I have just read a post where someone on here has 16 dogs, my feelings are wow that is a lot! but then I have only got two and that is plenty for me, personally I couldn't cope with more than two but every ones different and everyone to their own I say. So I was wondering just out of interest how many dogs everyone has or had at one time.

20 at the moment. Can't compare the little ones with the big ones though as they are so much easier/cheaper/take up less space etc. Dogs is the entire life of almost everyone in the family now, there are now 4 of us going to the shows for instance, so glad my son has decided to join us. :)

My maximum has been five at any one time. I could walk them all at once so it wasn't too bad. In winter you couldn't get near the fire though!

I have three and the most I have had at any one time was five.

I have three now,all young collies,lots of fun in this house!The most Ive had was five,One large(gsd)two medium(collies)and two small(jrt and smallish crossbreed.).

I currently have 4 and think that's my limit - can walk them together - have in the past had 6 but one an oldie.  4 is my top limit currently despite wanting another pupster!

I have 1 dog, most at any one time has been 2 dogs.
Time, space and money are the reason for never having more than 2 dogs, I'd be in my element with lots of dogs :)

Only 3 at the moment, 2 heelers and 1 last dax so all small dogs
Even with space for more I have always hovered around 3-4 dogs of mine at anytime. But most total household dogs at one point was 18 as my parents did used to breed and show a breed each.  But no longer do and now live with me so down to just my little bunch but they are good free day time dog sitters :)

It always amazes me when people are surprised that dog BREEDERS / exhibitors have dogs.
If you have this as your hobby and you keep your oldies, you are likely to have more than two.

I should have added that I now have three; my old boy (13½) my young girl (2) and our new baby (7½ weeks). :-)

I've had as many as 10 but think 6 is my best number really. But I think it depends on how much space you have, and what your facilities are like. For me, 6 fit just right.

It always amazes me when people are surprised that dog BREEDERS / exhibitors have dogs.
If you have this as your hobby and you keep your oldies, you are likely to have more than two.

Exactly. :) And we don't often live surrounded by neighbours, nor want to walk all dogs at once. Out of my lot, I have no less than 8 veterans (or will have this year, one isn't 7 until a few months' time).

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It always amazes me when people are surprised that dog BREEDERS / exhibitors have dogs. <br />If you have this as your hobby and you keep your oldies, you are likely to have more than two.

Of course I should have thought that all or most of you would keep your oldies that makes sense. All though I don't breed dogs I do breed and show Dalmation cavies, yes this is the way we spell it and I have 50 including oldies. 30 years ago I kept 100 cavies but it wasn't a hobby keeping that many so I rehomed some of the breeds and just kept Dalmations which are my first love. My 2 dogs are my pets which I got from a rescue centre and one of them I do obedience with. :)
I have owned dogs for 40 years so I feel I can put my input into this forum which I enjoy.
BTW when I tell people who ask how many cavies I own, they are always surprised when I say how many. LOL.

6 Medium size (collie size, 20kg as adults), that I can walk all together (I do use headcollars), but they do range in age from10 months to 13+ years.

Thsi really is my maximum, as even though hubby is good, I do the main walking, they'd walk all over him (well drag him all over and tangle him up) as she is a softie.

Shoudl be fun thsi summer, as I am going up to stay in Scotland to get a bitch mated so eh will have five to walk and look after including the puppy(Junior by then).

Yikes! I have 4 and that's just about manageable. I wouldn't want any more for quite some time. :-)

i only have the one, my friend when i first met her had 12 small dogs and the breeder of two of her dogs when we went there once we counted about 27 dogs running about her house! but they were the females so dont know how many males they had.

Ten now, I did own 17 at one point but I was younger and had more energy then! Usually half of these are 'oldies'. During the bleakest weather I sometimes wish I kept goldfish instead. If you breed you have to think a couple of years in advance and take the number of bitches you keep into consideration. I've known people only keep one, have a disaster and lose their line.

Currently have 2, however could manage a few more, current situation means that I can't currently make any addition. This will hopefully change in the next year :-)

I have 2 SBT both girls one 3yr old and a 7mths. I also have my sister staying and she has 5 GSD all girls ranging from 18mths-11yrs and all living in harmony

Nessa

Currently have 8 collies (ranging from 18 months to 14.5 yrs old), have been up as high as 12. Half of them are rescues and we are failed fosterers too. I'm home all day and am a dog trainer/home board other people's dogs. Very lucky we now have our own land so can run them all here. Used to be twice daily trips to the park in the van otherwise.

>BTW when I tell people who ask how many cavies I own, they are always surprised when I say how many.

:-)
Smiling at Tricolours.  When I was showing/breeding/judging, I was asked by one guy - not an animal person.

He said well how many  cavies have you got then?  I said 300.  He said - I thought you said 300! 

>, my feelings are wow that is a lot! but then I have only got two

I have the same as Goldmali, but size does matter!  I lost one of my Collies on 30th December, so only 2 Collies now.  5 Yorkshire Terriers and the rest are Long Coat Chihuahuas.   You can get a dozen in a Collie bed, so it's nothing really.

However, the toys have to toe the line just like the Collies.  And it really  helps.  I couldn't be doing with snappy yappy toys, or ones that wouldn't come when called.

To be fair, this includes oldies, and spayed bitches that weren't suitable for breeding.  Once they reach adulthood I couldn't pass them on.  I realise that it would be different if I had 20 large breed dogs.  But I started on toys back in the 70's when I only had a small back garden.  When I moved here 20 years ago, I bought the house with the biggest garden I could find.  I don't think the inside of the house was even part of my decision.  :-)  I just wanted somewhere suitable for Collies. 

The Pastoral breeds will always remain my first love.  But Myfanwy, the bitch I lost in December at 14 years, collapsed back in 2006 at night, and her gums were white, I knew it was internal bleeding.  I live alone, and I couldn't lift her.  I was lucky to get a neighbour to help, but not having family, I felt that I couldn't risk another emergency with a large breed.  So have my toys.  I don't expect to lose my Border Collie anytime soon, but I know my only Beardie hasn't got long.

I have 2 now, although the second was a part-time visitor for two years but is now here permanently. I don't think I could easily go back to just the one.

I'm not sure how the jump from two to three would work, even if it were possible - which it won't be for the forseeable future - and even if I have to bid farewell to my oldie in the next few years, a pup would be out of the question unfortunately.

Saying that, my younger dog is now 7... can't think of him as a veteran, as he may easily have another 7 years to go. But I'd like to have a pup while he's still around, to be his apprentice :) Since having the oldie rescue girl, I've realised he could be a good teacher.

Two standard poodles here,which keep me busy with their grooming and excercise . I've had dogs for 48 years and in that time have had various breeds from chihuahua,to dogue de Bordeaux,silky terrier ,corgi,Rottweiler and loved them all.I emigrated to Italy from uk 22 years ago and my dogs are vital for my happiness.My breed is uncommon here and they are great icebreakers to a very curious Italian community,who are used to dogs as garden dogs,kept as guards.Mine do "guard."...the best place in .my bed ,my sofa etc lol,
Two is my max,I'd like a third,but  my eldest is very delicate,needs a lot of special care,so I will stick at two  so I can do as much as I can for her till her time comes.

8 here of my own, and I have a littlun here most days too as her owner is elderly, not very mobile and struggles to entertain and walk her.  6 is my preferred number but I can't seem to get back down to it!  Too many needy dogs with very specialised issues, every time I've lost a dog a super needy one pops up...

Walking is done in shifts, dog control orders in north lincs state 4 dogs per person off private property and as I've not yet found someone who will put up with 8 dogs and me as well, I have to do all the walking alone :-P

Saying that though I wouldn't walk more than 4 at once anyway I don't think - the groups I walk now work well together, even just going up one more to 5 I find considerably harder to keep an eye on when they're off lead than 4.  And my lot are rarely on leads so that's important!

I currently have 7 border collies, a rescue x and 4 shelties :-)

A comfortable 12 :-)

Just two oldies here. We have the space/time/money to have lots more but, personally, I don't feel the need to have more. It's important to us also to be able to get away to visit family and we have to be able to take the dogs with us or put them in kennels - neither of which we could do if we had more dogs. We have no family living near and I wouldn't want to take advantage of friends. Two is an ideal number for us :) :)

I'm at 3 currently. I know I can cope with 6, but I wouldn't want more then 8 :) I will hopefully be at 5 over the next 2ish years, which will bring my oldest to 7yrs, and then add one 2yrs later (he'll be 9) and then another 2-3yrs after that (12ish) and then another 2-3yrs (15yrs)  By that stage my 2 oldest will be 13yr and 15yr and god willing around for a bit longer, and they will have different requirements to the youngsters and so not "count" in terms of numbers again :D

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br />Smiling at Tricolours.  When I was showing/breeding/judging, I was asked by one guy - not an animal person.<br /><br />He said well how many  cavies have you got then?  I said 300.  He said - I thought you said 300!  <img alt="eek" src="/images/eek.gif" />

300 would take some looking after JeanSW. Keeping cavies is not a cheap hobby anymore my lot cost me £30 week to feed, I'm looking forward to when I can pick grass for them to eat and cut out buying nets of pony carrots, beetroot and cabbage, but of course they still eat huge quantities of hay and dried food.
Which cavy breeds did you keep?

We have three at the moment but have had four.

I would have loads more given the chance !

>However, the toys have to toe the line just like the Collies.  And it really  helps.  I couldn't be doing with snappy yappy toys, or ones that wouldn't come when called.

I agree entirely - my Cavaliers go to dog class and learn to do stuff just as if they were big dogs. Funnily enough, I was at a companion show yesterday with obedience, and Hetty was doing some average heelwork, not up to her best standard, but adequate considering she hasn't done much formal obedience, she's a rally dog. My friend was watching, and she told me after that some people who were watching were astounded at a Cavalier doing obedience at all and were deeply impressed with how she was working! :p Pity they weren't around later to see Ellie doing her scent test!

I have 5 which for me feels like too many, 4 is an ideal number for us. They are all large breeds, 1 lab who is 8, 3 Malinois who are 6,5 and 11 months and a Dutch Shepherd who is nearly 3. Absolutely NO MORE!!!

Have the most I've ever had at the moment which is 5. 13.5 years down to 5 months (with the middle 3 being nearly 9, 4 & 2)

I know I am at my limit but that's because my two year old is incredibly challenging...without the issues it would be rather different. If I didn't have the oldest two (possibly even three) I would still be at my limit thanks to her! I didn't realise that til I added the (unexpected) pup - which has been absolutely fine, but I know I am now at my limit until the continuing work with asbo pays off. If I had dogs with no major issues I think my limit is probably about 7.

I agree size makes a difference (I have small breeds), and also what the age gaps are can make a big difference.

Reading this thread is making me jealous! I have just one dog. I would love to have two but it wouldn't be fair on the dog and frankly I need all my time and effort for Nando! One day I intend on taking on a smaller rescue dog.. or another GSD but she'd have to be the right dog for me and it would mean having Nando neutered which I'm not keen on.

> They are all large breeds, 1 lab who is 8, 3 Malinois who are 6,5 and 11 months and a Dutch Shepherd who is nearly 3. Absolutely NO MORE!!!

LOL I imagine 3 Malis and a Dutch probably feels like you have 12 dogs at times! :)
(I just don't know how Marianne does it!!!)

>Which cavy breeds did you keep?

Peruvians, Shelties, Coronets and Texels.  I have always had animals that need grooming.  I find it therapeutic.  So with the dogs, the Poodles and Beardies satisfied the need.  :-)

Some rescue's do not insist that the homer's dogs are neutered,only the one from the rescue.
I have been in touch with a GSD rescue only last week .they would like all dogs neutered on princeable but as most rescue dogs are already done  or contracted to be done there should be no problem,
sorry posted after others  this was for parrisite (sp)

>some people who were watching were astounded at a Cavalier doing obedience at all

Don't you just love that?  :-)   The disbelief is what I love.  I've always enjoyed obedience with Collies, but once joined a class where Border Collie owners sneered at my Toy Poodle.  Who ended up demonstrating the "leave" for the new Border Collie owners.  :-)  Boy did I love that.  She went on to do tracking, and she always enjoyed herself.

One day I intend on taking on a smaller rescue dog.. or another GSD but she'd have to be the right dog for me and it would mean having Nando neutered which I'm not keen on.

Why would you have to do that? Spay the btich if you have one of each sex, it's far more beneficial for her than it would be for the dog to be neutered anyway. :)

I've got 4 ranging from 12 yrs to 10 weeks, it might increase to 5 if I can't find the right new owners for the last  puppy in my litter.....

>Don't you just love that?     The disbelief is what I love.

Very much so! I've got friends whose Cavaliers work much better than mine, but I'm still proud of what I've persuaded mine to do. I'm probably proudest of the retrieving as they aren't a natural retrieving breed, and of course the scent Ellie has done. Can't see Hetty ever learning that as it took her more than a year to retrieve, but you never know! :-p

I have 19 cavaliers girls and boys the boys have been done, ages 12 the oldest 10months the youngest. All are healthy.

> Don't you just love that?  :-)   The disbelief is what I love.

This is why I want to do agility with Linc.  Not only does he love it when we've done a bit already, but the sight of a 27" dobe/dally doing it does raise a few eyebrows!

> but the sight of a 27" dobe/dally doing it does raise a few eyebrows!

Is there too much sterotyping with breeds ? :) :) Had a friend who had a Rottie as a gundog and a husky who did good obedience and agility :)

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Had a friend who had a Rottie as a gundog and a husky who did good obedience and agility

Definitely :-) I know a Rottie who is a search and rescue dog and there are several competing very successfully at agility. A friend of mine runs a Staffie who has a temperament to die for and is pretty good at agility too - a rescue from not the best start in life but Daisy the staffie is the dog everyone wants their new puppies to meet and is a wonderful ambassador for her breed. I have also seen an OES and a Great Dane doing agility and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

It also works in reverse as I have a fabulous Golden Retriever who just doesn't do retrieving - but is great at agility :-)

I sold a boxer to a woman who's husband had working labs. She rang to tell me the dog showed such promise he started to train the boxer too.

Next thing she's in Dog World alongside working gun dogs, centre spread winning at a trial.

We have 3 Golden Retriever's and thats a perfect manageable amount for us.

A 1yr old, 3yr old and a 6yr old.

>Next thing she's in Dog World alongside working gun dogs, centre spread winning at a trial

Oh WOW tooolz.  I would have been so proud.  :-)  :-)

Most I've had at the same time was 6, a GR, BC and 4 Shelties, all very very easy to walk on my own both on lead and loose. Now I have 5, the GR has passed over to the bridge.

The only thing that dictates how many dogs I have is the size of my house, my dream is Shelties as far as the eye can see and loads and loads of land for them to run on.

I'm hoping to move this year so hopefully it'll mean another Sheltie in about a years time. Happy days.