Your Method For Choosing a Dog?

[Camilla and Darwin]

First off, I apologize, this question is a little abstract. But I would like to know your experiences. We have always known we would have two dogs, and we wanted to wait until Darwin turned at least a year old. He is currently nine months so we are starting to research and look around for a possible addition.

My question: how did you come to the decision to buy a doodle? Research is a must of course, and I have done TONS of research. But I still have a hard time deciding. Another Goldendoodle? A Labradoodle? Golden Retriever? Standard Poodle? Lab? Another completely unrelated breed? The options are endless, and a little overwhelming. In addition to all of these options, there is the question of a puppy or adult, rescue or from a breeder, etc.

I know the all the differences shedding vs heavier grooming, more intelligent vs more eager to please, dominant vs submissive, wool vs fleece, but how do you decide what is priority?

Also, is one year old enough to add a second dog to the mix? Darwin is neutered and submissive and gets along with every dog he meets, so I'm not extremely worried about him not accepting an addition. Not to mention we will also spay/neuter the addition.

Although I did a lot of research on which breed we wanted initially, I was less than informed when it came to actually purchasing, and it was really a BYB situation we got Darwin from. This time around, I know SO much more. I love Darwin and am glad we chose a Goldendoodle, but I'm also open to other breeds.

Anyways, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed so I'm sending this question out. What process did you follow to decide on what breed, how old, and when?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think your timing is good but the rest of it is very much based on individual preference. I wanted a labradoodle for my first dog for all the reasons they are famous for, temperament, not shedding etc. I wanted a puppy that I could train and shape. Although I admire people who rescue older dogs, you have to be prepared for a lot of possible issues stemming from the past. I choose a breeder based on reputation, and all the factors Adina has listed on DK. By the time I decided on a second dog, I was so happy with the first that I didn't consider doing things differently.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I know what you mean by it depending on personal preference. Like, would I prefer to brush my dog every day, or vacuum hair every day. Or, would I rather deal with a large dog that has potential behavioral problems, or deal with puppyhood all over again. I'm aware of the options... but it's hard for me to make up my mind about them. I was hoping people with more dog owning experience could give me some advice on how they have evaluated their preferences.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I have thought about this a lot recently. Honestly, I love the doodle breed. Peri is awesome, but at almost 11 months, I can't imagine bringing another one in right now. If God forbid, something happens to Taquito (kidney issues), I can honestly say that I would get another chihuahua tomorrow. They are the easiest puppies and yeah, they shed a lot, but 6-7 pounds of shedding isn't too bad! LOL
BUT ask me in 2 years when Peri is a little calmer...I would do another doodle 1 million times over.....
So that is just how I feel...timing has a lot to do with it. Timing and personal preference. And I look at my two dogs and LOVE their differences. I may always be the crazy girl with a chihuahua and one or two doodles!!!! The lap dog and the smart beautiful funny mix! Should also add I grew up with two retrievers when I was young and then 4 terriers (cairns). I would never go with a terrier now. I love my childhood terrier dogs but I was always more attached to the retrievers. Can you tell that is what spurred me to love the doodle breed?

But I am a huge advocate for 2 dogs. They keep each other company, bring me more joy, etc....I will never go too long without having two dogs at once. And although I fully support rescue, I would lean toward buying from a really good breeder just because I like raising a dog from puppyhood.
Did I give you anything you were looking for?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I definitely did not want to deal with a puppy all over again, so that part was easy...the only way to get a dog that is already housebroken and past the crazy puppy stage is to get a rescue or rehome.
While it's true that many rescue dogs have issues, most of them do not. There are more and more dogs relinquished to shelters and rescues these days for purely economic reasons. My recent foster was one of these...11-months-old, non-shedding F1B, housebroken, perfect house manners...you could leave her alone uncrated in the house with no problems...no chewing, no destructiveness, affectionate, great with kids & other animals. She was adopted by a DK member who couldn't be happier with her...Lynn & Sadie. I'm sure Lynn will verify this. We are seeing a lot of similar situations recently, and a lot of great young issue-free dogs are being given up because someone is moving, a college kid got a dog at a pet store and now is coming home to the parents' house, etc. And there are a lot of wonderful young doodles being given up because someone believed the hypoallergenic myth, and now their kids are having problems.
Jack was 14 months old when I got him...housebroken and with perfect house manners. No jumping, no nipping, no going into the garbage, no accidents, no chewing, nothing. I could enjoy him from day one without any hassles. He needed some leash training, but he knew "leave it", "drop it" etc. That in itself made it so much easier. He has health issues, but so do an awful lot of dogs who were purchased as puppies from breeders.
Deciding you want an older dog doesn't mean you have to take any dog that comes along, any more than deciding you want another puppy means you have to take any puppy that comes along. Just as you could decide that you want a red female mini LD puppy, you could decide you would like a young female rehome LD without issues. (Color options are usually more limited, lol)
I'm not trying to influence you, I'm just pointing out that choosing an older dog doesn't have to mean choosing a dog with issues.

[Adina P]

In all honesty I tend to go based on looks. I am drawn to dogs that look most beautiful TO ME. BUT I don't stop there, in case anyone is worried :)

I initially wanted a boxer or weimaraner (had never had my own dog before). I liked the look of athletic, lean, super short-haired breeds. NEVER even thought about a furry, long haired breed. But Clark said to research the labradoodle and once I started I was hooked and thought they were the cutest things ever! Of course my reading about them went further than appearance, but that is what hooked me initially. I also wanted a BIG dog...the bigger the better I thought. So I bypassed breeders with dogs under 60 lbs. I have no dog allergies so shedding was less important than 'look'. I wanted a white female that looked like Bocker The Labradoodle.

From there it was just finding a breeder within driving distance (no direct flights to my town).

NOW? Well...I'm a little tired of shedding so my next dog will be either an american multigen doodle or a standard poodle. But I'm also drawn to some of the sporting breeds and now that I've had more experience with dogs I think I can handle a higher energy dog.

As for puppy vs adult. I ADORE puppies (who doesn't?) and prefer to start with a clean slate...but when that time comes for another dog I'm gonna get what seems good. So if I happen across a wonderful rescue GREAT! If I find a breeder that has what I'm looking for...great! If an adult rescue is a match...great!

My biggest fear now is chronic disease. I've been lucky to not have dogs with any 'issues' and the more I read about GI issues, allergies, etc the more I am afraid of this for my future dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen. Perfect.

[Adina P]

We're on the 1st hour of a 4 hr stretch of driving so I have time to type :)

I should mention, for those who don't know, that I never got my large, white, female 'Bocker'. I got a HUGE apricot, male, Rosco :) Was a better match from the litter! GREAT MATCH!

I also want to add that I kinda want a challenge the next time around. I got my big mellow dog in Rosco...my next will have more energy. So I'm also attracted to the border collie...only if I can find a blue merle short haired one (Clark's dream BC too). Yet I now have a baby and will have more in the future...so...this throws things for a loop too! BC and young kids ... Not the best thing necessarily. Any puppy and young kids sounds nightmarish to me NOW. But later when I'm a PRO at mommyhood...I may see things differently :)

[Melissa & Porter]

Oh please tell me the secrets when you figure out how to be a pro at mommyhood. Please!! My kids are 4,6,and 8. And though no one feeds off me or wakes me up at night...too often, the power-plays and emotional parenting are a new lesson every day--and I think I get a lot of C's and D's. They aren't even teens--argh.

[Adina P]

Heeeheee...I know you are right. I guess I just mean I want to feel like I can better juggle the needs of a puppy in addition to the needs of my fam :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

The trainer who worked with Luca and me had 2 border collies and another dog. One of the border collies was a dog she'd occasionally show to us to demonstrate things. He was the best trained dog I'd ever seen. Yet one day, when the dogs were having a break, Luca went to sniff this dog. He turned on Luca and scared both of us half to death. He did obey his mistress immediately and she told us he hated being sniffed. But I just think border collies can be a bit frightening although I've only met a few.

[Adina P]

You shoulda met our Cas when she was younger and less arthritic...she was fabulous. Great with kids...no dog-dog issues...wonderful companion!

[Phoebe's Mom]

Great question. I am in the middle--or, at least WAS until my husband lost his job 7 weeks ago--of the similar internal debate. I adore Phoebe and love doodles but I wanted to get a smaller dog, too, not only because of space constraint, but because a smaller dog would be plain fun to own with a larger dog. I do want a dog sturdy enough shall we say to play with Phoebe and be fun for her. My husband has always had Jack Russells and, since he is not really on board with the other addition as yet, I have been reearching JRT breeders in the hope of turning him around. My biggest concern is that the new dog be an appropriate playmate for Phoebe (though I certainly know there are no guarantees that they will love each other, I am trying to avoid the more fragile breeds as Phoebe loves to play and play hard). I am petrified of a bad mix as well as taking on two dogs with the cost/mess/craziness but I love Phoebe so much, I just want to go through that whole process again from puppyhood on up. I notice that Phoebe is calmer now--she is almost 14 months old--which is helping my process along. Sorry if I have not been any help but I really don't think there is any real formula for doing this. I am thinking about it as a leap of faith! Good luck!