Contemplating a 2nd doodle

[Gretchen Nastrom]

Preston turned 1 on September 1st, and he is a wonderful addition to our family.  Now that we've gotten through that first year, we are contemplating getting another doodle and even found a breeder with pups ready to go.

I would love to hear any insight you might have about getting a 2nd doodle.  How old was your first doodle when you brought home another one?  Is it better to wait until Preston is a bit older before adding another doodle to the mix?  Preston is not at all dominant, so I think he would adjust well to another puppy in the house, but is there something we should look for if we do go meet the puppies?

Thanks for any tips/advice that you can share!

[Emily Lau]

Hi!!! We JUST added a 2nd doodle to our household. Our older dog, Earnest, just is turning 2, and Filbert, the baby, is now 12 weeks (we got him at 8 weeks). They are getting along famously, and Earnest is sort of acting as the game-teacher, and babysitter. I think the older dog is both very happy with having a new brother and friend, and super stressed out at the same time. We just let them deal with each other and sort things out. They are adorable. We are at month no 2 now, and everyone is getting used to it.

I must remind you that having a 2nd puppy is STILL A LOT OF WORK............ the whole house training thing again! :) 

GOOD LUCK AND xxx

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

We are adding doodle # 2 in a little over 2 weeks. Nimbus will be almost 15 months. We fostered twice and babysat his brother and another goldendoodle from the same breeder on different occasions. He got along great with all of them. He might get a little jealous once he realizes that the puppy is here to stay. But they have so much fun with another doodle around. My concern is more how to keep the puppy safe while not fully vaccinated yet, and still take the 1st one to the dog park. I guess we'll do a lot of paw wiping.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Hi Gretchen!
We got our second doodle Maci, 2 1/2 months ago. Yogi was 10 months old. They came from the same set of parents.
They look very much alike, but they are very different. We took Yogi along when we chose Maci and when we brought her home. I think that worked well for us. I also think adding Maci while Yogi was still a puppy was good for us too. They have similar energy/play levels. They both are always ready to play with the other. They adore each other, it's funny when I look at them when they are chilling, they are always in the exact same positions. Too cute.

Make sure your first doodle is well trained before getting the second, and be prepared to go through puppy stage again. I'd say it took a week or so to get things settled back down again. I LOVE having two puppies. They both still go many places with us, I walk them together, they sleep together, and play together. Maci learned certain things faster I think because of Yogi.

You ask about temperament, Yogi is very calm, so was Maci, but I think she will be the dominant one. Girls usually are from what I've learned.

You are correct it is harder while your new puppy can't get out as much. We just carried Maci with us and also took a tarp so that when we were places she could be on it and still be safe.

The bad is: double costs of vet, food, treats, and monthly flea and heart-worm protection. But I would do it again!
Good luck and have fun

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I love the way they snuggle, Leslie.

[Gretchen Nastrom]

They are adorable! 

[Toni Clayton]

Leslie, what kind of well trained would you mean, house trained, all trained...George is 8 months now, and he does very well....it's mostly recall, drop it and leave it that we need most work on...we are on a wait list from a puppy from the same breeder. I figured George would be 1 before we got another, and he would still be very puppy, as far as playing went.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Toni,
I mean like walking on a leash, leave it, down or off whichever you use, and stay.
Your new puppy will learn from your first. (Good and bad)
It's harder to work with your first once your concentrating on a new puppy again.
Good luck, it's fun, but work ;-)

[Toni Clayton]

Heck yeah it's work! I'm kinda of thinking how it's so much easier when you have two children who play together, lol. It's funny, because when it's just me home, George is an angel. When my husband comes home, all those little naughty habits are more apparent. We also have two sons. Thanks for the reply.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

We also got a second doodle when our first was under a year. George and Juno are almost exactly 6 months apart. George was 8 months when we brought Juno home and they couldn't be more different personality wise. To give you an idea, George has been left out of her crate permanently since she was barely 4 months old. She tests for her CGC later this month, she'll be 10 months old. She'll be ready to test with TDI at that time for therapy dog certification, but they have a 1 year age minumum...so we have to wait for her birthday! She has always been very calm, laid back, albeit timid at times. Which is something we have to work on constantly. We take her many places with us and make it a good experience, she never misbehaves because she's usually scared or worried about new experiences. ;)

Juno is the complete opposite. Juno is high energy, assertive, and nosy. She barks at other cars on the road while we're driving. Our areas of improving are completely different in each dog and it is a LOT of work to have two well behaved, happy, well rounded, obedient dogs. George wouldn't go on a walk everyday if we didn't make her, she needs it for socialization though. Juno needs two walks a day so she doesn't turn our house into a playground and the backyard into a mud pit from running laps.
We still do all the things we used to do with George, obedience classes, training trips to the store, dog park play dates, trips to the groomer. Except now we do them with Juno too...and separately. So literally twice the work and money. It is definitely worth it, and our dogs are very happy and frequently worn out (dogs wear each other out better than a human could ever wear a dog out), they get along fabulously and seem to miss each other when they're not there, but it's also obvious they enjoy being the center of attention occasionally. SO is sometimes frustrated by Juno, she doesn't pick up obedience as quickly as George...not because she's not smart. Because she's bouncing and moving around too much to pay any attention.

Juno \/

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

And George.