gettin another puppy

[Kristen Juarez]

I have a 13 week goldendoodle, I heard they do better if there are two. Would it be wise to get another? If so should I get another male or a female?

[Jennifer Goaring]

Well... given I have just added a second doodle (brought him home yesterday!)  I will share too... We got our first doodle 13 months ago and he was 14 weeks old at the time we brought him home (hmmm... or 16 weeks?) so slightly older than the typical brand new puppy.  Worked well for us.  We thought he was just brilliant and so easy to train and so great with the kids and just lovely.  Then he hit 7 months and suddenly decided he could forget some of the training... that what we asked of him was optional... that he could test out his manners... and that off limits items were now chew toys!

 

So... more training, more restrictions, more crate time and eventually he turned into this great dog.  Such a great dog by about 14 months that I was really wanting a second... partly for him to have a buddy, partly for me to have the fun of managing two and the challenge of that, partly for the kids (Connor asking if he could have a dog like Quinn does -- not that I really think of either dog as theirs... but I let them say so even when I do 98% of the work).  So now Sam is 17 months old and the new dog we brought home is 13 months old.  I thought that would be a better option for us than a puppy... the up side being that we don't go thru the night time crying and crate training and such... the small bladder, the puppy being very small and fiesty and Sam being very big and not used to puppies... etc,  The down side is that the new dood does have his own ideas about things and is less maleable than a new puppy would be.  But they are equals in terms of playing... both in a very similar stage of development -- not quite puppies, but very young adults (if I would even say that?  more like rowdy teenagers...)

 

It is going well.  It is a LOT of work... a new puppy would be WAY more work.  So dood #1 is not really patient with me working with the new dog on basic commands and house manners... new guy is very into things that dood #1 never even bothered with (like unraveling the toliet paper) and table and counter surfing... Sam now whines when he is crated or separated from the new guy and the new guy still looks at me like am nuts (we don't quite have that bond yet... though he does seem to follow me around quite a bit).

 

My hubby would have never have gone for it if I had asked when Sam was 18 weeks or 6 months or 10 months... or even at 1 year.  He is good about being the more practical one about this kind of thing.

 

So do I regret we did it?  Nope --not yet ;)  I know the food bills & grooming will be twice as much and we already spent a bit on a new crate, new dishes, new leads, new toys... there isn't really any doggie hand me downs like there are with human babies.  I think Mojo (new guy) is settling in nicely given it has only been a bit over 24 hours.  We are lucky, he is a charming, great doodle. :)

[L.M.]

I too just got a second doodle 4 months ago...my big guy will be 2 years old in May and my little girl...his sister...is 6 months.  It has been great for us....BUT...it is literally starting over.  My big one, Seamus, was fully trained when we got little Stella.  He took very well to her..and her to him.....but again....it was starting over.  The biggest perk is that they tire each other out........this is not to say that you can just sit back and relax.  We walk both of them daily........we have had to train Stella on leash just like Seamus.  Stella housebroke like a dream, but that's because my husband was home with her to train her.  I think they love the companionship, but it is by no means easier to own 2 dogs.  I would be very careful of bringing another puppy home when your first is only 13 weeks.......you will have to train 2 dogs at the same time.  I have a hard enough time training one at a time lol.  And like I've said many times in the past.......when your pups reach the 8 month mark...brace yourself lol.  I almost lost my mind with one dog at 8 months old...Stella is nearing that age now and it's been insane....our saving grace is the fact that her and Seamus can run each other's energy off in the yard, in addition to the exercise they get on our walks.  But I couldn't imagine having 2 pups that close in age....I vote to hold off a bit until your first is completely trained and around a year and a half or so.  13 weeks is VERY young and I think your puppy is still adjusting to you, nevermind a new "sibling" in the house.  Good luck with your decision! =)