When is too many dogs?

It all started with one little puppy and then you find yourself looking for an excuse to have another one. For quite sometime, there will be an inner debate, justifying your urge to have another pet. Eventually when you've won (against yourself) you then discuss it with your partner - which you'll win again. Triumphantly, you add another fur ball. But then after a few months or years, you find yourself crying after you saw a social media post looking for an adoptive parents to an abandoned pup or a senior dog left at the side of the road. The justification starts again - but now it's to save a life.

Some may say having a pet is addicting - you somehow end up with more than one as you originally planned. But why so this urge? How many is too many?

Based from statistics, over 62% of Australians have at least one pet. 72% have at least one dog while 37% have at least one cat. This data distinctly declares that two-thirds of Australia feel that urge to have one or more pet. Pet owners are aged under 65. Younger generations are quite active and they want to have a furry companion as their travel buddy or someone who has the same energy level as them when they go for a run.

The reasons when we gave in to have another furry member of the family proves that pets are huge help to us. Aside from our maternal instinct to take care of someone - may it be a pet or a human child, we have that innate feeling that we need to take care of something.

In all these, the importance of having the capacity to take care of more than one or two pets is huge. You have to be financially stable and acknowledge all the responsibilites that goes along with it.

Here are three points you have to think things over:

1. Financial capacity

Do you have the financial means to make them comfortable until they grow old and grey? Regular vet visit is a must. Will your wallet be able to keep up financially? Allocating sufficient resources to cater to the needs of each dog ensures their health and happiness without straining the owner's financial stability.

2. Space

With multiple dogs, the space requirements increase exponentially, demanding a well-designed environment that minimizes stress and potential conflicts.

3. Commitment

This is important. This is a lifetime set up. You can't leave them behind or put them on a shelter when you can't cope anymore.

4. Time

One pet may take not that too much time but having another one will require double time and double effort also. Can you hustle time of being a mom, furmum, wife and your work? Owners must be prepared to invest ample time and energy into each dog's well-being, considering their unique needs and personalities.

In essence, the decision to have multiple dogs goes beyond the appeal of creating a bustling doggy haven. It demands thorough planning, sufficient resources, a deep understanding of canine behavior, and a commitment to providing each dog with the best possible quality of life.