[FlDebra]

I don't think there is one number to fit all people or situations. I guess hoarding would be taking on more than you can FULLY provide needs. For instance, I have 3 and have had 4 dogs at a time. For me, that is about all I can do the way I think it should be done -- not only providing quality food, toys, vet care but more importantly providing one on one attention and making sure their social needs are met. My folks have more but they don't goout much. They do give just as much one on one time with each of theirs as I do. I have seen some with 2 dogs that never give them the time of day. Maybe I am going outside the hoarding definition and looking at providing for or neglecting.

Here is a definition: Pathological or compulsive hoarding is a specific type of behavior characterized by:
•acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that would appear to have little or no value to others (e.g., papers, notes, flyers, newspapers, clothes)
•severe cluttering of the person's home so that it is no longer able to function as a viable living space
•significant distress or impairment of work or social life

-First one does not apply to our Yorkies!
-Second, I guess if we had over 10, that would make living space less viable, but again it depends on the individual -- how much space do they have, large house, large yard? Small house or apartment, no yard?
-Third, I think this might be the most telling of the definition. If there are so many as to cause stress, distress, or impair a person's work or social life -- then that would be too many. That number is going to be different in each circumstance. Some dogs are higher maintenance than others, some people have more responsibility and/or drama in their lives. So, how many dogs one can care for adequately without disrupting their everyday routine, is going to be different.