ONe or TWo doodles advice please

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I have an 11 month girl doodle..she is just hitting her stride....so sweet, not into things, calming down, loves her crate at night and when we are gone.  Totally potty trained. She weighs about 20 pounds and should max out at 23-25 lbs. she doesn';t shed and I am not allergic.  I have asthma, but Ginger has not made it worse.

 

We live in a townhouse..patio backyard...so walks and patio. Our house is average, but being a townhouse, it is vertical living.  Our living room is small.

I teach all day Monday and a couple of hours the rest of the days of the week.  This schedule is great for Ginger.

 

Things seem GREAT.....  but I am thinking of getting another puppy....he would be the same size as Ginger when he is grown..maybe a little bigger.

 

SOme people say yes (me) and some say no (DH) 

 

What are the feeling of the group.  Are two more trouble than one?  Do they bond with humans as well if there is another dog around? Do two doods take up the whole back seat and where would my son sit? (in the middle of his dogs. I'm sure...but serioiusly?)

How do you walk two dogs? 

Would my life become more complicated?    

 

thanks

 

Pam

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I really like two dogs, but I feel that you should wait until Ginger is a few years old so that the second pup can get lots and lots of attention.  This is truly an opinion.  There is no perfect or ideal time to add a second dog.  There is also reason that there must be a second dog either.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I will give you my opinion. Keep with just one. So much less mess, time to train, things ruined, zoomies, barking, expense, upkeep and cleaning. Everything was great and just manageable with one and two seems to be constant something. Don't get me wrong, I love my second, and she is sweet, but I think it has definitely taken more away from Murphy than added to his life and certainly has added more to mine than I really needed.

So think long and hard and enjoy the one and the ease of having just one. Sorry so negative, just having a bad day besides.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I LOVE having 2, but Rosey needed the companionship.  If I had gotten Bandit first its hard to say I would have been inclined to get another.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

We got our second doodle 4 weeks ago.  yes your life will be more complicated, no, your son will not have anywhere to sit in the car, yes, they will still bond with you, I haven't even tried to walk them together yet,,,I am exhausted! yes, two is more trouble :)  lol.  BUT..I love having two and  Murphy loves having a brother.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

BUT......I am really glad I waited until Murphy was 19

 months before getting Wilson.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree to wait a bit--I got my second one when the first was about 14 months old and that was fine, but I could have waited a bit longer to give my first more time as an "only dog"--that being said, they have a great time together and keep each other company, play and are always checking on each other. When the second had pups, I kept one, so now I have three- aged 4, 3 and 8 months--BE CAREFUL--they are addictive! Turns out that the youngest loves to play with the oldest and they have an even better time together! All my life I had only had one dog at a time and now I wish i had always had at least two just to see their antics. 

The fun part about having two is that often, but not always, they will get along great and you will be happy that you gave your first dog such a great playmate. That is not always the case, though, and some people have talked on DK (look in the multiple doodles group) about one bossing the other, fighting or jealousy. So, even though it is fun for most of us, it isn't a guarantee that it will work out. 

I have a leash splitter--a Y shaped attachment that can put two dogs on one leash. (I have yet to walk all three together!)

And, it is a bit more complicated and expensive, but not that bad.  As for the back seat, your doodles sound like they are  pretty small! My largest is 46 pounds and she loves to sprawl across the back seat. I keep her in a crate in the back of my small SUV to make sure the others get some space. 

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I say wait too. I love my two, but two is a lot more work than one. Fudge and Vern play great together, but Fudge would have been fine as an only dog. Vern, on the other hand, seems to need another dog. I also think with two you need a place (fenced in back yard) for them to play to make your life easier. This is just my opinion. Good luck!

 

PS Maybe consider fostering and see how it goes.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I have two and yes they still bond to you, and mine have bonded to each other.  Yes it is harder to go places with two if you like to travel.  It would be hard to have two and your son, all properly restrained in the back seat.  Next you will need a bigger car...a doodle mobile.   My first was almost 3 when I got the second.  They exercise each other and they walk well together.  I have a lease that tethers them together attaches to my leash.  It is easier if the first one is already through obedience training before adding the second.  It takes more time to bathe and groom two.  Two cost more in vet bills and monthly preventatives.  If you have to leave them, finding "child care" is more expensive.  Things are more complicated.  I am retired so I have lots of time and my life is organized around the dogs.  And then there is the fact that DH says no! I think you need to think about this a while.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

DH said no to a 3rd cat but I got him anyway! Now DH has to kiss him goodnight every evening!

[F, Calla & Luca]

My family all said no but they don't live here. I decided two would be good for each other and they are. Things people said about expense are true. It is a little more complicated in terms of going into a store but we do it. My two get along perfectly well so that made it all easier. Luca was about 14 months when I got Calla who was 4 months at the time.

[Holly (Jax & Bandit)]

I think Ginger liked playing with the cousins over the summer, but seems to have adjusted just fine to being an only dog again.  She seems like she would be happy either way.  It is much more expensive to have two - medications, insurance, food, shots etc...  I love having two, but it was a very hard decision.   Jax really needed someone to get him up and moving.  Don't know what to tell you, but there will always be another cute puppy out there!  (However, Aimee votes for two.)

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

Thanks for chiming in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just waiting to see Jax and Bandits' faces!