Getting a new dog after your last one has passed.

elsien

A year after mutt died. I actually started looking after 8 months, did a foster that didn't work out, but it was just over a year before gitdog came and stayed.
With the foster I broke my heart when she went - I knew I was completely the wrong home for her but just couldn't stop crying. In the end, I think it was because although I was lonely and wanted another dog, her leaving was too reminiscent of mutt going so I started grieving for her all over again.
With gitdog for a while it was head over heart. I knew what I wanted and he ticked some of the important boxes so I decided he was the one. However for the first few months, although he's got a lovely temperament, I did spend a lot of time thinking "but he's not my mutt." Not enough to want to get shut of him, but it did make it hard to build up that bond.

Now he's been here 6 months and he's not mutt but he doesn't need to be. He's himself (in all his glory), I'm glad I've got him (most of the time) and I've stopped making the comparisons. I do still sometimes shed a tear for mutt all the same.
Just wanted to say that sometimes it takes time - there isn't a right or a wrong, you just need to try to be realistic about how you feel and what you're looking for.


Edit - part of the delay wasn't just about me, my mum who dog sits when I'm at work is 75 and had a health scare so I had to wait till I was sure she was ok and happy to take on the challenge. In retrospect though, I think for me the wait was a good thing. Other people feel differently.

meames_2

I couldn't foster, it would break my heart!

Kinski

When my first dog died 7 years ago I wasn't going to get another one, Ailsa was my heart dog and could never be replaced, my family on the other hand decided that I needed another one and behind my back the bought me a pup from the same breeder, Ailsa was killed on the 24th of February and I got Arran on the 7th of April. He's no Ailsa but I love him to bits, Arran was 10 months when I decided to get a pal for him and I found Abby in a rescue in wales, she was about 9 when I got her and sadly I only had her for just over 3 years. My daughter married just a few weeks after Abby died and I waited until after that to get Ellie from many tears, she was 3 when I got her and she had been used as a puppy making machine for some b*****d in a farm in wales.

Indie_Kid

We looked quite soon after losing our dogs. But the other one was really upset and lost without another dog.

System

We lasted 4 weeks before going to the Dogs Trust and ended up with lola a 14 month x-breed that is absolutely loopy and lovely.

We have now had her 4 months and she has settled in beautifully

PlymouthMaid

Really sorry to hear about Womble. I intended to wait a few months after losing my beloved Marley the cocker spaniel. I was pretty inconsolable when we lost him unexpectedly but we only made it to two weeks without a dog as life was so dull and empty and walks had become pointless. Trotted to the rescue and despite saying to the lovely girls running the place that I was probably after a male coker spaniel again, I fell in love with my Springer-Collie Ziggy. This was last August and I can't imagine being without him now. He had huge paw prints to fill but I think he will get there.

elliebellie

Big hugs and oodles of sympathy on the loss of Womble.

I lost my darling boy last March, utterly utterly heartbroken.

After a few weeks I realised it wasn't just him i missed, it was the routine, the walking, the seeing my other dog walking friends and even the trips to the pet shop for toys and food.

In May I popped down to see family near Evesham, which quite handily is right near Dogs Trust, I wasn't sure how I would cope walking around and seeing all the gorgeous pooches needing homes, but I saw a beautiful little lad who I took out for a walk and bonded with straight away. He came home with me the week after!!

I haven't forgotten my old boy at all, but realised my heart was plenty big enough to love him and my new lad, so the only advice I can give is go with your heart and only you will know what's right for you.

con1888

We waited two months, but started looking almost right away.

When Kia suddenly died in July, we had already been thinking of getting a puppy to have alongside her so had been doing our research, when she passed we did speed things up a bit, we had reserved a pup from a litter planned after Christmas but when we explained we were looking for a bit sooner the breeder put us in touch with a friend who had a litter due to be homed soon.

No dog ever replaces another but it certainly helps the emptiness and gives you something to smile about and be motivated about.

mrsscattercushion

No experience with dogs but we lost our beloved cat aged 20 years last November ~ my hubby had had him since a wee kitten so was completely heartbroken (as was I) and it has taken us until now to decide whether we are ready....I've been off work and at home a lot recently and the house was too empty...


So on Sat we went and saw and picked up our "new old boy", aged 14 years whose snuggled up beside me the sadness has diminished somewhat to a happiness that another old boy can live out his years in comfort

meames_2

Thanks everyone. I think I got so upset because I went through a whole day dream about what we could do together. Even looked up the insurance cost!

I am sure the right dog will appear soon x