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

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

OMG - that photo of Jersey and Jasmine is just FANTASTIC.  Thank you so much for the encouragement.  Everyone has been wonderful here and so honest about everything.  No big surprises - pretty much everything I've thought about.  We'll see - I'll keep you posted. 

In the meantime - THANK YOU for your input!

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

Oh Michele and one more thing, when you get her and she has gotten all her shots you have to promise to come to one of our Arizona Doodle Romps in Chandler. It's a very nice group and several DK members attend. Promise???

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Yes, I have been wanting to join in for some time, but was always out of town.  I'm home now for a long time - would love to join you, even with just Penny to start with!

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

I am home all day too, retired. Glad to be of any help. Anxious to hear your decision.

[Donna Vee]

We also have a Penny :-) and she was the addition for our Ginger.  BEST decision we've ever made.  They are sooooo attached to each other in a way that we humans can't relate.  They are the best of friends. I see what Lesley is saying.  I do enjoy one on one with each of the girls, but for them, they have each other all of the time.  Watching them tell each other about interesting smells on walks, playing keep away with each other in the yard, wrestling and playing with each other, it's all fabulous.  But the most precious sight I've ever seen, is watching them care for each other. They clean each other's faces, take each other for walks (I'll post pics one day) and look out for each other when one is scared, sick or sometimes, it's just an end of the day ritual.  I've never looked back. Best decision ever.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Thanks, Donna.  I'd love to see our Penny have a pal like that.  I'll keep you posted!

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny joined my family when my other dog,a dachshund, was 11 years old. She has never been a dog's dog, so the transition was rough and really they have never become friends. So, Sunny and I moved out and Reba stayed with my parents. I am truly a one-dog girl at this point.

 

However, I think that adding a puppy when the older dog is a DOODLE is totally different. They are gentle and playful and loving throughout their lives, and Sunny would probably love to have a playmate.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Good point - I do think two doodles would get along better. But you don't know till you try, right?  We'll see!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

YOU NEED GABRIELLA!!!! She is a girl Ned......

We have had multiple dogs for years and the only problems we have ever had is with our Springer, Gordie.  He was depressed when we got Ned - for about a year - but he got over it.  We were shocked and never dreamed this would happen.  We have had dogs in and out of our house always - cousin dogs but staying with us with no problems.  It was just pushy Ned I guess.  Gordie and Clancy had a couple of months of settling in issues - but that was between two adult male dogs and they are fine now.

I will tell you that my preference is for two dogs.

Ned and Clancy are the same age and play zoomie together.  Ned is in charge of everybody since our dear Simon went over the rainbow bridge in September.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

I agree with Nancy, two dogs is the easiest to handle when traveling, going for walks, etc. There are always other dogs for them to play with in our family, and they see them on a regular basis. We have a doodle neighbor who always comes over to play with our girls too.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

LOL - you can tell that Ned and Gabriella come from the same place!  I'm THISCLOSE to saying yes, but don't want to do it unless DH is completely into it as well (which I think he would be, once the decision was made).  I can't help but think we'd ALL be happier with two pups.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

And the same dad too!