How many is too many??

I

itsme123

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So, I'm having a major think here, and would appreciate a kick up the backside / advice.
How many 'pets' is too many?

I currently have: a dog, two rabbits and two ponies. One pony is on long term loan to a trusted friend. He;s a veteran and now into his last 'job' (pulled out of retirement to teach her children the ropes). Upon finishing his job, he'll go on full retirement at hers. His future's secured and he doesn't cost me a penny. Second pony is a companion / ridden. In exchange for the first pony being loaned (I really am doing her a huge favour there) he's on free livery. Costs me nothing either, bar the odd trim and insurance. IF the worst happened I always have other options, again, at little cost.

I have money in a bank account for vets for the other pets, to pay for anything below about £700 in treatment. This pays for jabs and emergencies.

Ex has 3 cats that live with me. I get paid maintenance for them lol, at £40 a month. He also pays for all their vets and their insurance.

My bitch is hyper (pain in the butt at times) but nice natured. My original plan was to breed from her with the assistance of friends who are breeders, but I (personally) am fast going off the idea, least because I don't feel she is the right type to breed from. The breeders desperately want a litter from her, and have offered to pay for everything, but I'd rather she was just a pet, spayed and left to it. I was going to keep a pup for myself as a companion for her, but I can't really face the whole puppy stage thing again. And I've just this overwhelming feeling I don't WANT pups from her. I look at her and just see an odd shaped dachshund (sp), and something is screaming NOT to breed from her.

I've been offered an older dog to re home. Speaking to the owner, she's a calm bitch who is house trained and trained on the lead / recall etc. This, i feel, would suit me to the ground, and probably be a good thing for my bitch, helping to calm her and assisting with the small anxieties we have over separation. I've room for another crate and a sizeable enough garden (older bitch is a terrier). I'm going to see this bitch tomorrow, and take mine to meet her.

So my choices are :

Go ahead with the breeding in a year's time, keep a pup, and then have her spayed.

Have her spayed now and get an older dog as a friend for her.

Have her spayed and just stick to one dog. As soon as I mentioned looking at a companion for her my family looked at me like I was bonkers....

So, how easy is it going from one dog to two? Am I bonkers for thinking of getting another dog?
 
I'm confused I thought you already had another dog?!
Dont breed...end of! That ones easy.
IMO transition from one to two is easy. The older dog sounds like the best option although obviously you have to be aware that with age comes more likelihood of medical issues which are a financial commitment to consider...I cant work out if shes 'older' as in aged or just older than your dog from your post though, so possibly not such a major consideration...although they all get old eventually!
 
no, just the one right now. Current bitch is approaching 1 (at end of month). The bitch I'm looking at is 6.

Am i right in thinking there'll be no issue with insurance age 6? She's up to date with jabs, been spayed, microchipped and has no health problems (owner has offered me her vets number).
 
Did you have another or am I getting confused again?!
Not the right person to ask on insurance front, mine arent insured. I'm sure someone here will know.
 
Oh no I knew that...sorry. I thought I remebered seeing a post a while ago saying you had a second dog. Must have got confused with someone else.
 
If your current dog is "hyper", I would not bet on another dog being a companion changing this. a lot of people have the misconception that 2 dogs will amuse each other. Not always the case, she may resent the new dog and new dog may not settle.

Also with 3 cats in the house it could become mayhem :eek:

I went from 2 dogs to 3, 2 years ago (before one was PTS) with little issue but then I have a lot of time to exercise/supervise them.

I think you know that breeding from her is not the thing to do, if her breeders were so desperate to use her they should've kept her themselves.

Meet the other dog with yours as you say to get a feel of how they might be if you decide to have her.
 
If you don't want to breed and don't have the experience then don't do it. There are thousands of dogs being pts every year in this country so why add to those numbers when your heart isn't really in it? Think of this, as a responsible breeder you have to offer the new owners the option to return the dog to you if something happens (change in work patterns, dogs temperment doesn't suit etc) so do you really have the time, space, money to deal with potentially having dogs returned at an age where you will be unable to resell?

If I were you I'd get your bitch spayed and look into taking on the other dog as a companion to her, 2 dogs are lovely to have when they get on. Make sure you are 100% with the new dog being compatable with your girl and have a trail period to ensure they have settled. Be warned you may find your girls hyperactively rubs off on the quiet one..honestly it does happen!! I've got a pack of 6 dogs and my recent addition (lurcher puppy..mad as a box of frogs!) has rubbed off badly on my previously very sensible older Standard Poodle cross!!! Wouldn't change them for the world but old quiet and sensible doesn't always quieten down mad youngsters!! Lol!!
 
Look at why your bitch is hyper. Exercise? food?

Also get her spayed. Don't breed from here there are thousands of terrier types in shelters.

Look at what you want from another dog. Do YOU want another dog for you? If so go ahead if your two get on. Are you getting another dog for your dog? If so i would say no.
 
Thankyou everyone for your replies. Certainally food for thought. I don't want to breed, I just don't know enough about it.... and it doesn't sit right with me.

Regarding current bitch, she's 'hyper', meaning she's a terrier, she's into everything (not naughty) and likes constant stimulation. Walks 3 or 4 times a day to burn off energy, but she's still only 11 months old, so to be expected. I feed her on a raw diet, so I know exactly what she's eating.

I just get the feeling she could do with another of her kind to keep her company and to play with. I can cope fine with her energy levels, but it would be nice for her to have another dog to play with in the garden, because she tries to get the cats to play with her and they won't and she's just so friendly she doesn't understand. I get a feeling she's lonely :o despite me being here most of the time.
I'd like another dog. I love the company, I love the walks,I love the responsibility.

I'm going to go meet the other bitch and see how she gets on with mine, that's the main thing, because if there's any concerns then I won't go ahead. I'll let you know how I get on.
 
If the intro goes well, ask if you can foster the other dog for an agreed period of time - say 3 weeks, to really ensure that both dogs get on and settle together!
 
Well you know my feeling re breeding un neccessarily, and this I would deem un neccessary, for the bitch and for you, I know the breeder wanted them, but at the end of the day, she is your loved pet, not hers and its you who would watch her in labour and you who may see her in difficulties through it and poss rush her to the vet and poss have a huge bill, and after losing one do you really want that stress again.

If you really want another then yes I would say get an older more settled dog and trial it first, or spay your little'un and dont put her at any risk you can avoid.
Too many, is the amount I have:o
 
Katielou, some dogs are really just hyper! My lurcher x sheepdog will quite happily spend 9 hours a day looning round the yard I used to work at then want a walk when we got home :eek:

OP I would give the other dog a trial, it really isn't that much harder to look after 2 dogs - assuming she gets on with the cats of course!!
 
For years we only had one dog and then a year ago we rehomed a mini schauzer cross poodle. Altho she is very lively, she and the old dog (now 15) get on well and seems to have given him a new lease of life. We then decided that we would rehome yet another dog as we feel the schauzer is better having a companion. We wanted to get one while our old dog is still around as he is a calming influence. We got a JRT cross from local rescue kennels and so far all 3 get on well. Its no more hard work than one dog as you still have to walk one dog so its as easy to walk two, also they keep each other company. The funny thing was we thought we wouldn't bother having any more dogs after the old one. Now we have three!!
 
Definitely give the older dog a trial - sounds from your posts that you both would enjoy another canine companion and perhaps the cats would be glad too:)

JDx
 
itsme123 said:
Regarding current bitch, she's 'hyper', meaning she's a terrier
Click to expand...

Didn't you say she's a Dachsund? They're Hounds not Terriers :p :D

I don't think you can have too many so long as you have the space and the time. I'm not sure about adding to one - we had 4 by the time I was born. There's 11 at my mum's (3 are mine) and we've never had problems when another comes along or if we have one back for a holiday.

I'd have her spayed and get a companion, it's up to you not the breeder - unless that was the condition when you had her that they would have a litter from her in which case you can't really say no. Or is it something they have just started talking about?
 
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