You got me scared....

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I am scared. I'm just two weeks away from picking up Monty's little brother and all I see on DK forum is: Puppy Biting, Housebreaking schedule help, Chewing wood, etc. Oh boy! I should be very excited about getting a new puppy, but somehow it feels different the second time around. Monty was a good pup, but there was still plenty of biting, ripped clothing, bruises on my arms, and dark circles under my eyes. I finally feel like I have a way of communicating with him now that he is 2 years old. He is mama's boy for sure. He sleeps in till 9am just like his mama. And we have a routine going once we are up. I do remember having a headache for the first two weeks after we bought Monty home and I really don't remember how I taught him to ring the bell to go potty or to sleep in his crate. I just remember that he learned very fast.

Getting a first puppy has you on guard since you know it will change your life. And it did. And I wanted to do everything by the books. How is a SECOND puppy going to change your life? Monty is not perfect, but he is a good dog. He is my first dog I've ever had. I sure hope I'm not going to mess him up by bringing a new puppy home. Will he still be my sweet opinionated Monty? Will I still have enough time and energy to snuggle with him every morning and give him the love and attention he has been used to getting for the last two years? Can I love the second dog the same way I love Monty?

I'm not getting buyer's remorse, don't get me wrong. I'm just a bit scared of the change and needed to talk. I don't understand why this feels different from when we were waiting for Monty to come home.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Aaaah.... the puppy days.  You may be very surprise at how much easiet the second one is in many ways.  Second dogs seem to learn from their older "siblings". Even sleeping in, "biting" potty places - you will be surprised.  Not that the puppy won't have to be watched and trained, but you will have help.   I totally agree with Stephanie - tether and crate, it is good for the puppy, it is good for Monty and it is good for you. Watching the two of them play will make it worth the effort.  It will be so much fun.  Enjoy!

[Brandi]

My lab mix Lucy was 7 yrs old when I brought Magnet my first doodle home, she was 8 wks old.  She was like a dream puppy.  She picked up on everything VERY quickly and didn't have any struggles with her and puppy stuff.  I think Lucy helped  a lot training her.  I found Magnet watched everything Lucy did and mimicked her.  Magnet was 9 months old when we got Smudge my second doodle.  Coming into a household with 2 adult dogs, she was a dream puppy too.  I don't know if I just got lucky and got darn near perfect puppies, or if having an older dog was the answer.  I tend to believe that the older dog will show the way.  You will be fine, I promise.  Monty will mold the puppy into shape :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Even if you were adopting an older dog as your second dog there would still be plenty of change to get used to, but if your heart is in it (which I'm sure it is) you will get there.  Sure you will have all the puppy stages to contend with, but at least you  know how to handle them.  When you get frustrated just look at that little ball of fur and then look at Monty and remember that this little guy will eventually be trained just as well.

[Jennifer]

Not to worry Jarka. You will fall in love with that cute, sweet, lil puppy and all that "Puppy Biting, Housebreaking, and Chewing wood" wont even matter. You'll all fall into a new routine in no time. Like the others have said, I think Monty will be a big help in showing the new puppy the ropes. He'll also help burn all that puppy energy off and you know what they say... a tired dog is a good dog. :-)

I can't wait to hear all about the new adventures this new little puppy brings to your lives. You're going to have a blast!!!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

You will be fine Jarka !!!  My Sasha was 10 months old and totally trained when I got Oliver, I too was a bit scared but I always had two dogs and it just came naturally to me.  Ollie followed Sasha's lead on lots of things, Sasha really helped me train Ollie and your new puppy will follow Monty as well, even when I had my Shih Tzu's the new puppy always followed the other older dogs.  Of course you will still have the puppy thing (chewing, biting, etc. etc) but it just seems easier when you have a older dog.  Good luck with your new puppy !!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is kinda like child birth - the 1st time you read, watch movies, pratice breathing, stock the nursery - you feel in control and you don't know how bad it is going to hurt.  With that 2nd baby you KNOW.  So you've had your 1st puppy and now you KNOW that it isn't all sweet baby doodle kisses.  There is less sleep, sharp teeth, potty accidents, crate crying.  I think the way you are feeling is normal.  This is going to change your house and your schedule with Monty - but once you have your new puppy and feel that instant love - and yes there is always enough love to go round - it will all be fine.  Then we'll be reading funny posts here about how Monty is helping to train the new puppy and this will all fade to the past.  Try not to over think it and just go with the flow!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You may not be able to give Monty the exact same attention with the new puppy, but you certainly will not love him any less and I'm sure he will be just as sweet and opinionated as he is now.  Guinness got so much of my attention before Murph and with all the training we've had to do, that did have to change a little.....but he's fine and the same good-natured boy.  Even though Murphy can be a real pain-in-the-butt big brother, I really believe that Guinness loves that he's part of the family.  I do plan my special "alone times" with each of the Doods.  With Murph it almost always involves training.  Guinness and I do Flyball together and lots of times I'll just take him alone for a ride or to the park.  I really think this is more for me than for them.....they're just as happy when we are all together.  So I understand how you're feeling, and yes it is a change and hectic for the first few weeks....but so worth it. 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Zoe and Ben are 6 months apart.  I know I should've waited longer to get a puppy but Zoe was SO happy around other dogs and would get sad when they leave that we thought she would do best with a sibling (so that they would never have to leave).  Yes, Zoe and I had a morning routine that went all out of sync when Ben came, and yes, Ben was 2 1/2 months so he did all that puppy stuff.  He was pretty awful at the potty thing the first 3 weeks.  However, he is a nicer, sweeter, better listener than Zoe.  So after the first three weeks it was great.  They ran around and played together, Zoe was happy, Benny was happy, and we are a great little happy family!  I will admit... the 3 weeks were HARD...and i always thought to myself"what have I done?" but never to DH! HAHA!  Now I am very content with our family.  Benny has even joined in on our morning routine...which is wake up, "potty", rest on the couch while I make coffee, then sit with me while i pet them and scratch their backs "cuddle time", breakfast, play, then they nap in the bathroom while I get ready for work.  I can't wait until I can start our morning walks again!  Everything takes it's rightful place.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

You guys rock. Thank you again for all your insights. Please remind me of this discussion if I start thinking about a third doodle in the future. :-)

[Katie and Sophie]

Don't worry!  everything will be just fine!  Monty is going to be a great big brother and he will make training the new little one a dream.  I think it is way easier adding a second than it is to train a first.  My two girls are the very best of friends and are practically attached at the hip, but they are different dogs with different habits so I get to have different special times with both of them.  Those special moments you have with Monty will remain, you will just start to have new, different special moments with the new pup that you will love just as much as your time with Monty.  All will go more smoothly than expected :)  

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Two are so much fun.  My only advice would be to let the dogs figure out the pecking order between them.  Fortunately, I have one that was "boss" and one that was willing to let him be bossy.  I found it helped Webber's jealousy to take him out on short trips, and even enrolled him in a Rally obedience class so we could spend some time without Seda.  Now, after a couple of years, it is hard to tell what the pecking order is, but I am first!  They seem to really like each other.  I wasn't sure if I could love any dog as much as I love Webber, but I do.  They are just different dogs and I love different things about them.  I also worried that a new pup would change things between Webber and I, but it didn't.  Enjoy your new one.