raising 3 different dogs

Question
QUESTION: Dear Expert,

My Boyfriend and i had been talking recently how much we want 3 different dogs... they are 1) A Doberman Pinscher
2)An American Pit Bull 3) A Catahoula Leopard...
although we are looking forward to having and also getting these three dogs... my only concern is how aggressive their instincts all are.. and how that will affect them being raised together..
I have read that if you are going to get dogs that have that sort of instinct then you should raise them together.. is this true?  Can these 3 different dogs be raised together...
Will we have to get them all at the same time?
or Could we just keep adding to the "pot"?  as one started to grow up we could get the second and so on...
if you know what i mean...

ANSWER: Frankly, this sounds like a really toxic mix to me. Of course, everything depends on the individual dogs and their temperaments.

From a Catahoula website: Catahoula Leopards are extremely agile and athletic, territorial, protective of "their property". They are more primitive psychologically than most breeds and need consistent obedience reinforcement. The owner must understand the Alpha concept and stay in control at all times, but still be loving to the dog. Very loyal, loving, intelligent and independent... they really think for themselves.

Are you and your boyfriend that type of dog owner? Not too many are.

And from an APBT website: Socialize very thoroughly when young to combat aggressive tendencies and be sure to keep the dog under control when other dogs are present.

The whole idea just sounds like a recipe for disaster. And since you and your boyfriend are just that... what happens with these dogs if you break up?

Karen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: dear karen...
i totally and completely understand where you are coming from..about the "what if you break up"?
well the thing about that is that..  he just doesnt have the money for a ring... but we are just thinking about when we are already married and have a big place... for the dogs... so getting a catahoula with the mix of the other two is out of the question? is that what you are saying?
if so then what about having the other 2  
the american pitt bull, and the doberman pinscher..?
if we did have all 3 would they literally kill each other...

and yes we are the type of people that will give them enough love and play with them... we spoil our dogs at our parents houses now...
but anyways we would need them to grow up together right?

i dont mean to seem like i am asking the same question over and over.. i guess i just need more insight to everything....

THANKS AGAIN
Bri

Answer
As I said before, this really depends on the individual dogs; it certainly isn't anything I would attempt. I get enough fighting among the 15-20 lb. schnauzers I have and certainly wouldn't want to attempt a mix of those temperaments you are considering. Frankly, since you admit to "spoiling your dogs at your parents' house", I don't think you are ready to undertake such high-powered dogs either as they require a firm hand and a no-nonsense approach. Yes, in the wrong hands, they could easily kill each other... and might even in the right hands. This just seems like a really bad idea to me.

Karen