Feeling sad about having an "only child doodle".

[Gail and Bailey]

I got my Bailey when she was 6 months old.  She had been living with her brother and other dogs at the breeder's house.  For the first 2 months that we had her, we were spending the winter in Florida with our daughter and family...including their dog.  Now that we are back in our own home in Indiana, Bailey is an "only child dog".  We are retired and home most of the time and we play with her, take her for several walks a day, and generally love her like crazy.  However, I am feeling sad that she does not have a buddy to do "dog playing" with.  Am I putting human feelings where they do not belong?  Do any of you feel the same about your "only child dogs"?   I have looked into dog daycare, dog parks, and tried to seek out neighbors who have dogs that would like to play but have not found an acceptable option.  I am struggling with whether or not to start searching for a second dog.   

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Snickers is an only doodle and our only child-I too have thought it would be fun to have another goofy doodle.  But in the end I think he would be confused about why mom and dad’s attention is going to another dog.  We make sure he gets lots of interaction, he has play dates down the street with his “girlfriend” a flat coat retriever, he goes to daycare and doodle romps and he visits with his cousin my Brother in law and Sister in laws dog a Puppy Bichon Frise.  Honestly I think he likes the interaction but likes to come home and to his own space, own toys etc!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Don't get  another soley for Bailey to have a playmate.  That being said, if you want another pup because YOU want one, I am sure Bailey would end up loving it!

I had a chihuahua for 5 years - only dog.  I got Peri the doodle because we wanted a second dog and specifically a doodle.  Taquito was not happy about it at first.  But he adjusted and now he cries if she leaves.  I do think most dogs adjust and it is even more likely for doodles to adjust because the majority are pretty darn social and like playing with other doodles. 

Bottom line:  get another if you want and can afford another.  Sounds like Bailey has a pretty darn good life with you at home most of the time.  Lucky lucky doodle no matter what!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Part of my reasoning for getting Maggie was for Bexter to have a playmate.  That being said, that wasn't the only reason I got her...I wanted another doodle to snuggle with & love PLUS I wanted a little girl!  I think it depends on the dog & the situation.  Some dogs probably don't want to share things as Karen said.  However, there are other dogs that I think would prefer having another dog around.  Just like people, dogs differ in their preferences I'm sure.  Bexter always lit up when around other dogs (especially doodles), so I really felt like he would benefit from having a sibling.  I also think that two dogs can be twice the work (particularly if they get muddy), but honestly, Maggie has fit in so well, it is not any extra work or trouble.  My DH and I were just talking about this and even he admits that Maggie and Bexter are really no harder than Bexter was by himself. You have to feed a dog anyway, why not fill two bowls?  You have to open the door to let them out, why not have 2 run out the door at the same time?  I think you need to be really picky about the personality of the second dog & make sure that it gets along well with your first.  Otherwise, I'd say totally go for it!  You won't regret it. (I was nervous about getting a 2nd dog because we've always just had one dog at a time).  But totally worth it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's funny, because the two things you mentioned as being just as easy with two dogs as one are the two areas that many multiple dog owners have the most trouble with: feeding and going outside.

In a lot of cases, both dogs cannot eat the same food. Sometimes, one of them would have serious consequences if they ate the other dog's food, and keeping that from happening is difficult sometimes. There a pretty good number of doodles with digestive issues. Sometimes, they can eat the same food, but one has a small appetite and the other eats too much, and it's constantly a struggle to keep the one from eating the other dog's food. If you have a grazer, and it's an only dog, you can leave the food out all day with no problems. If you have a second dog, how do you leave the food down foer the grazer without the other dog getting it? These are not insurmountable problems, but we do have people struggling with them quite a bit in The Food Group. And then there's the cost of twice as much food.

With going outside, two dogs are great if you just let them out in the yard; in fact, they get a lot more exercise then one dog by himself in the yard. But Gail mentioned that she walks Bailey regularly, as many of us do. Some people do not have a fenced yard, and have to take the dogs out on leash always. Walking two dogs is extremely challenging when there's just one person. Even when there are two people, they aren't always both home when the dogs need to be walked. Or one of you is sick. I know recently, Jane was ill and her DH could just not manage both dogs on leash, with Murphy's reactiveness. She had her trainer come in for a couple of days so that Murphy could be walked. Again, not the end of the world, but it is something that needs to be considered.

[Adina P]

Then there's Rosco and Boca.  I send Boca out within 30 min of my waking...she's ready to go ASAP.  Rosco takes another hour or two to fully wake up.  Throughout the day Boca rings the bell (if she can) a thousand times. Rosco rings only for potty and maybe once or twice just to get out.  With Rosco alone, I hardly ever have to let a dog out.  But adding Boca to the mix didn't double the number of times I have to get up to let a dog out...it has exponentially multiplied it =)    She just wants to go, go, go, explore, explore, explore, chase, chase, chase, fetch, fetch, fetch...wrestle, wrestle, wrestle, bonk, bonk, bonk, circle, circle, circle, go, go, go.  It's like 10 Roscos all starting their day an hour apart.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Same deal with Calla and Luca. Calla thinks we should have a revolving door for her. I wouldn't mind if she didn't need to protect us from any evil neighbors, passing animals etc. I can't leave her out to bark too much.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

After reading this, you are confirming to me how well Maggie fits in with my family. I knew I was lucky, but apparently even more than I thought. I do feed different foods, and the first week was hard  because neither was eating very well & they were interested in each other's food. But since then it has been perfect. They. Both eat out of their own bowls & both eat all their food in about 5 minutes. I feed them every 12 hours. Letting them out is no problem either. Sleeping has been great too. They both are free & jump on the the bed or on the floor. It really has been very easy. I guess we just the right 2 dogs together! The only hard thing is walking them both. That is still a work in progress. That and they are more expensive of course but worth every penny!  We have 2 crates instead of one, so our office is more crowded. I don't care! Again all of these issues & inconveniences are worth it- just like having kids...sure one kid is easier & cheaper, but most people willingly have more than one and are happy they did.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL- it probably won't come as a surprise to you that I only have one child, too.

But I do have stepkids. :)

[Adina P]

twice as much grooming (either money or time)

twice as many vet visits (or vet costs)

twice as many to plan for if you travel (either taking two with you or paying for two to be cared for)

twice as many nails to clip

twice as much poo to scoop

twice as many paw prints to mop

twice as many dogs to control when visitors come

twice as many pulling forces on walks until both are trained

twice as much food to buy

:-)

[Gail and Bailey]

Wow...you guys have lots of good advice!  I am digesting all of it.  Thanks so much for all the input.  There were things pointed out that I had forgotten, as it has been 13 years since we had two dogs together.  Now it all comes back to me.  You are right about "twice as much" of everything...but that includes doggie love and kisses as well!  We will continue the search for playmates and keep giving Bailey all our love and attention. If we do decide to get a second dog....rest assured, you guys will be the first to know! :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I got Calla partly because I hoped she and Luca would get more exercise that I could give him alone and that has worked very well. The two dogs get along extremely well. I don't know if they would miss one another. I walk my two by myself all the time.

[Phoebe's Mom]

I, too, am an only child with an only doodle.  I would love for Phoebe to have a 'sibling' but really more for me than for her.  She is the center of my world during the day and when the children come home from school, she is the center of theirs as well.  I don't think your Baily wants for anything with both you and your husband loving her and taking her for walks and playing with her.  I bet she loves all the attention--for the record, I never wanted siblings and I still don't!