Adding a second doodle! Help!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

My husband and I adopted Riley from a family friend two years ago. He is now 8! We love him to pieces and he comes everywhere with us. We have been talking about adding a second so he has a buddy, and are picking Ralphie up next week. We have no kids yet, and live in a small but large enough condo. Since we work full time, I thought the companionship would be nice. Riley came from a home with 12 dogs and is a therapy dog too. Very docile and calm. I am so worried about him adjusting to the puppy and am afraid he will think we are replacing him. But he is so amazing and I want another dog before he gets any older so he can train it. I am also worried about this making our life a lot more hectic and ruining all of our routines! Help!!!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Oh Boy! I am sure many of the lucky mutli doodle moms and dads will be able to give some good advise!  We are a one doodle family and will be that way until we retire. I can only admit to being envious!  Good Luck! 

[Kary, Sparty & Stella]

We added a second doodle three weeks ago. Our first doodle is ten months old. Everyday gets better and we are making the adjustments to a puppy. Sparta, the oldest likes Stella and loves to play with her. There are times I miss my undivided attention to him and I know he misses me, but I take him on special walks and try to make one on one time with him. Have fun, enjoy your new puppy!

[Kary, Sparty & Stella]

P.S. wonder if other multiple doodle families feel this too...the second doodle does take some of the bond away. Sparty, at times is more interested in the puppy and at times Stella is more interested in Sparty. I feel like the odd man out. :(

[Anita - Thunder, Noodle, Sparky]

I am a three doodle mom. Adding number two was no problem at all, but mine are only a year apart. My oldest, 8, (Thunder) is lazy and not very needy - he just stares at me all day. Doodle 2, 7, (Noodle) is very needy. She loves to play ball and is in your face staring at you just to be pet and talked to. So here comes Doodle 3, (13 mths) (Sparky) - he is 6 years younger and he has rocked our world. I thought Noodle would like someone to play with. They do play, and I think she is happy.She is just now starting to stick up for herself and demand the attention she used to demand, and it has been almost a year since we got Sparky. Sometimes I do feel a bit bad for Noodle. Be sure to let your oldest stick up for himself and put the puppy in its place. I wish Noodle would have done that more, it's not like we can control it, but we do not discipline her when she snaps at him. If your oldest seems down, spend some one-on-one time with him. You will be fine and don't worry too much though! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We started out as a two doodle (liter mate sisters) family.  They were best friends.  Sophie was the ring leader and Lucy the follower.  That is unless there was something Lucy really wanted, then she was the boss.  When we would bring in a foster Lucy did not like it at all.  You could tell Sophie would have liked it but she would follow Lucy's lead.  That was the same for four fosters, that were each here for 3 weeks.  She did a little better with the last one but still not a happy girl.  Then we lost Sophie in March and we were a one doodle family.  Lucy seemed ok with it but it just seemed quiet and lonely and all she did was lay around.  So we went on the wait list for a puppy.  Then we got Honey our foster.  Lucy loved playing with Honey.  She wasn't totally crazy about sharing her toys or Honey being near her food, but she loved playing with her.  Then we brought home the puppy.  Lucy did not like the puppy at all.  Lucy is 5.  Honey loved the puppy.  Honey was 10 months.  For Lucy I think the puppy was just too little.  She didn't know quite what to do with her.  Honey has now gone on to her forever home and the puppy is now 4.5 months old and she and Lucy are becoming very good friends.  Still a little jealously over toys and food but they are playing really well together.  It has been great exercise for Lucy. Lucy also never really played with toys.  She always had Sophie to play with.  She loved treat toys but that was about it.  She has now learned through Honey and AnnaBelle that toys are great.  I think you just have to be ready for whatever situation presents itself.  Some love having another playmate, others can care less.  Is a puppy going to change your routines and make your life a little hectic, probably, for a little while anyway.  But with some patience and training it won't last that long.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I'm no help since we are an "only Doodle child" family, but it sounds absolutely wonderful to me!  I would love to add a second Doodle, but DH wants to stay at one!   I'm not giving in, maybe someday:)

[Lynda Kamrath]

It will all work out.  Doodles are amazing this way.  He will help with training Ralphie, but you will have plenty of adjusting to do.  It will be more difficult for you than for Riley.  Do you have a private yard area in your condo?  I think that is what I would worry about most.  Do you both work the same schedule.  That would be a long time for a puppy to be at home alone or with his new buddy.  Riley has adjusted to your schedule, but it may be more difficult for the puppy.  Riley was already an adult when you got him, but it will be more hectic with a puppy.  Ruin your routines?  Probably.  You will need to make some new ones that accomodate the new member of your family.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Yes it will be more hectic! Yes you will feel guilty! Yes it is doubly expensive in both money and time. Yes it is fantastic to have more doodles around! I would never have only one in my home. 

Do NOT expect them to be playmates - only they can decide if they want that. Yes, they will be best friends but like all friends personalities are different. 

I live with 4. They are all different but at the same time they are so much alike. Samantha, 5,we got when she was 11 weeks old, is alpha. NOT a bully in anyway but she just is.

Then came Mickey, 4.5 months old, from a puppy mill, 11 lbs underweight and very sick. Samantha became her Momma. Whoever she likes, he eventually will. He went to live with my daughter and SIL when he was 7 months old. He only likes to play ball when Samantha does and only likes it to take it away from her to just chew on it. 

Before Mickey went to his forever home, Charli joined them. She was app 9.5 weeks old, also from a puppy mill. She loved her older sister and brother. She was a royal PIA puppy and at 4 she still is. That is mostly because she was taken from her littermates much much too young. She doesn't love to play ball.

Then came our last, Niña. She was being fostered for the Doodle Rescue Collective while DH, Samantha, Charli and I were in Florida. My daughter fell in head over heels in love with her and she adopted her. She is 13 months old and a typical puppy. Lots of energy!! Much more than Samantha and Charli but Mickey can keep up with her.

All 4 of them play together twice a day and it is a blast to watch. 

You must be ready to train them together and each separately. That is very important!! 

I tell them all the time that I own their food, the bowls they eat it in, the bed and sofa they sleep on. With that in mind and enforcing that, dinner time is very calm. Everyone sits and waits while I prepare it and no one eats until I say okay. There is no other way to live with any number of dogs without them respecting you and what you say.

Good luck and have fun because it truly is!!!