TWO puppies!?!? Any words of wisdom???

[Lisa & Greg]

Well, we couldn't choose just one...we just brought home two F1b goldendoodles from Callaway breeders (Md.) - sisters! Commander Bootes ('Bootes') is a gorgeous black girl and Captain Noodles ('Noodles') is a precious creamy-peachy girl.

I'm sure many of you more experienced dog lovers out there know this isn't the best thing to do - litter mates are difficult to train etc.  I wasn't thinking of all those implications, just thinking, oh well, if we have to train one how hard can training two be? Well the answer is: exponentially harder! Note to self: Research BEFORE making such a big decision! I also work from home so it's great to have my 19-year-old at home for the summer to help. My 22-year-old will be home soon too, so they each can take one puppy for the day!

They are really just babies now (only eight weeks old) so I know things will keep getting better. For now, we've decided based on some research to crate them separately at night. Last night was the first time - WOW. Poor things. I just kept thinking, I hope this is the right thing to do!

We're also trying to do other things separately, i.e. feeding them from two different bowls (now that's a comical thing to see!), taking them out separately once in a while, and of course, giving each one individual attention and cuddles while we reinforce their names.

These dogs are the most beautiful creatures. They are so smart - each one already learned the 'sit' command! We're amazed and so thankful. We just really want them to be happy as part of our family.

I'd also love to get any advice or words of wisdom from everyone!

p.s. I'll post pictures soon!

[Lisa & Greg]

Thanks! Yep, seatbelt is fastened, tray table is up and locked, and seatback is in the upright position ...

Here we go!

:-)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Love their names!  I think it is wonderful, especially litter mates.  Yes, it will be challenging, but in a year from now, you will be happy to have the two of them:)  Easy for me to say, I have an only child:) Actually, I am very jealous, enjoy your Doodles and we would love to see pictures!

[Lisa & Greg]

Thank you! That's exactly what I'm thinking. They're babies, and like all babies the beginning is a challenging time. But when I hold those little sweeties and look into their eyes, I'm so thankful and don't doubt it's all worth it.

<3

[Camilla and Darwin]

Wow, good luck and make sure to post pictures of your babies. What an adventure!

[Lisa & Greg]

Thank you! It really is like having twins I guess...

[William]

Congrats on your two new doodles!! :-)

[Lisa & Greg]

Thanks! Honestly, if it wasn't for the housebreaking part, I'd be loving every minute of the chaos! They are too much fun.

We're trying to separate them and love them individually as much as possible. We tried separate crates last night like I said but that was super tough. It seemed like they cried all night. The crates were in the same room but a distance apart - should I move them closer together then gradually move them further apart?

I'm also going to order a few of the puppy toys with heartbeats to see if that helps, and a few baby gates to keep them a bit more confined. I notice some people use playpens - seems like a great idea when you need to run to the bathroom or answer the phone!

[Joyce (Casey &amp; Cody's mom)]

We crated our boys together for the first couple of nights. Then in separate crates right next to each other. Then gradually moved their crates apart. They are now on opposite sides of the room, but they can still see each other. Potty training with them was amazingly easy. We took them both out at the same time - every 2 hours at first. We gradually lengthened the time. Even at night - when one would fuss, we took them both out. Our guys stay in a sunroom with a doggie door to our deck and fenced backyard, so once they learned how to use the doggie door, we pretty well gave them freedom in the sunroom - still taking them out periodically throughout the day to potty. They caught on pretty quickly and I saw them going outside on their own to potty. I would follow them out and praise them. That process took abut 2-3 weeks, and we haven't had any "accidents" since. The sunroom is next to our great room and kitchen - very open floorplan, so they can see us just about all of the time. At night while we are watching TV, we let them come in with us to play and cuddle and at night before bedtime, we let them into the bedroom for some more play and cuddle time before the final potty run and crates for the night.

  We do have one of the snuggle puppies, Casey loves it - but Cody wants to destroy it, so Casey gets to sleep with it at night.  Just like all children, they have totally different personalities, so you just have to watch them carefully until you learn what will work for each of your girls. 

[Lisa & Greg]

Thanks - very helpful. We don't have a fenced backyard - our keeshond was great at staying in our yard, so we never installed one. For now we're taking them out on leashes and letting the play off the leash for periods during the day. The hardest thing about taking them to potty together is keeping them separate - one always distracts the other, literally mid-potty sometimes! and then they pee once they're back inside the house.

[Lisa & Greg]

Just posted pictures! Check all of them out in the photo section. Here's one:

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Congratulations!! Bootes & Noodles are adotable doodle girls who will keep you on your toes and give you many, many hours of laughs!""

[Lisa & Greg]

Thanks! They are darling.