Multiple Doodles or Just Two Dogs (one that's a Doodle)
You likely adore your Doodle dog more than anything else you have or experience. You may believe that if you are having so much fun with one, why not two?
Before you jump in head first, be sure to read about the pros and cons of this decision. While it often works out well, there are times that having two may be more challenging than you had thought. Or, maybe your first Doodle child prefers to be an only child. Doodles generally adore their humans and may not appreciate having to share.
What to look for in a K9 sibling
In my experience, dogs of similar size and temperament tend to fare well together. Or, a young energetic dog moving in with an already established and trained adult dog who likes to socialize can be an ideal situation. The two dogs can be Doodle dogs, or one not a Doodle dog. But two dogs are always better than one.
It is difficult to find the perfect second dog. It’s really a gamble. But, it can be an educated gamble as you can temperament test a potential candidate. There’s much you can learn about the dog’s personality through observation and interaction.
More about temperament testing in my book Doodle Dogs for Dummies:
Before you jump in head first, be sure to read about the pros and cons of this decision. While it often works out well, there are times that having two may be more challenging than you had thought. Or, maybe your first Doodle child prefers to be an only child. Doodles generally adore their humans and may not appreciate having to share.
What to look for in a K9 sibling
In my experience, dogs of similar size and temperament tend to fare well together. Or, a young energetic dog moving in with an already established and trained adult dog who likes to socialize can be an ideal situation. The two dogs can be Doodle dogs, or one not a Doodle dog. But two dogs are always better than one.
It is difficult to find the perfect second dog. It’s really a gamble. But, it can be an educated gamble as you can temperament test a potential candidate. There’s much you can learn about the dog’s personality through observation and interaction.
More about temperament testing in my book Doodle Dogs for Dummies:
Note:
Here’s an important warning about having 2 dogs. I highly recommend to never purchase two puppies from the same litter, at the same time. There are several reasons behind this suggestion. First, it’s already challenging to housetrain one puppy, never mind two. As they learn about their environment you have to constantly observe them and head them off if they’re about to get into trouble. Second, if you find an accident on the floor you have no idea who did it and have to regiment both puppies into a more confined space when you cannot be available to observe them. As long term crating is cruel, it’s bound to get messy with two puppies in the same exercise pen. The third reason is the most important. Sometimes siblings start to resent each other. This often occurs when they reach late adolescence; especially if of the same gender. One will begin to become assertive, the other defensive. The reasons for their initiations of these attitudes will be fluid. There are likely to be some nasty scuffles, and you’ll consider rehoming one of the pups. There is light at the end of this tunnel but it requires years of appropriate training and management and there may still be some challenging moments now and then.
The ideal time to begin considering a second dog is when your Doodle dog is approximately a year and a half to two years of age. She’s still young enough to appreciate playing with another dog, but is also well trained and can help teach the new dog all the ropes and rules. If you want to wait a few more years, that’s fine, too, but be sure to give your Doodle dog plenty of opportunities to socialize with other dogs so that she utilizes her energy with them instead of on you. Regardless of how much you like to play with her, you’ll never replace the type of play she’ll get with another dog.
While some may consider obtaining another dog when their current dog becomes a senior, or geriatric, believing a young dog will spice up their life…think again. This is not fair to your old dog. Sure, she’ll likely enjoy the company of another dog who is sedate, but will not want to deal with a rambunctious young dog. Elderly dogs tend to have sensitive areas on their bodies and getting bumped can be painful.
If you intend to move forward with getting another dog to keep your old dog company, adopt a calm adult dog who is well versed in social skills. Your elderly dog will brighten up as you intended without any negative consequences. Plus, you’ll be saving the life of a dog in need.
Here’s an important warning about having 2 dogs. I highly recommend to never purchase two puppies from the same litter, at the same time. There are several reasons behind this suggestion. First, it’s already challenging to housetrain one puppy, never mind two. As they learn about their environment you have to constantly observe them and head them off if they’re about to get into trouble. Second, if you find an accident on the floor you have no idea who did it and have to regiment both puppies into a more confined space when you cannot be available to observe them. As long term crating is cruel, it’s bound to get messy with two puppies in the same exercise pen. The third reason is the most important. Sometimes siblings start to resent each other. This often occurs when they reach late adolescence; especially if of the same gender. One will begin to become assertive, the other defensive. The reasons for their initiations of these attitudes will be fluid. There are likely to be some nasty scuffles, and you’ll consider rehoming one of the pups. There is light at the end of this tunnel but it requires years of appropriate training and management and there may still be some challenging moments now and then.
The ideal time to begin considering a second dog is when your Doodle dog is approximately a year and a half to two years of age. She’s still young enough to appreciate playing with another dog, but is also well trained and can help teach the new dog all the ropes and rules. If you want to wait a few more years, that’s fine, too, but be sure to give your Doodle dog plenty of opportunities to socialize with other dogs so that she utilizes her energy with them instead of on you. Regardless of how much you like to play with her, you’ll never replace the type of play she’ll get with another dog.
While some may consider obtaining another dog when their current dog becomes a senior, or geriatric, believing a young dog will spice up their life…think again. This is not fair to your old dog. Sure, she’ll likely enjoy the company of another dog who is sedate, but will not want to deal with a rambunctious young dog. Elderly dogs tend to have sensitive areas on their bodies and getting bumped can be painful.
If you intend to move forward with getting another dog to keep your old dog company, adopt a calm adult dog who is well versed in social skills. Your elderly dog will brighten up as you intended without any negative consequences. Plus, you’ll be saving the life of a dog in need.
To learn more about how to live with two Doodle Dogs, click on the icon below: