Single or multiple dog household, which do you prefer?

[dogs4life]

After living in multiple dog households for about 6 years, having 1 dog seems a bit quiet and lonely. So I thought I'd post a fun little poll.....

Which type of household do you prefer if you had the choice....a single or a multiple dog house?

For those of you that prefer multiple dog households, what's your personal limit?

If you have multiple dogs, would you ever be able to have just 1 dog or would that be torture?

I'll start:

Our family prefers multiple dogs and I cannot imagine just having a single dog household for long. My personal limit is 2 while I have kids in the house, but after kids are grown or take on more of the responsibilities, I'd like to expand my limit to 5.

[Sheltiemama]

I want three of my own and I am willing to foster up to three. I wouldn't consider having more than three shelties at one time that belong to me, it is simply too time consuming to keep up on grooming and on their individual training.

[Punkygirl0101]

Well, since my own belief is that dogs do much better with their own kind considering they are pack animals (Just like I would never keep a rat alone, or a guinea pig, etc), I definitely prefer multiple dogs at one time.

Though, I don't want 12 in the future lol. 6-8 would probably be my limit, unless I decided to move to the country and start doing dog rescue.

[tessa_s212]

I chose, "I cannot imagine my life without a multiple dog household", "8+ dog limit", and "4 dog limit".

I truly could never imagine not having more than one more dog in my house. Since the time I can remember we've always had at least three. We had nine, but Ginger was put to sleep this past September, leaving us with 8. And now we are bringing home another to foster.

However, in my future household I don't plan to have more than four dogs. I plan to have 2-3 of my own dogs that I own, and 1-2 fosters at any given time. If ever I have children a long time down the road and they wish to compete and do what I do(agility, obedience, etc), they can have a dog of their own(and put me over the 4 dog limit) if they prove to me they will take care of it, but when it is just me, or just me and my husband, I do not plan to have any more than four because I would like to have enough time and attention for all of them.

[Doglover1988]

I chose I cannot imagine life without multiple dogs at home and 4 dog limit. I could probably have more than that myself but 3-4 is the limit for my parents while i'm living at home. I also believe that it isn't healthy for a dog to be a single dog.

[StephanieandTeddy]

I like a one-dog household.

[dogs4life]

I think there are wonderful perks of having just 1 dog. I find it easier to travel and have family outings with just 1 dog opposed to 2 dogs. We take Hank in public way more than we did when we had 2 dogs...


LOL, we 3 posted at once....

This was meant to be a friendly poll, we all have different lifestyles, housing situations and training preferences. Please keep it civil.

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by Doglover1988

I also believe that it isn't healthy for a dog to be a single dog.

I'm interested to hear your reasons why you think this DL?

River is a single dog and he is one of the happiest dogs I know - and this comes from other people observing him as well. While I believe there are certain personality type dogs out there that wouldn't cope as sole dogs I think if you are committed to properly caring for a single dog they can be just as happy as multi dog households. He doesn't miss out on interacting with other dogs as we know lots of other dogs he can play with plus we go to training 3 times a week - and to be completely honest for the most part he seems to prefer my company to that of other dogs as well. And because he's a sole dog I make an effort to not leave him alone for any longer than he absolutely needs to be whereas some people I know personally think it's ok to leave their dogs alone for 24 hours because they have another dog with them so aren't lonely.

Anyway getting back on topic - I'd like to have 2 dogs but seriously don't think I could properly devote the time I want to any more than that - plus where I live you are limited to a 2 dog maximum per house, or 1 dog in a unit as we are.

[Ritz459]

Being raised around multiple dogs, I don't think I could live with just a single dog. Its funny really...we've always had three dogs around.

Blackie started out as an only dog, then we "adopted" our neighbors Malamute. Shortly after that, Brownie came onto the scene. When Brownie passed away, we kept Rose. Shortly after Loupie, the Malamute passed away, we fostered Sadie. And then shortly after Sadie was returned to Michigan, Chloe came onto the scene. lol

So three dogs for me is perfect (as long as they aren't all in their insane puppy stage at once!). Four would probably be my doggy limit as after that I don't know if I could devote to them the time they need. There is a group of six dogs that come in for boarding (two big, four small) that are all from one family. When I take them out for their TLC time I don't know how the lady can live with them all. LOL

[Cassiepeia]

I chose "I can live with just 1 dog" because, although I would much prefer to have multiple dogs, I've lived with one dog for so long that I know one dog suits me just fine if that is all I can have at the time. One dog is a heck of a lot better than no dog. Having no dog is just down right lonely and sad.

Cass.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

One dog is certainly easier, esp. when it comes to traveling, but I can't imagine ever going back to just one now. We have four, and I'm looking forward to going back down to 2 (and then will probably foster at least a third). Four is a little bit much for me to keep up with on my own, and I'm more comfortable being responsible for vet bills for 2-3 dogs at most right now (which is another reason I'm definitely at my limit with 4, and blessed by their good health!).

[Doglover1988]

[quote=Rivsky;257731]I'm interested to hear your reasons why you think this DL?[quote]

I guess some dogs are happy by themselves but I don't think the majority are. I had Zoe for years as an only dog and when we adopted my mom's poodle she just completley came out of her shell. Zoe was abused and neglected her young life so she never learned out to play with a person. She did though learn how to play with other dogs. She was still her same sweet cuddly self but seemed 10xs happier when I got a new dog. When angel was hit by a car and I only had Zoe she just seemed so sad again. My mom then got Gracie as a birthday present for me from the shelter. I asked her to get a medium sized male because that is what Zoe would get along best with but she got a small female. They got along good enough. Zoe did tear a hole in her neck her second day which required stitches. but after that they were best friends. lol Then along came Maggie. Maggie just crazied everything up. When I brought her home she couldn't even be in a room alone with either dog. Her and Gracie got in a fight the second she came in my house for the first time. I didn't even dare let Zoe near her at first because Zoe could be dog agressive to other aggressive dogs. Somehow though it all worked out and Gracie and Maggie became best friends. Zoe was kind of off by herself most of the time but I could tell she still enjoyed the company of the other girls because if one of them was gone she would walk around looking for her. When I brought home Lucy as a puppy everything just got better! Everyone loved Lucy and Lucy loved everyone. They even had arguments about who got to be closest to Lucy or play with Lucy. When Zoe died Lucy was heartbroken but she had the other two to hang out with. The three I have are perfect matches and perfect for me and my family. I could never chose just one of them. I love them all. I will always have at least 3 dogs. I think that number works out the best for the dogs. Maybe not for the owner though. If you have 3 or more bonded dogs and one passes away it is easier on the others since there is still someone else there. Sorry for the long post lol that kind of went off topic...

[Faol]

Rivsky is right, there are some dogs that do better in a one dog household. Akbash dogs have an instinctive distrust of other dogs, which is why socialization is so important early on. Personally though, I love having multiple dogs, but if I was living by myself, I doubt very much that I could find the time and energy that three dogs would demand.

[Lunachick]

Originally Posted by Faol

Rivsky is right, there are some dogs that do better in a one dog household. Akbash dogs have an instinctive distrust of other dogs, which is why socialization is so important early on. Personally though, I love having multiple dogs, but if I was living by myself, I doubt very much that I could find the time and energy that three dogs would demand.

Ah..ahem, missy. One of those three dogs is mine But I agree. There are quite a few breeds and just certain dogs that require a one-dog household. Faol's Akbash seems to be alright with other dogs. He shows no aggression, though he loves to bug the other two dogs. He's just shy with strange dogs. But naturally, the Akbash dog is dog aggressive.
Though my dog, Zoe, loves Bear, she would still probably be better off in a one-dog household. She still doesn't quite get along with the Akbash, and she's shy/anxious with strange dogs.
But I still prefer multiple-dog households. Though a dog is better then no dog, two or more are better then just one (in my opinion). Triple the fun and such.