why we only have one

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

One really works for us. We thought when we decided to get a Doodle we would start with one and then add another after she was one year old. We had heard stories that it was hard to bond with your puppy if there were two, that they would only be interested in each other. The reason we wanted two was because we didn't want one to be lonely.

We spread out the beginning days by personally taking our vacation time separately so we could train longer and then my mother came to stay for a month and took over after the first 3 weeks. 

Well, as luck would have it my boss really wanted to meet Daisy and so did his wife. I told them I wanted to make sure she was completely potty trained first because I didn't want any accidents and that is what we did. I also had set up daycare with Camp BowWow near work so she could go there on half days.

Well Daisy was a hit. I would bring her and she would get so much attention. Clients would bring gifts and come in just to see her. If she wasn't there they were so disappointed. I would bring her about two days a week and the other three I would take her to daycare for 1/2 days and bring her back to work sometimes and take her home others. It got to be where my bosses wife would say "oh don't take her, she is doing fine" and I would think to myself okay I will save the $. Eventually she just ended up coming to work everyday except Fridays when she goes to her other daycare the entire day.

So really the need to get another dog to keep her company is no longer there, not that I don't consider getting another cause I do...but there is always that lingering question of what will it do to our lives. I am pretty sure the bosses would NOT want my two dogs in the office. Daisy is docile and obedient, what if this new one isn't. What if they don't like each other.

All of the what ifs are going to keep us from getting another I am pretty sure, but I am tempted here and there.

What about you, tell us why you only have one.

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

In our years prior to Tara-time we had a dog who was an only dog from the age of one until she was about 8 years old. Her name was Her-She and we were TIGHT! DH traveled a lot for work at that time so Her-She and I spent nearly every moment together. When she was around 8 years old a stray showed up at the door and after failing to locate his owner we decided to keep him (since the shelter informed us that they would euthanize him if we brought him in due to his being black!) He was an awesome dog and better behaved and trained than any dog I have ever had! BUT Her-She dropped me like a hot cake once the new dog showed up and I ended up feeling like I had lost a dog rather than gained one. They were in their own little world!

So I have to admit that part of my reasoning for having an only dog is totally SELFISH!! I love the bond that Tara and I have and wonder how things would play out with another dog. I do a lot of "what ifing" about it too! Tara is an extremely shy girl and what if the new dog bullied her or made her life miserable? Tara is very eager to please-what if the new dog was a rebellious little hellion? Tara is calm and just enjoys hanging out and snuggling with us-she is really pretty low energy-what if the new dog was a high energy dog that needed constant exercise and entertainment?

 Since we work from home Tara is never left alone and accompanies us every where we can take her. Life is just really good right now and I don't at this point see where adding another dog will improve it.

 

 

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know I have two doodles, so maybe you are wondering what the heck do I know....LOL. . We lucked out with Vern. He is such a sweet, goofy boy, but you are right, you just never know. I think it would have been a big shock to have gotten Fudge second and not that she is not wonderful, but she reacts to everything. Our daughter just added a French Bulldog puppy to her pack and her first Frenchie is almost perfect. Well, every time I ask about the second, she always says this first...."he is really naughty" and I just keep telling her not to compare him to Bonzai. The odds of getting two perfect dogs is slim, in my opinion. I have had one dog and now two and there are pros and cons to both, but I would not give either of mine back :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Caitlin, Lisa obviously invited me to join this group because she knows I am wise beyond my years, even if I do have two doodles. Wait...that didn't sound right..LOL.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I grew up with cats and had 2 cats when DH and I met. DH grew up with dogs, so we decided that one day we would have a dog. One day, bored at home, I remembered my Mum telling me about Labradoodles and showing me a cute picture of a teddy bear dog, so I started researching the "breed". I immediately fell in love. I started looking for breeders after reading about puppy mills and backyard breeders, and the difference between American and Australian labradoodles. I found a great breeder (who told me about Doodle Kisses) who had just had puppies and am few were still available. 

 

Money was very tight. I was working part time as a nanny, DH had just finished College and was looking for work. But we decided it was a good time to get a dog, as we would both be home to do lots of training. We spent most of our savings on buying Cooper and everything needed for a new puppy. We worried about Cooper when we both started full time work, but she did great! I think having the cats around (even though they dont really play) helped. We considered getting another dog eventually (we still do think about it, a golden labradoodle from the same breeder which DH wants to call Aslan) but the city only allows 2 dogs per household and we live in a house with 3 dogs between the 3 suites, plus money is still tight.

 

I always wanted a Devon Rex cat, and had been looking for one for a long time. We couldnt justify paying $1000 for one as money was still tight, and they rarely turn up in rescues, especially as we wanted a kitten/young cat so the older cats would accept it. A lady came into my work (pet food and supply store) and told me about the "white tiger" kittens she was fostering and I had to have one! Siamese cats are very similar in personality and body shape to Devon Rexs. So Coopers new "doodle buddy" is a kitty! They adore each other!

 

We do still talk about the possibility of an "Aslan" when we buy our own house (in the 5 year plan) but Im not sure if we will. Cooper has her company when we arent home, and I hope to be able to take her to work with me once I get and ecologist job (which is proving extremely difficult). Its more likely that we (well, I) will get another cat (a Devon Rex of course). Anyway, we hope to buy a big house with a suite for the inlaws, and they will have a dog for Cooper to play with). 

 

So that is why we have just one dog. Plus I end up doing most of the grooming, (though Cooper doesnt shed and doesnt mat too bad so only has a big brush every month, a bath every 4 months, and a big haircut one a year), I cant imagine grooming 2 doodles, and im not sure if I could get any other breed!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've always only had one dog (not counting fosters). I never really felt like I could manage two at the same time, and by the time I have one trained to the point they're a pleasure to live with, they've always seemed happy getting all the attention and don't particularly want to share me or anything else with another dog.

JD liked playing with other dogs when he was younger, but even then, he was always more interested in a playmate who could throw a ball. He'd run around the yard with another dog for 5-10 minutes and then start bugging any handy human to throw the ball. Now, he greets his friends enthusiastically for about 30 seconds, and basically ignores all other dogs. He is never happy to have a foster here.

Which is fine. We take two walks a day, and I cannot imagine doing that with two of them unless the second one came in fully trained. Nor can I imagine leaving JD alone at home while I took another dog for a walk. I think it would break his heart. I think if there are two adults, it's a lot easier.

[Heather and Rocky]

Ok, I'm so glad I finally clued in and joined this group.  I have been having puppy fever - not even puppies really - but just wanting another dog, but...

 

SO - here is why we only have one Doodle! 

 

I guess there are two reasons we are not getting another dog.  I won't say never - but not anytime soon.  First off, my daughter is only three years old and she is really a handfull.  She hangs on Rocky constantly and I just am afraid that another adult dog would not be as tolerant - and a puppy would be a lot to take on while I'm still chasing her around.  It would be different if she was older and more self-sufficient - but as she is now - I can't imagine taking on a puppy in addition to her. 

 

Secondly - money.  Grooming Rocky cost me about 92 dollars.  His food is about 50 dollars a month.  Vet bills are not too bad but still.... I have been a stay at home mom at this point longer than I was a teacher.  I tried last summer to go back to work but I really kept being met with the same issue - no recent experience - things have changed so much in education etc etc... sigh.  We are certainly not destitute - but we really can't stretch it anymore than we are.... we are just stretched too thin to add another expense!! 

 

I sometimes longingly look at other doodles though.  All the people on DK with two dogs don't help!  All the pictures of these two happy dogs - best buddies and all that.  Plus, Rocky is so social and low key - I know another dog would be fun for him.  But, realistically - it's not really right for us right now.  Rocky will just have to be our one and only - he's very happy!  He has all five of us to love on him!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Heather I had to forbid myself from even LOOKING at Petfinder OR Craigslist Pet section because I was obsessing about another doodle too! Perhaps even  finding one that might need rescued but of course I would end up KEEPING it!!  It was very DANGEROUS because life is GOOD the way it is right now!! :)

[Theresa Washburn]

I hear ya.  I have to keep reading this groups comments to stay away from another doodle.  Thank you

[Theresa Washburn]

Love this group!  We lost our troller of 15+ years to cancer and we were so heart broken, never the same. After just 3 months we saw a couple doodles in a bar with the owners of course. We didnt know what they were at first and just fell in love with them. Well we still were not ready,, and didnt want to adopt on rebound or during grief period. But the grief of course never went away and will never go away.   After seeing the double doodles :) I could stop looking online and learning more about them.  I was addicted , for hours I couldnt stop looking and reading.  So to cure this ,,,we got one. Freddy. He is 12wks old now and he has been such a blessing to us as a couple, as a heart melter, and overall joy for life again.  Even though the puppy stage has its trials, we needed him to take our minds off our loss and keep us busy.  We will always be a doggy couple.  If our Freddy lives as long as our Murphy we should be set for life. lol  We both are 60 years old and really adore spending time with Freddy... guilt set in about Freddy not having any play mates other than us.  But, I think getting another doodle Fb1 would wear us out. Like we arent already.  THey are really hard to resist. We have him potty trained and he has already learned the ropes here, so another doodle would make him happy, but you know, Iam here all day and we take Freddy everywhere with us.  So I bet he is ok with being spoiled rotten.  We are on the fence at times with the thought of double doodles here.  Who knows could change and we might get another one already trained.  Yikes,   that is what we would probably name (yikes) the next one, if we ever do.   Just thought I would share our thoughts about one doodle.   Thanks for listening.   Theresa and Ron Washburn of Oshkosh, WI

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

And Freddy is adorable.

The way we solved the guilt about playmates is this, we took her to doggy daycare up to the age of 1-1/2 and then she decided she didn't want to go anymore, refused to get out of the truck. She really never liked Camp BowWow and she went there 3 half days a week. When I watched on line (a bad thing to do at work ha ha) she would just be sitting there or trying to get attention from the human in the room. Then the daycare she loved and went to every single Friday soured because she was bitten in the back by another and the proprietor didn't even realize...when I got home and was petting her my hand got soaked with blood, I was furious, not that it happened but the lack of knowledge that it happened. No more daycare, she now comes to work with me everyday...she prefers humans and has a couple of doggy neighbors she plays with.

As long as they are exercised, loved and cared for properly they thrive. No guilt necessary. :-)

[Theresa Washburn]

THANK YOU FOR THAT,, I am free at last.     I would so worry about the other injuries,,, lol  I even have a baby monitor for him  near his crate.  Im bad.