Thinking of adding another dog & getting Stew a buddy!

[Jess & Stewart]

I know Stew has been a challenge but I've got puppy fever & Stew was a pretty great puppy. I'm not sure I'd want to use Stew's breeder again, only because she's breeding a lot of reds lately & I don't think I'd want another red.

I'd definitely want another wavy/straight coat mini GD. Probably a female. I'm willing to be on lists for a bit also, maybe even get one this summer/next fall again. Any recommendations for breeders in the Philly/PA/NJ area? I can also look in MD/DE/VA.

Name suggestions while we're at it. I can't think of anything to go with Stew/Stewby Doo/Stew Man Chew?

[Jennifer Tramell]

I've had at least 2 dogs for 15 years.  Something I've learned is how much the new dog learns from the "old" dog.  My first dog was a "perfect" dog - beautiful manners, compliant, charming - he's a family legend.  We actually forgot to formally train our next 2 dogs because dog 2 learned from Cody and dog 3 learned from dog 1 and 2.  Dog 3 is Webster and he is "dog 1" these days.  Dogs 2 & 3, Charlotte and Tessa, have learned a lot from Webster.  Problem is, Webster didn't receive the devoted training that Cody did, therefore Charlotte and Tessa didn't learn as much from Webster as Webster learned from Cody. 

My point is, as nice as it is to have 2 doodles, I suggest making sure that "dog 1" is pretty close to "perfect" before adding "dog 2".  Additional dogs will copy the good but could magnify the bad.   Not only is it more work but with more than one dog you often miss the early signs of trouble and lose the opportunity to "nip it in the bud".   

One more thing, adding another dog will change the relationship you have with your dog.  Cody was 5 before we got Dixie and I look back longingly to those days when it was just Cody.  He did everything with us and you just can't have that relationship when it is divided among multiple dogs. 

Just my 2 cents......:-)

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

I agree with this, now I feel bad if I don't include both dogs. So I try to take a dog everywhere we go with us...sometimes it's not Georgie though. :-/