50 something with a new doodle

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

Hi all!!

I am 58 1/2 :) and we just got a F1B goldendoodle puppy, Lilly. Was wondering how many over 50 got new puppies and how it changed your life. Right now the change is less sleep and puppy teeth marks.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Well I don't tolerate the loss of sleep as well as I used to, that's for sure! Grumpy grey lady!!!!! But it has been almost 7 years since I had a puppy and it is so much fun to just enjoy his silliness. We start puppy K on Saturday and I don't think I was this excited with the other dogs!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Hilarious!

We have a friend who has Daisy's little sister (different litter, same parents). We are fortunate enough to have her periodically when her parents schedules collide. We had her last night and again tonight and tomorrow night. She is a joy. She takes a lot of energy....she zaps Daisy's patience as well but mostly they just play and play. I am her favorite person at our house, even over Daisy, when she's had too much she comes and sits with me.

Love this set up, it's like being her grandma, spoil her and send her back! LOL

Good luck, the first 3 months are the hardest, after that it just keeps on getting better and better.

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I was in my late 50's and DH in his early 60's when we got an 8 week old Tara  2 1/2 years ago! It is hard to think of anything that HASN'T been changed by TaraBear!! LOL!

The first year was CRAZY and pretty much a blur right now! :) It seemed like every thing was about TARA. Getting the proper food, house training, obedience training, bedding, play times, teaching her manners with our cat,  socializing, snuggling, grooming and puppy coat change out.... It was a lot of work but a lot of fun too!

 

Two years later, as I look around the house, it is little things like the throw rugs never seem to be flat and the house always looks like a dog toy factory exploded nearby!   No remaining scars from those puppy teeth!  We are still fine tuning certain obedience behaviors but I think that goes on forever.

 

Tara has brought so much fun and laughter to our lives I don't know how we managed without her. No regrets here!

 

I read that the effort you put into your puppy the first year will return to you a hundred fold in future years as they become the perfect companion. So we put all we had into that first year! And it has paid off!! She is such a wonderful companion- we just seem to be in sync with each other!

 

Lilly is adorable! They really grow up SO fast so enjoy those sweet puppy moments! Take LOTS of pictures!!

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I was well over 50 when I got Luca, my first puppy. When the nipping craziness started I was so unprepared And there was days when I wondered if he wasn't a terrible mistake. Now he's 3 and Calla is 2. There still are days when I wish I could just pick up and go without thinking of them But then I remind myself how rarely I did this before them There are so many more joyful days when I realize what fun and good company they are.

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

Certainly less sleep.  Luckily the biting part goes away by 6 months.  I have said this before, but I was getting up with every whimper waaaaay past the time I needed to and finally at about 9 months, my sleep deprived self got up around 4 and said "No!" and she went back to sleep. At that point, I got another doodle :-) but she was 4 months old, past the biting stage (yay!) and slept all night.  I survived. You will too. I am 62 and retired.  They give me a reason to get up and get going.  It would be a sad little house without them....

[Lauria Orr]

I am in my mid 50's and we have gotten two puppies in the past year and a half.  There are adjustments...getting them out to potty in the middle of the night, cleaning up accidents when they did not make it.  Those things have been a hassle at times, and occasionally I feel tired, but mostly, the joy they bring has been so worth any challenge.  They actually make me feel more energized most of the time and they make me laugh...really laugh, every day. My husband is in his early 60's and he has a high stress job in ways.  When he comes through the door, greeted by these 2, most of the stress melts away and he is also re-energized. Yes, there are times we both shake our heads and feel frustrated.  That usually comes after finding something chewed on...it is not a perfect road, but one we do not regret traveling.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

I'll pray for you!!!!!  I'm 57 and we got Sheila, our ALD, at 3 mos.  She is now 3 months shy of 2 yrs. old and life is sooooo good now that I want another, maybe a goldendoodle this time.  It took 7 mos to get her potty trained and she was very playful,  It was mid winter in IL and I thought I was gonna die during that time.  I was very tired and tired of training.  I had a trainer come to the house and I'm so glad I did.  Sheila is now a total joy, spunky and full of life.  We totally adore her, DH too and he was used to big labs.  Hang in and you will be in for a big treat.  Maybe yours will be one that will potty train faster.

[Gail+Kathleen,(Sydney+Olivia:)]

I was in my early fifties when we got Sydney.  I didn't mind the sleepless nights or the potty training but the nipping was tough since it was a tell tale sign that I was not dominant in our household.  Well, after a few years, we got that all straightened out and Sydney now knows that I am the pack leader.  It was quite a challenge to get a real alpha/dominant doodle to be submissive to me.  Now we have a much happier house.  We got Olivia 10 months after Sydney, however, Oliva was an easy, easy Doodle to train and get into our pack.

[Ron Carnes]

I was 61 when we got Zack. The first 7 months were tough but what a joy he has been.

 

[Jenny and Chester]

I was 54 when I got Chester. I was used to Labs who run around and then collapse and sleep for an hour. I was amazed at the energy of this breed. He can go all day and still be leaping around. The first year was hard, although he didn't really keep me up at night, I just had to watch every move and resorted to tying him to me to keep him out of mischief! I started him in Puppy K as soon as he had his last vaccinations and we have been doing obedience and agility ever since. I agree completely that what you put into the dog you reap tenfold. They are the most cheerful, loyal, obedient friends and companions in the world!
Chester is TDI registered and today was called into the local hospital to visit a child who was mauled by a dog. I was a bit skeptical of bringing a standard Labradoodle face to face with this little girl. Her physician felt that she needed a therapy visit from the most loving gentle dog in the world....you got it Chester! He went in and I put him in a down stay and the girl crawled out of bed and threw her arms around him and laid on the floor with him for a long time.
Prepare yourself for the ride of your life and be amazed at all the friends you make with your new puppy! Good luck! You are only as old as you act!
Jenn

[Lauria Orr]

Oh my gosh, Jenn...goose bumps. Chester has made it possible for this little girl to trust animals again.  What a life changing experience. Good job...both of you.

[Jenny and Chester]

I've had quite a few of those. He visited a woman who had been given a terminal diagnosis. She had no remaining family and was sobbing. He went up to her and laid his head in her lap and stayed there for almost 20 minutes. Then we came home and he was exhausted for the rest of the day. (This is the Dood who never gets tired) That was when I realized he was an angel in a fur suit!
Jenn