POLL: Let's Talk Numbers!

I have 2 right now and LOVE it.  3 can be hectic, so any additions will have to be near perfect for the current pack, but I can't imagine going down to 1 again - I love having dogs for everything in my life: snuggling, playing all out, hiking, agility, obedience, Search and Rescue, tricks, therapy work, etc. and you can rarely find a dog that can do all of that by itself. 

My personal max is likely going to be around 4, though DH is convinced it's 3, so we have some negotiating to do...

I've always been a "one" kind of girl.  One husband, one child, one dog, one work environment (same company, but different jobs, for 25 years) one house since marriage, etc.  I like to have "one" thing and devote all my attention to it, but that's just my personal style. 

Deb W.

We would love to get a second beagle, but we can't right now do to the bylaws of the condo association we are in. 

For the first time in 12 years we have 3 dogs again.Some days I wish it were just me and Jewel but that's just the lazy in me talkin'.

Tena

 Now that I've had 2+, I'll never go back.  Growing up, my family was always a 1-dog family, which was fine, but now that I've seen how much enjoyment the dogs get from each other, I don't think I'll be able to have just one.  It's neat to have such diverse training options, different classes, different personalities.  And truly, 3 dogs are less work than one for me.  The dogs just automatically go to each other to play, making up their own games, wrestling, etc.  So they wear each other out, which is fun.  And when I play games with them, it's cool to see the fun competition between them (for instance, in stay/sit/down games, playing chuckit, etc). 

The only downside with having three is triple the cost on classes and entry fees.  When DH and I just had Honor, we didn't even think about how much we spent on her classes and stuff.  But with three, it's definitely more of a budget-planning event.  But it's worth it.

I think my top limit is going to be four.  DH agrees.

iluvjamison

I've always been a "one" kind of girl.  One husband, one child, one dog, one work environment (same company, but different jobs, for 25 years) one house since marriage, etc.

Deb, I chuckled a little at this, it makes me feel like I should have three of everything, since I have three dogs!  LOL  I do understand your point completely.

JackieG

Deb, I chuckled a little at this, it makes me feel like I should have three of everything

Tee hee - well having three husbands might not be a bad thing depending on how you look at it !!!

Deb W.

We have three at the moment, plus a foster, and it can be a bit much.

Ideally, we would like two at a time (my competition dog and a retired dog). DH wants a Frenchie at some point, so we're planning that for when we are old and can't keep up with the Aussies anymore. :)

 Although, all the beagle pictures are killing me! Our neighbor had one growing up that I use to go play with all the time. Maybe when I am a better trainer I'll have a beagle agility dog. :)
 

Hmmm...there's no option for "Just one for now, but planning to add another soon."  That's our plan!  BF is constantly talking about "Harry's yet-to-be-decided brother or sister"

Only because of the aggression problems with the 2 we've got now, I said I need a break. Ideally, I'd love to have a pack of dogs. When I retire I plan to work with the rescue group here and that way I can (hopefully) have multiple dogs at one time. I figure if I'm fostering, if one or more dogs don't get along, I'll simply make adjustments to the pack. That's my dream anyway :)

We haven't had just one since the first year we were married.  After Linus, who came from my first life, went to the Bridge, we intended to get one pup, but ended up with two.....dogs seem to be like Pringles.....one is never enough!

As I get older, I can see not having quite so many, but it's only because I envision not being able to afford it.  For now, I love having a pack!

In honesty, my 'best' is two.  Simply because then there is one for me and one for Davey.  We like to 'go' and do a lot and I like to take the dogs and two, for me, is optimum enjoyment. 

But ... Kee needed a place and she's been unbelievably good for the pet therapy and it's too much for Luna to handle alone.  (It's tiring for a dog to go someplace like Give Kids the World and have ALL the focus be on that one dog ... two actually works better.)

Four is too many for our house -- but as David so aptly put it in June "Hey ... mostly we just step over Kee Shu anyway" so that makes 4 'work' currently.  But it IS tough -- I don't have enough room to FEED four dogs, nor to sleep four dogs really. And it's difficult for ME when I'm alone even to take 3 (Kee really just doesn't enjoy the ramming around going shopping etc. like the other 3 dog) and I'm just not good at only taking ONE.  My sense of fair play is too big for that LOL