Feeling sad about having an "only child doodle".

[Gail and Bailey]

I got my Bailey when she was 6 months old.  She had been living with her brother and other dogs at the breeder's house.  For the first 2 months that we had her, we were spending the winter in Florida with our daughter and family...including their dog.  Now that we are back in our own home in Indiana, Bailey is an "only child dog".  We are retired and home most of the time and we play with her, take her for several walks a day, and generally love her like crazy.  However, I am feeling sad that she does not have a buddy to do "dog playing" with.  Am I putting human feelings where they do not belong?  Do any of you feel the same about your "only child dogs"?   I have looked into dog daycare, dog parks, and tried to seek out neighbors who have dogs that would like to play but have not found an acceptable option.  I am struggling with whether or not to start searching for a second dog.   

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think it's almost impossible to give advice on getting the second Doodle.  My first Doodle was really easy.  He a joy to train....picked things up very quickly.  He is just a real "happy go lucky" kind of guy who loves to cuddle, but doesn't really demand attention.  He loves all people, especially children and other dogs.  So, I thought since this was so "easy" and fun, we should get another one.  Well my second one has been anything but easy.  Don't get me wrong, we love him a lot and he will always be our boy, but he has been incredible difficult.  He's like having five dogs instead of two.  There was no way to know this when he was a puppy.  He's headstrong and dominant and very dog reactive.  He's really not comfortable around children and some adults.  We have worked with a trainer for just over a year, and we are still not in a place where I can trust him in every situation.  My DH can't walk him at all...only the trainer and I can control him.  I'm telling you this story because when you decide to get the second dog you just never know for sure what it's going to be like (unless you get an older dog with a proven history).  Both of my Doods have IBS...it costs me a fortune to feed them, and I have to home cook for one, plus purchase his supplements.  If I had known all this, I might have settled for an "only dog"...LOL.  I am committed to Murphy, and I will always love him and do whatever it takes to help him to live a balanced life.  I'm just saying....you never know, so it's good to be sure that you're really ready for the "less than perfect dog".  Although my guys do seem to be bonded to one another, I also think they'd be just fine on their own. 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Yes, maybe what Jane is saying is right...get an older doodle whose personality you already know.  I guess with a puppy you don't really know what you'll get.  Maggie is a little over a year old, and so I got to see her personality and her interaction with Bexter before making that decision.  Bexter is a little under a year, so it will work out that they are the same age & will grow together.  If you can't tell, I'm beyond the moon happy that she's mine & that everything is so great!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We have an only child (human) and an only doodle....both are perfectly content and perfectly happy.In fact DD will probably is considering only one child as well. She said she had the best of both worlds as she had lots of friends and they were always at our house because she had the best place to be. We have play dates and special friends for Daisy but she prefers her family (DH & I) to other dogs.

I used to feel sorry for Daisy too but not any longer, I got over it when I realized if I had two they would both have to stay home and I would miss out on having her at work with me.