Adding a 2nd Doodle... Any advice?

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Our 3 yr old, F1b, standard labradoodle, Lucy, is the sweetest, most gentle, playful doodle we've ever seen. We're considering a medium male labradoodle to add to the family. After reading posts about alpha status and possible fighting I've become a little concerned. I don't believe Lucy has a dominate bone in her body. She loves smaller, playful dogs, and as long as they have a similar playful energy (and not aggressive playfulness) she gets along wonderfully with the other dog. Since she's matured she seems to put out a kind of invisible signal to dogs she knows wouldn't be a good match to her play style (she can sense their energy), and those dogs respect the signal and leave her alone. When she was younger she didn't have this capability and dogs often hounded her with their aggressive play styles. She'd run away with her tail between her legs, seemingly helpless to deter them. Now that she's become proficient at signaling her disinterest she's really come into her own.

Lucy is all about play. She's exceptionally smart and pretty well trained (she does have a bit of a stubborn streak, which my husband would say she gets from me... lol), and when she likes a dog you could say she loves him/her.

Any advice on how to make the right pick of puppy? I definitely will be referring to the breeder's expertise in identifying the right energy type to complement Lucy's play style, but is there anything else I can do to find the right fit? The breeder has the prospective owner choose at 5 weeks, and I don't know yet if she'd allow Lucy to accompany us in the process. I don't know, either, if Lucy would know that much about a puppy at that young age, so it may be a moot point.

Any suggestions/advice on making this a win/win for everybody?

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I think if you look for a mellow pup(as recommended by your breeder), you will end up fine.  Lucy is a sweet dog and she will help teach the new little guy.  That being said, expect some rough patches.  Tura started peeing and pooping in the house again (she was younger) but still old enough to know better.  Also, you have to be prepared for the puppy to be alpha, it's possible.  Made me sad for some reason when Dolly (our 2nd dood) started bossing around Tura.  The first few days , the puppy was terrified and then she got comfortable and took over.  Now they are great buddies.  I think they mostly all work it out.  Are you thinking of getting one of Sandi's latest? 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Hi Jeanne,

No, not one of Sandi's pups, although it was this latest litter that got the wheels turning. we don't want another standard, and we prefer a parti color. We'll probably go with Trails End in Sandy, OR. They have 2 parti dams that will be bred next month, producing parti mediums in Jan. They're pricier than Sandi's, but no more than is customary for a parti medium labradoodle (multi gen). Lucy would actually be great aunt to one of the female's pups... Which would be way cool. Thanks for the tips... Glad to hear dolly and Tura are getting along fine. Oh, you know, Lucy absolutely loves labradoodle pups we meet on our walks, which makes me think there'd be an instant attraction.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Thanks Sari. Your insight really does help!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Sari, I was rushed for time with my last response (and typing on an ipad, making it painfully slow), and I wanted to respond in more detail. First, the main reason we're considering a 2nd doodle isn't really for us so much as its for Lucy. We know how much she loves other labradoodles. When we enter a dog park both she and I scan the area for other doodles. If we spot one we make a bee line for it, because Lucy's play style is most similar to other doodles' play style (imagine that!), particularly labradoodles'. Also, Lucy has been around labradoodle puppies we've met on our walks (seems every week there's a new one in our neighborhood), and she's instantly responded with play bows and play nipping and lots of jumping back and twisting her body to avoid the puppy's advances. She picks up on that puppy energy and sees a green light. So as far as Lucy getting along with a puppy, I'm fairly certain that will be the easiest part. I think, too, we may see a more maternal side to Lucy with a puppy in the house. We'll see.

I love the suggestion to always put Lucy first in all things concerning 2 doodles. That will be easy to do as that's our habit now, and we do so adore Lucy. I told my DH that the 2nd doodle wouldn't be like Lucy. That it will have a different personality and have it's own peculiar quirks. I just wanted to make sure he understood that, that it won't be like having 2 Lucys. He said Lucy will always be his most special dog and that will never change (the 2 of them are the best of buds... when he's home Lucy is ALWAYS near him... he's her favorite person... behind our grown daughter, that is.). But you know, my DH has a way about him. Kids and dogs and cats and PEOPLE all like him. I can see 2 doodles in our house following him around like.. well...puppy dogs!

I'll definitely be asking my breeder to help find us a mellow, playful, confident yet non dominant doodle. Thanks again.

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

Ha Ha... I knew you couldn't wait Debb!!! Congrats! I would say a male would be a good choice. They say the more difficult of the combinations tends to be having 2 females. We went to pick Lily out around 5 weeks also and then picked her up 3 weeks later. I wouldn't recommend bringing Lucy, because they are still pretty small at this age. I know I forgot just how small until we saw her. Plus, with it being a medium, it will be smaller than you even remember Lucy being. Lily is actually a standard, but a small one at only 42 lbs. She is quite a bit shorter than Hudson. About evaluating personality, I would say that it still changes along the way as they grow, so there is no real way to tell if they will be compatible, but looking for a compatible energy level would be good. We were actually going to pick out a male and did like one of the males, but when we played with the female, we liked Lily's laid back, but still playful energy. Hudson is a lot like Lucy, in that he doesn't like pushy dogs. My mom has a very friendly, very playful German Shepherd and Hudson doesn't like him because he is just too pushy and overbearing and won't take no for an answer. It really isn't the size, it is that he doesn't respect Hudson telling him to leave him alone. Hudson wasn't exactly thrilled to get Lily at first. We took him with us when we went to pick up (but never got him out of the car). He pouted all of the way home and would barely look at Lily. He growled at her a few times when she played too rough (nipping his ear, etc), but he was just teaching her. Now I would say she is the more dominant of the two, although he does try sometimes.:) I think as they grow and mature they figure out the energy level of the other one, and work out who is more of the dominant one. They are great buddies now, and it is fun to watch them play together. That is one of the really nice parts of having two- they can run and exercise together. Are you getting a spring/summer puppy? I know you said no winter potty training again. :) I went through that with Hudson too. He arrived in December and we had a huge snowstorm the following day. Trudging out into huge drifts saying "Go potty..." while the wind was slicing through my cheeks was NOT fun. Lily came home in June. Much better.....

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Hey, thanks Angie.. yeah, I'm pretty predictable. Granted we go with this particular breeder (I have yet to pull the trigger on making a commitment/down payment), we'd be bringing a puppy home sometime in March. It will most likely still be wet weather, but maybe not quite so cold.

We will be picking out a pup at 5 weeks, and that was the same age I picked out Lucy. I still remember what it was exactly I responded to in Lucy. She had an alert, confident , playful attitude, and although she made eye contact and responded with what I can only describe as a kind of recognition (that was the connection we made), she caught herself and didn't come running to me. So she was friendly and outgoing but cautious as well. Also, in the pen with her siblings she wasn't the most dominant one. Even then I saw a respect she had for the other pups. So, in hindsight, maybe I'm making a bigger deal out of then then I need to. Besides listening to the breeder, perhaps I should just follow my own instincts and gut feeling. Its worked out perfectly for me in the past.

To introduce Lucy to the pup, I think we'll drive home and I'll have Tim go get Lucy and drive separately to a nearby park where we can have them meet on neutral territory. All that before going home together.

There will be lots more to come.... stay tuned!

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

We had an experience when we were looking for number two that may be of interest. We came very close to getting a little particolored male, brown and white...very cute. But when we went to see him, the white hair shed and my DH was allergic....no problem with the brown hair. So be sure to pet and slightly tug on both colors to see if he sheds...if that is an issue for you. On another but semi related note, our Dolly will be bred next month and have her pups in January. we will have to compare notes. Seattle Labradoodle has cute parti colored pups now btw. That's Dolly's breeder.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

How exciting for you to have Dolly bred. Will this be her first litter? How hard will it be not to pick out one of her pups for your own? Thanks for the heads up with the Seattle Labradoodle pups....I'll have to check them out, but honestly, March is the earliest I'd like to think about bringing a new pup home.

We're not allergic. Still, we'd prefer a non shedding doodle. I've sent a msg. off to the breeder asking this question. It is an interesting point, and it definitely could play a part in our ultimate pick. Thanks!

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I've told my husband to hide the checkbook after Dolly's puppies are born. I really can't see us with 3 dogs but puppies are irresistible ! This will be her first litter. Dolly is really tentative around other dogs(unlike Tura who greets everyone) so it will be interesting if she cooperates with the mating process. last heat she was flagging her tail at Tura but growling at other dogs. I've never had a pregnant dog so it will be interesting to seen if her behavior or personality changes. usually, pretty tentative, she surprised us at Cannon Beach last week when we took off the leashes. Tura ran after the ball but Dolly spotted the gulls in the opposite direction and took off chasing them. We had a heck of time getting her to come back to us....she was really focused. must have some birddog in her.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

That's funny about Dolly running off at Cannon Beach. Lucy did something similar last February when we were there. Normally, Lucy walks right between Tim and I when she's not running between us for her play sessions. But this one day we all went and the wind and sand was blowing something fierce and my eyes were watering profusely. I told Tim I couldn't handle it so I proceeded to go back to the hotel room. BIG MISTAKE. Lucy started running up and down the beach, looking for me. She knew I'd started out on the beach with them and she was having nothing of leaving me behind. Apparently, she never saw me go back up over the embankment when I left the beach. After about 10 minutes of Lucy running frantically to ANYONE far down the beach, Tim finally got a leash on her and brought her back to the room. The lesson learned: Its fine for one of us to leave the room with her to go to the beach, but never, EVER, split up after getting to the beach together.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Is artificial insemination an option for Dolly if the mating process is unsuccessful? I've read recently the practice is not all that uncommon.

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

Debb, that's exactly what will happen if Dolly decides she doesn't like the male.  They take her (and him) to the vet and do it there.  I'm not involved at all in the process and really that's ok with me. It's an extra expense for the breeder but she has had this happen before so no big deal I guess. I'll know more by the  end of November.