Im thinking about getting another bubby...shes 17 weeks old and in need of a family.i wasnt looking for another just yet but she IS the breed i wanted!
i have four i cant see how one more is going to make any difference...i mean its like kids isnt it gong from 1 to 2 is the hardest once you got two having three or four makes NO difference....

how many you all got?

Three at the moment but have had four before . One more wont make a difference I would go for it !

2 :)

Could have more - got the money, space, time for more, but we like 2 particularly as they are both oldish and well-behaved, so living with them is super. Got 2 children as well who we don't live with - grownup dogs are much easier to live with than grownup children :) :)

I have 3 and just about to keep 1 more. But they are all well behaved and how could i not keep one of my girls puppies?.

I've got 4 but have had up to 6 in the past. I would like to reduce my numbers, but mainly because I have dogs and bitches and would like to cut it down to only one sex ;-) Actually, I have found that having this many is not as easy as 2 or 3. Watching all of them on walks (they run in fields and the woods locally) is far easier when only 2 or 3 instead of 4 or 5. But 2 going to 3 isn't all that bad. Mind you, that's where I wetn wrong. What's another one? and another????

What breed is the baby? :)

I have three but live with six. I think it's down to your circumstances though, I wouldn't feel I could go up to four, not that I ever plan to, as my collie is naughty with other dogs and I need to feel like I can control (ie. put on leads/hold by the collar/down the dogs) situations when I need to on a walk and my other two are fairly big and boisterous (but friendly & well behaved when out). Though the collie won't look for trouble I still need to keep an eye out for approaching dogs. But that would be the only reason for me I think, your circumstances are surely different.

Plenty of people in my dog sport have 5+ dogs. I do feel 6 a lot to live with though, even though they get along really well and are quite good, I wouldn't necessarily choose it. Depends on the breeds/disposition/size of the dogs I guess. I added the sixth (my third) as my youngest was getting on a bit and the right dog came up at the right time.

If you think you can cope and have the time for a pup and the space why not :D Mine have all been 'meant to be' so I am a firm believer in that!

I have four and feel like there are enough now. There is no more room on the bed for a start :-)

LOL, I got number 21 just eight days ago. :) Will be "losing" 3 soon though as my daughter is moving into a house tomorrow where she is allowed dogs and she will take 3 of the Paps that really have always been hers anyway.

5 at the moment but had 6 until recently. I love having loads of dogs and plan to have this sort of number until I become too old to cope, or may just downsize to more Sussex Spaniels (can have more of them as they take up less space :) ), although I can't ever imagine being without my Goldies. The Dobes I currently have will almost certainly be the last.

I've got 4 and could manage 1 more.

Can't decide between two breeds so I'm waiting to be sure before I take the plunge.

I have 4 adults [have had 5]both sexes and all the same small breed,the only downside is less room on the floor for my feet but I learnt to shuffle years ago so I don't stand on any paws, friends and family are amazed that I don't fall over them, my Mum still shouts warnings to me when I go round to hers with more than one at a time.

I have 2 now, but when I used to show my maximum I had was 18

6, from 4 months to 13 years, though the youngest four are only 4 months to 5 3/4 years (average lifespan 13 1/2 years).

I have 8, from 2yrs up to 9yrs.  6 is really my ideal number but I seem to be incapable of going down, only up in numbers!  Had I not gotten new additions in the lat year I would be down to 6 now, but needy dogs pop up and so...

> but needy dogs pop up and so...

Well what else could you do! :)

up until a year ago I had 5, with odd boarders due to my work. this was not a problem, i used to say my 5 well behaved dogs were better than the other persons one dog that was a hooligan. I now have two oldies and a middle aged one. i doi not intend getting more as i worry about what will happen to my dogs when i go.

I have 3 Goldie Girls ranging from 6months to 5yrs.
The 3 are just fine and managable for Me and I'm not looking to get any more for some time.

Five at the moment, ranging from 4 to 12 years old.

It's worth bearing in mind though that the number you can handle depends massively on the temperament and personality of each dog - if I had five Errol's, I'd go NUTS. If I had five Kelda's I'd be laughing!

What's an Errol and a Kelda ??

We have 6 and it's tricky here at the moment. Hubby bought himself an ESS pup he's almost 6 months now and our DDB'S still won't accept him , infact they'd kill him if they got to him . My Rott is great with him , Frenchie great and old xbreed great .
My DDB'S are both fighting cancer but are comfortable and happy with each others company but are now a bit unpredictable , so I think it does depend on what your dogs are like .
I've always had over 4 dogs and mine have up until now lived very happily together .
If you think your dogs would be fine , I'd go for it , you won't notice another :)

15 although usually when asked the question 'HOW many have you got NOW???' I say 'no idea!' lol

We're at 3 atm aged 6 (male), 5 & 2 (females). I'm hopeful for a litter next year from the youngest and have every intention of keeping one of her pups. We'll then be up to 4 but that will be my absolute maximum as I feel that all I could walk at the same time (Goldens so fairly large breed). Apart from walking there's having a vehicle big enough to get them all in etc etc.

But on the plus side, there will be an even number if two should need to be left behind for any reason (or kennelled). If I'm showing the two bitches I always feel dreadful leaving my boy behind.

As someone who comes from a family with 6 children, I can relate to always having a "buddy" to play with or spend time with. It can't be so different for dogs can it?

Nine collies, aged 1yr - 14yrs and a fair few are rescues/foster dogs who stayed.

A Sensational Six ;-D

I have five,one bitch and four dogs. They are two cavs and three jap chins and very compatable in temperament and size.

This would be my main consideration in deciding wether or not to add another. Also bear in mind that any new dog that you add will need to spend a considerable amount of time with you on it,s own without the others,ie training,walking etc ,if you want it to bond with you and gain confidence outside of the pack.

Having said that my dogs are never lonely and always have another dog to play with and cuddle up with.I was thinking of adding another chin to my family but will have to wait a while as my daughter has  serious health issues at the moment.

should have added my dogs always live in the house......

>There is no more room on the bed for a start :-)

I'm laughing because I have just got back from the caravan.  Only took 3 dogs this time, but included my youngest Beardie (12 years.)  Rather oversized for the breed (think Shetland Pony.)

Unless I got out of bed to move her this time, I found that I was sleeping at odd angles, to accommodate her bloody big head on my feet!  And she really needed to lie across the bed, rather than lengthways. 

Like tadog, all mine live in the house.  I couldn't go away with all my gang, I don't have a HGV license.  :-)  So the dog sitter stays at my place when I go off for a break, and I try to take turns with the dogs.  But daren't mention it until the last minute, or they all start packing their buckets and spades.  :-)

I'm not saying exactly how many I have, but will just mention that I think Marianne is perfectly normal!!!!!!

> I'm not saying exactly how many I have

...and every time you say this I have a wee think of what I consider normal, times that by 9, and take away 2  !!  I wonder how close I am...............  ?

Oh and I have three.  If I'm perfectly honest I'd like just one more doggy personage BUT I don't really want another body to feed, walk and insure just yet so I'll just keep hold of the idea for now :)

>I wonder how close I am...............  ?

VERY

:-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)  :-)

we have 5 here ages 6,4,2,19 months and 11 months the eldest 3 joined the house at 7-8 weeks old number 4 was born here and number 5 came home at 7 weeks old (2 males 3 girls) we didnt notice anymore after the first 3 lol the 2 younger ones have just fitted in around the older 3 and the 2 youngest ones are the best around other dogs as the older have taught them when they can play and when they just want to be left alone i think once you go over 3 dogs anything else just blends in.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">What's an Errol and a Kelda ??

An Errol.. known to my friends (who do love him really!) as the HorribleLittleB.....d, is a Tibetan Terrier with Issues - a Kelda is a Deerhound bitch without any issues at all :)

They are bestest buddies and adore one another, but he is SUPER hard work... she is a dream, my 'go anywhere' dog (he is my 'go nowhere, unless its somewhere you don't want to go to again' dog).

just a comment on the oringinal post. actually the difference between 3 and 4 children is huge! once we had the fourth, we had to buy a 6 seater car and a 4 bedroomed house.
not sure about dogs, i only have 2

I think everyone has an ideal number.  I know I do.  It's 3.  3 dogs are perfect for me.  I can walk 3 comfortably and they all fit in the smallest of boots and I can take them on holidays with us. 4 tips me over the edge into nervous breakdown.
Saying that, I have 4 at the minute!lol.  My oldie has cancer which has spread and it's only a matter of time now so that's what talked me into number 4 arriving.  In the vague hope that she would learn all the oldies manners before she bounded off to the bridge(the oldie not the pup....although I think pup is closer!!)
I also have another 4 that stay regularly(2 come together and the other 2 separately) but since they are not full-time, they don't count, do they??lol

At the height of showing heyday, I had 7 large breed and 1 small gundog(and loved that too)

I think it very much depends on YOUR life.  Do you go away often that dog sitters would be a concern? Can you handle walking another dog? Can you afford the extra bills(food vets), will he take a space for another showdog that you might fancy? Do you spend enough time with the ones you have individually?

I'm not saying exactly how many I have, but will just mention that I think Marianne is perfectly normal!!!!!!


Not often anyone says that about me LOL!!

I should of course also add that with the exception of one dog who blew it by a) trying to kill my cats, and b) not getting on with my male neutered dogs, all my dogs live in the house as well.

We are at 4 Dals and one small rescue, the most I would go up to (permanently) would be 6 Dals but I am at home all day so I can keep things organised lol
Paula

We have got 5, youngest being 17 weeks old and I personally think its too many (number 4 and 5 arrived within 3 weeks of each other). I have had 4 in the past and could walk them together no problem, 5 is too many to do that so at the moment pup is walked alone (and would be anyway no matter how many we had) and the other 4 together but once he is older I still feel like ill be doing walks in 2 lots as I couldn't walk 5, its just too many to keep an eye on I feel.

actually the difference between 3 and 4 children is huge! once we had the fourth, we had to buy a 6 seater car and a 4 bedroomed house.
not sure about dogs ...

Probably not so different! I had a nice estate car with 3 dogs. 4th came along and had to change to a van instead :-O BIG mistake ... 6 travel very nicely in a van with plenty of space for more :-D

The house thing probably wouldn't be so disimilar either ... just I don't have the money to move :-(  The dream is to increase the size of the house, not by bedroom space (as needed for kiddies) but to have a utililty room/wet room ... and a doggy room. Not the sort the dogs are banished to but the sort we can live in - leaving a 'nice' sitting down room for when visitors come and don't want to be mugged by dogs nor covered in fluff ... though in truth, those types of visitors have long been discouraged from visiting ;-) 

> I got number 21 just eight days ago

Are you sure? Do you have so many now you can't accurately count them :-D or have I lost track?

I've got 4, with a 5th booked for sometime next year or the year after.

Are you sure? Do you have so many now you can't accurately count them :-D or have I lost track?

LOL yes I am sure! 9 Malinois, 8 Papillons (soon to be 5 then), the one Cavalier, one Golden and the two crossbreeds. :) The youngest Pap has never been added to my website for various reasons, are you missing her?

Ok ok ok ok.....
Some really interesting and funny points been made..

Firstly ive got two 5 year old rotties,a toy poodle at 3 and another toy poodle at 2 all turning another year in jan march and april...
ive four kids BUT 2 of them dont come anwehere with us in the car no more!! both being in senior school and quite good kids they have their own things theyd rather be doing...middleish child is 6 and at school and katie is 18 months old.my dogs are out at 6am and back by 7:30 ish,ready to get the tiddlers to school and start work for the day...the evening walk is around our block and matthew baths the kids whilst i have my chill out walk at night...it works and how my other four all walk i cannot see a problem.

holidays we have a caravan dont do abroard i WONT leave my bubbys in a kennel or alone done it once while we caravaned and it was 4 days i cried and was a miserable moo the whle time...needless to say next year we ALL went LOL
im a groomer he works like a 5 minute walk from the house and we have two cars....i cant see why not...all her litter mates have gone and shes 17 weeks and still 'wanting'....personally being MY home bred pup she'd be staying forever or until an adoptive mummy came along but shes 'for sale' so.....

ive thought of NOTHING but her..i cant get her out of my head and belive me iv tried...
i spent ALL day yesterday doing the garden ready for winter ect came in straight to the lap top....went to the ladies site...and a sigh of relief as i saw she was still 'waiting'

i can afford it i work i dont smoke i dont drink and i dont do hand bags shoes make up ect...my money goes on my hounds...
my concern was am i going to look like a zoo with all my doggies....glad others have more i shall be making a phone call very soon....

Oh and shes a standard poodle.:-)

Oh No, I forgot poor Simba!!! :o

Ok, I'll let you off with it, you can't have too many dogs if you can still count them :)

Aw that's so the story of Simba's life, he's very quiet and unassuming and tend to disappear at the back of the crowd when the Malis all go nuts playing. But he's very much here and although he's aging, he's doing well and his epilepsy has not come back and he still loves his walks. :)

> Aw that's so the story of Simba's life

Poor Simba, please give him ear rubs and profuse apologies from me :-)

3 is enough for me thanks ;-) lol

All ours (9) live in too. We don't drink/smoke/have kids etc. Going on holiday in Dec (dog sitter coming in), my 5th holiday ever and I'm 47 lol.

Marisa,that will be me! ive been to greecewith parents at 17 and three caravan holidays since.....

oh just to say my lot do live in the house (not all together though) and I have a VW Crafter which is fitted with enough crates for all and a bed for me, so we all go away together, mostly to dog shows though ;-) I have a subaru as a runaround (it's been as far as Hannover!) and if I'm away without the dogs I have a dog sitter :-)  This doesn't happen often, fortunately, but they're happy with him.

> Going on holiday in Dec (dog sitter coming in), my 5th holiday ever and I'm 47 lol

I know exactly where you're coming from.  I went on holiday in 1976 when I had a couple of poodles, and my sister and her hubby stayed at my house, so dogs weren't disrupted.

I didn't go away again until the autumn of 2003 when I got a static situated on a private site where I'm allowed to take dogs on the beach.  People don't believe that you've gone almost 30 years without a holiday, but we all do what suits our needs.

I have to be fair though.  I only have 3 big dogs.  2 Bearded Collies, and a Border Collie, all well trained and no trouble.  But I can tell you that you can easily get a dozen Chi's in a Collie bed, so they only count as one dog really.  :-)

I have got 4 from 20 months to 11 years old. It depends very much on the new dog though and the dynamic in the group whether one more makes a difference though. My three I had until May last year were no trouble (after I lost my 4th dog that was more difficult) and you'd think that a fourth wouldn't be so bad, especially having been used to it. But the new dog I took on (a 4-month old rehome with aggression issues) caused various issues, luckily not between my dogs, but with general management and day to day stuff. And of course there is the extra cost too which luckily in her case is low as insurance is low and she seems to be a healthy little girl - but that can always change very quickly!

So really, if you can afford more vet bills should things go wrong, if you can afford to walk the new dog separately should things go wrong and if you can afford to re-arrange routines during the day if things go wrong, then a new dog should be ok. :-)