How to cope with three dogs?

To cope with three dogs, try to maintain all your regular routines with the existing pup during the transition. If he’s used to a walk every morning at 6, walk him every morning at 6. Slowly make adjustments, for instance, take him with the new dog for your 6 am walk a couple times a week, then slowly build to every day. Your goal is no jarring changes in routine. When adding a new dog, you need to be prepared to tackle a host of health or behavior issues, that means emotionally and financially. Calculate how much you’re spending on your existing dog and double it, then pad that number, adding a third, take what you’re spending on your two dogs and double it. Three dogs equal more vet bills, more monthly meds, more food, more treats, more toys, more beds, more Nature’s Miracle, more, more, more. Walking them individually, or even sometimes in 2s, is better for them in the long run because you can focus all your attention on that one pup and work on his unique behavioral challenges. For each dog, they have different needs, for example, Emmett likes to meander, to stop and smell the roses, Cooper needs to MOVE, and Lucas takes a whole other set of strategies for a successful walk. It's more important that they get what they need to out of their walk, and it’s just extra exercise for you.

Luckily we've successfully taught one to stay in place while the other is trained, but I imagine with 4 that would be near impossible to manage well enough to be able to really focus on the one you're training- is it a case of just knowing how to utilise crates. Even minor issues must be exacerbated by having lots of dogs- one dog starts barking and sets them all off etc. How can you train so many. How do people do it. How are there not constant squabbles between the dogs. How are they not always competing for your attention- I only just manage having a hand each to pet both at the same time. Don't get me wrong I love both our girls, but they are a handful.