Multiple Pet Mania and some recent comments on my posts inspired me to write about this…what is the right number of pets? Obviously the answer is different for everyone, so I will just share my experience and point of view. Since three of our four pets are seniors, it’s something I can’t help thinking about a lot.
Other than times (many years ago) when we had kittens in the house, the most pets we have had is 8, four dogs and four cats. It was never anything we planned. We had two cats, and one was getting older so we wanted to be sure the younger one wasn’t left alone. We went to choose a kitten from a litter, and came home with two. Not long after that, the same thing happened with dogs. When our Lab mix Maggie died, Kobi was devastated and couldn’t be left alone. We found another beagle as quickly as we could, but I wanted a big dog too. We had already chosen our golden retriever puppy (we wanted the largest female), but when visiting them one time, we ended up deciding to get two.
It wasn’t too long after that when our older cat died, and we were a 7 pet household for quite a few years. People thought we were crazy but at the time it worked for us. However, it’s not something I would choose to do again. It’s not the vet bills, the expense of food, or the challenges of housecleaning, grooming, and training. For me it’s just the fact that I never felt like I had enough time for each individual pet. They have all still had good lives with us, but I just always wished I could give each one more attention.
Through more losses over the years, we are now only a 4 pet household, 3 dogs and 1 cat. Where do we go from here? I don’t think we could have too many cats…I find cats easy to care for, but again I feel like with so many dogs in the house, poor Samantha doesn’t get as much attention as she should. For that reason, we’ve decided for right now not to get any more cats. Sam is a loner, and likes the dogs fine, so we don’t feel that she is longing for feline companionship. I have to say though that it seems odd only having one cat, and I’m not sure how I will feel about having none. Hopefully I won’t have to know for a long while, but Sam does have her health issues.
The dogs are another story, and it’s much more difficult to figure out what the right number would be. If I wanted another dog right now, my hubby would say yes immediately. I have to keep telling him we don’t need another. When we lost our golden Moses, I was content with three dogs, but with our beagle Kobi aging it did turn out to be the right decision to adopt Luke. But there are difficulties with the odd number of three. I’ll break down my thoughts on different numbers from 1 – 4 (if you have more than four, bless you, I could just never do it).
- Our first two dogs were single dogs. They can get all the attention and all the love and they can easily go places with you. The two biggest cons I see are a) Leaving them home alone while you work or go other places; and b) the devastating emptiness of your house when they pass on. When we lost our first dog Shelby, I was not a person who could get another dog immediately, but the house was so different without a dog. She was my very first dog ever, and I was hooked after having her. But I needed time before getting another.
- We got Maggie after about 6 months, and she was a single dog for her first year. When the opportunity came up to adopt Kobi, we thought it would be a great idea for her to have company. Having two dogs was great…it’s still not too many to take everywhere with you. We camped, hiked, and boated and those were some of the best times I can remember. But when you have two dogs, and lose one, it can be devastating to the one left behind. When Maggie died in a tragic accident, we had to get help with Kobi until we could get another dog. We could not leave him home alone.
Fun times camping and hiking with Maggie and Kobi. - Three is a pretty good number. If you lose one, the others won’t be left alone. The biggest downfall I see is that I can’t take two dogs to do something together without feeling guilty about leaving the third home alone. It’s OK if my hubby is home, but he has told me that often that dog is not very happy while I’m gone with the other two. I know plenty of people do it, but for me handling three out and about can be a bit too much. There is also the issue that one dog often gets left out of playing. When Luke was a puppy, he and Cricket played all the time, and Sheba was left out. Once he got bigger, he and Cricket played less and less together and he and Sheba play more. I always feel bad for the one that is left out.
- Four is good in that now you can take two and leave two, which seems a little better. But taking all four was nearly impossible for me, so when we had four we mostly stayed home. We stopped camping, hiking, and boating. There were other reasons we stopped those things too but it was mostly because of four dogs. Since three of those dogs were puppies at the same time (no, I would never do that again either), there wasn’t a lot of training going on. It was far easier to play with them at home than to try to get four dogs out and about for exercise, even individually. I always walked Kobi because he didn’t play fetch, but the others rarely got walked. There just wasn’t enough time in the day to walk them all individually.
I miss the days of taking dogs everywhere with me, and that’s why I sometimes consider going back to only two (not that I want to think about that day coming). I’d like to get back into hiking and maybe even camping (most campgrounds won’t allow more than two dogs, which was one of the reasons we stopped camping). We stick close to home now because I don’t want to travel away from the pets. My hubby is happy staying home with our whole crew, so he’d be happy to get more.
I think a lot of the reasons for having whatever number of dogs or cats you have all depends on at what you are looking to do with them, what point you are at in your life, or the needs of your current pets. There is no doubt about it, we love having multiple pets, and I doubt that only having one will ever be a choice we would make. One thing is for sure…I may think I have the answer figured out, and next thing you know I’m visiting a litter of puppies or kittens, and two might come home instead of one!
Have you found the right number of pets that works for you?
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Two has been working out for us really well. I think I’d like to have three… but worry it might offset our perfect balance!
You sure had a houseful!
When we got our kitty, the rescue suggested that she be the only kitty. She is needy so I think their suggestion is valid. That means only one kitty.
Three dogs is too many for us I think. Two was much easier to manage. It is nice to upland hunt with three trained dogs though. That way you can switch them out and really work a field without ever overworking one, especially if it is hot out.
There are so many pros and cons to each number. At least it is made easy if you know your kitty always has to be a solo kitty. It seems like I especially see lots of cats in shelters that need to be the only kitty….so many people must have multiple cats that there are less homes that can take in those loners.
Great post, I feel the same way you do about multiple pets. My husband only wanted two dogs so we each could have one to go hunting with if we had any more than one would get left behind and that wouldn’t be any fun. This is how it is happening with Nellie, she gets left behind because of the younger ones, but I wouldn’t give up any of them and soon we will be adding #4 to the group.
Even numbers definitely have their benefits! That means you will be keeping one of the puppies?
Interesting post. I think there are several factors that need to be considered…how big is your house, can you afford the pets, can you give them the attention they need. And always think about what’s best for the pets. Having more can put stress on them.
Island Cat Mom
That is very true and a very good point. Not all animals love all other animals. Finances should also be a big consideration….it’s not good to take on more than you can afford.
I firmly believe that everyone needs at least two pets at any given time. I’d rather have four or more, but financially it just doesn’t work. Plus, I can only scratch two bellies at a time! BOL!
One for each hand works out perfectly! 🙂
As for me and my house – right now one Harley and definitely one Jaxson is more than enough 🙂
Only one puppy at a time is definitely one rule I think I can stick to!
Interesting post, I feel like if someone didn’t stop me, I’d be that crazy dog lady with 100 dogs. BUT I realistically know that I personally cannot handle more than two. Maybe three if they were smaller dogs, but two seems to be a good number for me. Maybe if I had a house with a lot of acreage and didn’t have to worry about walking dogs on leashes, then maybe more. BUT as long as long as I live where I am. Two. It’s definitely two. I know it seems like I waffled there for a moment (see what I mean?) but two’s my limit. 🙂
Trust me, I understand the waffling! 🙂 It is so tempting to just keep adding…especially when we’re exposed to so many cute dogs and puppies on social media and such! I probably shouldn’t belong to any beagle groups on there. LOL
Geez, Jan, you and I are so much alike in thought processes that it’s almost scary! Especially when it comes to feeling guilty about leaving one (or even two) at home while taking the other one out. Or, feeling bad when one is left out while the other two play.
When we only had Callie and Shadow, it was easy because they’re so close in age and are truly best friends. I could take them to the park together and enjoy nice strolls around the park and breaks for relaxing and drinking the water I’d brought along. They were a little difficult at first; but I learned quickly how to handle various situations. And they both have plenty of room in the back seat of my current (and previous) car. And trips to the vet weren’t too bad because they were each other’s moral support (and still are).
Then Ducky came along. Shadow hasn’t been the same. She was always the needy one, but now she’s Velcro Dog. Ducky has been trying to usurp Shadow’s place from Day One. She plays with Callie but rarely with Shadow. But for Callie’s unshakeable devotion to her, I think Shadow would be completely “put out”. We humans try to give Shadow extra attention at times but I sometimes feel like I’ve failed her miserably. Yet, there’s no way I’d give up Ducky. And I keep hoping that one day they will learn to love and accept each other. Would I do it again if I had it to do over, knowing what I know now? I don’t know. Ducky was just too cute to resist, but Shadow was here first. And we can’t afford a new, larger car either.
My biggest hesitation in bringing Luke into the family was the fear that the other dogs would not be happy about it. They weren’t really at first, but then they all adjusted greatly. But that is never a guarantee.
Now with Luke having his fear of strangers and just about anything new, any future additions are really going to have to be considered more carefully.
Yes, you and I do think so much alike! I always feel like I’ve failed Samantha, the dogs just demand so much more attention that I feel like I neglect her sometimes. Especially with her health issues lately, I’ve really been trying harder to give her more attention.
I always thought that people with many dogs were like rednecks and not too civilized. But with four dogs and a cat I changed my mind.
Ha ha I believe I used to think that too!!
I often think about wanting a second dog–we had two for a while when I was growing up, but they were never really friends and I don’t think our second dog really cared all that much when we lost our older dog. Barley loves being able to hang out with my parents’ dog, so if we found the right dog, it could be great–but then I think about all of the things that would change about our lives, like having to walk them both separately since Barley can be a challenge sometimes on her own, needing a bigger car so they both had their own space if we traveled together, needing a bigger bed that all the animals could fit in and still leave room for me, and one dog and one cat suddenly seems like the perfect amount!
It sounds to me like you have it figured out, and that things are working quite well right now. There is definitely something to be said for that!
A very interesting question and one I have been debating a lot lately. Two really is convenient for a lot of reasons.
When my husband and I walk, we each take a dog. You have 2 plates after supper to “clean”. I don’t know if there is room for another on the bed or in the car.
On the other hand, we are getting older and if we want another puppy (which we do) we should do it sooner rather than later.
What is the answer? I wish I knew. 🙂
If either of us figures it out, we’ll have to let the other know. 🙂
I like the plate thing…poor Sheba usually gets left out because she always lets the other two get their way.
I love seeing all of your past and present family pics! So cool!
And omg….see I am bad for this because if it were 100% up to me, I would have about 15 huskies by now. By hubby has other things to say about it hahaha!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Sometimes one half of a couple has to be the voice of reason. 🙂 I understand the temptation to have more though!
I found those photos when I was looking for old ones of Conrad, and was actually thinking ahead for this post so saved them. It was so much fun for me to see them too…things seem pretty quiet around here compared to then!
that is a super good question… and I have no answer…. I sometimes think, oh let’s do it, specially when I hear or read about a dog in need… but I’m not sure, if we are strong enough for two or moredogs.the time as we had two dogs was unforgettable and I always remember this wonderful dogs… but it wasn’t easy sometimes… specially as I had to manage two huskies alone for some days… it felt like being on the way to Iditarod :o)
Well, since I pretty only walk mine one at a time (unless I have a second person with me), it shows that I can really only handle one! And if we didn’t have our nice yard, they wouldn’t be getting enough exercise. So there’s definitely some pros to having only one.