Doodle #2 -- Advice?

[Binny P]

We are bringing home our second doodle on Saturday -- an F1 who is 6 months old. He has had basic training and is a real sweetheart. But, we know that it will be a transition for Burt Reynolds, who has been a spoiled only pup for the past 8 months. 

I have read through some of the other threads on adding a second doodle, but would love any thoughts or experiences folks have. We are very excited and also nervous -- we love the double the doodle love part but are still bracing ourselves for double the poop, double the muddy paws, double the barking-at-the-cats, etc. I would love an advice people have on how they helped make introducing a second dog into the family as smooth an experience as possible for both animals. I am also very interested in how people manage crating with two dogs. Burt has been crate trained since we brought him home at eight weeks and  happily gets into his crate to go to bed at night or when we leave the house. The only time he puts up a fuss about being in the crate is if he has to potty (obviously) and if he can hear us moving around in the house without him (which now that he is older is really not a problem -- we rarely, if ever, have him crated when we are home unless it is bedtime). We have been told that the new pup is use to sleeping in his crate at night but that he tends to howl and fuss when left alone in the crate (I get the sense that he has not had much experience being alone, even for short periods of time). I am curious how to manage the situation with both of them -- I don't want the new puppy to create a bad habit in the existing dog, encouraging him to also put up a fuss in the crate. Should they each have their own crates in different parts of the house? In the same room? If they get along, should they share a crate? Never share a crate?  

Thanks so much -- looking forward to hearing all the double doodle tricks that you all have up your (probably muddy and chewed on) sleeves!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Our dogs each have their own crate side by side.  I thinking feeding your dog in the crate with the gate (door) open is the best way to help him love his crate.  Put a stuffed Kong or Buddy Cube in the crate if you must leave him crated while you are home.  Throwing a sheet over the crate can help if you are home. 

For the best transition I would suggest never crating him except at bedtime for quite awhile.  I have always just shut the door to the room I am in or kept my puppies on a long piece of rope snapped to their collar to keep them within eyesight of me until they are totally trustworthy.

[F, Calla & Luca]

My two are in crates in the same room when I am out. I always treat them when they go in their crates and they do so willingly. I left Calla in her travel crate outside when I originally brought her home. Then I brought Luca out and he sniffed her and the crate. Then I let her out. They had no real problems and get along with no problems.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

I would probably try to keep those crates side by side if you have space for that, your new guy might not feel alone that way. 

We use a Paw Plunger, you can find them on Amazon, for quick cleanup on my girls muddy paws and it makes quick work of the cleanup.  We also have Soggy Doggy rugs and towel for when my girls are in the rain or snow for too long.  They pull the water off of them and they dry faster.  They love the rugs, in fact we generally just say "go to rugs" and they go sit and wait to be rubbed down. Those are also available on Amazon.

Good luck with your new guy, we love having two.