to have four dogs?" and the like.
I never knew what the right answer was… because why four dogs when the plan was to only have one dog?
Looking back on it now, I can see that I could have answered it quite simply: because it feels right. We all know that feeling when something just feels right from the start, right? That's exactly how it felt with our group.
When questioned about the amount of work involved in having four dogs, I was always quick to respond that there was about four times as much work involved compared to having one dog.
I regret that answer now that I think about it. When we are at home and the dogs are just part of everyday life, needing to be fed or wanting attention, it feels exactly like having a dog. But when we go out for a walk on a leash, or when guests come over, it can suddenly feel like they take up a lot more space than "only" four times as much as a dog.
When you have a group as close-knit as ours, it can be difficult to take on challenges. When you get excited because guests are coming, they cheer each other on… suddenly they're all over the place and approachable.
When we meet another dog on the walk that Kato reacts to (Kato is a bit reactive to dogs and has been since we got him at 9 years old), he can quickly make the whole pack seem violent and reactive. In such situations, it is difficult to analyze and react to the individual dog - they therefore take up much more space than just four dogs. The energy levels are different, so exercise and general activation cannot be done in a whole pack, but must be shared. At the same time, there is a bit more economy in four dogs: four times the food, vet, equipment and fur care.
So to make my answer to life with four dogs a little shorter:
Four dogs are fantastic! The joy and benefit they get from each other is something that we can't give them in the same way. That's why we had no doubt that four dogs weren't one dog too many. BUT! And it's a big but: There's a lot of work to get a good pack that can be taken together. It requires training of the individual dog, of two together, three and later four.
If you're sitting out there considering dog number 2, 3, 4 or maybe 5, I can only recommend thinking it through carefully. It's absolutely fantastic, hard work that I really wouldn't be without.
A few tips before getting the extra dog(s):
Think it through carefully. Can your finances handle it? Are you ready for the extra hours of work? What is everyday life like in terms of space, time, etc.? Is there time/finance for fur care?
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and now independently.
I am the happy owner of no less than four beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred, Kato and Allie.