Training an older puppy/Why did i do this? help

[Becky, Savannah, & Raleigh]

Hi all. I am needing some help and some reassurance. It's been nearly 2 weeks since we brought in our 2nd doodle, Raleigh, to live with us. We got him from a small rescue group in NJ. (not the DRC or IDOG) It has been filled with some ups and downs, and at times i've really questioned my sanity and why i did this. Plus, a couple members of my family asked why i rocked the boat and added another dog to the house-hold, when we had such a great dog who listened and who really is fantastic. (members that do not live with us) My dad even made the comment that he seems like a great dog, but would probably do best in a one-dog household where he does't have to share the attention with our older dog, whom everyone adores.  Raleigh is 8 months old (two months older than we were told he was), he's not as trained as we were told he was,he's not quite as potty-trained, (like they said he was), and he hates his crate (which we were told he would be fine in one)  and he's a lot bigger than we thought. He's right around 60lbs, which is an easy 15 lbs on our goldendoodle girl.

I hate than I am having second thoughts, and the idea of giving him back makes me feel sick to my stomach.I thought that getting an "older puppy" from rescue was the way to go, but i'm having doubts. He is physically so  strong and seems to be a touch ADHD. He is a sweet lovable boy who needs us, and i am needing some help and suggestions as to how to train him and get him through some of the hurdles we've been encountering. I also need some reassurance that i'm not crazy and that deep down i know we will have made a good choice.  There are moments when he does do the right thing and listens and is really fantastic. Did any of you ever just feel like you loved your first doodle so much that there was no way another one could even come close?

Do any of you have your other doodles present when trying to teach commands? I have tried it both ways. He seems to be looking everywhere for Savannah when she's not with us. (He cried and whined the day i normally take Van to doggie day care, so i had to cancel it so she'd be home there with him.)  Did you do a formalized training class with each new addition to the family? We did one with Van, but she was our first dog as a couple.

I also work full time and have been coming home during my lunch break to let them out for 30-45 mins. For those that work full time, how did you make transitioning a new dog into the household easier?

I know this post sounds terrible, but after spending some time with my family and hearing their true opinions and feelings on our new addition, i'm really feeling upset. Any and all comments would be welcome. thank you.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

What a wonderful update!!! So happy for your family :)

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wow! 75 pounds! He is a big boy. I'm glad he has fit in with your family and become a family member. We are firmly convinced that two dogs are better than one. My "best dog" died in September and within a week we had a replacement for him. Our other doodle was very depressed and sat on my feet all the time and did not even look out the window. He lost weight also, but...the new puppy got him going again. He eats up everything in his bowl because if he doesn't the puppy will. He has started to gain back the weight and both of them are doing well. Yep, two dogs, even though more expensive, are much better than one.

[Becky, Savannah, & Raleigh]

Hi Lynda, So sorry to hear about your loss in september. I can't even imagine how that will be when the time comes. I am glad to hear that your new puppy and other doodle are doing well. You are right; two are better than one! We are really enjoying Raleigh, and even though he has his moments, we finally feel like we are "back to normal". He is even doing really well with all the christmas decorations being up (after eating a santa). I am excited for him to have his "first christmas" with us. I just love this time of year to spoil the doggies! Happy holidays to you!

[Beverley S. LaLonde]

Becky don't give up the ship! I have three goldendoodles and am getting a 4th tomorrow morning. Do you take them for a walk together? With one on each side? I hope you don't use retractable leashes. Sometimes if they are not getting enough exercise this will happen. Do they retrive? I take everyone of my dogs through obedience classes and they become a canine good citizen, then were into agility classes once a week. I have taken dogs through 2 obed. classes if they don't get it the first time to my exspectations. Socialization is very inportant. Goldlendoodles are very smart and do not respond to harsh training. They do react to your emotions if you get frustrated with them. Try to be calm an assertive as the pack leader. I have a Delta Society Therapy Dog and R.E.A.D. dog. I am home most of the time, and do not work. That does make it harder but not inpossible. Do you feed him in his crate? It not do that as will help him. He sounds like he was not crate broke. Have you tried covering the crate? Do you have a crate training schedule? Go to the library and get the Monks of Newskete's book it has a great crate training schedule in it. Make a copy and start over. Train one dog at a time, if the other obstructs training process tie up so she can watch you. Distractions are very good while training. Use something like a cooked hot dog pieces as treat to keep his attention centered on you while working. Reward success and repeat training. Any thing I missed please post and I will try to answer to the best of my ability. Happy Thanksgiving!
Bev, Harlee, Ms. Chloe, Li'l Buddy & Fergie

[Becky, Savannah, & Raleigh]

HI Bev,
Thanks for your reply. This original "why did i do this" post was written when we had Raleigh for only 2 weeks, back in April. Since then he is SOOO much better. Both dogs do get walks, go to doggie day care, and we now have an electric fence which allows us more freedom to keep an eye on them and not having them worry about running wild through the neighbors' yards. Raleigh is only now crated when we leave, and he has accepted it and doesn't fight it. He hasn't earned his way out of it yet, as he recently confused one of my Santa's for Christmas decoration with a chew-toy, but i'm sure it will come with time. (he is only 1 year old) He does sleep out of his crate all night though, and his "sister" sleeps right next to him whenever he does have to go to his crate. He knows he gets a kong and a yummy busy buddy bone when he does go in the crate and it's only a couple days of the week. His cat-chasing behavior is markedly curbed, thanks to some great trainers! Thank you very much for your concerns and advice, and Happy Thanksgiving.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

I could have written most of your post 3 yrs ago when we adopted Kirby...

When we got Kirby, he was 13 months old and was not fixed. He was honestly crazy...he had so much energy and would not leave Dexter alone. I was in tears because Dexter seemed terrified of him. We got Kirby fixed which helped a lot. We then worked to get him to trust us. It took a few months but slowly things got better. We took Kirby to a training class and socialized him a lot. I don't think Kirby met many other dogs or people before he came to us and he just had no idea how to act in public. We would walk him and he would be up on his back legs jumping and squealing half the walk. It was honestly exhausting. Things progressed and after we had him for 6 months we noticed he had improved a lot and by a year we noticed a huge change and he was almost like a new dog.

We both also work full time. We crated Kirby for about 6 months before we could trust them together. After they were ~2.5 yrs old we started leaving them free in the house and they are perfectly happy when we're away. Dex and Kirby are best buddies now but it did take time and patience.

Hang in there - I can tell you there were times I wondered if we would have to return him, but I'm so glad we didn't. He definitely still has his quirks, but he is the most loving dog and Dexter loves having him as a "brother" :)