We're adding to the doodle family!!!

[Puppy Madness]

It's official! we're expanding our doodle family!!!!!! We are beyond excited. Jace turned 1 year old on august 18th and the breeders we purchased him from had two new litters this fall. Our little girl will be ready to pick up on october 20th. We're so excited and a little nervous but I'm not nearly as anxious as I was with Jace now that I'm a "seasoned dog owner" and also I have doodle kisses :) Any pointers on adding a new little puppy will be GREATLY appreciated!

[Pilar, Sophie & Rico]

Congrats!! It was the greatest decision that we made. Our doodles just love each other. My advice is to be patient and remember that they can be very different. My Sophie trained a lot faster then my Rico who is 7 months old now. They are different in personalities, smarts and even hair type. Sophie doesn't shed and Rico does! Sophie doesn't eat much because she's older and Rico wants to eat everything in sight. I do separate them during the day and when feeding them. I'm thankful that I have the gates because two puppies can get a bit crazy! Good luck!!!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Congratulations, Emily! I remember that same feeling last year about this time, suddenly finding ourselves deciding on another new puppy. I can totally relate. I think you'll find adding a 2nd dog will be relatively easy, especially if Jace loves other dogs. That was the main reason we got our 2nd, Oscar, so that Lucy, our 3 yr old doodle, could have a playmate. I think the excitement of having another dog in the house (permanently) threw Lucy into an intestinal upset, though. She had the worst case of vomiting and diarrhea a week after Oscar came home. She's a very sensitive dog, and all the newness of it threw her system out of whack. After a couple weeks she was back to normal, but dealing with a new puppy and a sick adult dog wasn't a lot of fun.

Just a word of warning on adding a 2nd puppy. Watch those 'tug-o-war' games with the 2 dogs (it proved to be the most fun game of all between them early on). We think tug-o-war games snapped off the tip of one of Oscar's baby teeth. It brought on acute pain and it resulted in Oscar having to have that tooth extracted (it would have had to be extracted anyway, though, due to another unrelated dental issue). Once adult teeth come, tug-o-war is fine.

I remember it was a lot of work, and a lot of hours spent outside in the cold and rain, working through potty training (Oscar was slow in that department). Once we got through potty training we were on a whole new playing field. Both Lucy and Oscar are the best of buds, partners in crime, and they are forever entertaining us with their antics. We couldn't have found a better fit for our family when we selected Oscar. I'm sure it will be the same for you. It will be a new dynamic in your home at first, but everyone will adjust.  You'll find that a 2nd doodle really helps keep the first one young, and they will most likely be inseparable. Good luck, and have FUN!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I wanted to mention too, if you don't already have pet medical insurance, now would be a good time to get it. Most insurance companies won't pay out for 'pre existing' conditions. Starting off with a new puppy eliminates any of that risk. If you do already have insurance, most companies offer discounts on additional dogs. For us, pet insurance has more than paid for itself this past year, with intestinal obstruction surgery, intestinal upsets and kennel cough.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Having two makes training an even bigger priority and more complicated. Stay committed to it.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Congratulations!