Expieriences with adding a 2nd Doodle

[Lynnie Warrick]

Hi I was hoping I could get some advice I have a 2 year old Doodle and I am thinking on getting a second my Reggie is the best but I just want to make sure I make the right decision for my Regg he absolutely loves animals as soon as he sees another animal or goes for his play dates he has a bid smile my question is when adding a puppy to the family will it affect Reggie in anyway  and how is training a new puppy with another dog any feedback would be much appreciated would love to know experiences with adding a second doodle  thanks  

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

I added a second when my first was 18 months old. It was the best decision for us. The question to ask yourself is are you adding a second dog because you want one for you and your family, or are you doing it for Reggie?  It has to be whats best for you and family first, and certainly taking Reggies personality into consideration is also important. If he loves other animals, then thats a very good sign.

As for training, it was easier the second time around as the first does kind of show them the ropes, so to speak.  Will it affect Reggie in anyway? I would think for the better. Much like adding another child to the family. We consider the first or seconds feelings when having another baby, but it's not the reason we do or don't have another, and we make it work once the addition is in the home. 

I love having 2, It helped my first with seperation anxiety issues. They play all day together and get lots of exercise doing it, so that helps with not being able to walk them often.  Maybe others will give opinions too, but for us it was a good choice. Good luck

[Lynnie Warrick]

Thanks for the response yes we actually have lots of love to give to a 2nd one and as a family we would love another one but just wanted to make sure it would be really good for our Reggie boy i figure it would be great for him but thought I would like to hear other people's experiences first so thanks for replying

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

Well then you are doing it for the right reason and I'm sure it will work out just fine. It is fun and crazy at times and consider the costs with two. Double Vet bills, food, flea meds, grooming costs, and double the event of one getting sick or injured. Not to mention the messes!   But it's just like having 3 kids.....we don't consider the costs being a reason to not bring more love into our homes. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think a very good point here is the risk for injury.  Hopefully your currently have Pet Insurance, but if you don't, if you add a second I would definitely go that route.  When they start running and jumping and rolling around your risk for injury is going to increase.  Torn CCL's aren't cheap.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I have two doodles and it was the best thing ever for my first doodle. They are very close in age, 16months and 4months. They took a bit to warm up to each other but now are inseparable and clearly enjoy each other's company. They both have very different personalities and I think they complement each other well. Like Sue said they play constantly with each other. I know some dogs like other animals but don't want other animals in their space if that makes sense. If Reggie does fine with other dogs at your place that's awesome. Before I got My second I "borrowed" my best friends dog for a weekend to see if Loki seemed upset by having a dog stay in his space for a long period of time besides a quick play date, which they had all the time. Good luck to you! I am so happy I got a second dog and hopefully it will great for Reggie! PS- my two are attached, they used to fight all the time but now they are best friends.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We originally had two, liter mate Sisters.  Just after they turned 5 we lost one to cancer.  Two months later we brought home a new little girl and to say it was not a smooth transition would be an understatement.  Lucy did not like the new puppy at all. She would barely stay in the same room with her.  She would just get up and leave.  It was heartbreaking.  However, after a few months she warmed up to her, and they are now very much friends and run and play very well together.  So, I would say just be prepared, it isn't always sunshine and roses.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Meg was a year and a half old when we brought Polly home, they have been bonded since we put Polly in the car.  They play like crazy, they cuddle when they sleep, Polly is stingy with the toys so Meg just gives them to her and if they can't both be sleeping up against me then Polly piles on top of Meg for that purpose. Really was a great thing to do for Meg and it has been a great experience for us.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really love having two Doodles.  My older guy is a mini with a really sweet temperament.  He adjusted just fine to having a brother, although every now and then he does have to put him in his place.  I trained them each individually and then used a trainer to help with walking the two together.  They are now really bonded to each other and play really well together.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

If Reggie loves to play with other dogs, he will probably enjoy the new addition. Our first doodle (Charlie) was off the charts spoiled.  I thought he needed a playmate.  In hindsight, I should have seen the signs that he preferred to be the only dog!   He has always preferred people over dogs.  I would take him to the dog park and he would ignore the dogs and go from person to person meeting them and interacting with them.  Charlie was almost 2 when Beau arrived and it took Charlie about 3 months to be ok with sharing toys, us etc!  Charlie seemed to be worried about  keeping his place in the pecking order.  It was almost comical! It has been almost 3 years since Beau's arrival.  I believe they do enjoy each other, but they definitely have different ideas in what playing is.  Charlie still prefers to play ball.  Beau is not great at ball-catching and he doesn't have the obsession with balls that Charlie does. Beau will retrieve a ball or two, but then loses interest.  When Beau does not go get his ball right away, Charlie will drop his own ball and get Beau's ball and take it to him and then run back and grab his own ball bringing it back to us! Like he is trying to show Beau what the drill is!  Often Beau will act like he is going for his own ball, but then turn and in mid-air catch the ball that is meant for Charlie - and then Beau proceeds to take off running around the yard hoping Charlie will chase him!  I do pet sit a mini goldendoodle who has the same playing style as Beau - and they play until they are exhausted.  Charlie does not interact with the goldendoodle other than to growl at him when he thinks the goldendoodle is doing something that he should not be doing! 

All that being said, I do believe they enjoy having each other for company - maybe similar to a big brother and little brother who are several years apart. I sometimes think we should get a third that is a player for Beau, but DH and I decided the goldendoodle visitor will have to suffice! LOL

[Stella]

Ok. I'm going to rain on the parade a little! You also need to have contingency plans for what you are going to do if your dogs do not get along. My first doodle is a very sociable guy, loves other dogs and loved to play with all the dogs at the dog park when we used to live in a city and go there. So, I never imagined adding another dog wouldn't work out. But, things didn't work out great. My two doods do not get along, they tolerate each other at best and at the worst they fight. I have had a couple of large vet bills for stitches as the result of fights. There was a time I thought about re-homing the second one, but he has anxiety and behavioural issues (which are often the trigger for a fight) and he would be extremely difficult to rehome. So, I make it work - I manage their time together carefully, don't let them play because it almost always progressed to a fight when the younger one took things too far, they can't have fun toys because they end up guarding them from each other, they can't have food or treats without being supervised and I have to be very careful not to do activities that lead to excitement or high arousal when they are together. It is hard, I love them both but can never relax, I have to be watching and on my guard the whole time, ready to interrupt before things escalate. These two dogs have lived together for six years now and I am resigned that this is just how things are going to be between them. I know many people on this site have two or more dogs and everything is great between me all. But, this experience has definitely made me consider ever having more than one dog at a time again.

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

Sorry to hear this Stella. It would be such a challenge having two that didn;t get along. And you've been doing it for 6 years. You're a better doodle mom than I would be! I couldn't live with all that stress.

[Stella]

Thanks Sue. I did consider re homing Chase at one point, feeling it wasn't fair to Hartley (my original LD) to live with another dog that he didn't get along with. But realistically, because of Chases behavioural issues he would be difficult to rehome, and I was worried he would end up being euthanized. Hartley is an awesome, well adjusted dog that loves everyone and every dog he meets, and he is my heart dog! Chase is a funny goofy dog that loves his people and no one else! He has taught me so much, and I have had to learn so much about canine behaviour and body language, training and rehab methods. He has come a long way from where he was and for the most part he is a happy dog now. (His issues are genetic, I've had him since he was nine weeks old and both dogs were raised the same way). It is stressful, and I can honestly say I hope I never own another dog like him. But, I believe things happen for a reason and I know that I will be a better owner to any and all future dogs that I have because of this experience.