Too many pets?

[luvofallhorses]

we have Four dogs and two cats and that is definately our limit and we wouldn't go out and look for another. we are very happy with who we have. and they get the medical care they need, food, love, water, and lots of attention.

[agilityk9trainer]

Interesting topic and one every pet owner should consider.

My limit is four dogs. I currently have three dogs, and frankly, I'd like to stay at three dogs, but I can handle four. Since I show heavily, I need to have at least one dog active in agility. (I train agility professionally, so going to show is part of my job.) Right now, I'm showing two dogs with one retired. I have a five year old and a soon to be four year old shelties. In two years, my main show dog - the five year old sheltie - will be seven years old. At that time, I plan on getting my fourth dog - another sheltie. when this pup is two and ready to show in agility, my current five year old will be nine years old (yuck). He will be reaching the sunset of his agility career while the new guy is starting out. My American Eskimo will be turning ten soon, and is retired. I have to not only juggle numbers, but ages to always have a dog in it's prime doing agility, yet not going over my personal limit of four dogs. It gets tricky, and planning 10 years out is important.

Pet owners should do the same thing. Having several pets reach their senior years at the same time can be financially draining, as vet bills can drastically increase. People need to take this into consideration, but few do. I'm always amazed at the people who get two or three dogs of almost the same age. Down the road, they'll have a lot of senior dogs to care for!

[critter crazy]

Interesting topic and one every pet owner should consider.

My limit is four dogs. I currently have three dogs, and frankly, I'd like to stay at three dogs, but I can handle four. Since I show heavily, I need to have at least one dog active in agility. (I train agility professionally, so going to show is part of my job.) Right now, I'm showing two dogs with one retired. I have a five year old and a soon to be four year old shelties. In two years, my main show dog - the five year old sheltie - will be seven years old. At that time, I plan on getting my fourth dog - another sheltie. when this pup is two and ready to show in agility, my current five year old will be nine years old (yuck). He will be reaching the sunset of his agility career while the new guy is starting out. My American Eskimo will be turning ten soon, and is retired. I have to not only juggle numbers, but ages to always have a dog in it's prime doing agility, yet not going over my personal limit of four dogs. It gets tricky, and planning 10 years out is important.

Pet owners should do the same thing. Having several pets reach their senior years at the same time can be financially draining, as vet bills can drastically increase. People need to take this into consideration, but few do. I'm always amazed at the people who get two or three dogs of almost the same age. Down the road, they'll have a lot of senior dogs to care for!

That is a valid point!! Having dogs at different ages, is the best way to go, altho right now i have two dogs almost the same age! Not realy my fault, but it will suck later on. one dog is almost 2 and the other dog is 3.

[agilityk9trainer]

That is a valid point!! Having dogs at different ages, is the best way to go, altho right now i have two dogs almost the same age! Not realy my fault, but it will suck later on. one dog is almost 2 and the other dog is 3.

Yes, I have two shelties in close age, too. Wasn't planned either. I had my agility sheltie when I heard about a mostly deaf sheltie pup. I couldn't get him out of my head, and now he's one of my show dogs!

(For those of you who know AKC rules, he has "useful hearing" and can hear the human voice. However, I train and show him like he is stone cold deaf, as I'd have to yell in the ring for him to hear me. I find that unacceptable. Just FYI to thwart the posts of people saying, "You can't compete in AKC with a deaf dog." Also, he's had a BAER test to prove the usefulness of his hearing, and the AKC knows of his existance. I only show in performance. He is neutered.)

[applesmom]

Great points agilityk9trainer! Through the years we were most active in the competitive world of dogs, we were fairly well balanced with the retirees, the adults in active competition and the youngster(s) in training.

The last two were only a year or so apart in age. Losing them so close together was extremely painful and has had a huge impact on the slowness of my decision on whether or not to have another dog.

[Flatcoatluver]

I feel I can handle 4 dogs at this time. I have had at most 3 dogs at one time. I am homeschooled and only work twice a week. We can afford everything it takes to be a reponsible owner. When I move out I think two will be my limit on account I will be paying my own bills. Even though T.j is not MY dog I am the one who trains him, baths him, feeds him, and ETC. Kind of sounds like he is mine. But I am not the one who pays for his food and medical bills. My mother want another dog right now, but feels with 5 indoor animals (dogs and cats) there is currently too much hair! My next dog is a non-shedding dog.

Ok I am done blabbering.

[chocolatepuppy]

Having several pets reach their senior years at the same time can be financially draining, as vet bills can drastically increase

My Lacey and RB Mandy were 10 months apart. Lacey is 6 now and Mandy died last summer at 5. They both have finacially drained us with vet bills over the last few years. Ages of my pets would never be a factor after this experience.

For me, two dogs, two cats and my fish are enough for me right now, especially with Layla being a puppy.

[agilityk9trainer]

Great points agilityk9trainer! Through the years we were most active in the competitive world of dogs, we were fairly well balanced with the retirees, the adults in active competition and the youngster(s) in training.

The last two were only a year or so apart in age. Losing them so close together was extremely painful and has had a huge impact on the slowness of my decision on whether or not to have another dog.

I cannot think of many people who would give a dog a better home. A dog would love to be a part of your llife, and you know I hope you will soon get a great rescue. Yes, there is always pain at the end, but the stuff until then is so worth the shortness of their lives.

[Reachoutrescue]

My limit always changes. For dogs, two is my limit. They are a lot of work and I love to take them for runs. If I were to have more then two, my time with each would be cut short. As for cats, well you all know, I love cats! I currently have five of my own and five rescues...I guess five would be my limit of "pets". I also have five rats....several fish, and three turtles. I would have more if I had a bigger house I am sure!!

[CathyBogart]

At one point a couple of years ago I had thirteen pets. It wasn't too many for me, because they were all either bugs or reptiles. Now, I'm down to four, and it's as many as I can handle. Perhaps even a little too much sometimes.

My financial situation and living arrangements have changed since then, as has the number of animals I can take on. Oh, I go to reptile shows occasionally and gaze longingly at albino hognose snakes and pretty tarantulas, but I know it's not a good idea right now.

[dogzr#1]

I think four dogs is our limit. We currently have three dogs, but I'm pretty confident we can handle another dog. We could probably handle a cat too, instead of a fourth dog. So basically, four big furries at a time is our limit! XD

[Twisterdog]

That number varies greatly from person to person. I know people with ten plus cats and dogs that do a WONDERFUL job and could probably take in more with no problem. I know people who could not handle a second dog or cat.

We currently have eight dogs - I had six and my husband had two when we married. At this time in my life, eight dogs is not too many. I do not want and will not get any more, but this is a good number for us. I work at home, so I'm here 24/7 with the dogs. Both of our sons are very into dogs, and give them a lot of attention as well. It works.

When I was actively doing rescue, I had usually between ten and fourteen dogs in the house all the time. I stopped doing rescue, because situations changed in my life which prohibited me from devoting the time required to the rescue dogs. Fourteen dogs would be far too many now, though it was fine then.

However, when I had a "real" job and was gone all day, and had a baby/toddler ... we had two dogs. Different situation, different number I could handle.

I think therein lies the true difference between responsible and irresponsible pet owner, between rescue and hoarder, etc. - knowing your limits. Those limits vary not only from person to person but from year to year with the same person.