I said I would never do this, but currently thinking we need another doodle. Lol

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie will be turning 1 yr old in just a few days. I am thinking about getting another puppy - I think I might be stepping over the edge here as I remember Gracie's puppy days and they were horrendous! Ok, they weren't that bad, but I remember feeling like I was going to lose my mind some days. ;)
She's still puppyish and has some fine tuning work to do.
One reason we would like another is because she's so darn smart. She loves to hang out with us and is doing well keeping within her boundaries in the yard. Another reasons is that she likes to play with our other dog, but with him being a mini schnoodle at 14lbs and 8 yrs old, he really doesn't enjoy all of her antics. :D

I know we won't get a Gracie clone and I don't want one. I want one that is a little more of cuddler and gentle. Now I might not get that either. Lol I'm going to talk to the breeder and see what her thoughts are.
The other part of the equation is that I've returned to work and am working over 30 hours a week right now. Which really isn't a lot when you think about it, but it's a lot when it comes to training a new puppy. This winter it will slow down and I would have more time to spend with the puppy.

I have been reading the multiple dog board here and did some research on training a puppy while working. So there is a lot to think about.
Just wondering how crazy this idea is!

[cheryl & oliver]

How about thinking about a rescue? This way you wouldn't have to go thru the problems of puppyhood, which can be trying to all of us. Just a thought. I would love to get another doodle, but we can't at this time, but if I had the room, I would get another one, prob. a rescue, as I am not in the position to go thru puppy training again.  I am pretty sure that a rescue, that has been with someone can evaluate their personality, and it might be the way to go, especially if you are working. Might make your life a little easier..Just a thought...I love puppies, just not the training and time one needs to get thru it....We got Oliver as a puppy too, and I love him so much, but training is very time consuming, and at this stage of my life, I think I would try a rescue...There are so many that need good loving homes...Just my feeling, please don't think I don't see your side, I do..Whatever you choose, I can't wait to meet a new doodle....and no you are not crazy, lol...

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

I would love to rescue one as well. However, my hubby is not to fond of the experiences we have had with the rescue dogs we have had. Not that they're horrible, I feel like we've always gotten good dogs - but you really never know their prior situation which affects them. One of our dogs we were told was 2 yrs old only to find out from the vet that he was more like 5. Then we only had him for about 5 yrs before we had to put him down due to old age and how sick he had gotten. He was a rescued beagle/Bassett. I still miss him!
My husband thinks that Gracie is a great dog because we raised her from the time she left the litter. Don't try to convince him otherwise. His parents are of the same mindset too as they adopted a dog, then rescued her brother a year later from being tied out on a chain. I try to tell them for being basically abandoned he is a great dog.

I do have a lot of thinking to do about puppy training and if I want to go through it again.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You have puppy fever!  :-}  We all get it, and as a matter of fact my dh and I were just rescued from it when we picked up a dog for the DRC only because he had a foster-to-adopt person in place.  If you are on the fence, I would wait a while and see how you feel about it in a few months or even a year, especially since you are working more.  You might not realistically have the time to both fine-tune Gracie and totally train a new one.  Rescues  can have their own issues too but it's not uncommon for them to have some potty accidents while settling in.  Our first morning with Clancy had him lifting his leg on our dining room wall!!!!! Luckily it only took one correction for him to remember pottying was for outside.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Puppy fever, that could be it. Lol

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

I agree with Jane & Sue.  I had puppy fever when Skadi was around a year ... they are just so incredibly cute!   But, alas I work 4 days a week and we love to travel.  However, I thought getting Skadi a "playmate" would be nice...and it actually is nice for us and Skadi now that we have Elli.  Skadi is 5 and Elli is almost 7...she was  6 when we took her in...she was a rehomed dog, but the owner didn't know where she came from originally,  they found her on one of the pet rescue sites.  Like many re-homed or rescue dogs, Elli has some issues...thank heavens they are slowly (and I do mean slowly) diminishing...it's been almost a year.  

The girls accept each other, play with each other, keep each other company, sleep near each other and when I leave them home on the days I do not take them to doggie day care, they stay home together and Skadi is no longer alone.  Now, if Skadi could talk I think she would say..."I was okay being an only child mom"

Downside...definitely the expense.  Every morning now I have to scratch two doodle butts!  They love it and I love them...but if I were to get two more in the future, they would be the mini doods.  

Let's face it...doods are a lot of work...I call it my "Labor of Love"...I feed mine raw, so I weigh, measure, wrap food myself...groomer every 6 weeks...vet expenses...training expenses....collars, leashes, flea medication, heartworm meds, big fence in the backyard...a new SUV to tote them in style!   Every thing doubles....including your time they want you to spend with them.  My DH runs with Elli and believe me that's a must with Elli's high energy.

Be well warned...doodles love love...can you deal with all that love? LOL  Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have two and I love it, but there is a lot to think about.  I used to think that two would be easier because they would entertain each other....that's not always the case.  They still BOTH need their exercise (and I found it difficult to manage walking them together until my second Doodle was trained).  They both need their brushing and grooming. They BOTH need affection and "one on one" time.  I really think it's pretty much twice the work as having one.  It works for me because I'm retired and my husband does half of the dog walking.  I think I would struggle if I was working.  That said, I followed my heart and I love my guys so much I would not trade either of them for anything.

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

I agree with Jane, I love my two and can't imagine life without one or the other. And I also agree that it is twice the work and twice the time and expense. We are retired as well, and DH does the walking. I prefer time in the half acre back yard with a ball with them.  Having said all that, we will probably never have two again. It is a nice experience, but we would be fine with one and traveling would be easier. Besides Id like a smaller one next time as well. More of a lap dog. I have enjoyed these two bruts because I was running a lot 7 years ago when I got Murphy and he was my running partner for about 4 years. 

I love the idea of a rescue, but unless it was a rehome of a doodle that was purchased from a good breeder, I would not be able to do that. Limited resources would limit any extra health care possibly needed with a dog I had no prior history on. I admire people who can take on a rescue, thank God for them, but I've never been a gambler and am not going to start now. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

I too have puppy fever and look at puppies all the time. I have come close to going for it, but in the end the con list was a lot longer than the pro list, so I think we will stick with one.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Moose came home about two months after Loki turned one and I think it was great for Loki to have a buddy. I had the mind set of "I want to get through the puppy Maddness while its fresh in my mind". I work full time and when I brought Moose home, I took the up coming week off work to help easy him and Loki together and I had a friend(who is the dog walker) come over multiple times a day to let them out and supervise play time (since Moose couldn't go on walks) when I went back to work. Good luck!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Any trouble with introductions?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

No, I would look at the multiple doodle group, I know I had posted some questions on there. Loki is a complete mommas boy and Moose is sooooo independent so I think that helped a lot. They were both some the same breeder so she match Moose up thinking it would be a good fit with Loki. The puppy phase was insane since they were both puppies but now that they are both a little older, I love that they as close in age and they are inseparable. I brought Loki with me and my mom for puppy pick up, I went and got Moose and my mom was outside walking around with Loki and we had them meet outside in the front. For the car ride home I had bought Loki a new antler so he had something to occupy him and I held Moose. There was an adjustment period were they were constantly "going at it" after reading more on DK I now look at it as Moose trying to push limits and learn the rules and Loki putting him in his place. They play soooooo rough with each other so that was probably the hardest thing for me because they literally sound like they are killing each other so that was a shock at first but their tails are always wagging and no harm was ever done. Good luck! :)

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Thanks. I will go read some more in the multiple doodle forum.