How old is too old for a second doodle???

[LucyR]

I am 70 and single, but in good health,   active and walk daily with Ozzie.  We also do long hikes when we go to doggie camp in the summer  (2-3 hours or more on mountain trails.)  I know that Ozzie would love a little buddy and I have been thinking about adding a mini doodle 25 pounds or so.  Ozzie is very well trained as would be the new doggie.  I just can't seem to pull the trigger on this.  I keep doing the math and worrying about finding myself in a situation where newest doggie might have to be rehomed.  I know that the future is unpredictable and one shouldn't try and predict what is going to happen in 10-15 years (average life span of my genetic pool!).  Has anyone else faced this question?  Any input might help me decide one way or the other. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am a few years younger than you and also single. I have two doodles now and worry about the "what ifs" sometimes. Also, Calla, at >50 pounds is heavier than I hoped she'd be but I manage for now. I did tell my son, who will be handling the finances after I'm gone, that he needs to set aside a certain sum for dog expenses for whomever will care for the dogs if need be. That way daycare or a different home etc. for the caretaker might be possible. It's hard to say which makes me sadder, me dying before them or vice versa.

[Gem's Jewel]

You have brought up something that made me wonder about a new group...a place to list Doodles who need to be adopted due to unexpected health or life events for DK members. I would think many of us would love to adopt and love such treasured pets...no financial benefits wanted. Years of joy would be all that is needed. This would be a win, win for all and perhaps prevent fewer Doodles from taking space at rescues or families not knowing what to do if they are not able or willing to take care of them.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

That sounds like a great idea! You should start that group.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Lucy, something else to think about is that reputable breeders take their dogs back at any time if needed. If you deal with a breeder like that and keep in loose contact with him/her, you actually do have a back up.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Nancy, do you really think a breeder would take an old dog back? And, of course, even if the dogs both had the same breeder, that would be two dogs. I had two different breeders so that wouldn't work for me anyhow. I hope mine could live with one of my sons. I'd better stay around a while since neither one of them could do this easily now.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Well maybe I am wrong but it seems to me that is what the active breeders on dk and the DRC give the impression of. On the DRC they mention again and again how reputable breeders do not want to see their doodles abandoned and in shelters if their owners can no longer keep them. I guess I just assumed that would be the way it could go. Hmmm - that is a good question for someone to ask their breeder.
I think this would be a last resort option, because of course the dogs would be better off going to family. When my husband's sister passed away suddenly, we contacted an animal rescue about her many cats (we are all allergic). They were wonderful and found homes for each one after checking out their personalities etc. We were so grateful. We could not keep them at all and could never have found the perfect homes for them. My children are not thrilled with our doodles and I don't think they would want to keep them for themselves, but I do trust that they would find good homes for them. I think that is all we can do.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know what they say and maybe some would.

[Carol and Banjo]

Chuck - So sorry for your's and Rusty's struggles. Sending you our good thoughts and prayers. Carol and Banjo

[LucyR]

Hi Chuck, I have just sent a friend request to you. Lynne Colbert has made a nice CD that includes the video of Rusty. She would like to send you a copy but we need your mailing address. If you would like to send that to me, I will forward it to Lynne. lucyrasmussen at (@) stanford.edu Hope Rusty is still doing well.

[Lauria Orr]

There are so many of us Doodle lovers here, that I am sure this is just one more option for us to consider...if we don't have family or friends we could depend on to care for our Doodles, if that were to occur, I imagine re-homing would not be all that difficult. There is a tremendous amount of support here! One option is to try to contact the breeder first, and if that doesn't prove to be helpful, put a note on this site. My guess is this site will be around! We are all very clearly devoted to our Doodles, and the care that all Doodles receive.

[Roy Henderson]

We just got our second doodle one is 16 months and one is 4 months I am 59 to answer your question one doodle is never enough! They actualy will make you feel younger.

[Phyllis Kandul]

Boy, do i agree with that. i am 71 and very active and i have a 18 mos Eloise and have just adopted a boy Sam who is 3 months, they are having the time of their lives and i am too. it's like having 2 toddlers. i guess i should be in practice. when my children were little. i had 3 under the age of 2 and the feelings are very much the same. it is so worth it. and i do think we will live longer because of them