Words of Wisdom Needed ~ The Good ~ Bad & Ugly of 2 Doodles :-) CROSS POSTED

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I have thought on and off for quite sometime of adding a second doodle to our family.  Personally I have gone back and forth about it for a few reasons.  At first my DH was an adamant "NO" one dog is it! Then he kind of changed to "Well maybe one day...", then "I think Hunter needs a friend" then I emailed him the blog by Carol about Banjo's "Attack" - HILARIOUS for the record and he was totally smitten with Banjo and his beautiful red coat.

 

 I think a lot of my reservations were because of his original adamant NO - it was easier to think of all the reasons why it wasn't  a good idea instead of being disappointed.  After that he told me to email Wendi, the breeder we got Hunter from, and see if she had or was expecting any red goldendoodles.  She has a liter right now but the only red girl is probably going to be the pick from the first person on the wait list for this liter :-(  I told her to let me know if that isn't the case but that's ok because she has another liter due on March 27th that she said should have red's.  

 

My DH is dead set on another female - he has never had a male dog and just loved his female golden retriever growing up and now Hunter so his experiences have been good and he is one of those that does not like to mess with a good thing.  Nothing unexpected is his philosiphy on just about everything LOL  Personally, I think he wants to be the only male in the house with me, two daughters and a female dog LOL  

 

So with all of that being said I would love to hear ALL of the good, the bad, and the ugly of two-doodle households.  I know the logical negatives like twice the expense, twice the mess, etc. but I am looking for more advise and words of wisdom on the dominance issues, dividing your time and attention, what you would do differently if you had to do it over or what you think worked great.  I am thinking about toy sharing, feeding, etc.  I worry so much about Hunter feeling slighted or replaced or like the red headed stepchild.  Hunter does absolutely love other dogs, we did have an experience with my father-in-law's Brittney Spaniel who stayed with us for a month and Hunter seemed to enjoy every minute of her.  Could that be a good sign?

 

Can I just tell you that I totally did not dwell like this over my human children?! LOL LOL

 

P.S. I cross posted this in the Multiple Doodle/Dogs Group also :-)

[Donna K & Quincy]

We are considering adding another doodle in a year or so and I have the same concerns, Quincy is such a good and easy doodle I am afraid I might upset things. I have a friend who says if she had her second child first she would be any only child and I am kind of afraid that might be the case here.

[Adina P]

I think Hunter feeling 'displaced' or bad is the least of your worries.   I just don't think dogs really go through that in a significant way or for any significant length of time.  As long as you want the second dog and you want TWO dogs and don't mind more chaos and wrestling and noise and dirt and grooming and more difficult traveling...then you'll be fine =)  I think those 'negatives' are the hardest parts for me.  It's fun to watch when they chase each other and wrestle outside.  But it can drive me bonkers indoors--primarily because it is the loudest and most crazy at night when I want to chill on the couch and have peace and quiet. 

 

I don't think you need to look for 'signs' -- just decide if you really want it and if you can tolerate the negative aspects.  If so, then there's no reason not to.

 

I think I am naturally a one-dog kinda person.  But I really like having dogs and like so many different ones that I have no choice but to have more than one.  When I say I'm a 'one-dog' kind of person I think it's just because I like the idea of "the family dog" -- the one that is THE dog of the family, totally devoted and not distracted by another, well trained because there was time to put into that dog, the one that can go everywhere with the family and does, etc.  It's much harder to do that with two--for me anyway. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe you'll have less indoor chasing and wrestling as Boca gets older. I have hardly any indoors but watch out outside.

[Adina P]

I'm sure it will decrease--she is the primary instigator.  And once I train them BOTH a solid 'go to your place' command then I can keep them with us but STILL if I need them to be.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

The hardest thing for me about having two dogs is to leave one when I have to train or do something with the other dog. Fudge is not a dog park dog anymore and Vern loves the dog park, so if I want to take him, I have to leave her home and I feel like I am cheating on her or something :( Other people have no problem with this, but it is an issue for me. In our case, Fudge (the first dog) is more hyper and focused on squirrels, cars, anything that moves, and very smart. Vern (the second) is so much more laid back and I am glad I got him second, because Fudge would have been a shock after Vern. Fudge is such a better sleeper, however, and definitely my dog. Vern seems to love all of us equally.

Vern is my first male dog EVER and I would say I would only get males after him. My only complaint with him is he does not require as much sleep as I do :)

Finally, I am glad my dogs are different and I adore both of them. They compliment each other nicely and really seem to like having the other one around. I highly recommend a fenced in yard for two. They seem to work everything out between them and I have had no fights, etc. over food, bones, anything.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

No "bad" or "ugly" from me.  I love having two Doodles.  I'm so grateful with the awful weather we've been having that they have each other.  They are together all the time...and they're buddies.  It is more work for us because they have to be walked separately to go potty.  They "horse around" if they're together outside and refuse to "do their business".  There's also the double grooming which takes some time with my guys...they are nonshedding and they do mat if not brushed regularly.  They have worked out an "arrangement" with the sharing of toys....it is very rare that I have to get involved.  There are no resource guarding issues....they eat together and respect each others food.  I give them attention together,  it's just as easy to pet two as one....I have two hands.  We take the two of them in the car with us whenever we can...they love road trips.  My two hate being separated.  A couple of days ago my DH took Guinness with him to do an errand so that I could work with Murphy's training.  Once we finished the training, he went to the front window and sat there waiting for his "brother" to come home.  He sat there for about 45 minutes...just waiting.  I think it's wonderful....I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Double Doodles to me would seem to be double the pleasure!!!!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

It never dawned on me ever to have more than 1 dog at a time. Then Mickey entered my life. He was my first foster, for those who don't know his story it is on my page, and when it was time for him to go to his forever home (my daughter who lives 6 hours away), my husband and I were devastated. I started looking on PetFinder for another doodle, saw Charli, had the longest 5 days of my life until I received the email that they accepted my application, flew from NJ to Detroit, drove to Ohio to adopt her. Charli was not 'temper tested' by a breeder (she is from an Amish Puppy Mill) so I had no idea what kind of puppy she was. Was I lucky? partly. Was it training? partly. I give Samantha lots of the credit - she would have made an incredible momma doodle.

I have never regretted 1 second of having 2 doodles. Yes, twice the work, twice the money but - twice the love, twice the giggles, twice the love.

We have had no dominance issues - my girls are so different in personality. but they are typical sisters - spends time separately, play together, 'fight' together (usually as I am getting into bed but I don't mind, I sit and watch them and giggle).  When they get a marrow bone, they do not argue over them. When they are done, the swap bones to chew on. They are respectful of each others important toys and bones. I like to think that I had a lot to do with that. When both girls were little, I always 'owned' food, toys and bones. I could come and take them away at any time and I did. I wanted them to understand that if anyone took something away from them it was okay because they either got that back or something else that was of high value to them. There was never a discussion from them about it.

But, when I have a foster in the house, I do take their 'high value' toys and bones and put them away until I think that everyone is on my page when it comes to who owns what. Was that work? YES; was it difficult, NO; was I consistent? OH YEAH!  I personally think that there is nothing else that is more important than to make sure that my girls know that anyone can take anything away from them.

If you want 2 doodles, then go for it. You know what life with a doodle is like. I don't believe you will have any surprises.

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

I think I get bouts of "What have I done" every now and then since we added a second, mostly because Bella is only 7 months old and does mischievious things that Murphy never did, so I wasnt' expecting to have to stop some of these behaviors.  I miss the one on one time I've had with Murphy these past 2 years also, as he is so easy to do just about anything with and it's more of a chore with Bella.  It's like my time is spent correcting her when doing something that he and I have always done so easily, so it takes the focus off Murphy. 

She has gotten so much better and I have not been training as much as I will now that I won't be working fulltime, so it will be better both with training and age. As for her and Murphy, they are great together, They play fine with their toys. If he takes something from her she lets him know about it, so I let them work it out. (unless the barking drives me crazy)  They eat, sleep, drink, pee and poop totally together and mostly at the exact same times. Which makes everything easier.

She is easy to train as she watches what he does and follows. There are definitely more laughs with two. and more doodle love to share. I always have one or the other in the same room with me and that still gives DH one to spend time with as we both enjoy them so.

I can't say that I'm sorry to have two as once you have them it's just impossible to imagine life with out them, but if I had it to do all over, I'm not totally sure I would get another. I just wouldn't have known that though had I not tried and always would have wondered and probably wanted another for a very long time. I think you either have to do it and get it out of your system or decide that you are not willing to put up with both the good bad and ugly enough to make it worth your while. And I really don't believe in getting one just because doodle #1 needs a playmate. You have to want one for YOU.

[Dori & Rua]

I personally don't think I would want more than 1 at a time (that is only because I have never experienced more than 1).  I love to be able to take Rua where ever I go, and know 2 would be more difficult in so many ways.  I do wonder if Rua would like to have a "sibling" around, but she has PuffDog (the cat) and goes to daycare twice a week so I don't think she is lonely.  There would be way more photo opportunities, though!

 

All that really matters though is what is right for you and your family! 

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

I am currently in the throes of this issue right now!  I rescued a little black doodle from Animal Control, mostly expecting to adopt her out afterward, but she has crawled into my heart and gets along well with Beau and is just so EASY.  More than anything else, my Mom (who has Alzheimer's, and getting worse w it every day) seems to really LOVE her!  I took her to my vet and he pronounced her very healthy, got her groomed and she looks like a beautiful very different dog, and she is very much at home here.  I currently have a doodle on each side of me, snoozin on a Sunday mornin!  Heaven..............

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sounds like a perfect fit to me! Sometimes the right dog finds you. I hope you keep her. Sorry about your mom and good luck to you!