TWO Doodles..."Twice the fun", or " Double Trouble".....????

[Marcia Stevens]

Hi,
I need some advice...! I have a almost 7 month old spayed female F1B Labradoodle.....! I am thinking about getting a 5 month old neutered Labradoodle for a playmate...!
I would love any information from experience and knowledge if this would be a good thing...is it better with 2, or just more trouble..?
Thanks SO much for any input.....!

[Adina P]

That double poop thing...if only there was a way to get rid of THAT issue! I have three...so 3X poop means missing too many days of clean up leads to a lot of work !

[Adina P]

Fun AND trouble! Did you see the blog on this topic recently? Lots of good info there...but yeah...LOADS of fun and a bit of extra work...but I think the benefits outweight the drawbacks if you can afford the cost, time, work. They eventually all chill out as adults and aren't much trouble.

[Tamara & Giada]

Well, I do not have two Doodles, but I can say we have had a blast with 2 dogs! Yes, it is twice the work and money, but twice the good too.

The only thing I wish is that they were the same size, as yours would be. When Giada was smaller the two of them had a ball, and it was so nice to see our older dog come alive again...now with Giada larger, Summer is affraid to play hard with her:(

Good luck Marcia...let me know what you decide...How fun:)

[9pavxfihcp80]

Our opinion is definitely twice the fun! Ever since we brought Cooper Home in April, He and Calli have formed a wonderful relationship and play incredibly well together. They RARELY get too rough in their play, and if they do, it's generally by accident (like in the course of their play biting, one might get nipped a little too hard, but there's never growling to indicate either one being angry at the other one).

I can tell you, however, that they can be awfully rambunctious when they play in the house and we sometimes have to send them out in the yard!! They are just hysterical to watch, though! I just took some new video of them playing last night that I'll download later.

Good luck with your decision!

[1np1tlyyqzo7v]

I've been thinking about getting another dog soon too. What I keep hearing over and over again though is to WAIT until dog #1 is about two years old. Completely trained in every way 'cause training two at the same time can be so difficult. Any thoughts on this? Sadie is 10 months and I want another SOON but at the same time it may be worth the wait if it's going to be easier once she's older. So confused!

[Adina P]

I don't think 2 years is necessary...but you can make it your training GOAL to get Sadie past a certain point of good behavior and obedience in order to get your second =) As an incentive..ya know?

[1np1tlyyqzo7v]

She's actually really, really good already. I mean, she still pulls on the leash some when walking and she doesn't always come when called. However, I read about much older dogs with the same problems so there are no guarantees, right??

[Adina P]

Pulling on leash is a trained behavior as is coming when called. You either train a dog to pull or you train a dog to walk nicely. You can TOTALLY fix that by teaching her how to walk nicely on leash amid low distractions, then tougher and tougher distractions. Have you seen the picture of my hubby Clark walking ALL THREE dogs on leash in heel? It's totally doable but each dog has to be trained separately first.

[1np1tlyyqzo7v]

I don't know that I would walk them together anyway. I've read about people walking their dogs seperately for some quality time with each dog. As they both learned to walk nicely on leash and got older, then I'd walk them together some.
The other main concern that people have is the expense of having two senior dogs at the same time. That's a valid concern as well but again...there are no guarantees that each dog will lead the longest life expectancy.
We'll see what happens!

[Tamara & Giada]

I trained our puppy seperately, and now after several months I am able to walk them together nicely a few times a week. We still give them alone time a couple times a week also:)

[Adina P]

Good job Tamara! I'm glad to know how it turned out =)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Twice the fun! Half the trouble. If you can afford definitely get a second dog. I have a 10 month old and a three month old that I have had a month. They entertain each other when I can't. Also when they are older they will have each other when I am not there. I would not want to live my life as the only human in a family of dogs, no matter how nice they are. If you walk and train them separately they will bond to you to, after all you are their pack leader.