How big of a pack?

Finkie_Mom

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#22
I think 3-4 permanent dogs works for me. If I had more space in my house/yard, I could see potentially going to 5, but I don't think that would be ideal, especially with trying to mix in trialing/showing and classes with everyone. It would be a bit too hectic I feel. More than that and I would have to quit my job LOL :p
 

Ivy

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#24
Do you travel? What do you do with the dogs if you do?
Nope, never travel. I've never felt the need or want to go anywhere. I love being home and I get homesick very easily.

I've only boarded my dogs twice in my lifetime and it was only for one night.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#26
Nope, never travel. I've never felt the need or want to go anywhere. I love being home and I get homesick very easily.

I've only boarded my dogs twice in my lifetime and it was only for one night.
Makes sense, that is one thing that keeps us around 4 and often daydreaming of only 2. It's rough finding a pet sitter for four dogs that isn't crazy in cost and we can't travel with all four and relax as much as we would like.
 

CaliTerp07

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#28
I think I could enjoy 2 if they were lounge lizards in the house. Lucy is not, and never has been, a lounge lizard though...so I'm quite content with 1 extremely high maintenance dog!

Every time I think I want a second, I foster or dog sit and am SO ready to be back to 1 dog when it's done.
 

Ivy

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#29
Makes sense, that is one thing that keeps us around 4 and often daydreaming of only 2. It's rough finding a pet sitter for four dogs that isn't crazy in cost and we can't travel with all four and relax as much as we would like.
Even though I love my dogs more than anything in the world, I can't imagine traveling with them in terms of a holiday. A holiday would mean me laying on the couch and not having to get up at all and that's not possible with so many dogs, lol.

Also I would never be able to have a pet sitter in my home. Hank would probably bite and I doubt Dallas would be thrilled about having a stranger come in the house without me there. I've never had to board Dallas yet and I feel confident he would be fine in a boarding facility and Hank has only been boarded once and he was great with the staff.

The rest of the boys are very easygoing in terms of having strangers around, super friendly.

**Sorry for hijacking the thread. Back to topic.
 

CharlieDog

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#33
3 to 4 is ideal, but we've had up to 6 at a time. Six is hectic, but with my job change, I could make it work. I enjoy the heck out of having different dogs at different stages. Enzo and Ozzy are couch potatoes. They don't really do a whole lot except play in the yard with us and each other. Ozzy runs with Steven, but only because he's the smallest and running at Stevens pace is hard for the taller dogs.

Anyway, two higher drive dogs makes things good for me. Knox has the highest drive/intensity/requirement on my time of any dog I've ever owned, worked with or fostered before in my life, so if I had another one of him, I'd be at my limit. Luckily, Indy is a chill, relaxed dog. She is able to settle in the house, go a couple of days to a week without getting a hardcore exercise in.

So I could add 1 to 2 medium energy dogs to this without rocking the boat too badly. Just no more males, because Knox is a jerk. :p And we're looking for one more. I want another Dutch, but I wouldn't say no to a Mal.... lol

And I'd like the ages to be staggered a bit more, but Oz is 6, Enzo 5, Knox and Indy are both 2. But a good four years or so in between each group of two works out.
 
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#34
I love bringing the dogs with me when I travel. It is easier traveling with two, but three is manageable and probably the number I'd like to stay at for keepers. I would also like to eventually foster, though.
 

Pops2

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#35
Ideally, I like to have enough to be able to give a pack 2 days off while running fresh dogs on the off days. For hog dogging that would mean 9 dogs w/ no more than 2 each under 2 yo & over 7 yo & at least 5 between 2-6 yo.
If I were running coyotes or bobcats the numbers would go up to give the dogs an extra day off.
However most diggers keep about half as many & just rotate the most wore down dogs out every couple of days.
 

thehoundgirl

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#37
3-4 is my personal limit. We have 3 right now and I am not looking to add another since Buster is pretty DA and I don't want him to be stressed with how old he is. And 3 is perfect right now. :) Plus, you can only have 3 in the city any way.
 

Fran101

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#38
One for me personally.
but two in the home.
In the perfect situation, me and my significant other would each have a dog.

I like having one dog.. but I also like the idea of the dog having some other dog company when I'm not around, so it's the ideal situation.
 

Lyzelle

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#39
I've managed up to 6 before with very little household issues. Space and time, that's all I need.

My ideal pack would probably be closer to 4, with the dogs in different life stages. Plus any fosters that come through. Traveling isn't a big deal for us. Once we come back to the States, that will probably be it. I drive...everywhere. All the time.

I also have never dealt with aggression, though...and never plan to. I can take harder/stubborn and maybe slightly edgy/shy dogs. But I'm done with major aggression and major fear/skittish. Heart can't take it. Lol.
 

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