2 dogs???????

[Chris B]

Please tell me how many of you think it is a good idea to have TWO doodles?  

I love my boy so much.  He is now 1 year and I was thinking of getting him a brother/sister?

Curious your thoughts!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

There was a recent discussion on this:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/tell-me-why-i-don-t-want-a...

[Chris B]

thanks, i will read the posts!  I got to the first 3 pages and that only inspired me!!!!!  AAAGGGHHH...

[Stephanie and Ragley]

You're welcome! :) And yes, I don't think you'll find too many people on here who will discourage you! haha

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

I dont know if anyone mentioned it in the recent blog, however the best advise someone here gave me was to be certain I was getting another dog for myself and family, not for the first dog to have a companion. That factors in, yes, but shouldnt be the main reason.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oops, that was the main reason we got Oscar! Lucy is so very playful, but rather bashful around other doodles. We wanted her to have her very own play buddy, we love her that much. Oscar is a doll and we couldn't have asked for a better personality/temperament in a doodle. He was a perfect fit for all of us, but we are/were guilty, as charged!

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

Oh Deb, then the advise I got was possibly someone's opinion, not set in stone fact! It was our first thought too until I was encouraged to rethink it so I wouldn't have any regrets mostly by getting another for the wrong reason. It's worked out for most everyone either way though I guess. Either way, I think your Lucy and my Murphy are happier doodles with their brother and sister. ;)

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Of course, we wanted a 2nd doodle for ourselves as well (we had been so enamoured by the first), and as someone else mentioned, we thought a 2nd might help if/when we lost one (meaning, if one passed). But the main reason was for Lucy. We saw how she'd make a doodle friend at the dog park and want to play with that dog exclusively, then feel left out when that dog played with other dogs. She's so very particular when it comes to playing with other dogs. And she LOVES to play! She initiates play with Oscar about 90% of the time. Having Oscar keeps her young. Having a 2nd is a lot of work and a big commitment, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

We actually got Polly for both reasons and it is working out well for us.  I do think you have to want another for yourself in reality, after all you are the one that will foot the financial cost of a second one and do the training, your present pooch just reaps the social rewards.  One of those rewards in our house is that even though we felt Meg was trained very well on commands they got reinforced as we started training Polly, in other words Polly is still learning and coming along nicely...Meg is superb.  We love having both of them but be realistic, it is an additional commitment on your time and finances.

[Mari Bezanson]

We have had 2 dogs for the last 5 years now.  When our golden retriever was starting to show his age we decided on getting another puppy.  Both to help perk him up, and perhaps ease the pain when our old boy finally passed.  It actually got him out of his sleepy slump and was a new dog again.  He actually lived beyond any expectations we had for him and the 2 dogs were best friends.  Murphy passed in the fall at the age of 15.  We just decided to get a new puppy in the last couple of weeks and again no regrets.  It is busy and lots of extra work , but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I say go for it!

[Lori (Wilson and Woody's Mum)]

I am going against the grain here and I may be unpopular because of it, but you asked.......

I think it depends.  I love dogs....more than people.  DH & I don't have children - never will.  Have a nice lifestyle, can provide well for two dogs, etc.  When we were contemplating getting another dog, a good friend said this....."what is one more dog?  One more cup of food?  One more vet appointment?"  I thought "Heck, I can handle that!"

Why this is all true, there are things that he didn't say.  What is one more cup of food?  Well, it is twice the cost.  What is one more vet appointment?  Again, it is double the yearly expense; double the time.  Grooming - twice the cost.  Boarding - nearly twice the cost.  Equipment - double.  

But it is more than money.  It is more work --- greater than double the work.  Walking two dogs took a LONG time to accomplish.  Any behavioral issues the first one has will rub off on the 2nd one - address anything like that before getting a second dog.  (Fortunately, many of the great behaviors also rub off.)  It is more difficult to travel with two dogs.  Many hotels don't allow two.  Getting two in the car, walking two on a road trip, etc.......more work.  You travel to see relatives/friends?  You may not be as welcome with two.

I have a few friends who love, love, love their dog and have asked me about getting another one.  I have to be honest and tell them it isn't all roses and lollipops.  And not everyone is ready or equipped to handle two.  I consider myself to be very knowledgeable, responsible, practical, but I didn't realize what came with having two dogs.  

I also thought our first dog 'needed' a friend, a brother, a sister.  The fact is, I just wanted another dog to love.  Our first dog was GREAT as an only dog - probably better.  He was definitely better behaved before.  

All that set aside, we did indeed add a dog to our household - a rescue.  Do I love him?  Like you can't imagine.  In fact, I can't imagine him not being here.  And I wouldn't trade him for ANYTHING.  However, had I known, I may not have chosen to add a second one.  Just being honest.  You can't know what you don't know.  Once you experience something - you can't erase that or go back.  So of course, I wouldn't go back.  I wouldn't not have him.  He is the sweetest dog I have ever known.  I am just saying if I would have known all that was involved, I probably would have chosen to not disrupt the 'perfect' pack we had.  

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

You make good points, Lori. You can't know what you don't know. My experience was quite different from yours. I was expecting a really difficult time with adding a 2nd (Lucy was no picnic as a puppy. She was very spirited and headstrong.) Turned out Oscar was a piece of cake compared to Lucy as a puppy, and since Lucy was our first dog ever, I had no way of knowing how difficult she was until I experienced a mellow, easy going pup like Oscar. You can't know what you don't know... but in my case the 'finding out' was a very pleasant surprise.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lori, I think you made a lot of excellent points. I would also like to add that people say the two will entertain each other. My dogs get along just great, love to wrestle, etc., but they rarely entertain themselves. They both look to me to entertain them :)