When I was working (and living) at Clean Slate Animal Rescue, we had anywhere from ten to forty dogs living with us at any given time. Granted, those dogs weren't all in the same room at the same time, but I don't believe there were ever less than five dogs with us wherever we roamed. While I don't necessarily advise that everyone live with that many pups underfoot, my time at Clean Slate did teach me a great deal about how to maintain sanity (and a semblance of order) in a multi-dog home. Here are a few tips to keep your own home running smoothly, whether you have two dogs or (yikes!) twenty.
(1) Define your boundaries. Some people love dogs anywhere, all the time - on the bed, on the couch, under the table, nothing is off limits. Others prefer their pups off the furniture or out of the kitchen, and may get downright squeamish at excess dog hair. Either way is okay - as long as you know which you are, and convey that to your pooches. If you don't want your dogs on the couch, then they should NEVER be on the couch; they have no way of knowing when the sight of their muddy paws will send you into a tailspin or when you'll just shrug it off. So, to keep things simple, figure out early what's off limits. Be consistent, and don't feel badly if your best friend lets her dog trounce all over the leather sofa and you don't (or vice versa). You love your pup, or you wouldn't be reading this post... But we all deserve our space. Claim yours, be firm and consistent, and your pups will (eventually) respect that.
(2) Socialize your dogs! Unless you want to be that crazy lady (or guy) with all the dogs whose friends avoid them like the plague, you'll want pups who don't go wild every time someone comes to call. To prevent this from happening, expose your dogs to as many people as possible, as early and often as you can. Make a point of having people over, and let your dogs (and your guests) know what is expected of them. Start by teaching your dogs a firm sit-stay, and work on this everytime a visitor arrives. Reinforce with lots of yummy treats, but make sure to keep things lowkey to keep your pooch from picking up on any of your excitement or anxiety. Be mellow. Give treats and pets. Be consistent. You'll be amazed at how many people gravitate toward a balanced home with balanced pets, and your pups will love making all those new friends.
(3) Have at least one dog-friendly zone. If you'd rather not have your pups treading on your furniture and scratching on your favorite sheets and you have the space, create one room to use as a puppy playroom. Get creative with the space - paint it a funky color, make a doggie border, or just put up some of your favorite photos of your pooches. Buy or make a little puppy toy box, and have lots of chew toys and other treats available. If you don't want to crate your dogs, this is a great way to keep them safe and contained while you're away from home. Add a corner where you can comfortably hang out as well, and before long you'll catch yourself spending more time in your puppy playroom than your own living room!
Having multiple dogs doesn't have to mean an out-of-control world, for you or your pups. As with anything where dogs are concerned, just remember to define your boundaries and be consistent, and you and your pooches can happily co-exist for years to come!
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