When to get a second Doodle?

[Barb Perkins]

Ok, I know this is jumping the gun... BUT -

Today I pick up my first F1B Goldendoodle Otis! During my wait, I joined this site and have been loving browsing through everyone's pictures. (Stalker haha). I literally can not wait to pick him up after work today. He is 9.5 weeks old. 

Anyway, while looking at everyone's pictures, I see many of you have 2....3...  I'm already anticipating wanting a second one. So for those of you that have more than one, is there a best time to add number two to the family? When Otis is over 1y.o.? Sooner?  Just curious...maybe after a few nights of no sleep I'll be re-thinking it. Lol.

Thanks in advance for replies.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I was just thinking that there are probably going to be some days in the next few months where you will answer this question yourself with NEVER ... lol!  There have been several discussions on here and there really is no correct answer.  I would say many seem to think around 18 months, but it is all a very personal decision.  It depends on many things like how busy your life is, now many children in the home or even more important (future children), how great of a job do you do with getting the first one very well trained.  You might want to read up on Monty and Auggie ... Monty was a super great dog and they just got a new puppy (Auggie) and he is just about to drive her crazy.  So, take baby steps.  Enjoy Otis, get him perfectly trained, see how much time is left in your life because seriously it does double everything from time and money to patience having more than one.

[Barb Perkins]

Thanks everyone. Very good advice! Otis is a love, I'm just going to enjoy this. He is awesome, we are so happy! He is very social, and really learning quickly. Tonight he learned how to swim in the lake and climb up and down the stairs. Tomorrow he's meeting my friends yorkies, he is bigger than the 3 of them put together lol.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

We waited until Wally was six before adding Charlotte to the family.  It's really a personal decision and you will get lots of varied opinions on the subject.  For now, though, CONGRATULATIONS on Otis' arrival!

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Congratulations on picking Otis. Enjoy your baby,

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I am a one dog person so I can't help you; however, I just wanted to say how cut Otis is and love the name (my DH's name!).  Enjoy your puppy.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Our plan is to wait until Luna is a bit older (5-7 years) to get another puppy.  It's partly because we are planning on starting a family in the next few years and we don't want babies and a young puppy at the same time.  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Congratulations on your new puppy....how exciting.  We waited a year....at that point our first Doodle was fully trained.  I'm so glad we did that because I can't imagine trying to train two together.  We'll be looking for puppy photos....have fun!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Hi Barb.... Welcome to DK.  I have two doodles my Sasha (Goldendoodle) was 10 months old when I got Oliver (Labradoodle).  My thought process was that I wanted to get another doodle while Sasha was still very young so they can grow up together and play as puppies together.  My doodles get along fantasticly and are very bonded.  Getting doolde #2 was the best thing I ever did.   Of course I had to adjust to extra time getting their meals ready, grooming, vet costs etc.  But it is worth every second and worth every dollar spent on my two doodles - I love them to bits !!!!  

 

When I had Shih Tzus... My older one was 6 yrs. old when I got another Shih Tzu puppy, of course the puppy wanted to constantly play with my older dog which she would look at me with a look of "why did you do this to me mom -LOL"  They did bond and the younger one kept my older one active with running and playing.  They bonded and were great companions.

[Thuy & Hops]

I only have one doodle (but 2 dogs total), but a week into having Hops, my boyfriend and I kept thinking that we should have gotten Hops AND one of his brothers also. If we could rewind 10 months back, I would definitely get 2 at once.

[GBK]

I knew I wanted my first to be trained and past puppyhood before my second.  I waited until Buddy was almost two before I got my Kona.  I LOVE having two :)  Congratulations on your adorable Otis, look forward to pics and stories!

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

We brought Tank home in July and Sully in mid-November of the same year.  Our theory was going through puppyhood would be rough but we would get it over at one time.  It would have been nice if Tank had been a little older/more calm.  However, he did have some training, was house broken and had been sleeping through the night for a long time.  Everything being considered, it was not a bad/nerve racking experience in any way and I would not do it any differently if I could turn back time.  I will include that my husband took early retirement a few years ago so he is home with them during the day and that did make it much easier.  If we were both working and out of the house all day, it would have been much more difficult.  As others have said, it's a personal decision.  Good luck.  He is a cutie 

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

I waited 18 months for the second, but mine was not a predetermined time frame. It was breeder availability and season of the year for potty training. Anything less than 18 months would have been a bit of a rush for us as Murphy just started coming out of his puppy crazies around that time. I would not have wanted two acting like puppies at the same time. But that's me. Two are definitely more to handle, but we love having two.