Thoughts on getting a second doodle?

[Alissa Edwards]

Hi all!

I was on here a while ago and got great advice from all of you when we adopted Farley - our F1b double doodle. He's turned out to be an amazing dog that everyone of us loves dearly. He's very calm when we need him to be (naps and night) but also playful and fun with the kids, gentle and tolerant, etc.

Here's a pic of him and my daughter. He's about 19 or 20 months now. (2 in Dec.)

I've recently fallen in love with a new puppy at a different, also good breeder. Similar make up f2b labradoodle and the dad looks a lot like my dog, etc.

I'm trying to convince my husband this is a good idea, but I'm wondering if you guys can help me make sure it is and that I'm not just having puppy fever!

Here's our life: 
I stay home and work from home with my 3 y/o daughter Briar Rose, who will be in preschool part-time a year from September. We have two older kids, 6 and 9 y/o boys in full-time school, swimming and tae kwon do, also church activities Tuesday nights and Sundays. My husband works full time as a worship pastor and subs part time. We also have three cats who are very friendly with Farley (we got them as kittens when Farley was 6 months, so they're only 6 months apart. They often snuggle together.)

Here's why I think I'd like another: (and why now)
We love our dog so much, twice the love, right?

I feel like our cats and dog are the age where they would easily adapt/accept a new puppy. But that might not be the case in a year (especially cats).

I see pics/videos of doodles and they seem to love the companionship of another dog.
My kids start school soon, and it will just be me and my daughter home (for training purposes, etc.)
Fall is a good time to potty train (not too cold yet). We would pick up 8/26.

Here's why I'm not sure:

We take Farley everywhere, park, store, etc., weather permitting. He's used to that and we enjoy it. I think it would be more difficult with two dogs. I'd feel bad leaving one home.
I worry that our cats wouldn't adjust as well to a new puppy, since they are adults now. They are very social cats and I'd hate them to become fearful/hide/change.
Our life is crazy as it is.

Farley fits in really well, he's just one of us. I don't want it to be "the dogs" and "the people" (a friend of mine made me feel like maybe that would be the case with two dogs)

Here are my questions for people with 2 dogs:
How did this change your first dog's personality?
How hard was it to train your new dog?
How did it change the tempo of your home (more chaotic? dogs always playing? more barking??)
Was your second dog less attached to the people in your family? Did the addition of a second dog make that the case for your first?
How old was your first dog when you adopted your puppy? 
How did they get along? 
Any thoughts on genders of dogs getting along? Like, since Farley is a male should we get a female? Does it matter?

And any other info you have is appreicated. Including PICTURES OF YOUR TWO DOODLES TOGETHER! :) You know, to sway my hubby. 

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

That puppy fever is  real hard to break!!! Can't just take an Advil and go to bed and it be gone!! I agree, LInda, I don't think anyone could have changed my mind either, once I got "infected".

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I love this response.  Can't just take an Advil and go to bed!  Oh how I wish you could.

[F, Calla & Luca]

We have had discussions on this you can search through. Luca was about 14 months old when I got Calla who was 4 months. They are good together and sometimes play fight in the yard. They Run after critters together but often ignore each other. Both are bonded to me. The main difference between one and two is expense in terms of food, grooming and pet sitting. But I am happy I got a second.

[Becka]

How could you not be happy to look at those faces every day! I love this picture of Calla and Luca!

[Alissa Edwards]

They are SO pretty! Thank you!

[Adina P]

2+ dogs is very different than 1, but for me it is having children and more than one dog that is hardest. We've had as many as 3 dogs and were able to travel fine with all. But once we added kids, we simply can't. I can't go downtown with kids and even one dog because if a kid needs to use a restroom.. What do I do with my dog?
I like the concept of THE family dog. I sound like I don't like having two, but it's not that. I love them both. Just that the reality is not necessarily smooth and easy and ideallic. But you have one more kid than I do, so I have a feeling you can manage it if you really want it :). As for your other questions, chances are your dogs will get along just fine and personalities won't change. But it is more chaotic at times. They egg each other on and amp each other up!

[Alissa Edwards]

Yes, my kids keep me running for sure. But in a way our dog occupies/settles them. My kids always want him to sleep in their room with him, and they'll take him out to play, etc. Part of me thinks we need another one so they can play with more than one!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

In your case, I really wouldn't rock the boat by adding another dog.  Your plate is pretty full and Farley just fits in perfectly. Another dog might not fit in as well.  Adding another really does make it harder to include both in your activities simply because your hands are already full.  You sound like an amazing lady and a wonderful mom.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have two Doodles who I love with all my heart, but for us adding the second made a huge difference.  Our first Doodle was really easy to train and the kind of dog who you could put in the car and take anywhere.  He was awesome with the grandkids and fit right into our life.  Our second Doodle was very difficult to train, reactive, and was not good with kids.  After years of training I now trust him around the kids, but he will never be the kind of flexible dog that can just "fit right in".  As I said, I wouldn't trade him for the world, but it's a good thing my husband and I are retirees....otherwise I can't imagine how we would have time to do all the training that was necessary.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi there! I recently got doodle number two at the end of April/beginning of May. Both my boys are F1 bernedoodles and they are almost exactly a year apart. I got Loki July of 2014 and Moose this past spring of 2015. Little bit of background on them- Loki is a total momma's boy. He's very calm and has been his whole life. So calm that when he was a puppy I was worried he was horribly sick. Moose on the other hand is a typical land/puppy shark who settles down for 2mins tops and then continues to sprint around the house possible breaking the sound barrier. Both of them are very large and actually have the same parents. I wanted a second doodle because while I typically work a 40hour work week, every few weekends I have to take call and while I have tons of family involvement to take care of them while on call Loki always seemed happier when he had another doggie friend to play with. He would go from breaking my heart when I had to leave to not being so upset if my best friends dog was with him as well. Lots of other reasons went into it but that was the main one. So now to answer your questions.

1-no it did not change his personality, I think sometimes Loki has had enough of Moose's hyper-spaz- crazy moments but he will correct him and put him in his place as needed. I do think though if Moose had been as attached to me as Loki was that it would have bothered Loki a lot. A typical day at my place is Loki snuggling with me while I read a book and Moose running back and forth down the hallway aimlessly and maybe every so often coming over to get pet or throw a toy in Loki's face.
2- training Moose was a breeze, he learned a lot from Loki. I forgot how hard having a puppy was in general though! I did realize how nice it was to have a house trained and reliable dog until there was a little one that I had to watch like a hawk! I would saw be careful of bad habits that the little one will bring into the house, ie jumping and pulling like mad on the leash. Both of those are thing Loki regressed a little bit with and now Loki is getting back to normal and Moose is learning what is and isn't appropriate.
3- when Moose first came home yes! Constant wrestling and fighting. A combination of Loki putting Moose in his place and Moose pushing boundaries. Now that they have gotten used to each other and settled into a routine it's still different than just one dog, but normal all the same if that makes sense.
4-yes, however I think that's his personality. The breeder obviously knew Loki and his personality and I gave her my wish list in a puppy but the highest priority was that the new puppy get along well with Loki. Part of it is that Moose is a baby and curious and hyper, but he's also more independent which the breeder had mentioned she thought would complement Loki nicely, she was right! Not to say that Moose avoids people, he loves people! He is also just happy as a clam doing his own thing too.
5-Loki was 14months old and Moose was a day shy of 8 weeks when we went to pick up Moose. Some people like to space out getting two dogs I wanted to get through the puppy/ house breaking ect ect while it was still fresh in my mind and an opportunity to get a puppy from Loki's parents was something I had a hard time passing up!
6-they fought like crazy at first and I seriously thought that someone might die but after they sorted out the pecking order and I stopped intervening they settled down and now exist and co-exist nicely. Almost as soon as I stopped trying to get in the middle of things they figured it out.
7- I have always had girl dogs growing up so I wanted two boys :) I didn't put much thought into it. If the breeder had told me she had the perfect little girl to match up with Loki I would have changed my mind though.

Good luck! I think it's the best thing I did. It's a lot of work at first but now that I have to both of them besides twice the expenses it's much easier. If that makes sense. Sorry this is soooooo long! Ps the boys are attached in a picture :)

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Here's a better one where you can actually see Moose's face :)

[Alissa Edwards]

Cuteness