I had three dogs for a few years of my life. There was a huge time and energy difference when adding the third.
The time and energy consumption wasn`t logical. 3 is 50% more than 2, right? But the difference felt like double to me.
Three separate feeding areas so they didn`t steal each other`s food, three poop/pee scorecards to track throughout the day, greater difficulty in finding a friend or neighbor to care for them when we were away (because there were three of them), $1600 minimum veterinary expenses per year for all three together (about $4000 in expenses near Geraldine`s death and about $3000 in expenses near Candy`s death, about $1200 near Tess`s death), had to use both hands instead of just one hand to walk them, but there was a whole lot of love there.
We have just one dog and one cat now. Our cat, George, showed up at our house and planted his flag fifteen years ago. But he`s more of a cohabitant than a companion.
Marlie is our Shih Tzu and I wouldn`t trade her for a billion dollars. She`s as serious about companionship as a pit bull is about filet mignon. Marlie doesn`t have any negative emotions other than anxiety when left alone. (So she doesn`t get left alone often. If we go to the movies or out to eat, we leave her with my mother, who lives 5.7 miles away. If I go somewhere I know dogs aren`t allowed, like the grocery store, and I know I can`t leave her in the van, I take her to my mother. I`ve taken Marlie into a Walmart before for one or two quick items and self-checkout. I figured I could get out of there faster than security could respond. I take her to most of my doctor`s appointments, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, meetings with real estate people, and car and motorcycle dealerships.)
Marlie will be three years old on December 15. I rue the day when I have to let her go. She`s my baby. Everyone she sees genuinely makes her day better, even people who don`t care for her, like my in-laws. She`s so happy all of the time. My son is (bonafide and professionally diagnosed by two doctors) ADHD and he`s been brutal to her at times (playing), and Marlie`s strongest reaction to him has been to run from him and get between my feet. When he comes home from school, Marlie loves on him like he`s returning from battle.
Here`s a video compilation Marlie`s breeder sent to me before she was eight weeks old:
512Detail- Ah, he looks great! Thanks for bringing this thread up again, I always enjoy seeing `em.
Ours sometimes walk into their shower as if they want a bath...maybe they`re trying to tell me something!
And that`s great that you can leave him there. We were luck to find a place that ours simply *LOVE* visiting, we sometimes take them just for a quick Hello so they can play with the owner`s dogs.
Got him back last June at the local shelter. Pretty much everybody passed him by because he was shy; couldn`t let him stay there. Been many ups and downs, but slowly getting there.
Turned my back one second and lo and behold snuck in my room... (cat wasn`t impressed)
512Detail- Ah, he looks great! Thanks for bringing this thread up again, I always enjoy seeing `em.
Ours sometimes walk into their shower as if they want a bath...maybe they`re trying to tell me something!
And that`s great that you can leave him there. We were luck to find a place that ours simply *LOVE* visiting, we sometimes take them just for a quick Hello so they can play with the owner`s dogs.
Wanna post a pic of the new puppy but can`t figure out how. This forum doesn`t play nice with copy and pasting anymore. Used to do that all the time and now I can never get it to work properly.