Kim good for you for doing a lot of soul searching and I know it was not an easy decision. I have one dog and have been overwhelmed at times, I can't imagine 3.

As usual, Ms. Sutherland is right on the mark.

One dog, two dogs, three dogs, four dogs... Lots of work, time, patience, responsibility... And $.

Taking on a second dog - eyes very wide open. A third dog - eyes very, very wide open with lots of coffee.. A fourth - well, you gotta have a clue or be crazy.

I too enjoy multiple dogs around but it comes at a price. In my case, four dogs left to their own devices would in very short order make this home a house. And I'm very, very lucky they seem to tolerate each other, and defer to my whims.

An important aspect of any multiple dog situation is leadership. Without trying to create another thread, a reality when discussing multiple dogs, is the absolute need to the the leader. I do not tolerate inter-dog negative attitudes. As I noted, four dogs have their individual attitudes but just as in a pack, they must subordinate their unwanted behaviors to the collective pack behavior. And that takes work, and time, and patience, and consistency, and an absolute inclination to be the leader of the band... I think.

Sorry. I do carry on so. Anyway...

Ms. Sutherland's comments are always prescient.

Kimberley, I also have a dog that grabs my other dog's collar. Last month just as I was drifting off to sleep I heard one of my dogs make a gagging noise. When I got up to check on the dogs I was horrified to see the collar biter had his lower jaw caught in the collar of the other dog. In an effort to get loose he had twisted the collar around his jaw and was literally choking the life from the other dog. Luckily I was able to cut the collar and free the dogs. Had I not been home or gotten up when I heard the choking noise one of my dogs would have died of collar strangulation....a term I had never heard of. Please research collar strangulation and consider putting break-away collars on your dogs. All the other suggestions are valid and will likely work but all it takes is a minute for the collar grabber to literally kill the other dog. Be on the safe side and purchase a breakaway. Thanks. Ladena