A lot of great information here.

I guess the main question you need to ask yourself is: what is the worst case scenario for you, and how would you handle it if it happens?

For example, terriers can be hard, working-temperament dogs. She might mature into a bit of a bully and the other dogs might decide they want nothing to do with her. Worse, they could fight. Are you prepared to keep them separate and have to do everything twice (walks, outside time, training time?) if it comes to that?

If the answer is yes - then I'd say you're well prepared to take on the new little one!

It's great that you are considering a rescue in need of a home! and she is soo cute.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Are you prepared to keep them separate and have to do everything twice (walks, outside time, training time?) if it comes to that

The answer to this question is 'no'. I had to do that when my old guy was alive and I don't want to do it again.

This is why I looked to the board so these tough questions would be asked and I would have to be honest with myself.

The question still stands though - is 2 weeks enough time to figure out if this type of situation might arise.

I know that none of you can guarantee that if there is going to be fighting and/or distention it will happen within 2 weeks but it would sure be nice if you could.

Tension can happen right away - the dogs' personalities won't mesh; OR it can happen when the puppy matures (18-36 months) and decides to challenge the pack order; OR it can happen when one of your other dogs becomes old and/or incapacitated in some way and a younger dog tries to step in; OR it can happen (hopefully) that they will all love each other and get along great. Any of these scenarios can happen.

Many of these scenarios can be tempered with strong, consistent pack leadership and supervision.

It's impossible to say; you know your dogs best and how laid back and friendly they are with other dogs.

 Quote: cathi kemp

Leslie,

I'm still withholding information though - my other half doesn't want to do it. I'm working on him right now. I won't do it if he doesn't give in.

Thank you to everyone and I'll post if I get her.

In the past when I have had to "work on my husband" to get him on board with a situation/idea which I wanted but he really did not (and which would impact our lives significantly), more often than not, I regretted it.

If EVERYONE in your family is not ON BOARD with this decision, you will be dumed from day one & the dogs will be the ones to truly suffer from it.

Also, no matter what you do, there are sometimes dogs that just NEVER will get along. Many of us live or have lived with this scenario. Jockeying dogs so that some never come in contact with each other is a challenging undertaking. One mistake & you could have a dog fight. Also,I'm not sure if I would say that only 2 weeks is enough time for dogs to get comfortable with another dog joining their pack. In some cases it may be & in others it could take a month or more. Not sure that I would want to put a time limit on that process. Also, it is often not a good idea to have pups in with adult dogs except or if so, often only for very short supervised periods of time. Translation, you will still be doing many things 2 x for quite a while. Good luck with your decision.

 Quote: Cathi Kemp

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Are you prepared to keep them separate and have to do everything twice (walks, outside time, training time?) if it comes to that

The answer to this question is 'no'. I had to do that when my old guy was alive and I don't want to do it again.

This, for me, is enough that I don't think you should.

She's....four months right now? She'll interact differently with your dogs at this age than she will at 11 months, at 15 months, at....until she matures. I'm not expecting Neb's personality to mature until he is 2, 2.5 years old.

You just never now when they might stop getting along. If you're not prepared to have to do every thing twice I'm not sure if adopting a third is right for you.

My other thought - is one of your existing dogs female? If so, are you willing to handle a household with 2 female dogs?

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

are you willing to handle a household with 2 female dogs?

Please tell me more about a household with 2 female dogs. I don't think I've read much about that.

Bitches aren't called that for nothing. keeping same sex dogs means that you may(very likely) have to crate and rotate, whether its temporary, or permanent.
there are 3 males in our house right now, 2 intact, 2 bully breeds. (my bully is neutered, little dog isn't).
we crate and rotate the bullies, they can be out as long as my boyfriends dog doesn't try to hump mine(obviously)-they ignore each other, until they don't. that's how most multi-dog homes are(as far as "problems" go). you need to be prepared for the worst, while hoping for the best.

I have done the multi-dog thing.
i have found that if i have to even worry about the "until they don't" part, im seperating anyway. ours can walk together, be crated near each other, do OB parallel and facing each other. but a fight isn't worth it. the little can be out with mine as much as i will let him, no problems there.

i guess what i am rambling about is, it could work VERY well. but if it doesn't, it might not show withing 2 weeks. it might not show for another year. and at that point, you have to decide if you are going to crate and rotate, or home the dog.

for me, i always recommend that people keep the crate option very handy. no one wants to use it, but if you want that 3rd dog, and you aren't prepared in advance to do it because you didn't want to, you will regret it.

I've currently got a 4 bitch/2 dog household. The only thing I'll point out that is a little different with girls than my boys is that possession is the name of the game

What's mine is mine. What's yours is mine. If I had it 10 minutes ago it's mine. If I thought I had it but I really never did it's also mine. If I poke and pester long enough it will be mine.

You would think this only applies to food, toys, etc. This also in a really possessive bitch can mean attention, space, sleep spots, or my personal fave putting one of the boys on a leash. I've got one that looks for stuff to claim like socks, a throw blanket, and couch cushions.

When you happen to match two bitches that are willing to go to blows over searched out stuff to possess it can be a nightmare for the home without clear boundaries and in some cases barriers.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

What's mine is mine. What's yours is mine. If I had it 10 minutes ago it's mine. If I thought I had it but I really never did it's also mine.

This sounds just like me!

Knocking on wood as I type this - I don't have the types of issues right now that are described in the last 2 posts. I definitely understand that the dynamic can change at anytime between the 2 existing dogs and/or immediately if/when I bring the 3rd one in.

I agree with all of you that I simply have to be prepared to deal with whatever happens. It's easy to convince myself right now that I will do so because she's a cute little puppy that I feel I am able to provide a nice quality of life to. But, I cannot feel right now what I will feel when the excitement and newness wears off and problems start. I know that I have to make a committment right now and stick to it.