Serious Question About Adding a Doodle

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

You all are the experts here, and many of you have become good Doodle friends.

 

Penny the WonderDog will turn six in a couple of weeks (yikes!).  She's the joy of our lives. We both work from home and she's been around one of us almost constantly since Day One. 

 

I have often wondered in the past whether it would be good to add another doodle to the family, so that she has a companion.  Now, a doodle puppy has caught our attention (and a little bit of our hearts) and we've been talking about adopting her.

 

We go back and forth between giving Penny a doodle buddy, and worrying that it might change the wonderful dynamic that we have with Penny now.  Would we just be setting ourselves up for trouble by adding another dog?  We're not worried about the training, as we're both home all the time.  It's the "relationship" stuff that we're thinking about.

 

If you've added a doodle (especially a PUPPY), how has it worked for you?  Problems?  Challenges?  Are we just out of our minds for thinking of doing this?

 

I'll attach a picture of Penny (love that she is) and the puppy.

 

Love you guys,

Michele

[Kris & Brinkley]

very true! We have learned that our doodle @ almost 3mths is better trained when the lab was around ( mimicking); we are now finding more time to train Brinkley away from our Lab.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Such great advice - and you're so right about giving as much love to your older dog as you always have.  Being home a lot would help, I think.  You're right about the playmate situation, AND when we have to go away and board them (maybe once a year, tops), they could be together.  We'll see... oy!

[GBK]

That is a great point with the boarding Michele!  When mine were still going to day care, one of my favorite workers there said that the best thing I ever did was add Kona to our family.  She said Buddy's anxiety at being left at day care was gone since his sister was now there with him.......  They no longer go to Day Care because my DH misses not having them there when he gets home, which is a few hours before me :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Funny, Calla is the jealous one here too. She pushes her head in when she thinks Luca is getting attention. Luckily she often goes off on her own in the house leaving Luca some time for his own attention.

[GBK]

I think it a girl thing F!  This is my first girl, and wow, what a difference.  My boys have always been so laid back and non jealous.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Could be. I have only had my son's male poodle and now these two.

[Kris & Brinkley]

Though I hate to admit it I would say think with your head not NOT your heart. A new puppy should be bc yall want one & appreciate the time & energy it will take to care for 2 dogs let alone 2 doodles (hair). 

We added Brinkley to a household that already had 4 kids, a 8yro lab, 2 cats,3 lizards & 2 birds, because of the spacing it has turned out rather well, we were ready for another dog.  

Had I known about doodles 2 years ago when Sam-the lab was 6yro  I would have chosen then as a better time bc of Sam's age & being able to keep up.

 

Though I have to say Brinkley sure does seem perfect for us. The point is are Yall... ready for another dog?

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

You're exactly right, Kris.  I've been going over all of the practicalities in my head and it just seems like it would work.  Yes, time and energy are involved.  I can't count on the new pup training faster just because she would see Penny doing stuff, but it might help. 

What a menagerie you guys have!  You give me hope. 

Thanks!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Is Gabriella the new pup?  She is just darling and I can see why your heart has been stolen.  Dogs who have been raised by themselves do okay in a family as the only dog, but if they have had another dog for a companion they are devastated when they lose their companion.  We learned that the hard way (twice now).  Our standard poodle was so upset that he cried until he lost his voice and was obviously depressed.  Our goldendoodle also was so depressed that all he would do was sit on my feet and was losing weight.  New  pups were the answer for both these dogs.  So what does Penny do when you come home with puppy smells on your clothes.  Does she sniff you out and drool?  She probably would love a puppy companion and if you both are home most of the time, it would be perfect.  Let us know what you decide.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Yes, Gabriella is the cutie pie that we are considering.  Whenever I come home from visiting people with dogs, she sniffs me, so curious.  I am only considering this because we are both home almost all of the time - even then, when we're both working on our stuff, I can sometimes feel that Penny gets "left out."  We'll see - I know we COULD do it, just want to make sure we SHOULD do it.  I'll keep you posted.  Thanks, Lynda!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My crystal ball says--------------------------------" Go For It"

Tell you what, if it does not work out, I promise to take really good care of her   :) 

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Ha!  Now THAT's a way to think about it!  :-)