Your Dog November 2017 27— usually long weekends where I take two or
three dogs. My parents look after the rest and
I have theirs when they go away.”
Lisa: “I don’t usually go on holiday but take
the dogs to the seaside for the day instead.
However, I am about to go away for fi ve
days and have left my son Aaron in charge
with a long list.”Q. What’s the best thing about having so
many dogs?
Chris: “Their company. I love watching their
different characters and how they interact
with my son. Every dog in our household is
someone else’s cast-off and I can’t help but
wonder why. They give us so much pleasure.”
Michelle: “Seeing them so happy. I enjoy
watching them work and doing what they
love doing.”
Lisa: “Their companionship and
different personalities. There are so
many things I wouldn’t otherwise have
done without them.”Q. Are there any downsides?
Chris: “It’s frustrating if I’m on the phone
and someone comes to the door, and the
dogs start barking — but nothing that makes
me think: ‘They’ve got to go!’”
Michelle: “You will always be tied having
dogs. I plan my day around walking and
feeding times.”
Lisa: “Seven are a lot of work and can be
limiting if we have elderly visitors; I worry
about the dogs knocking them over.”Q. What do your friends, family, and
neighbours think about you having so
many dogs?
Chris: “They think we’re strange! I even have
mail delivered with just ‘Chris the dog man’ on
the envelope.”
Michelle: “New friends look at me as if I’ve
got two heads, but when they meet my
dogs, they see it works. I have given my
neighbours my mobile number in case of
problems, like barking.”
Lisa: “They think I’m crazy and ask how
I manage. I don’t get any complaints fromneighbours, but I always try to prevent the
dogs from barking for long periods or at
unsuitable hours.”Q. Do you have any tips for anyone
who might be thinking of adding to
their canine family?
Chris: “Avoid stressful situations — don’t buy
nice, expensive furniture and wonder why
it gets ruined. In winter, be prepared for
a kitchen that looks like Glastonbury; we mop
the fl oors rather than dry the dogs’ feet.”
Michelle: “If introducing a puppy, train him
separately. I ensure the newcomer learns the
rules, training, and structure outside the pack
fi rst. I always dissuade people from having two
puppies from the same litter — they tend to
bond with each other, rather than with you,
and, in my experience, are harder to train.”
Lisa: “Ensure they all have individual time with
you. If you can’t do this, then you have too
many dogs. Also, everyone in your household
should love all your dogs.”— usually long weekends where I take two or
three dogs. My parents look after the rest and
I have theirs when they go away.”
Lisa:“I don’t usually go on holiday but take
the dogs to the seaside for the day instead.
However, I am about to go away for fi ve
days and have left my son Aaron in charge
with a long list.”Lisa likes to take her
pack to the beach.Chris’s dogs have
their own sofa.Two of Lisa’s Pointers,
Elle and Salsa.Lisa’s Pointers are
road walked together.24-27 Multi Dog Ant+CS SWCC.indd 27 22/09/2017 15:12