Whats Your Limit On The Number Of Dogs

[Faolmor]

I could have up to 6, but I enjoy 2 - 3 much more.

[dandybrush]

i'd do no more than 2 also as i have 2 its alot of work and i really think im more a 1 dog person. that said i would be devastated to lose either of them

[indigirl]

I currently have 3 larger dogs (boxer, golden, bullmastiff cross), 1 medium dog (Bassett fauve) and 6 Italian greyhounds. I only have this many IGs because I show/breed and I néed to keep my own stud dogs due to where I live. My goal is to keep my iggy numbers at around 6.

Im thinking just 2 bigger dogs would probably be my ideal, plus the Iggies.

When I eventually stop breeding my IGs the number I have will reduce over time to around 2 or 3. So I will always have at least 4 dogs total I imagine.

ETA IGs are a very easy pack to manage, they are a breed that does well in groups. I can run entire males together with entire females with no problems.

Edited September 9, 2012 by indigirl

[Leema]

I have 3 permanents, and normally 1 foster dog as well.

My limit is 7, just because it seems like a good number. :laugh: 7 does not include fosters or litters of puppies, though.

Realistically, I will run into trouble if I have more than 4 dogs in my current suburban block.

[cowanbree]

I have 10, 9 shelties and 1 aussie, I normally own 15ish. I should perhaps have less but as a breeder it is really difficult to be successful in the show ring and keep your numbers down without rehoming. I love owning numbers, many generations of the same family and struggle to rehome my oldies.

[SparkyTansy]

I currently have 4, but I think that I'd prefer 2-3 more. I am also a breeder that struggles to rehome so most of my breeding plans are on hold until my numbers drop.

We are aiming for a bigger property in 4-5 years time so hopefully so sort of planning around that goal in terms of breeding plans and numbers. I think on a bigger property with room to run and less pressure to walk at parks etc it'll be more realistic to have higher numbers.

[Guest Ams]

Doing rescue I've had up to 22 in care. I'd love to keep the numbers at 10 (4 of mine and 6 rescues). I keep saying that but then I get suckered in (this time by the 15yr old bitch and 3 puppies). So atm I have12 dogs and 3 puppies with my Mastiff arriving on Friday.

Eventually I will have to go back to being normal and having 4 dogs. I do look forward to that but atm I have a little more to give the rescue dogs.

[~*Shell*~]

I have 2 at the moment and for now, that's my limit. When Veikko is a little older, I'll think about a third. When Z retires from sports (probably in the next 18 months or so), then I would be able to deal with a fourth but I don't think it will happen. I'm not really interested in a fourth and I would like their ages to be better spaced than having three dogs under 3 years. I'd love another sibe but again, with Veikko's training. I'd like an even split so if i was to ever have 4 dogs, i think it would be two rescue sibes and two lappies :)

[sausy.dog]

2 is my max solo but if i was in a relationship i'd consider more!

What's a relationship got to do with it? I'm single, have two greyhounds, would love a few more but I rent so can't have anymore as it's hard enough to rent with two dogs.

Because you'd have the extra person to share the costs and work of any extra dogs. 2 is my max for myself as a singular, but if I were in a couple or married then I would happily entertain the idea of more dogs as it would be more practical between 2 people to have 2 or more dogs.

Well I hope you don't end up with someone like my OH then. Although he likes our dogs he doesn't lift a finger to help out. :)

I currently have 3 dogs, that is enough for us. If we ever get organised and build a house on our block we may get another one.

[Blackdogs]

I feel like I have my hands full wih two. I fantasise about having more, but I don't think it's realistic. Both of mine are high drive dogs, I live in a suburban area and I work full time. Between the two and my cat the vet bills are a killer.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

We have 7, we're on acreage. We keep a tight rein on numbers to the extent that we don't do foster failures (yes I know I just tempted the fates, but I've got strong views about it for us). Also when our oldies pass on, they won't be automatically replaced, ultimately I would rather our numbers be around 5. I would certainly not like to go above 10, even tho' we have the facilities to manage it, I think the dogs would miss out.

[*kirty*]

I have five large dogs, would prefer 3 or 4. But thankfully they all get along and aren't too difficult to manage.

[eyeopener]

I have more than your average but I am lucky enough to live on a property with plenty of free running room, creeks, dams & different livestock to keep them all busy. I don't think I can put a number on it as I have had anywhere from 1 dogs to 25 at a time(counting fosters dogs in for long term retraining, my own dogs, family dogs & working dogs) but it has more to do with what your daily lifestyle & living conditions are. I dont work my dogs are my work & i have a partner who works from home & on the property so have extra hand when needed too. But my days start at 4.30am & dont end till 9pm(actually walk through front door n take shoes off)so I don't think it's a suitable lifestyle for many but I love it.

[Poppy's mum]

We have 5, but to me 4 is preferable! :)

Agreed taketwo and Xyz! 4 is the magic number but mine are all low maintenance so 5 isn't much of a stretch, especially since 2 are 14 yo, one is 16 yo and the 'young ones' are 6 and 9 (but young for their ages). Couldn't cope with multiple young dogs. Mine were all older rescues except Ginger who taught me I couldn't cope with multiple pups - one seven month old was enough!

When I get older, I think maybe just a poodle and a greyhound and a chihuahua...and

Edited September 12, 2012 by Poppy's mum

[Guest muttrus]

I have 5 but considering there are two small ones a pug x and a x who weighs 1.5kgs and 6 cats much bigger than her it sounds like alot when put into figures but the 2 small ones would be overlooked by ousiders as they wouldn"t notice them.

I then have upto 7 fosters at any one time so my numbers vary :D

[rusty&biscuit]

I have 3 here but I only pay for one, and that's Biscuit. I would LOVE more dogs but seeing as I'll be moving out of home in a few years, it will be very hard to find a place with more than 1 small dog, plus being able to afford everything In future though I'd like more, I really enjoying having 3 (I am the one who does feeding, walking, etc), and if I could afford it I'd have my 3 plus one or 2 more..but totally unrealistic!

[GeckoTree]

2 max.

J.

[westiemum]

I'm on my own and and I have three westies and a visiting Airedale - fine for a week or two but wouldn't want to do it by myself long term. I find it too hard to give all four adequate attention.

When it's just the three westies it's fine, but will probably down-size back to two when someone falls off their twig.

Will increase the quality of their attention and care, ease the vet bills and mean I can more easily rehab rescue westies (which I find pretty much impossible at the moment). :)

Edited September 13, 2012 by westiemum

[Sayly]

5 works for us at the moment, in our situation. One is with me, wherever I am and I'm not home except on weekends, so usually its 4 at home. They are a good mix, however we have two under a year of age which makes the trouble double. :laugh:

I think it comes down to the dogs too. I could easily have ten Holly's, however one Pandora is more than enough. :laugh:

[balkcalb]

I've had 5, it was great, a lot to feed and care for though.

2 is good but has disadvantages as i'm discovering with age gap. I guess I would be happy to have 3 at the moment, 2 younger to keep each other company and play with and the Veteran for me alone, our special thing at this time.