We have three dogs now, and they are all different, each distinctive in their own ways.

The most dogs I have ever had for any length of time was four dogs – Izzy, Lenore, Frieda and Rose. Sometimes Pearl, the beautiful gentle yellow Lab, was also there.

My favorite number of dogs is three, more than that is a pack, and dog packs, like people packs, get political.

Orson and Frieda were the most difficult dogs I have lived with. I was able to train Frieda to calm down and be easy around people, I could not get Orson to there, he had to be euthanized after biting three people, including a child.

I spent many thousands of dollars on Orson, he was seen at veterinary schools, by behaviorists, holistic caretakers and vets as well as neurological specialists. I learned many valuable lessons from Orson, he cast a long shadow over my life with dogs.

I will not again live with a dog that harms people, or spend thousands of dollars on caring for a dog’s difficulties. Frieda was a different story, working with her required patience and thoughtfulness, not money, and for all of her wildness, she never hurt a human being.

She did eat a lot of wild creatures.

Fate is Maria’s dog more than mine, the two are inseparable, they take wild walks in the woods in all-weather, hot and cold. Fate sits outside Maria’s studio for much of the day, and scratches at the door when she wants to come in, warm, up or sleep.

Fate is an intensely active dog, she loves being outside and has a wild animal streak in her. She can be difficult to control at times, but  never aggressive. She will steal the toys, treats and food of Red and Gus if she can, will slip open the front door to get to the sheep if she can, and every now and then, look for food to snatch if no one is looking.

She is a  ferociously independent dog – she would sleep outside if she could – but also needs attention and affection.

She and Gus can play for hours, chasing each other, stealing one another’s toys, wrestling.

Fate is a smart dog, is alert to us and misses nothing. Like Gus, she has boundless energy and is not still until dark. This kind of dog can drive some people crazy, but I am already crazy and we fit together.

I could not train her to herd the sheep in a rational way, but she lives to run in circles around them and sit with them in the pasture.

Red is in many ways the perfect dog for me. Calm, responsive, instantly obedient. He works beautifully with sheep, is an extraordinary herding dog. You can go anywhere with him and do anything with him. He is my shadow and spirit dog and companion His intuition in therapy work is profound.

Gus is Gus, a feisty, energetic, bright and affectionate creature. He is my first small dog, and I am happy with the experience. He loves Fate and shadows her and torments here, the same way Fate torments Red.

The trick is to treat him like a dog, not a furbaby.

In the house, Red is the calmest, Gus the most active, Fate the most restless. She is always by the door waiting to work, Gus is industrious, moving his toys from one and of the house to the other, foraging for food or crumbs, dozing next to me or Maria.

The three move together like a school of fish, sometimes it is like having one dog. They coexist well together, each eating by their own bowl, sleeping in their own favorite corner, often by the wood stove in the winter.

I love having these three dogs, each is different, yet they form a cohesive whole. Maria loves working with Fate in her studio, Fate knows to stay off of the quilts. Gus seems eternally happy and busy here, he loves sleeping in my study, or in Maria’s studio. He is easy-going adaptable, forgiving and accepting.

These dogs offer balance and connection for me, and for Maria. I think I have three special dogs, and almost everyone things their dogs are special, and in some ways, everyone is right.