Am I crazy? 2nd dog??

[April S.]

So I think have dog fever or something.   I really want another dog - not necessarily another doodle but my Luna LOVES other dogs and it upsets her when my 2 cats don't want to play with her - she certainly tries though!!  She goes over the moon with joy when we tell her she's going to daycare - so i wonder if she's lonely for other dogs- if she had another dog to play with maybe I wouldn't need to send her to daycare to be social with other dogs.  We don't really have family or friends where we live so daycare is about the only social thing she does.  I work from home so I have the means to be with a new dog and monitor the progress of friendship between Luna and a new dog.  Are goldendoodles more prone to like other dogs in their breed - like poodles and golden retrievers ?  Her best friends at daycare are another goldendoodle, a huge black labradoodle and she made friends with a great dane the size of my car (okay, maybe not that big, but just.. WOW huge).  

I found a 3 year english bulldog from a local shelter here - so ugly he's cute! They said he's very friendly and loves other dogs.  My hubby was all for it - and then asked the people at daycare yesterday if they had any bulldogs there and what they thought of them.  They scared the crap out of him by saying that a 3 year old dog couldn't be trusted and maybe it was used for fighting and would kill the cats and might be dominant over Luna - so we should get a puppy if we decide to get another one.  I've seen lots of successful shelter/rescue adoptions - I think this is just bad advice from the daycare?  We don't have any kids - have a huge house and yard - money wouldn't be an issue taking care of another dog.   I just don't want make Luna's life bad by bringing in another dog that I had the best of intentions of making her life better.  Am I being irrational?  Sorry this is long - I'm just so confused. 

[Pilar, Sophie & Rico]

Hi April! Wow this sounded just like me over a year ago. I too had my doodle (Sophie) who I felt needed a companion. I also took her to the day care to play but at home she seemed depressed! I looked into adopting and worried so much that it wouldn't be a good fit! I just feared a disaster! Anyways, we decided to play it safe and get a puppy also a doodle. It's been a year and Sophie loves her companion - from day 1! I've not taken them to day care as they play a lot in the yard and in the house. Now, I wasn't prepared on how different they would be as far as training. Total opposite! It was a long 1 year with puppy training and it's been alot of work to have 2 dogs. But I don't regret it at all and they are worth it!! In fact I've declared that I will always have 2. Dogs! If I could talk hubby into it 3 would be a blast!! Good luck!!!

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

April- I felt exactly the same as you as well. I just added dog #2 this month and do not regret it at all. My first dog, Holmes, is a golden doodle that I got as a puppy. He's now 1. I would have loved to add another doodle- but couldn't justify the cost of another (we have kids and I don't work). I searched for days on rescue sites and animal shelters. I initially wanted to foster in order to find a good fit for our family. But then I totally lucked out finding Lucy. She's around 2 y.o. and probably some kind of labradoodle-schnauzer mix. We didn't want to make a mistake, so we asked for a 2 week trial period first. But we fell in love with her in the first week. So I don't think adopting an older dog is an issue unless he or she isn't a good fit or has some issues you're not willing to deal with. Holmes adores her and they play a lot. That was something to get used to. My only small problem is that I don't know her signals yet for when she has to go potty- but not a big deal. Good luck!

[Linda And Loo]

RB our Cavanese, was 10 months old when we added Loo our Labradoodle! I think it was the best decision we could have made. The two are best of buds! They play very well together! Loo learned so much from RB so training was much easier! When you add another dog also be mindful of the cost of a second dog! Your Vet bills, your food bills, your grooming bills, etc basically double! It is a concern you need to consider! Good luck, do your research and post a picture when you find dog #2! Oh when you get another dog consider the size and activity level and they should be similar to your dog!

[Julie and Max]

I feel like you and have a similar situation, I'd love to get another dog for Max. I also have two cats, I am at home most of the time, and have a big yard. If I started looking for a rescue dog (which I probably would) I would want to make sure it was okay with cats, not sure how I would do that. Also if you can find a rescue that would allow you to introduce Luna to the other dog that would be best, because dogs can take a dislike to other dogs, and you don't want to bring a rescue home and then have it not work out. I know that Max prefers golden retrievers at his daycare, although they told me yesterday he seems very fond of big dogs like great danes. I don't think your being irrational and your concerns are valid. I would just take it very slow not just pick the first dog you see. 

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Oh boy.  I just went through this.  We have a senior dog who can't play with Yarrow the way she'd like.  So I started looking about for another, younger dog to adopt.  I fell head over heels with a collie, the perfect companion for Yarrow and put a deposit on her.  Then I had Yarrow spayed and that's been a most trying time.  We were supposed to go pick up our puppy this coming weekend.  I started having nightmares about trying to walk two big puppies around and had to admit to myself that I might just be biting off more than I can choose.  As much as I had already fallen deeply in love with the new pup, I had to let her go.  Initially, I cried.  But now I'm relieved because Yarrow's spay surgery has set back her training two giant steps.  I'm going to need the next few months to focus on her development.  That's my two cents worth. 

I have always had two companion dogs.  They are wonderful company for each other.  No separation anxiety when I have to go out, and they 'speak' the same language.  The only thing better than a dog is two dogs.

I would just want to match up physical abilities and energy levels.

[Emily, Jace, & Maggie Devers]

Sounds like me this past summer, we split secondly decided to get Maggie this October and oh wow it's been great. Here's some things to consider though, it takes time to adjust both, and I personally think a puppy instead of an adult dog makes that adjustment easier but that's just my opinion, jace wasn't too sure about Maggie and she wasn't too sure about him, but now they're best friends. Jace was an old dog in a puppies body but since we've got Maggie he acts young and playful again. It's been great for him. Food,vet,grooming,toys,etc. Double the cost. I expected Maggie to not be as expensive as jace due to the fact she's only 25 lbs at 6 mos. but no, she maybe saves us 10 dollars a month compared to if we had a huge dog like jace. Everyday Training becomes a chore, they will distract one another so it's kind of a pro and con within itself, yeah you get the distraction factor but you also don't have as much consistency. We're enrolled in a class that starts in march now, for BOTH of them, we have a new baby coming and I need to straighten things out. Other than those things which aren't nessecarily bad having two is wonderful, no more feeling guilty when they're bored, no more boredom, and double the love and doodle kisses(or doggie/doodle kisses) :) sorry for the huge reply, good luck on your decision

[Patti Engle]

I'm seeing a pattern...My doodle (25 lbs) has a favorite playmate at daycare..... Great Dane - Larry!!  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I got my rescue at age two.  He is a doodle, but the theory would be the same.  None of my dogs - my from puppy raised or adult rescue like cats.  They will chase them at every opportunity.  If you want another dog, think of double the cost, and if you take Luna places, could you take two to those places?  If both of those are doable, then go for it.   PS when given a choice, from my observations, I feel that doodles tend to gravitate to other fluffy dogs.

[Andi, Lilly and Levi]

We have one doodle Lilly who is a year old. We are going to look at another doodle puppy today. We have enjoyed Lilly so much. We also have an older golden retriever Maggie. I understand wanting another dog. Good Luck!

[Kelly & Zoe]

Wow - Zoe is just 9 months and I'm starting to think the same thing!!  My husband thinks I'm nuts.  I have allergy issues so I'd need to go poodle/F1B doodle route (or other allergy friendly breed).  I don't think this is true, but I've heard from more than one source that 2 males are ok, male + female is ok, but not to have 2 females.  Anyone with multiple dogs have an opinion on that?

So curious to know what you end up doing :-)

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Most of my dogs have been females.  I had three females for many years.  They adored each other.  A Doberman cross rescue, a Basset Hound and a Newfounland X Belgian Sheepdog.  The Basset was the oldest and the matriarch of the pack.  They were all very sweet and loving.  People would come over and comment, 'You'd never know there are three dogs here.' 

BTW, I believe that dogs should live in the house with the family, so there were no 'yard dogs' in the group.  The poor dobie cross had been a yard dog before her surrender to the spca... where I found her.  Lucky me.

I was all set to get Yarrow a sister.  The main reason I'm not is that my 87 year old mother-in-law is coming to stay with us for 6 months.  She is frail and not used to dogs.  It would be absolutely dreadful if she would be knocked over by puppy play. 

[Kelly & Zoe]

Great to hear!