Four or more dogs

I'm most likely getting a fourth dog in a few months.  Honestly I'm not looking forward to having that many and it's not that I want THAT many but it's more about this particular dog/breeding being too good to pass up.  For me, the timing is never 100% right no matter how much I save or plan ahead.  I could wait 5 more years and probably still feel the same I do now about adding a fourth.  Sort of like when people say they don't want to have kids until they are totally debt free and 100% prepared....like who is ever either of those? lol.  However I am keen on spacing them out.  Even with four there will be at least two years between each one.  A few months ago I probably would have let the opportunity pass but Nikon, the youngest, has come a long way in his work and training very recently and I am happy with where he will be as far as training, competition, titles, maturity, and just how he gets along in our household in general.  To me there is no point in bringing in another dog when there are still issues to iron out with the others.

Cool Agile! Where di you find those!?

I went ahead and played around with Darby's hair. She's got a fuzzy poodle face with poofy legs now and short ears.  Looks darn cute!

Everyone has made great points.  DH and I have spent a lot of time talking out our issues (one thing good about us is that we have always been good at communicating) this weekend.   A lot of it is my issues with feeling loved.  With all the other 'stuff' going on we need to be sure to pay attention to one another-

I think I would have a blast grooming a poodle, but I will also be crazy busy with that addition.  Between the dogs and cleaning and the 4 guinea pigs (2 very large 'condos' to clean), and the kids, I have enough. 

I could inquire at the shelter about doing grooming for adoptions, that could be fun, even though it's usually shave downs (I did grooms at the GA shelter).

Thanks everyone for letting me bounce this off you and helping me sort out my issues... :)

Liesje

but it's more about this particular dog/breeding being too good to pass up.  For me, the timing is never 100% right no matter how much I save or plan ahead.

It's hard to say that four dogs is ok, or five dogs is ok, etc.  It all depends on the situation and the individual dogs.  Our AKK are a unit, playing together, sleeping together, eating together.  They love attention, but are also more than happy to entertain themselves.  Since we train in agility, obedience, and weight pull, those activities match any energy requirements they have.  Nike is happiest when he's sitting under my chair, or getting love.  And Shiva is the perfect match for the WWF style of AKK playing.  Do I think I could have, say five Siberians?  Probably not.  But the AKK are small and mature enough to be wonderful companions, and same for Nike.  And I've found that raising Shiva with all of them has actually made raising a puppy easier since they're well trained, and she follows their example.  

It works for us, and DH is wonderful.  He loves all of them, and loves having Nikki and Honor as his cuddle dogs.  We made the decision to have this many together, and both of us are completely on board.  I do know that many of our relatives think we're crazy, but we would NOT have five dogs if we couldn't emotionally and financially care for them in the way they deserve.

The bigger question is will we have five again?  Probably not.  It is daunting to take them places or to go to shows.  And especially since our future plans center around more Siberians, less AKK, there's something to be said for that size difference.  Three or four will probably be our limit in the future.

AgileGSD

 

 

 

This is AWESOME.  If I had a bichon, this would be their typical grooming cut.  Love it.

Anyway, fostering has helped me appreciate how many I can handle.  Along with watching a cousin's dog and 2 fosters, I had 6 dogs.  It was too many for me.  For now, I am happiest with 3-4.  It fits better.

I have 5 now, with the 2 foster dogs, and it's doable.  I just have found I prefer fewer.

shamrockmommy

Everyone has made great points.  DH and I have spent a lot of time talking out our issues (one thing good about us is that we have always been good at communicating) this weekend.   A lot of it is my issues with feeling loved.  With all the other 'stuff' going on we need to be sure to pay attention to one another-

shamrockmommy

Cool Agile! Where di you find those!?

I went ahead and played around with Darby's hair. She's got a fuzzy poodle face with poofy legs now and short ears.  Looks darn cute!

 I did a google image search for creative grooming bichon. Not a lot in there but those were pretty neat!

  Pictures of Darby?

 The most I've had in my house was 6. I was ready to pull my hair out! Thankfully, 4 were only fosters. With 3 being pups, it was even more challenging.

I love having two. Three is easy for me, because my boys are soo easy. I was asked to take a 4th last week, and declined. I don't think it'd be fair to the ones I have at home already since aussie-girl has a few issues we're working through. Would I ever OWN more than 2? Maybe. But it would have to be the right dog, and I'm not planning on it any time soon!

jennie_c_d

I've got three dogs, two cats, and my bird, here, right now

Did you add a new dog?  Bean, Jewel, and who?  :D  Spill!

 Fluffy, the Cairn, that I found darting through traffic and couldn't haul to the shelter. She isn't staying. She's OMGSWEET and I know she has an owner, but I cannot find them. The kittens aren't staying, either. They're bottle babies, and not old enough to be spayed, yet.

ROFL, I thought you might have a hairless baby to AWWWWWWWW over. 

I hope she finds her way to her owner, or a forever home.  The babies, too. 

 No, when there's a new permanent resident, there will be shouting from the rooftops! I've been waiting, SO LONG!!!

Three is our limit... and that's stretching it. Honestly we'd agreed on two.. but then DH brought Greta home, out of a moment of weakness.

My only issue is, how can I, with a job, kids, horses and that many dogs, honestly give them each the time they deserve and need. We manage nicely, with Lexie being an outside, farm dog... she's low key, low maintnance and does not want or crave a lot of attention. She' s good with put me down some kibble, pat me on the head, let me do my job and leave me be. If she were like the other two, we'd have an issue.

DH and I are looking for a sitter.  Should be reasonably ok to find around here, plenty of kids of all ages. 

Decided to go with 3.  My camera is NOT working and my cell won't upload for some reason so no pics of Darby at the moment.   She has a wider face than a poodle and higher ear set but I think once her ears grow longer, she'll be even cuter. DH loves the shaved face on her!  She reminds me of the little apricot rescue poodle I had years ago, Jordan.  His heritage was questionable, he was long bodied, short legged, long curly tail, underbite, wide face but I kept him in a miriad of poodle trims, even the show continental for a while. He had the most wonderful coat too.

Anyway, I hope nobody makes fun of her- I'm used to the bichon email list being bichon hair-do snobs LOL.  I once tried a historic lion trim of Darby and posted pics but I ended up aflame LOL.

I'll see if I can get the camera to behave today!