What is your ideal pack?

[Picklepaige]

I looove these type of threads, and we haven't had one in a while, so let's go!

Right now, I think I want four. Two koolies, a GSD, and Finn. Of course this could change, and there are other breeds I am interested in, but for now that is what I am thinking. My boyfriend also wants a dog, but he's not sure yet what he wants.

Your turn!

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Ideally 2. 1 ACD for me. 1 bird dog for Josh.

Reality 4. 2 ACDs for me*. 1 Bulldog for pet**. 1 bird dog for Josh.

*Let's be honest. These dogs are too awesome for me to have just one.
**depending on money and time after I graduate, I may dabble in bitework stuff with the next jowel dog. Josh grew up with American Bulldogs and misses them a lot. I like the protection aspect of it, especially once we move out to a farm in a more rural area. Even if I don't do IPO, they scare people away unintentionally.

 

[stardogs]

I honestly don't know for sure. I really want to always have at least 1 mal and one ACD, but I also love my goofy corgi mix, and I prefer even numbers, soooo... Maybe I'll always have 4 in some combo of ACD/Mal/herding mix?

 

[k9krazee]

These two!

I absolutely love having two dogs who are just so...similar. It's probably not a good thing and they're too similar to be compatible, really ---they both love destroying paper, neither of them ever sleeps, they both like the exact same spot on the bed and both want to be only dogs and think the universe revolved around them.

In the far future, when I retire and open my own dog center, I'll have MOAR DOGS but right now (with current job, house, lifestyle, etc) I'm really not suited for multiple dogs. I hope my two buttheads live forever.

 

[teacuptiger]

Lurchers of all sizes, some retired racing Greyhounds, a JRT or two, a Dogo, and probably a Boxer cuz I frickin love Boxers.

Probably a dog or two of random breed that I like, as well. I mean, there are a lot of different breeds I'd like to own. My main focus is on sighthounds, though cuz they're my favorite

 

[PWCorgi]

Just Siri. Forever. And ever. And ever.

The older I get the more realistic my wants are becoming. My ideal is one dog of medium size and short hair, with a high energy level. Ryan and I have talked about Dals, Viszla and Whippets as high possibilities that fit and that we may want to live with.

Borzoi are still at the top of my list, we will just see how realistic it is when the time comes, which would be post-Siri, for my next dog.

 

[Laurelin]

My ideal is 2 small-medium (20-40 lbs) high energy dogs that are up to training in various things and also have good solid off switches.

Sadly dogs age and such and I see myself almost always having 3-4 dogs because of it.

 

[Julee]

I really enjoy having a house filled with dogs. I also really enjoy variety. I enjoy doing a lot of different dog things.

I'm going to be one of those crazy people that dances near double digits.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

I honestly am not too sure but I think it might look like this.

1-2 Koolies or maybe 1 Koolie 1 BC for me
1 lab for the bf
maybe 1 ridgeback which works for us both

 

[Slick]

Ideal: 2

Leo + Female Border Collie

Probably won't happen for a few more years though. I'll have to find my own place first. It's relatively easy to find housing with just one dog around here, but very difficult for housing with two.

 

[amberdyan]

My ideal for the current time/space I have is Hugo+ BC girl, which will happen in 2016. In the future when I have more space, I would like to add a foster or two, but I'll probably be a 2 personal dog household, probably 2 medium sized herders.

 

[Laurelin]

I think if I'm going to end up with 3-4 at a time, I want to try various herder and probably terrier type dogs. Or mixes. BC, Koolie, ACD, pyrshep, mudi, pumi, JRT, Belgian, sheltie, MAS, sport mixes, rescue mixes, I could see myself with various combos of the above.

 

[*blackrose]

Ideal would be 2-3 spaced so there is a senior, adult and pup.

One large(ish) dog that is the primary watch/guard/deterrent for the property. Then one or two "easier", more mediumesque sized dogs that are, in general, more social and less work than said large(ish) dog. LOL Wash and wear coat. Social with family animals. Good with kids. Quiet. Athletic.

Honestly, a lot of different breeds would work. Whether we obtain a certain breed or mix dog will all just depend on circumstances.

Currently Cynder and Abrams are filling their respective roles quite nicely. If we were to add a third, I'd look for another dog around 30-45 pounds, social butterfly, stable, kid friendly, moderately active, quiet.

 

[Elrohwen]

I really don't know. Right now I want two, and I think that will be a good number. I would have preferred to wait until Watson was ~5, but he was bred this month and getting a puppy now rather than later works out better for our life plans. I want to have a kid at some point and I want the younger dog to be at least 2. I also think a second Welsh will be a better fit for having a young kid, vs some of the herding breeds I would like to try (who may be higher energy, or not as naturally fond of kids). Once we have a kid I'll have to completely rethink what my ideal pack is based on how things go.

If I weren't planning to have kids, I think 3 would be a good number. Spread out in age about 5 years; at least one Welshie and at least one herding dog, probably Aussie, English shepherd, or BC

 

[BostonBanker]

What I have now isn't bad for me. I really only want/need one dog in heavy training/competition. I actually didn't think Meg would still be competing at all by this point, but she's still loving it (more so now that I don't train her regularly). I wouldn't want to pull my focus off Gusto yet, because he really does still need the training focus to be on him.

I could see going to 3 at some point if my living situation allowed it - having one retired, one who was still competing but basically trained, and a puppy to be starting. That was the spread I did with Meg and Gusto (minus the retired dog) and it worked out well. If things allowed, looking at a puppy in another 18 to 24 months would be pretty good.

All mid-sized herding/herding types for me. I know what I like and don't need a lot of variety, especially because I do like to keep numbers small. I sometimes think about getting a small, snuggly dog to just be a pet, but then I think about how I like to go off hiking and stuff, and the type of dog I'd want for that role wouldn't be well-suited. And I'd hate leaving one behind.

 

[crazedACD]

Currently my "pack" is just about perfect. Though I wish I had another dog to show or trial with sometimes. I guess my ideal would be two dogs that are ready to train/trial/show, and maybe a third couch warmer. I don't want more than four dogs at a time, and realistically probably 2-3.

I had a puppy in the house yesterday I'm doing some training with and I just don't know when I'd be ready to add one permanently. I felt bad because Fiona is the baby and I felt so so guilty snuggling with the puppy...I think I just want her as the baby .

I really don't know. Right now I want two, and I think that will be a good number. I would have preferred to wait until Watson was ~5, but he was bred this month and getting a puppy now rather than later works out better for our life plans. I want to have a kid at some point and I want the younger dog to be at least 2. I also think a second Welsh will be a better fit for having a young kid, vs some of the herding breeds I would like to try (who may be higher energy, or not as naturally fond of kids). Once we have a kid I'll have to completely rethink what my ideal pack is based on how things go.

If I weren't planning to have kids, I think 3 would be a good number. Spread out in age about 5 years; at least one Welshie and at least one herding dog, probably Aussie, English shepherd, or BC

Haha you have it all planned out don't you? From kids to puppies .

 

[Raegan]

74 Tollers

 

[Toller_08]

Ideally I'd have two dogs similar in size and energy level. Dance and Journey are ideal in many ways but I wish Dance was a better playmate for Journ.

I would really like someday just to stick to two dogs, but I don't see that actually happening. Ideally in a year and a half or two years my plan had been to add another Aussie and have Journey trained and trialing in Agility, puppy in training for everything, and couch potato Dance. Fen has thrown a wrench into that plan but if I keep her it could still work out fine as realistically Dance is getting up there. So if I keep her plus get another Aussie, Dance will be 10ish, Journey will be almost 5, and Fen will be almost 3 by the time I'd get an Aussie puppy. But I just don't love having four dogs as much as two or three. It's tough to stick with an ideal pack.

 

[StillandSilent]

But how can Dance be almost 10? I swear I remember when she was a tiny puppy.

3 dogs is my ideal. I will always have a herder (but never again one mixed with a coyote!), and I will always have a whippet. The third is up for grabs. This time, I'm going with another whippet, because of apartment size and the lack of ability to do C&R while living with 2 intact males. There is less of a chance of problems with 2 whippets as opposed to a whippet and a herder.

By the time the puppy comes, Gambit will be 5, and Gimmick 2. Gambit is getting to where he no longer enjoys me fostering, so I'm going to add a permenant member to the family and be done.

Unless Quid comes back. Then it will be one herder, one whippet and one manatee.

 

[Red.Apricot]

Just Elsie.

In real life, my boyfriend has dogs too; so his dog or two.