How many

I've got four of my own. But with my business I can have any number of temporary dogs at any given time (for instance I have two Cockers, another Mini Schnauzer, and a Labradoodle coming this week on different days).

In some ways three was an ideal number. But four is quite enjoyable as well.  I'm not sure which my ideal is/will be - it will likely depend on my circumstances and lifestyle at any given point, as well as it will depend heavily on the current dogs. I like having four right now because I have three settled adults and one puppy, so I can focus my training efforts easily.  I like four because I can take them out in pairs, instead of worrying about leaving anyone behind.

I've lived with as many as 13 though, when I lived at home. So having multiples is just considered "normal" for me. And, like Amanda, I love the fulfillment that comes from having a multi-dog household. I am able to devote almost all of my spare time to my dogs (and much of my "working" time as well!), so it works out well.

We currently have two.  I never want more than that.  For many years I had three dogs and felt like they didn't get adequate time, attention and training.  Probably over the next five to ten years, as DH gets closer to retiring (hopefully), through natural attrition we'll work our way down to having just one dog for several reasons, the expense of multiple dogs and the ease of traveling with just one being the two primary reasons.

 I've only ever had one dog at a time. I am adding a new puppy soon and I'm actually a little nervous about it. Fear of the unknown!

I have to ask - how do you house 5,6,8 dogs? I live in a pretty large house but can't imagine the space so many dogs must take up.

Right now, just Max.  Years ago I had two, one very young pup and one very old dog.  I think I could probably handle two, but Max often has issues with other dogs so this probably wouldn't be a good time to get a second dog.

Joyce

I think it depends on the dogs and the individuals  that raise them.

I only have 4 ( and sometimes cousin Coaco) but we’ve had to give up a lot and deal with sometimes not having nicer things.

We have a smaller house and only one large dog, 2 Corgis and Vinny is very little.

When we had the 3 corgi’s it didn’t make much difference as far has room. It would be harder with 4 lrg dogs, But I think we could handle it.

All our dogs are allowed on the furniture. Only 2 sleep on the bed. If it gets really cold you may wake up with 4dogs and 2 cats and very little bed.

Everybody has there spots they like to lay and with just four sometimes yes they are in the way and fur is every where. Vinny is the first short haired dog we’ve ever had and I like it !

I had a friend that had four large dogs and a larger house and she hated it. Not the dogs,

Just trying to handle that many.

I would say having 5 or more is not for everyone but some probably do very well once you learn to maneuver around them, get a routine down and if the dogs get along.

Not to mention living with fur every where and I mean every where no matter how hard or often you clean.

Although I do manage to get the house pretty spiffy before company.Plus if they’ve not been here before I mention that wearing black my not be the best idea.

 I've only got Bugsy but he's a lot of dog LOL  Not just in size but he's a challenging dog in many ways and at times a very expensive one LOL

I would love a second dog but my husband is pretty firm on just one.  We are fortunate in that we live in a community with lots of dogs and friendly people so over the last three days Bugsy has had playdates with 4 different buddies and we always wind up walking with various people and their dogs so he has a good social situation.

I would still love to add a second dog and hope to in the future.  I have said for ages that I believe Bugsy would be an easier dog if we had a second high energy dog

One Grady is enough for me thankyouverymuch.  I love him very much but he had his issues that would make having more than one more of a challenge than I enjoy.  Idealilly I'd love to have 2 Papillons so for now I have one very sweet to humans big guy.

My main constraint is size given my breed.  Three seems perfect right now but Coke hardly even counts since he is so lazy and does not demand much if any mental or physical exercise.  I also have to mentally keep room for Kenya if she ever needed to come back.  I wish it could be 4 or 5 as I tend to pick dogs based on how much I like the dog, not on having a set number I want or a set spacing in age.  I saw a dog on Sat I would have bought on the spot if I had room for him (3 year old working line male, GREAT pedigree, was shipped from my trainer's friend in Saudi Arabia who has a health problem and can no longer train the dog as it deserves so my friend offered to take it back and sell it).  Space is important because while all my current dogs get along that could change in the future, or if I took in a new dog whose to say everyone will be best friends?  I'd need more space to adequately meet all the dogs' needs without having to constantly kennel/crate dogs.  Also with a small yard, the more big dogs I add the harder it is to keep it clean and keep the grass intact and healthy.

We currently have 6 dogs, but one of them is Coco, a Boston terrier/Jack Russell mix, so in energy she is approx 4 dogs!!  We were actually ok with 5, but putting Coco into the mix at #6 just threw everything off.  I've never been so tired...............ideally i think we would like to be in the 3-4 range after this.

We currently have two dogs.  I am a huge proponent of companion pets...since we both work and they are home all day without us.  As a dog gets elderly, I have typically brought in a third dog in anticipation of the loss.   This last time, I brought in Bruder when I knew that Buddy would be leaving us soon.  That ended up being 3 years!   Its been a very long time that I've only had one dog at a time.

Two is a good number for us.  Three is quite managable...but any more than that is difficult since I am a large breed kind of person. 

 We currently have 2 dogs.  I have had as few as 1 and as many as 6.  Two is working out just right for now.

 We currently have 3, I've had as many as 5.  While 5 was manageable, I would never do it again.  My preference would be just 1 or 2.  For me personally I have my doubts that w/ 3 I can give everyone everything they need.  And some of that has to do just w/ this point in my life.  When there was 5 I was with a different person, the dogs were my entire focus and he was willing to act that way as well.  Now, life is totally different and I have to spend time/energy/finances on more than just the dogs. 

TheDogHouseBCMPD

Now, life is totally different and I have to spend time/energy/finances on more than just the dogs. 

Steph makes SUCH a good point -- a dog is a 15 - 20 year commitment.  And the LAST years are often the most expensive.  We often forget when we want THAT dog so much (or are tempted to take one on because it's "just one more";) that there may come a time in our lives when things are DIFFERENT.  We may be unexpectedly left without a spouse or someone loses their job, or some natural disaster takes our home -- life can change in a heartbeat and suddenly the dogs that were once our primary focus suddenly can't be. 

 That doesn't mean I love my dogs less -- nor does that mean I don't think we ever should take another dog.  But for ALL of us -- as we age, grow and learn we find out that sometimes life is just plain difficult or unfair. 

When we took Billy on, we were fully aware that we might need to spend $3000 on ear ablation surgery  -- but **WHO KNEW** that IMHA would strike and the cost of that made $3000 look like pocket change.  Literally at **any other** time in our married life, that would have meant we could not have treated him.  Literally days prior to his IMHA diagnosis we received a relatively small inheritance and there it went!!. 

But it made us more cautious -- it made us save more.  We don't have kids of the 2 legged variety, so it really doesn't matter how old and ratty my drapes are. 

I'm not saying anything bad about anyone, nor am I advocating yes or no -- just tossing this out there for the OP and anyone else.  Being in a position where you literally can NOT get a beloved family friend treatment they may need simply because you can't afford it?  When you aren't destitute?  It's horrifying, but it does happen.  I look across this Board and think of the members who have had really devastating dog illness in their family in the part year.  It's beyond difficult.