Adding puppy #2?

[Judy Reinsberg]

I am contemplating adding another dog to our family.  Willie is now 5 and I am wondering if some of you have added another puppy to the mix and how it worked out.  I would get another doodle as  Willie has such a mellow disposition.  My husband thinks I am crazy and that 2 dogs would be too much, so I thought I would throw it open to discussion by all the wise "doodle parents" out there.  Thanks for any input.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

join the Multiple Doodle group. I have 3, 2 are mine and 1 is my daughters who is living with us - and would never have any less!!!!! 3 times the expense (including pet insurance for all) + 3 times the training = 3 times the love.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree, look at some of the discussions in the Multiple Doodles Group.  I think the experience of adding the second dog varies.  For some it was an easy transition.  For others it was more difficult.  My first Doodle was very easy....trained quickly and kind of "went with the flow".  My second Doodle has been a different experience...much more of a challenge.  That said, I love them both and I wouldn't trade either of them for anything.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I completely agree with Jane. We have had multiple dogs for many, many years. We added our second doodle when the first was deeply grieving the death of our golden retriever. The wild and crazy guy we got for our second doodle is quite the challenge, but we all love the socks off of him. There are many times I wondered what in heaven's name I did to our household in getting doodle number 2. In the end, what I did was add so many laughs and adventure to our all too staid adult home. 

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

We added #2 six weeks ago & it is great !  Baker is 3.5 & was so bored, he spent way too much time sleeping for a dog that young.  So...I wanted another to keep him company & to make our lives more fun...my husband was a resounding "NO" for quite awhile...he finally relented since I kept at him...then we waited over 2 months for Oskar to arrive.  He is so much fun...Baker is no longer sleeping much...& they play most of the day.  The puppy is relentless in stealing toys & just being a 13 week old brat, & we are laughing all the time at the two of them.  Baker is great at correcting the puppy if he gets too pushy...we can tell when that happens because Oskar suddenly minds his own business for a couple of minutes :)

Take care in selecting the personality of your puppy & things should be very successful...keep us posted :)

[Chloe, Finley & Mama Shelley]

Was the easiest puppy I have ever had adding a second doodle. He just picks up stuff from the others and follows what they do. Chloe our 1 yr old & Finley play all day and wear each other out. Before she used to drive us crazy in the evening always wanting us to play and throw her ball over and over, now she has Finn for that. Our other dog Bentley a 3 yr old Golden Retrvr just sits and watches them now..LOL. I could never again have only 1 dog!

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

Agree with the Multiple Doodles group as experiences are all different.  We have 2 and it's more expensive, but in our experience, in many ways it is less work as they play together and occupy each others time.Most important, it's twice the fun and love.    They are both males and have bonded very well.  They are the best of brothers but we were very careful in selecting the second one to ensure (as much as it's possible) they would get along.  One never knows ultimately, but we've been very lucky.  Can't image it would be like without either of them.   Good luck.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I had never had more than one dog at a time until i got my first doodle--they play so well together and whenever I took her to my breeder's house and there were other doodles, she had a ball....so, I convinced my hubby to get a second one and that was great---they really played well and had fun together---then my second one had pups for the breeder and I kept a pup--so you can now add up that I have 3. They are always together and play and sleep and run around as a team. There are skirmishes, but one usually ends up as the "boss" and the others follow along--you just have to let them work that out and not hurt each other of course. I have never had any kind of fight with my three-just a bit of a snarl from the alpha--who is, ironically, the baby of the group!

Good luck!!

Oh, and you may not want to mention the name of the breeder in your post (you can edit it out) since you are not supposed to endorse a breeder on the main forum. 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have two... and love ever second of multiple dog ownership.  My Sasha was 10 months old when I got my Oliver and they are the best of buds.  I just love having more than one dog :)