3's a Crowd

[Sally M]

Last week, we took our 3 dogs to the vet for their yearly checkups. For some unknown reason, my husband made an appointment for all 3 of them at the same time. Bad idea. He even thought he could handle all 3 dogs by himself.
Ah, nope!

Two humans and 3 dogs cannot fit comfortably into 1 car. So we had to take 2 cars to the vet. I took Penny because my car is newer and I didn't want dog hair all over it. With Lexi and Suzy in a car, their shedded hair just floats in the air. You can almost inhale it.

So we made to the vet (no small feat). We had to sit in a closed-in area of the waiting room because it was impossible to manage 3 dogs in the regular area with all the other pets there. Suzy started to howl in anticipation. I mean, really?

Suzy was the first to get checked out. She's fairly healthy, considering her age. The vet said her cough is just an "old age thing", kinda like COPD in humans. I didn't know Suzy smoked. Suzy is almost 100% deaf but there's no fix for that. She got her vaccinations which was quite embarrassing. Suzy has a very low pain tolerance. A vaccination for her is a shot that can be heard around the world. She screamed as only she can. We're like, "That's not our dog! Nope, we don't know who's carrying on! That's not the same dog that was howling earlier!" Lexi, our easy going one, went in and her checkup was uneventful. Then it was Penny's turn. Penny refused to go into the exam room. She sat on the floor, bared down and wouldn't budge. She acted like a stubborn mule. Again, embarrassing. We pretty much pulled Penny across the shiny smooth floor as she certainly wasn't going to walk.

After the dogs were done and while we were checking out, Penny jumped on an elderly lady. I only turned my head away for a second and there she was standing up on the woman. Luckily the lady was quite amused; almost honored that Penny had decided to share her affection. I apologized, although it really wasn't needed.

Whew, exams over! Oh dear...now we have to drive the dogs home.

Whose idea was it to take 3 dogs to the vet? Oh yeah, DH's. I threatened him to an inch of his life to NEVER book 3 dogs at the same time! I'm already dreading the trip to the kennel next week (we're going on vacation). Will it be 1 car or 2?

[Lynda Kamrath]

Luckily our vet is very close and it is no problem going back and forth.  If no medical problem, we can even walk as it is just down the road.  But you can't get one dog to wait in the car while the other gets to go in the office.  That is just too much to ask of them.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I think one person, one dog is the best way to go.  That definitely works best for me.  Even two dogs and two people can get confusing.  But walking two dogs is also a challenge.  They are just in competition with each other.  I found that taking each dog on their walk gives me a little more exercise and is most enjoyable for all of us.  Two people with two dogs is also a challenge.  We do try to do dog walks on bike tow leashes with two people, two bikes, and two dogs.  I do okay with that, but my husband is a bundle of nerves.  You just have to give it a try.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Giggled all the way through this. You were smart to put the non-shedder into your car!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Hilariously written! Thanks for posting! I took both boys to the vet last week. The month before Kona went alone with me. Owen stayed home in my daughter's room. She said he stuck his snout straight up in the air and howled the whole time we were gone. When I took them both I was expecting a nightmare! Mercifully they put us in a room pretty quickly. PHEW! Kona sits facing the corner when he is in the examining room. So sad. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL...I took the dogs together to the vet ONE TIME by myself. They are both so embarrassing. I can't imagine taking all three dogs. Oh my :)

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Very cute blog!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle's last appt happened to be on a day I had to babysit my 3 yr old grandson because my daughter was sick. It didn't help that Grandson wanted me to hold him the whole time. Paying the bill was a challenge, with the kid in my arms and Annabelle on the leash wanting to make some new friends. Then no one but me wanted to get back in the car. Never again. But if my husband was allowed appointment making privileges, he would for sure schedule 3 dogs for one appointment...if we had 3.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

LOL, I could totally see the commotion as I was reading your story. Yes, only DH can schedule three dogs at one time. I've got two, but fortunately, their exams and vaccinations are about 6 months apart, so even my DH can't make the mistake of scheduling them both at the same time.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Lol! Quite the story! As a "mother" of three, I am amused even though I shouldn't laugh at others pain. I do take my three to the vet together however, they are a mini's and so far they don't have a problem with the vet.