How many dogs is "normal".... and how many are too many?

{97702}

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One of my running friends expressed surprise last week that I have 4 dogs.... I've had four for so long now that it hardly seems like any to me :) And because I'm a sad middle aged woman with hounds I would love more :p

Are two dogs considered 'normal' nowadays or just one? And can you ever have too many, assuming of course that you have the space, time and money to look after them in the best possible way....
 

Pearlsasinger

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We got up to 7 at one point (well for a few years, really), because we were given 3 rehomes, 1x BC, 1 x Rottweiler and 1 x Labx. We were offered at least 3 more Border Collies but declined, because we felt that it would be too many to look after properly.
 

MotherOfChickens

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If I didn't have the horses and poultry I might be tempted by another, financially I wouldn't want to do it right now and with my size of dog it makes transport etc a bit more tricky. I've had three equines two and cut back to two and logistically its much easier for my by myself.
 

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I do admit MoC I am currently debating swapping my car - now I am horseless and dont need to tow it seems mad to have a Discovery, but then there is the question of which car will easily fit 4 pointy hounds! I've had 4 in a Renault Clio before but it was very snug
 

deb_l222

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After I lost Kiera, I just had two for a long while. Walking them never really caused a second glance but since I’ve had Willow and been back up to three, I get all sorts of random people stopping for a chat.

Granted, Willow is as mad as a box of frogs but I think the interest is down to number rather than her madness :p

Took all three to the vets last night. That was fun!!
 

DabDab

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Two small ones is the optimum amount :cool:
Four pointy dogs is far too many and probably a symptom of hound induced psychosis......

I once had 7 dogs in the house for 6 months as a favour while friends were away travelling. 2 dachshunds, 3 jrt x, 1 westie and 1 kelpie. It was chaos :eek:
 

{97702}

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Two small ones is the optimum amount :cool:
Four pointy dogs is far too many and probably a symptom of hound induced psychosis......

I once had 7 dogs in the house for 6 months as a favour while friends were away travelling. 2 dachshunds, 3 jrt x, 1 westie and 1 kelpie. It was chaos :eek:

Yay I've been diagnosed at last :D :D :D

I blame my mum when I was growing up - we always had 10 - 15 CKCS so it doesn't seem unusual to me :)
 

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After I lost Kiera, I just had two for a long while. Walking them never really caused a second glance but since I’ve had Willow and been back up to three, I get all sorts of random people stopping for a chat.

Granted, Willow is as mad as a box of frogs but I think the interest is down to number rather than her madness :p

Took all three to the vets last night. That was fun!!

LOL I used to get my 4 vaccinated annually at the same time, it was ace :p

I bet you get the same.....

"are they all yours?" (no, I randomly go round the village stealing other people's greyhounds to walk)

"oooo you've got your hands full there" (no, really I haven't.... showing passers-by the dog leads in one hand and
my other free hand, whilst all 4 walk perfectly alongside me)

It has prompted hundreds of conversations about the merits of rescue greyhounds though, whch is always a good thing :) :) People have even been inspired to adopt their own after seeing mine :D
 

SadKen

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We've got two GSDs and I would love another but the house and garden probably aren't suitable. I'll get another or potentially two more when we move. I think the right number is as many as you want provided you can look after them! I'd love to have an oldie rescue and I'd love to have space for a bigger pack. The more the merrier.
 

deb_l222

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LOL I used to get my 4 vaccinated annually at the same time, it was ace :p

I bet you get the same.....

"are they all yours?" (no, I randomly go round the village stealing other people's greyhounds to walk)

"oooo you've got your hands full there" (no, really I haven't.... showing passers-by the dog leads in one hand and
my other free hand, whilst all 4 walk perfectly alongside me)

It has prompted hundreds of conversations about the merits of rescue greyhounds though, whch is always a good thing :):) People have even been inspired to adopt their own after seeing mine :D


Oh my god yes!! Suddenly I have my hands full with three but I was perfectly in control with two. If anyone says that, I usually say “yeah, it’s this one that’s a nightmare” and point at Willow lol 😂

We’ve just come back from the seaside and they’ve all had an upset tummy, hence the mass trip to the vet last night.

Rufus was a bit icky before we even left. Thought he was OK but was sick again Saturday. Willow spent all day Saturday being sick - joyous!! Then Button had a close encounter with a dodgy shellfish Tuesday morning and got the trots!! All this in a chalet. We had fun all the same 😂
 

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Oh my god yes!! Suddenly I have my hands full with three but I was perfectly in control with two. If anyone says that, I usually say “yeah, it’s this one that’s a nightmare” and point at Willow lol 😂

We’ve just come back from the seaside and they’ve all had an upset tummy, hence the mass trip to the vet last night.

Rufus was a bit icky before we even left. Thought he was OK but was sick again Saturday. Willow spent all day Saturday being sick - joyous!! Then Button had a close encounter with a dodgy shellfish Tuesday morning and got the trots!! All this in a chalet. We had fun all the same 😂

I'm glad you had fun :) I do hope they all get well soon - for your sake as much as theirs :)
 

Clodagh

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I can only really love one at a time. I always think it is just as well I only had one child!
Tawny is my girl (I don't actually own her, but in every way she is my soul mate). Brandy and Pen are my OH's and I love them, and train them, and work them, but I don't love them like Tawny. Equally they don't follow me around, they follow him. If we leave the house at the same time and go in different directions T follows me and the other two him.
Ffee will hopefully follow in Tawny's footsteps and I will come to love her the same. Right now she is cute but needy!
So we have four, which I like having, so it must be the optimum number! For us we need two that can take a lot of work, so you tend to end up with one older and one up and coming.
We have an L200 pick up. :)
 

CMcC

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I think you might be on the wrong forum to ask the “normal” number of dogs/horses/chickens people have!

“Normal” people round here seem to have 1 dog, usually a sadly under socialised specimen that has to be scooped up by owner if approached by another, very friendly dog.

Owner usually greets me walking 3, sometimes 4 if sister’s dog is staying with, “you’ve got your hands full” or “are they all yours?” As if owning more than one dog is so weird they have to comment.
 

meleeka

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Owner usually greets me walking 3, sometimes 4 if sister’s dog is staying with, “you’ve got your hands full” or “are they all yours?” As if owning more than one dog is so weird they have to comment.

There’s a lady near me that walks her daughters dogs, there are four or five and they are a lovely collection of toy/small dogs. I love seeing them as they are all different breeds and very different, all beautifully groomed and friendly and the lady chats away to them as they walk. She certainly has her hands full as there’s a naughty one that always seems to want to go a different way (all on leads).
 

rara007

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We have 5 at home between us all :) Though only 1 is mine he’s probably more work than the other 4 put together! I bet average in private homes is about 1.3... wonder if a survey has been done.
 

dogatemysalad

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If normal means usual, then most dog owners have one or two. The majority don't have the space, time and money to have more. Its normal for people with working dogs to breed and keep more for obvious reasons. My neighbour who is a sheep farmer currently has 5 collies and a Jack Russell. Only the JR lives in the house, unless the weather is really dire.
We've got 2 dogs and have daughters 2 dogs when she's away. Its fine, we've got enough room but to keep 4 dogs would be very expensive, along with the cats, horses and doves.
It's also easier to find camping sites or cottages for holidays with just the two.
 

pippixox

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what is normal?!
Non- animal addicted people used to comment when I had 4 horses, a big GSD and a new born baby! But it was normal to me. I would have got more dogs but he was selective with his mates so better as an only dog.

A few years later I’m sadly down to two horses (sensibly sold one and tragically pts 7 year old pony) and lost GSD a few years ago. But we now have two ‘medium’ dogs (collie and lab) and I would get more, but I have toddler and baby, so realistically it is hard to go out on my own with any more children or dogs! Plus we lived in a small house and have just moved with husbands work to small house in France! I digress.

I have considered if we had a bigger house I would adopt another pair, possibly oldies, who would then be walked separately. Hopefully in a few years.... I am broody for a GSD. My family will continue to think I’m mad but accept it and invite all the dogs round of they want to see the grandkids 😂

To answer the actual question. Most people would see 1-2 as normal. Although I get looks running with my two and baby in buggy! But my MIL briefly had 7 (all quite small mind) although no that is not ‘normal’ 😜
 

pippixox

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Some people can have too many. I must admit I think my MIL did for a bit, as the oldies got basically no attention and she had three puppies close together who two years later are still pretty feral! As never really had even basic training and not walked much.
But I know a few people with 4+ and they all get as much exercise and attention as they need.

I gather the formula for how many animals is n+1 (n being current number!) that is my husbands theory on bikes so I felt it applied well to animals too
 

TheresaW

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We have 2, which suits us. We had 3 for a few weeks after Bo came and before we said goodbye to Aled. Having 2 much closer to age makes life a lot easier. Aled and Luna were being walked separately for quite a while as she needed far more exercise than he could cope with for the last few months. I also felt guilty taking her to the horses etc and leaving him at home to go out for a much shorter walk with OH.

Obviously, I would have been so happy to have 3 for much longer than we did, and if a 3rd desperately needed a home at some point in the future, and would fit in with these 2, then I wouldn’t hesitate.

I will say my life has become a lot easier going from 3 horses to 2, and not sure I would get a third again. Much as I miss my old boy, the reduction in work, as well as costs suits me.
 

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It might be because I've always had unruly terriers, but I tend to look on multiple dogs as I do multiple kids...only as many as you can grab and carry :D So, for me, as a weakling, 2-3 terriers, or 1 pointer size and 1 terrier...and veto to anything else and more!
 

Follysmum

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We had 4 until our old rescue died at 17
3 yrs ago . Down to 3 at moment but when we move we will get another pup and 2 more kittens. I don’t think it matters how many you have as long as they are well catered for.
 

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I have 3 abd a deposit on a 2 week old Bichon x Shitzu puppy but i cant choose which one, the chocolate girl or the white with chocolate patches girl 😊
 
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