What is your personal dog limit?

I would like to have 2, probably another lab. But right now, one is enough for us. Money wise, I'm paying for college myself with a part time job. BF works full time. We live comfortably enough to pay for our own bills along with anything Lily needs. When I am done college and working full time I will then think of maybe getting another dog. Mostly as a companion for Lily.

 It depends.  While I have a horse, two is the limit.  My mare is 23 and won't live forever, and when she does eventually pass (assuming and hoping both of the dogs are still with us) I will have to make a choice.  If I want a third dog, no more horses.  If I get another horse, only two dogs at a time. 

I really don't know how people with multiple horses and dogs and kids and then jobs on top of it do it--they must not sleep.....

sillysally

I really don't know how people with multiple horses and dogs and kids and then jobs on top of it do it--they must not sleep.....

That's why I dont have a horse yet!! Anyone want a couple dogs? 

I think 4 is my limit - having said that, I currently have 7 dogs.........it can be overwhelming at times and financially it's a killer, since a few of them are older and have issues.  I try to make sure they all get special time with my husband and I so no one feels neglected.  Honestly, 6 was ok until we took in a boston terrier/jack russell mix from my shelter that was going to be euthanized for biting......it turns out the kids were "tormenting her" (straight from the owner's mouth), but the one condition if i took her is that i would keep her since we don't have children.  We love her but OMG the energy of that dog!!!  Coco was a "designer" breed from a local pet shop, and i don't know who had the great idea to breed those 2 breeds.......

I'd stick to one dog per responsible adult in the household, unless you're at home ALL the time. So, if you're a couple, I'd say 2. If you're a couple who has a BIG house and is REALLY responsbile and with a decent income, then maybe 3. If you're a family with 2 kids over the age of 16, the 4. Maybe. lol You see my gist.

Katie 

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I really like having 2. I'm considering adding another in a year or so, but that's not decided yet at all. No more than 3, however. I have a job and am starting college this fall. : / I'm excited, but dreading the busy-ness. Now, if I were ever to be a housewife or SAHM (which I won't be lol) and my kids were in school, I would get more dogs! I would love to have all that time.

Kim_MacMillan

I don't put a number on it, I look at it instead in terms of finances, time, and effort required. In other words, adults generally are easier than puppies, "pets" are less time than performance dogs, dogs already trained are easier than dogs-in-training, etc.

Kim put it into good words for me as well -- ALTHO I have an additional proviso.  Technically my city doesn't even want 3, so I'm over the legal limit - which doesn't yank my chain because I make sure there is no annoyance factor.  My dogs are NOT allowed to bark inside or out in any sort of excess and they are never left outside unsupervised).

 But four truly pushes it because I really don't have 4 corners in my kitchen in which to feed them (postage-stamp sized kitchen -- as it is they are all butt to butt) -- but as David always says mostly we only step-over Kee Shu.  We've learned this house is just TOO small for anything more than 3 unless it is a special circumstance with a dog that just slides right in.

Honestly?  My personal preference is two -- simply because that's one for me and one for David and the dogs go most everywhere with us.  But for various reasons that isn't as germaine with this particular pack as it has been in the past. 

But I have to say -- I think it is a MARVELOUS thing to talk about -- because far too few people give this serious thought -- and ONE dog can change everything.  sometimes it's "one *more*" and sometimes it's that one particular dog that may tip the scales.

 I would love to have a second dog but DH is a one dog sort of guy - I keep working it and hoping that we can add another but the chances are slim.  Bugsy is a very large, a special needs guy in various ways, and quite a handful so I think he equals more than one.  I was just out earlier and we were all talking about our dogs and I was saying how easy Bugsy is becoming and all the other ladies looked like this

They all agreed their dogs were really easy comparatively LOL  I think if he were easier we might have a second dog currently but DH thinks all dogs are like this 

I think two active large dogs would be my ultimate and my max.

 I can only keep one personally right now, and the house is a two dog house. Luke is mine, I paid for him, pay the bills for him, and buy everything for him. Except when I'm away, I do all his care and training. However, because of my school situation, I can't really have another dog, this was my first semester of it,and I have three more, where I will have to do 6 meetings with someone. Right now, those meetings are usually 3 hours away. Could be more depending on if I stay with the same person, which usually happens. I can't ask my family to take care of any more than just Luke. Even when I had Max, when I went away for two days for class, I put him in the kennel. Luke they can handle with Georgie. Also because of his small size, I have several other people who are willing to keep him for me for a day or two if need be. If my mom and sister go away, I can handle the two we have right now for a few days. I'd love to have, personally, a big dog along with a little one when I move out, but that needs to happen first. So, I think my limit would be two.

WetNoseKatie

I'd stick to one dog per responsible adult in the household, unless you're at home ALL the time. So, if you're a couple, I'd say 2. If you're a couple who has a BIG house and is REALLY responsbile and with a decent income, then maybe 3. If you're a family with 2 kids over the age of 16, the 4. Maybe. lol You see my gist.

Katie 

 

K, gotta give a big fat disagree here.  I know single people who have small houses and 2-4 dogs and do just fine and I know families with huge houses and one dog and couldn't give a crap about their dog.  I can take care of three large dogs in a small home better than many families I know with McMansions and older kids that can barely dress themselves they are so spoiled and irresponsible.  If families can raise 2-5 kids I think they can make do just fine by their dogs.

Liesje

WetNoseKatie

I'd stick to one dog per responsible adult in the household, unless you're at home ALL the time. So, if you're a couple, I'd say 2. If you're a couple who has a BIG house and is REALLY responsbile and with a decent income, then maybe 3. If you're a family with 2 kids over the age of 16, the 4. Maybe. lol You see my gist.

Katie 

 

 

K, gotta give a big fat disagree here.  I know single people who have small houses and 2-4 dogs and do just fine and I know families with huge houses and one dog and couldn't give a crap about their dog.  I can take care of three large dogs in a small home better than many families I know with McMansions and older kids that can barely dress themselves they are so spoiled and irresponsible.  If families can raise 2-5 kids I think they can make do just fine by their dogs.

I agree 100% with Liesje. The size of your house hardly determines how many dogs are right for you...it depends much more upon how much time you have, and where your dogs fit in on your priorities. If you exercise them plenty each day, there's nothing wrong with having multiple dogs in a smaller house. Also, I feel that one's income is less important than one's money managing skills when it comes to taking care of dogs properly.

WetNoseKatie

I'd stick to one dog per responsible adult in the household, unless you're at home ALL the time. So, if you're a couple, I'd say 2. If you're a couple who has a BIG house and is REALLY responsbile and with a decent income, then maybe 3. If you're a family with 2 kids over the age of 16, the 4. Maybe. lol You see my gist.

Katie 

I absolutely disagree with this.  Before getting married, I, easily, managed five dogs & a foster from time to time.  Now, I am married, have 2 kids, & 7 dogs.  I will admit that it is a lot more work now than it was before I had other responsibilities, but both my husband & I are committed to making it work for our family.  Financially, we can afford to take care of ourselves, our kids, & our dogs.

I am not sure that house size means anything.  Training means A LOT.  My dogs act the same whether they are in our 3100 sqft home, or in our 636 sqft weekend house.  They know what is expected because I've spent the time to teach them what is expected.

WetNoseKatie

I'd stick to one dog per responsible adult in the household, unless you're at home ALL the time. So, if you're a couple, I'd say 2. If you're a couple who has a BIG house and is REALLY responsbile and with a decent income, then maybe 3. If you're a family with 2 kids over the age of 16, the 4. Maybe. lol You see my gist.

Katie 

I disagree with this too! The size you your house means nothing! I had 2 100lb dogs in a 900sq foot home and 4 cats. And hey one thing about a smaller houses is that is sure is a lot easier to clean than the big one we have now!

It is really about what is the best choice for YOU! I like having 4-5 dogs. The most we have had at one time is 5 dogs and 6 cats....well except for the times we foster puppies. Once in addition to our crew of 10 we had 6 husky / malamute puppies with no mama dog....now that was a bit much even for me. I would say it is about the quality you can provide for your pets. Can you afford the vet bills and food? Do you have the time to care for them and spend time with them?

 With 2 toddlers in the house, we have agreed that 3 dogs is our limit right now. And we have decided no fosters until the girls are older and will not just open the dog and let the dogs out without asking us first....mainly because we do not have a fenced in yard, we use invisible fence and it takes us 4 months to train a new dog to the fence. While we only have small dogs right now (well small to me 35-50lbs), I prefer having all big dogs (100lbs+).

Now my hubby's take is this: 2 dogs are always better than one. 3 dogs are no more trouble than two. But 4 dogs stresses him out....LOL. Now this is coming from a man who never had animals before he met me and got invovled in the crazy animal rescue world.