Adding a new puppy this weekend!

[Jenna Stone]

Hi everyone!

I have a beautiful blonde 6 month old female goldendoodle, Pettibone. A couple of weeks ago after about 6 months of searching I found a second puppy, he's a gorgeous black and white irish tuxedo little man we are going to name Armani. We get to drive from NC and pick him up in Tennessee this weekend :) I'm so excited to get him but am just a little nervous about how Petti will do with a new puppy. I take her to be around other dogs as much as I can but she's still kind of nervous around them. It seems like lots of you guys have multiple doodles so I was just reaching out for info on how your second puppies assimilated into the family, and particularly with your older dog.  I've been watching lots of videos and stuff but we won't be home with the new puppy til late so some of the ways I've seen suggested won't work since it will be dark outside. Anyways, any advice would be great :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

We had no problem but Luca was 14 months and calla was 4 months when she joined the family.

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

We introduced Oskar to Baker in the back yard...put the puppy down & watched them get acquainted.  Oskar was confident, Baker likes little dogs, & it was pretty uneventful...they started interacting almost immediately.  When Baker, 99#, would start chasing him, the 5# puppy knew to make a bee-line under a bush where Baker wouldn't fit :)  I'll bet it's much easier than you're expecting it to be...and, it's really fun having 2 doodles :)

When my son got his doodle puppy 4 months ago, Oskar was 8 months old...again, no problems...they just started playing despite the difference in size & have been great friends ever since.  Baker played gently with Ozzie immediately too.  Don't worry, it will be love at first sight for Petti & Armani.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I would introduce them gradually--give them a few minutes to sniff and get each other's scent--but watch them and make sure that the pup does not make your older dog feel nervous--you want it to be a positive experience--maybe have some treats for Pettibone so that she is a bit distracted by that.

Then separate them for the night and make sure Pettibone's routine is normal. Each day give them more time together and before you know it, they will be comfortable with each other--I think the most important thing is to give Pettibone a break from the pup if the pup is getting too crazy and bothering her--she may need some alone time now and then.

[Kary, Sparty & Stella]

I am adding a second puppy tomorrow. We currently have a ten month old doodle. I'm a nervous wreck tonight!

[Jenna Stone]

Oooh I hope it goes well for you!! Let us know how it goes. Your puppy looks like the one I'm about to get! 

[Jenna Stone]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I think it'll be fine but I am just a  little nervous :)

[Adrienne]

Congrats on your new puppy.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

How wonderful...a second dood!  I am envious and cannot wait until we can add another.  good luck-i have no experience with this and only want to congratulate you on the second doodle and wish you double happy days with them.  

[Jenna Stone]

We've had Armani home for a couple days now, he's Pettibone's total opposite! He's really brave and bold, nothing scares him while Pettibone has her tail between her legs and wants me to hold if she sees something even slightly out of the ordinary, haha! She's been barking at him and trying to play (I think) but doesn't totally know how since he's so little and fragile. She's definitely jealous and a little anxious about him. We left him in her crate (haven't had time to grab a new one) yesterday when we had to leave and put her in the bathroom and came home to find that she had torn some of the sheet rock off the wall which she would neeeeeever do normally. I've had to let him sleep in the bed with us a little bit the last couple nights and Pettibone does NOT like that, she woke me up early today jumping on the bed and barking...again something she would normally never do. If she's just laying down and we call Armani and he starts coming, she'll immediately jump up and run ahead of him to wherever he's going. I think it's just going to take a little time for her to adjust from being the only 'child'. I try to pay plenty of attention to her and him both but I think she's just used to being the only one! I think they will be fine it's just gonna take a little time! :)

[Sally S Miles]

Congratulations on your new pup.  Do make sure to have each dog a place of their own, plenty of toys so as not to let  the newcomer mess up her stuff.  Unless old dog sleeps on the bed, new one not either - this is fueling competition which is not what you want.   If you want the new dog to sleep in bed, jealousy will appear unless phased in.

Make sure that you still plan one on one time with your Petti - even if only half an hour, it's her time and her time alone with you.  Then share her with newbie.   While it's important to have her accept the new pup, it's important that she see the newbie is not stealing you, so make sure the newcomer is not taking you away - share puppy, share time, but she's still the big girl.

Supervise, entertain, set boundaries, and brace yourself - this is going to be fun, but work.