Here's my 2 cents... When I moved to Tucson, I had one cat. Within a month and a half I had acquired another kitten and a dog. Soon after that, there was another cat and another dog. So while waiting is probably best, there are those of us who are just a sucker for a fuzzy face. hehe The one thing i always keep in mind is that when i get an animal it's for life. Either mine, or theirs. What bothers me is the people that get new pups or kittens, then end up getting rid of one or the other because they realise they can't handle them both. Just make sure that you know you can handle 2 pups, it can be tough! Labs are generally really personable, so if you decide to get a friend for your kid you should be ok with just about any sturdy breed. You could look into a Lab Rescue or something similar. Good luck, at any rate!