Hi everyone! :D

[Kayla Jean Ashley]

Hi guys! ummm Sheesh I haven't posted anything in a while, I've been reading though, so still technically active on here; been looking at the DRC too. Bella has literally matured over night it seems, in the last three months or so she's become such a great dog. Very loving and affectionate, obedient if a little stubborn at times, and just an all around good dog. We've worked very hard to get her this way, even if actual lessons weren't financially possible at times. Her energy level has also gone down some, which is a good thing, before it was two mile-long walks a day and a backyard full of balls and playing fetch endlessly. It was almost too much, she was a very high maintenance pup. I still get shocked by how smart she is, she doesn't miss a thing.

We just took her to the beach last Tuesday and she learned how to swim, it was absolutely the most wonderful time I've had with her. She didn't jump, greeted everyone (even a dog) with no misbehavior, and stuck by me the whole time. Leash walking skills have come full circle, although heel is still lost at times. She was happy, doodle smiling and tail wagging, and loved the water. She did like to look at the taunting seagulls though, and that worried me a bit lol. Thankfully, her hunting dog was not released lol.

This is going to seem sudden but we've recently been looking at the DRC, and some may know that we agreed to help in any way we can. I'm posting this because I have a query as to the doodles in MA. We've been seriously considering adopting or fostering a dog. We're leaning more towards adopting. We have two dogs in our house, Bella the goldendoodle and Peewee the pomeranian. Pee-wee is not a good play mate for her, he's old and
short-tempered. The whole process of raising a puppy isn't exactly appealing, simply because Bella was so high-maintenance and she just grew out of all that. Another reason a puppy is out of the question is the nippiness. An older puppy, anywhere from a year to five years would be the best age group. Bella needs a playmate though, she's definitely hungering for some doggy friends. She's such a love and loves every dog or person she comes across but I'm not sure if another female would work out well. I've heard from numerous people that when you have two female dogs they fight all the time. I'm not sure how much credibility there is to that but it's still a worry, even with Bella's temperament.We're obviously open to training a dog, basic commands and the like. What do you guys think? I know a lot of people on here are multi-doodle families. What's your input? Do you think its a good idea
to get another dog?

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Kayla, We currently have 4 dogs (our 3 and 1 foster). Everyone gets along well. She uses her 'govenor' when playing with our 2 older beagles. Harlow loves it when we have a foster because they are usually as big as her. She can run, jump and play at her full doodle speed. I have quite often over the years had multiple females and they did not fight. Our current foster is a female and she and Harlow are getting along well.

[Valarie]

We are considering fostering/adopting also. We got our Sophie at 13 months old and you are right - we gratefully missed all that high maintenance puppy stuff. It was smooth sailing from the start. I posted last night about the fact that we applied for Airedale fostering before I even knew what a doodle was. Then Sophie came. She is a such a wonderful dog just as your Bella she loves everyone. I would love to have another dog so they could play together. But as Adina mentioned on my post it isn't necessarily a fun play date. I want to foster to help other dogs find a loving home and hopefully along the way we may find another family member. The Airedale rescue's typical foster placement is only two weeks. So we are going to give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!! Good luck!!

[Frannie & Callie]

I adopted Callie as an adult and she has been wonderful! I also foster - Callie loves having a playmate and I love feeling like I'm hands-on helping. I think if you're looking at adopting or fostering a doodle, you won't go wrong!

[katie St Marie]

i got another puppy although im going a little crazy with the nipping and interrupted sleep, it can be done, if u know for sure you dont want to go that route def adopt or foster, you will be rewarded greatly even if you just foster for awhile. i wish i could so badly that i could do that now if i had the time and worked my job part time!! i eventually want to foster dogs and train them to be therapy dogs for special needs kids and hospitals. I see the joy my two bring to my special needs brother that makes you feel great! Im going to have to wait til i get a bigger house with property and kid(s) are older...so i have awhile to wait. I have two female dogs and they get along great!! though my larger doodle is very submissive and very gentle with the puppy so i think that makes it easier....GL with whatever you decide!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Kayla, this is Ned (our breeder-bought apricot ALD) and Clancy our rescue doodle. Ned and Clancy actually share the same birthdate (so they are the same age). We got Clancy last March at the age of two. Clancy is past the puppy prank stage, however he must have been a nipper because he still wants to mouth us. He wants to mouth us but stops when reminded. Clancy had not been trained but naturally walks pretty nicely on a leash.