Best age gap (between dogs!!)

[BigWig78]

In a few years I think we would like a second dog as we are worried about losing a dog and having that dog shaped hole in our lives… but for those of you that have done this, is there an ideal age or a very not ideal age?
DDog is a poodle mix so life expectancy of around 14? All being well health wise… hate to even think of that though…

Would people tend to go for the same breed or a complementary breed? We wouldn’t use the same breeder again as tbh they were pretty much an up market puppy farm and we were stupid. Beautiful dog who has good pedigree and qualities… but we wouldn’t be that dumb again.

I wouldn’t get another poodle mix if only for the reasons you’ve set out re. Puppy farming. There are very few honest and good poodle mix breeders + if you get a badly bred dog it’s more likely to have behavioural issues + health issues.

Why not a poodle of whichever size doodle you have? Lovely robust dogs and very inoffensive (in that there’s nothing to dislike about them!).

Age gap wise, 2-4 years is a good one. Mine are all about 3-4 years apart and that works well. Young enough to get into games and mischief but the older one is old enough to have no qualms about putting puppy in its place if it annoys them.

Just be sure it’s the right move for your dog. Lots of dogs love dogs out of the home, or even visitors. It can be another thing entirely when they realise that new addition is never leaving…

Thanks @TheHungryHungryLandsharks it’s all just theoretical at the moment but on my mind as we’d been talking “5 year plans” in the family. The main “objection” to a poodle is that I don’t really like poodle coats… DDog has a softer looser coat due to his spaniel mum so I don’t mind his so much and if it goes more poodle then I guess as it’s him I will like it enough as part of him iyswim. But we only went poodle mix due to wider family allergies which would be less of an issue in 5 years…yeah maybe closer to the time we could offer to pet sit a dog to see how ours gets on with more permanent company. Thank you. Lots to think about but maybe not yet. Other than maybe checking some reputable breeders out and watching for sets of dogs in the park to see what mixes work for other people.

There is three years between my dogs, and that has worked really well.

I have also had a puppy and a 9 year old dog. The first 8 days were pretty fraught, but they've got on well ever since. That was special circumstances though. I don't think I'd add a puppy to an older dog, who had been an only dog for all of its life.

I think it's more personality than breed that matters. Although I wouldn't risk a high prey drive breed with a small furry one. I know people who have all the same breed. And people with mixed breed packs. I know someone who had dobermans and dachshunds. Another has huskies and Jack Russels. I meet a couple with a working cocker and a French bulldog. They are very much his and her dogs. My dog trainer has a St Bernard, a Cavalier and a labrador.

I'd research what breed would work for you, with the sort of home you can offer it. Then find a reputable breeder. They should be able to help you choose a puppy that would fit with your current dog.

I don’t go by age specifically tbh. My ideal is that the older dog should be a steady, well trained good role model before adding a new puppy.
which can be anything from 2yrs upwards but very much depends on the individual