My new rescue Doodle arrives in 2 days. What to expect? This makes 2!

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

I am rescuing a stray, abandoned one year old Goldendoodle and she arrives at my house on Thursday morning.  Kona (9.5 month Double Doodle that I got from a breeder at 8 weeks old) met her and really liked playing with her at the adoption event on Saturday.   There was a line out the door applying to adopt her, and I'm almost certain that they chose me over literally dozens of other families and applicants because of how well she got along with Kona.  For the other dogs and people visiting her, she sat politely and didn't make eye contact and was very shy.  But with Kona, they crawled on each other, danced, and bounced around.  And she came over and hugged me and kissed me.

 

I'm hoping that the adoption and rescue people are correct that she will adjust quickly and love having a playmate.  But I do have a bit of nervousness about how LONG Kona will like having a playmate.  He is so adored and loved on by me and my boyfriend and is the center of attention wherever he goes, so I worry that he'll get jealous and want her to "go home" and just accept her for part time play. 

 

Anyone have experience with taking in a rescue doodle?  Any tips would be appreciated.  Kona still is crated every night, and when I leave him alone for about 3 to 4 hours a day, he is in the kitchen with a baby gate.  Would you recommend I get a second crate for night time for the new dood, or do I make the jump of letting them have the kitchen for bed time with open door crates? 

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

I forgot to mention that Kona is the apricot one, and his new sister is the light cream one.

 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Gwndolyn!  CONGRATULATIONS!  They are adorable together!  I like how they are the same size so they can be perfect play  mates!  Zoe won't play with Ben sometimes because he bulldozes over her :(

Sorry I didn't get a rescue so I'm not sure how your situation will be but since they got along so well at the adoption event I think they will do just fine.  When we first brought Ben home he was a puppy and Zoe was kind of freaked out by him which was weird because she LOVES other dogs.  Eventually everyone adjusted and we are all a family.  

Haven is a sweet name :)

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

She looks a bit more healthy and robust in that photo than she really is, but she is pretty healthy for an abondoned, matted up stray found in a kill shelter!  I would call Kona a large Mini (he is 24 pounds...might end up being 26 to 28 at most).  And I would call Haven a small medium (she is 25 pounds now with about 10 pounds to gain back on her very skinny body) So I think they'll be a good pair of playmates.  Kona is full bodied healthy and robust and playful, so even if she outweighs him by 10 pounds and is an inche taller in a few months of "healing" with us, she won't outdo him.  She is a very gentle soul and loved playing and dancing with Kona, but Kona thinks he's bigger and loves running after and leaping over pitbulls, German Shepherds, and the like.  He has no clue that he's only 24 pounds and 17 inches tall!

 

I'm not sure what I will be calling her yet.  Haven is the name given to her by the rescue group that saved her.  Since Kona got his name because of Kona, Hawaii being MY safe haven for peace, earthiness, and adventure (Ive neen there many times alone to re-boot my soul), the name Haven actually might end up sticking.  I'm also going to see how several other Hawaiian soothing names "feel" when she gets to my house. 

 

Malina (calming, soothing)

Mahina (Moon)

Malie (calm)

Kalea (bright)

Makana (gift)

Kala (sunshine)

Hula

Hana

Haven

 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

all the names are cute.  If you decide on a "K" name that would be cute since both will be a "K". :)

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Hi Gwndolyn, I have fostered many, many doodles for DRC and one of those fosters, our Lovely Lacey, became a part of our family a little over 2 years ago.  Harlow and Lacey get along very well and even our fat old beagle Baxter loves Lace.  I have to admit that I didn't crate any of the fosters and am a notorious push-over to dogs snuggling in bed.  I did though, begin basic training (sit, down, etc.) with everyone straight away.  The fosters seemed to learn from watching Baxie, and Harlow and Baxie and Harlow didn't seem to be jealous as everyone was expected to listen.  Be aware that one or the other of them will want to be top dog.  In our case it is our very confident Harlow.  She "dominance humped" every foster we had the first couple of days.  After that everyone settled down to a comfortable routine.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Dominance Hump.....ha!  yep.  I imagine that Kona will try that.  He still tries it on me but I stop him quickly.  He just did it to my visitor last night.  Dang it!  And he was neutered at 6 months, so I'm worried he'll continue. 

 

Thanks for the encouragement!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

D'awwww, she's precious!

I had similar reservations when I brought Declan home, honestly. Dec was 4 1/2 months and Lachlan was just over a year - and accustomed to being a spoiled-rotten only-pup. Here we are more than a year later and Lachlan is still as besotted with his little brother as he was on day one, although there have been moments when he's had that "so is this thing going away any time soon?" look on his face. They play together, get in trouble together, pick on the cat together ... right now, while I type, they're passing a toy back and forth and taking turns taking it away from each other to chew on it.

As far as crating, I still crate both of them in their own crates side-by-side. I'd suggest sticking to what Kona's accustomed to if you can, at least at first while you're getting used to having to each other, and then go with whatever feels right once everyone's settled in.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Thank you Jen!  Loving the photos on your site.  Is Dec the dark apricot one?  They look like they have a blast together trying to be cats.  Funny!  I hope Kona and Haven get along that well!  And good comment about the crating.  He actually mostly likes his crate.  When I left for work today, even though he has the whole kitchen, he went straight into the back of his crate for a nap right in front of me. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Congratulations; how exciting!!!!!  We rescued Clancy after Ned and Gordie.  We also had a lab mix at the time.  Here is what we found:  Our lab mix lovingly and immediately told Clancy who was boss; Ned put Clancy beneath him in the pack, the next day; and then Gordie and Clancy took months to settle their positions in the pack. They had periodic arguments over high value treats and humans. We didn't leave them together when we left the house - just in case.  So I would suggest separate everything - food dishes, beds, crates. They may get along famously as soon as you get them together at home, but if you expect that there may be some tiffs, you won't be overwhelmed.  Both Kona and Haven will need extra loving from you - Kona for reassurance, and Haven so that she knows she is loved.

I really love the name Haven. It looks like it fits her, however, if you decide to change it, I really, really vote for HULA.  It was one of the names suggested for Clancy, and we actually tried it out on him for a day, but, alas, it just wasn't quite right for him.  We can't wait to meet Haven at the next romp!

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Hula sounds fun to me, too.  Or even Luna for the bright white moon.  I'll see what fits.  Kona's name while I was waiting for him to arrive from Montana was Leonard (the smart, sweet, nerd from Big Bang Theory).  I tried it for a few days, but he never came to it.  Each time I called out Kona, he turned his head and came to me.  (Wish he did that NOW!)  So I'll try a few names over the next few days to see what she tells me.

I have two good sized crates already (Kona naps in the living room in one when he doesn't want to be bothered, and sleeps in one in the kitchen with the door closed every night).  I guess I can put both in the kitchen when I leave to have them get used to being alone together and crate both at night when they sleep for a while.  I had 2 kitties for 19 years and they never needed separate anything, so this is going to be a new thing for me!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Gwyndolyn ~ I just saw your post of about Haven.  How is it going so far?  BTW - thank you for rescuing Haven.  She is a beautiful girl. Have you decided to keep the name Haven?

Our Charlie was 1 yr 10 mos when we brought Beau into our home.  Charlie was very spoiled (much like Kona I would think) and you could tell he liked the puppy, but did not want to share his space, toys, people - LOL.  It didn't take him long to initiate play with Beau and take him toys, etc.  Now they are inseparable!  At first I took them separate for their walks (so I would have one on one time and training), but now they both go at the same time and we have very enjoyable walks (one on each side of me).  Looking forward to hearing how Kona responds to having a new addition to the family. 

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

I don't have a final name yet, but I've been calling her Maggie today and it feels right so far. I am beyond amazed at how they got along immediately. they play and run around and share toys and eat the same bully stick at the same time like lady and the tramp. I had four house guests when she arrived and the two doodle wanted soooo much to sleep with the college girls on my air mattress with them on the living room floor.