How To Manage Two Doods at Once

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

This is a question for all you members who have 2 doodles.  As you probably know (by my millions of posts...) that I am getting a second doodle probably next spring or summer (earlier if I can't stand the wait).  Anyway - I have a couple of questions.  The breeder that I am getting this new doodle from feeds a different food than I feed Bexter.  She really wants me to keep her on that food (she will be a guardian pup & will be bred as part of the breeder program), so I need to keep her on that food. 

1.  Should I keep Bexter on his food he's doing so well on or at some point transition him over to the food my girl doodle will be eating?  Is it crazy to have 2 dogs on 2 different foods?

2.  When you leave for work or whatever, do any of you keep the same doodles in one big crate or separate crates?  I will have a small crate for when she is potty training as a pup, but when she gets bigger, will they want to sleep & be together in the same crate or put 2 crates side by side?  Actually, since she will be bred, it might make more sense to keep them in separate crates so she has more space & privacy when needed?

3.  Do you feed them in their separate crates or something?  I will want to know how much they are eating & I'm worried if I feed them together outside crates that they might want to steal/eat each other's food - especially if they are on different foods.

4.  Anything else I should think about or be aware of with 2 dogs?  Thanks!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My dogs - even though they have been years apart in age, play together, snuggle together.  They don't have to be exactly the same age to enjoy each other.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Never mind the four stars, those ratings sites don't take the manufacturer into account. It's not on our list for a reason.

I'm sorry, but to feed a dog (or Heaven forbid, two dogs) a cheap, inferior quality food for 45 weeks of the year so things can be convenient for the breeder during the other 7 weeks is ridiculous. Maybe the breeder is trying to save you money, lol.) She can just feed the food you supply. And Bexter would not do well on that food at all. It's lower in protein and higher in cereal fillers than his current food.

Oh, wait, did I mention it was cheap?

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I feed my dogs the same food, and at the same time (Orijen) and they each know which is their bowl.  When I leave, one stays in the crate (she will still find something of mine to chew)  and the other stays out. The crate is huge and sometimes they both go into it and sleep together.  I don't think having two dogs necessarily tires you out.  My two play with each other so much that they are tired.  One of them is 3yrs 8 months and the other is 1 yr. 4 months.  They have always played together; I am not sure age makes a difference as long as they both understand bite inhibition.  I can't imagine feeding a breeding female an inferior food.  I hope you will insist on feeding the dog a premium food (go Karen!).  You will be the one that deals with health consequences after the dog becomes yours.

[Jess and Pippin]

I have 2 dogs on 2 very different foods.  It was a challenge to train Pippin not to eat from Kylie's bowl.  Long story, but Kylie won't eat until Pip is done and then he wanted to raid her bowl.  So, we feed Pippin, then tether him and reward him for good behaviour while Kylie eats.  We are at the point now where Pippin doesn't need to be tethered, and most of the time will let Kylie eat in peace (she is a much slower eater, so it really is a test for his patience).  There is always someone on hand to remind Pippin to leave Kylie be, and then lots of praise and a treat for a job well done.  (Kylie is only 7 pounds, so needs a bit of help and this is the one time that Pippin won't back off when Kylie warns him away.  Food is too tempting!!)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Yikes, Karen!  I'm glad you know so much about food.  I just looked at the stars on that & saw the "highly recommended" which was the same as what Bexter's food was.  I didn't really pay attention to the ingredients.  I will definitely discuss this with her.  You guys are right, after the dog "becomes mine officially" I will be the one caring for her the rest of her life.  I don't want long term implications just because of a few weeks of the year inconvenience.  It won't be trouble at all for me to supply the food for her when she goes to the breeder's.  Glad I asked.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Your breeder should be FINE with that.  I am pretty sure Peri's would be. They want their mothers to be on good food, so if you feed better than Diamond (you already do!!!), then she should be happy. 

[BLAKE BORATE]

I'm voting with the rest of the pack.  Definitely two crates and they can eat different foods.  Especially when one will be on puppy food the other not.  I feed my two at the same time in different locations.  When I first got the second puppy, she only got food in her crate and my 1-1/2 year old got feed outside her crate.  They both only get treats when they are in their crates.  They are really funny, whenever I go to get a "cookie" they hear the jar lid and both bolt to their crates.  When they are outside the crates, they are attached at the hip.  It was one of the best things I ever did to double my doodles.  Best of luck.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have two large crates downstairs where they stay when I'm out. I usually feed them in the crates with the doors open but I do have to close Luca's crate if he's not hungry to prevent Calla from stealing his food. I also have a smaller crate upstairs which she likes to sleep in for part of the evening, even though it's small for her. She leaves it when she wants to. Sometimes she tries to hide in it, LOL, if she thinks I'm about to groom her. So separate crates are good for them and give them and you more flexibility.

[Michael Gurley]

I feed my dogs different foods, especially since Sunny is still on high protein "high energy" food and wet food, to try to put some more weight on her (it's not working... she hates eating) and my dachshund gets low calorie senior dog food since she's old and has had a weight problem common to her breed. It's not too hard! I just keep two different containers with each dog's name printed clearly on them, and the amount of food they receive.

 

I don't crate my doodle (I do use baby gates at the stairs though) but my dachshund does have a crate we use when there's nobody home. If I crated both, I'd have separate crates for them so each would have their own "room".

 

I feed my two at different times, and put the dachshund in her crate when I'm feeding Sunny since Sunny eats so much more, more often, and more variety. Reba is a greedy little thing and always tries to eat Sunny's food if she can, so it's easier to eliminate the option.  Sunny hates food so much that I always have to sit on the floor next to her and watch her eat. She'll just follow me out of the room if I leave her while she's eating.