Here's a question I haven't seen and didn't really know the correct heading.

I am working a total of three dogs right now for various titles. One is just finishing a leg on a CD and then he's done. One is a three who is getting older but I'd like to trial him around. And the third is young, new BH, training for breed test and schH1.

Would I be pushing it by adding a puppy to the mix? I'd like to get another Malinois for real competition. My future schH1 isn't going to be a great competition dog and my current schH3 only has another 1-2 years left. Would it be bad to get another puppy? What is the recommended amount of dogs a newbie should take on? Is there a certain point in my dogs (schH1) training that is best for adding another dog (say, after the obedience or dumbbells is solid)?

Do you own all three of these dogs and are asking if adding a fourth dog to the pack is a good idea?

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What is the recommended amount of dogs a newbie should take on?

Bloody hell, I had enough trouble with two.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes I own all three of these dogs (plus another that is just a housedog at 8 yrs old). I have 5 kennel runs at the moment (3 concrete, two dirt) so space isn't the issue. Some points that were brought up to me is that I can only trial two at a time. But the way I figure is my schH3 will be retiring at about the age this puppy will be aging up for titles.

In my opinion, you'll never have one great dog if your spending time training others. whatever time is spent with one is cheating the other.

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In my opinion, you'll never have one great dog if your spending time training others. whatever time is spent with one is cheating the other.

I disagree from the standpoint that an 8 hr training session (IMO) is too long... hence, giving me a LOT of time to train my others... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Another thought to throw in is that I train 4x a week ... 3x obedience + 1x tracking. I'd love to train more since I have a regulation schH field right outside my door ... lights, closet full of equipment, the whole deal. My Rott doesn't have enough drive to train every single day...tried it...didn't work out so hot. The malinois could, but age is a factor. I also have a feel for how far my current dogs can go and I don't really have a dog that could take me to the level of competition I am interested in. So on one hand I'd love to make titles on my Rottie and I truly enjoy doing it but on the other hand, I also have the drive to want to go do championships and such and I don't have a dog to do that with. That being said, there's no guarantee that the puppy I acquire will make it. The other con to the situation, like Scott says, is if I overload with dogs to train I might not do anything with a single one of them. Further comments are welcome <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think it depends primarily on your level of experience as a trainer/handler and the level of competition you want to compete at.

My opinion is that an experienced, competant, national class handler can handle two, maybe three dogs at MOST at the national class level at one time (and that's doing it almost full time). A less experienced or competant handler? Obviously, less dogs at the same level.

If your just talking club level (or possibly regional level) stuff, then MAYBE a relative newcomer could handle more than one dog competitively. If your just talking about titling dogs, that's different. But to be competetive and get consistently high scores, you have to have some experience and competance, have the right dog, and train a LOT.

Change any of those variables (such as adding a second or third dog) without increases the amount of time you train, or your experience level, etc, and I think it becomes difficult.

Of course, that assumes your talking about be competitive with all two or three dogs. If your just talking about training the first two for the sake of training and then training the third as your "primary" competition dog, that makes it easier.

If you have 8 hours a day to spend doing a hobby, then yes, of course you could train more than one dog at a time.
The people I train with have to steal time from where ever we can to get enough time into one dog to compete.

I think Scott Z hit it. It also depends on the level that you are at, the level that you want, the helper/club/training situation that you have, ability of the dogs in question, etc.....

Husband does this as a hobby, not full time - he has a current competition dog that is 3.5 and a female that will possibly be his next dog. She just turned 2. But, he lets the dog grow up and focuses only on very little foundation work and focuses on the relationship with the dog and the other intangibles.