Multi Dog Homes- Enrichment

I've talked about how to manage multiple dog households before, but that was primarily aimed at how to manage dog-to-dog interactions. I want to tackle a different aspect of the multi dog household this time- managing each individual dog's needs. I was asked to write this piece by a friend, but it's honestly been much on my mind as I look at my litter plans. While we don't intend to keep many dogs long term this year, we are taking on growing them out as well as health testing and breeding them.

Our oldest dogs are 11 (Ash), 9 (Truman), 8 (Anubi), and 7 (Bayek and later this year Amidi). Some of those dogs still need regular work, but even dogs that need a frequent, consistent jobs like Anubi and Bayek who are Service Dogs, are starting to slow down at their ages. They may be more content to spend the day at home rather than insisting they come along.

That is helpful in managing each dog's needs - a spread of ages. Now, you can manage multiple dogs of similar ages but it's a lot harder. Quixote is with Theresa during week, while Drama is in Seattle most weeks- they're littermates so this helps us achieve separation. Epiphany comes to work or out with me often for Service Dog work, again, a separation to make sure she gets individual time.

Not every dog needs the same amount of activity. Koraidon likes to be included, loves to hike, is increasingly confident in the sports he's learning, but he's happy to hang out at home more often than Epiphany or Drama or Birdie. For all that she's reasonably high energy and enjoys training, Birdie is content for a long time as long as she gets to curl up on the couch on top of me.

I think in general, there is a trend in Dogbook/social media toward exciting, fancy food enrichment, the coolest puzzle toys, snuffle mats. There's nothing wrong with those, they can be super beneficial. However, filling them requires both time and money (for supplies, etc). I find for those who have quite a few dogs, that the enrichment of your time spent with them if often what they value above all else. That doesn't have to mean that you do twenty minute training sessions with every dog, though there are days I find the time to do that. It could be that you rotate through who comes to the coffee shop with you. Or who just comes for a drive while you run errands. There are some dogs that find that more fulfilling that an agility class, and that's okay.

Learn your dogs. You'll know which one really does need that twenty (or thirty or fifty minute training session). You'll know which one wants to come while you take a walk and contemplate life.

Seven of our dogs at lure coursing

The other tip I have is also try to find group activities where many, most, or all of my dogs can participate. There's a reason that I prioritize racing as much as I do - all my dogs get to play and all my dogs love it. We lure course because most of my dogs enjoy the sport. Hiking is something I can do with minimal money (gas) and with all the dogs - add in that it allows all of us to decompress and relax and it's a favorite activity for everyone.

As for our own dogs-

Ash's activities are mostly racing, occasional lure coursing, and hiking these days and he's perfectly happy with that.

Truman is like Ash, let him run hard and chase the bunny and he's a happy dog. He loves to show with his Junior too, though he's slowing down some there.

Anubi will forever need a job. At eight, he's finally slowing down and will let the younger dogs go first, instead of pushing his way forward. He still works very regularly as a Service Dog and as my demo dog. He's still my go-to neutral dog and he hasn't shown a single sign he wants to step out of that role any time soon, which is good because no one else is ready yet. He still needs to race and lure course and hike. He still wants to play in rally and scent work. But all of this is lessened, which allows us to focus on the younger dogs.

Bayek like Anubi is still a Service Dog, but he doesn't need to go with quite as many days. He still wants to play scentwork and racing and lure coursing. When I've brought him to rally class he's been impressively enthusiastic.

Amidi is who I've seen the biggest change in. Last year she still needed flyball and lure coursing. This year she's content to sit those out. But she would never forgive me if I went to tracking class without runnng her on a track and she finished a scent work title earlier this year.

Amalu is the best girl. She's so undemanding and we make a point in making sure she gets what she enjoys, even when she's not pushy about it. She enjoys tracking and scentwork. She loves racing. More than anything she loves hiking and she's my go-to dog to take out somewhere quiet in the woods. I would love to get her back into agility though and that is a plan for later this fall.

Koraidon loves to show - more than any of my dogs. He's a fun show dog and he is so so good for his Junior. He's discovered a passion for racing and lure coursing. But he's a very easy, very good, unassuming dog.

Birdie tags along to classes fairly often, we've done a tone of work with manners in public. She can do assessment work though it's not her favorite. She will try absolutely everything - largely, she wants to be where we are and can work as little or as much as we need. She loves her Junior though. She'll show for many people but she shows best for the Junior she chose.

Quixote needs a job - he's very like a young Anubi. He loves his Service Dog work and has taken on a ton more of it. He loves Nosework and racing and lure coursing and he is good and capable and consistent in everything he tries. But like his father, he wants a job that helps his humans, he wants to be with his humans and that's very enriching for him.

Drama needs to run. She needs it with every fiber of her being. It doesn't matter which discipline, she wants to learn it and excel. That being said, she loves to learn. it doesn't matter what she's learning, she will throw herself into it.

Epiphany is very similar to her father - she wants to be with her humans, she wants to help. She's learning assessment work eagerly and well, which is something I need because none of the other dogs wants to fill that role. She enjoys running and sports, but what she wants is to be my Service Dog.

There's so many different ways that we can enrich dogs that fit into our lives. So many times, I bring dogs along on activities I've already planned, so I can fit in time for them without having to completely alter my life. When I train, I often do it with all my dogs or throughout daily life - waiting at the crate or door, pack walks, tether and place work.

Too long; didn't read? Find activities that fit into your lifestyle that suit each individual dog. Let them find their niche and support them.

Asouf loved car rides while I ran errands - this was a couple weeks before he passed.