How many dogs can someone care for adequately? - Page 1

I was thinking about some recent and past threads here, whereupon a woman has forty or so dogs and many are saying that, that is just too many to care for adequately.  I also remember several threads whereupon a man (I think it is a man, but I'm not sure) stated he (?) has 60+ dogs and all kinds of other animals, too many to list, and it brought to mind a few questions.  I know that there are large dog business's which sell dogs the world over and have many, many dogs, but I am unsure as to how many they actually have, so:

Here are some facts, opinions and questions.

I have 10 dogs.  It is work, all day and much of the night, and costs a fairly good amount of money (which I am blessed to be able to afford).

  I understand some peoples concern that if you have forty dogs, that might overwhelm someone.  I can not imagine it, especially if I had a regular job.  I only work 8 to 10 hours a week and don't really have to work that much if I don't want to.

However, as pointed out by someone else here.  It can be done, especially if you have employees or family that pitch in.  You would diffinitely have to be an organized person and you would not have much time for internet chatter.

Having said all of that.  What if I told you that I had 60+ dogs and a menagerie of other animals of all kinds?  Would you believe that I and my wife could handle it, and give the animals the care they require?  Would you believe that I could be on the internet as much as I am?  Would you believe that each and every dog gets the attention, medication, hygiene, shots, worming, vet vistis, licenses, etc, etc, properly?  How much would it cost to spay and neuter that many dogs?  How hard would it be to keep them from constantly fighting?  Would you have to have 60 plus kennels?  Would you rotate them each, allowing different ones into the house to be part of the family every so often (that one gets me)?

I'm just curious if anyone believes that this is plausible.

Anyone out there have 60+ dogs, and a private zoo, or know of anyone that does?  I mean anyone that is not anonymous so that it can be believed.   I am not talking about dog pounds or shelters, although I have been to many and have never seen one that had 60+ dogs.  Maybe that many dogs and cats combined, but not dogs.

Would it be plausable or even possible that a private person, who does not make money from dogs, could do this?  I'm just asking.

It all depends on how much help a person has    ...a woman in Dallas has over 40 and she and her husband take care of them and she is in the schutzhund club and just had a baby.....

depends on how many people you hire to help you...Its actually no body;s business how many people you hire to work for you or  how do people know so much about peoples personal business......

I can only answer how many I can keep tract of   not anyone else...

Jane Steffenhagen hired and employed as many as 30 people in her Wis kennel      in germany she had another kennel for years.....I laughed at her when she told me to stay in the nursery for three days and not leave the new mother.....she has employees to do that for her.....I had to make a schedule with my daughter to bring me lunch and come give me a potty break and tend to the rest of the dogs.....then back to my bed in the whelping box....

That's all well and good but I was asking about haow many can one couple handle.  Not hiring thirty employees.

Personally I can't see myself having enough time for more than four, and I spend most of the day with the few I have already. That's with them living in the house with me and getting hours' worth of one on one attention, though.

DoRight, a post for Moi?..........................I must have really got your Goat!

that too depends on the couples age and their experience or level of their training before they started the journey....

also  some  people are more organized , have more scheduled  programs and have a greater talent and dedication to raise as many as 30 gsd;s at a time  ...Its like running a household where the woman of the house , God made her able to do many jobs at one time and in sucession.....   women are like a plate of spaghetti    every job touches the other and they work like that........men on the other hand   work out of the box.....one job at a time and get it done ..then go to the next job...so one couple can do almost anything they set their mind to.l

proper buildings,,,  lights, air conditioning  ..proper cages with proper clean up area....heater,  food spaces,, plenty of water lines,   trees ,,   play pens, and an area for play and training..... proper pens for each kind of age level,,,and make a schedule , that enables you to work easily and on time.....

Vehicles for carrying the dogs to clubs and socialization,,, plenty of meds and shots and proper cleaning aids on hand and in a location for good timing to do each chore...the list goes on and on ....and some people can and some people cant....High goals and high ambition  can achieve anything you set your site on....

I am sooo glad you said that YellowRose.

I have just made up my mind I am going to the NBA, even if I am 6', white and 54.  You convinced me that I can do it.

On my way baby.    vroooom...............

Seriously though.  It ain't possible for one couple, that have jobs outside that, and not plausible even if they don't have regular jobs.  You obviously have not had a whole bunch of dogs at once.  I mean a WHOLE BUNCH of dogs.  On paper, yes, one couple could do it, but in practical reality.  It ain't feasible, without employees or lots of help, unless your dogs are just in kennels existing, and nothing more.  The costs to PROPERLY care for that many dogs would be a hardship for anyone that is not wealthy, and has been discussed before on this database, the wealthy don't squander their money.  That is why they are wealthy.

Naw.  Nope.  I don't believe it is possible.  Especially if you are not making money from the dogs, and then you are forgetting about what I included about having a multitude of other animals, like you would find in a zoo, but at a private home.  I would like one person that is not anonymous, to come on here and tell me that they do it.  This is many times mentioned as the largest and most popular dog forum on the world wide web, so is there ANYONE out there that can give a legimate, real name, and does anything remotely close to what I described.  If so, I will send them a large box of dog biscuits.

DR -

I feel for you sweetie.  I, too, have 10 dogs...but not by choice.  Personally for me, 4-5 is MORE than enough.  (7GSD's, 1 Mal., and 2 Lhasa's)  I CAN and DO, care for the dogs that I have, but it's a struggle.  The lineup goes like this.....

1 adult male (neutered) GSD and the Mal,. belong to my middle daughter (18) who works and helps pay for their food and bills.  She also helps with the training, cleaning, and care of ALL the dogs.

1 adult female - mine, that I'm soley responsible for.

4 (1yr) old females from last litter still here.  One of them I had always intended on keeping. One is still here, but actually belongs to a gentleman on our local fire department and HE is paying for her food and bills...but I still clean up after her. The other two little girls just really need to find good homes.  But will stay here until acceptable homes are found.  LOL

1 (1yr) old male from same litter as above - mine, that I'm responsible for, but still looking to place him.  I keep up on his training (SchH) because I KNOW he has the potential.  He is excelling very nice is all aspects of his training, and his drive is off the chart.  But I can't keep him because I have his sisters. ( and YES, I keep him seperate from ALL the girls.)  But again, he will stay until acceptable home is found!

2 adult Lhasa's that I inher. when my mother passed away.  The estate helps pay for some of the cost, but not all.

It's is very time consuming and stressful, and although I am told that I'm doing a pretty good job at keeping up with all of them (to include the Lhasa's), I am my worst critic!!! 

Christine