Tell me why I don't want another doodle

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Well, Yogi is now 7 1/2 months old he had been the very best puppy ever. I've wanted to get another doodle since I first thought about him.
DH said go for it this morning. So give me your best reasons I shouldn't do this. I thought I'd like to get one within the next 6 months so they will be near the same age and maybe also a little smaller like 25#'s. His mom and dad have been bred together again and due in another month or so.

Tell me why it's a bad idea ;-)
... Or if you must, why it's a good idea. Thanks!!!!!

[Terrlyn]

Great discussion! I'm a recent multiple dog owner, have had my second doodle for 8 months now. 
Pros: They play together, double the cuteness, older one teaches the young one

Cons: Double the $$ for food, vet, poop bags, beds, toys etc. sometimes harder to control with two rambunctious dogs therefore you need to be extra patient, especially for walking. Yes the play together which is good, but also can be bad when they play too much and get wild

Overall I love having a second doodle and love having a companion for my first doodle. One advice I'd have it to make sure your first is well trained so your not having to train two at once, which can become very difficult at times. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Ha ha. This is a picture DH sent me of Yogi today. He found a spot to dig in the yard. Hmmm

[Stephanie and Ragley]

hahaha silly Yogi just wants to try out being a chocolate doodle for a bit!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

LOL, Yogi heard you were considering a second doodle and wanted to show you he can be any color you want :) Yogi, you're still the cutest under all that mud :)

[DJ & Chance]

Yogi, is this a statement about getting another doodle?  Too cute.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

DJ
It is funny, when DH first sent me this picture yesterday, he said "no more dogs!"
Then later after Yogi was so good for him in the bathtub, he texted me and said get our name on a list :-)
DH said he just sat in the tub for 30 minutes waiting for him to bath him because I was at work, and he was working from home.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Leslie, now take this mess and DOUBLE IT! And that can be an everyday reality. We've all mentioned the expense, but really look at the expense for a moment. Besides the original cost, I would take a guess that having two costs at least $1000 - $1500 more a year. Some years more probably depending on what shots are due or when teeth cleaning is due or how much Pet Ins rates go up and if you have them groomed or do it yourself.
So if $100-$125 a month is not a financial burden, then no problem, as you are pretty used to the rest of the time and grooming and training issues. It does seem to just be a normal course of events that the first puppy is perfect and then the second seems to present some challenges. That is a broad assessment and no science there, and it was certainly our experience. Our second, Bella, is just this past 6 months, ( she will be 4 in July) becoming less destructive, stopped eating ALL the poop in the yard, and it seems like she is doing less counter surfing. She still eats the kids toys and has figured out how to open doors and get out of any room so keeping things put away at all times is necessary and a big pain in the neck that I never had to do with Murphy.
Other than that, as long as you go into this with eyes wide open, there are many many good things about having two, and I hope I always will be able to.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Sue,
Thanks for taking the time to give me such a candid response. I really appreciate it. It gives me a lot to think about.
While I was waiting for Yogi for months, I was reading on this forum. I really was starting to wonder what I was getting myself into with all the posts about training, peeing in the house, nipping, teenage behavior, grooming problems, etc everyone spoke about.
So when we brought Yogi home I was expecting the first year to just put up with potential problems and look forward to the great dog I would eventually have. But the problems never happened. It's almost like he is not a puppy except for the house training(which was no big deal). He's been amazingly good.

I'm thinking a second puppy might be the one I was originally expecting ;-).

Thanks again

[BG and Gavin]

Yogi!  You cute little muddy dickens!

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Wow!  This made me LOL.  Yes, I used to crave another doodle when Skadi was younger,  she started having problems with limping before she turned two and then had to have Cruciate Ligament repair.  After that ordeal I  realized how much I enjoy having just one....and travelling with just one, and playing, kissing hugging, loving, and training just one.

We have the finances to board her at a doggie day care ranch when we go out of town.  Still is not cheap, but she gets to play with all her doggie friends during the day.  $25/night.  Adds up.  

They are admittedly cute cute cute...and hard not to become addicted to wanting more than one.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[BG and Gavin]

Well, I have never had two, but often look after two or three for a short term and to be brutally honest, despite the fact that they are very nice, low maintenance dogs, I am as happy to see them leave as I was to see them arrive :)  I think you need to know yourself well in order to make the decision.  For example I do not have a high tolerance for a great deal of disarray in my house. And double the dogs, double the mess.  I also know the time I put into teaching Gavin all of his manners and as a result he is literally welcomed anywhere I go.  So when the cottage neighbours ask us over for the evening, Gavin is invited too. If we are invited out of town to visit friends on the weekend, Gavin is invited too.  Could I do the same for a second dog?  I doubt it.  Also taking one dog everywhere you go is much easier than taking two.  I have a list of people that have offered to take Gavin anytime we go on vacation.  Would they take two dogs?  No.  My view is when you have one dog, you fit them into your lifestyle.  When you have two dogs, you fit into their lifestyle.  Bless everyone who feels differently.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Very well stated. Finding someone to watch two is ten times harder and I do not want to kennel mine. We took one dog everywhere. We do not take our two in the same way. When we take them someplace it is for there pleasure not with us for our pleasure. But then one of ours is the afore mention Owen. ;o)