The Million Dollar Question

What are you looking for in a dog?
I like smart, energetic, athletic dogs. I like lean, medium-sized, short-coated dogs. I like handler-focused dogs that take well to direction of that energy. I’ll work hard to provide physical and mental exercise, but I also need dogs to be “good” in the house since I work at home in a job, where I have to make every opportunity happen. I also like having a dog that is affectionate and can easily go places with me. (Past blog post on what I want in my next dog)

What kind of dogs have you had in the past?
A Dalmatian, a small Lab-mix, our current Lab-Greyhound mix (Ginko), and our current Border Collie (Lilly). Always two at a time. Two has always seemed like the perfect number. One for each of us. Plus, it’s generally what I can handle in the house, what I can afford to feed, what I can afford to provide top-notch medical care for.

Why is a one-on-one relationship important to you?
I’m a very loyal, monogamous-minded person. My fear is that having more than one dog each means the dogs won’t be as bonded to us as we’d like … or that I won’t be able to give my all to any of them or all of them. The bond I have with Lilly, in particular, is VERY important to me. I worry she would feel slighted if some of my attention went to another dog.

Why do you want a third dog?
We don’t.

You realize Katie doesn’t fit your criteria considering she’s a big, long-coated, breed that isn’t known for being handler-focused or easily trained.
I do.

Can you afford a third dog?
That’s a good question. We could probably make it work financially, but in these tough economic times, it’s a concern for sure. We’d have to buy a bunch of stuff for her. I’ve made a list.

There are also logistical concerns like transitioning her from a raw diet, finding a crate that works in the house and the car, and figuring out a way to evacuate all three dogs in an emergency since only 2 crates fit in my car.

So, why are you even considering bringing Katie home?
Because she’s incredibly sweet, adores us, and deserves a good home. She’s great with Lilly, and I believe can really help Lilly learn some valuable things. The thought of losing her from Lilly’s life is terrible to me. I think she’s already helped a lot. The best option would be for her to stay in her current home, but spend time with us several times a week, but that isn’t on the table.

This sounds like a head/heart problem.
It is. Common sense says this is NOT a good idea because it goes against so many of our longstanding household rules/agreements, but we want to help Katie. Our hearts say, “DO THIS!” Our heads warn, “Holy crap!”

Every morning, I wake up excited to see how the visit goes. Every night, I go to bed worrying about the reality of the decision, after having spend several hours with all three dogs. Plus, it’s becoming quite a distraction, even during the workday, and I simply cannot keep that up much longer without repercussions.

I’m a very decisive person. Typically, my heart and my head agree. So, this is hard for me.