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Greetings.....Our old retriever dog died last week...very faithful dog to our young boys. Loved him. Just curious. Have an opportunity to pick a new puppy from a litter....wasn't looking for it..just was told by a relative. I was going to wait for a year. What should I do? I am so torn. Part of me wants to wait and just chill for a year with out a dog and the extra work. The other part is a huge dog lover, and wants to always have a dog in my life. I just love dogs. A pup would be alot of work, but I am prepared..(ie. summer, weather is good). Also, the parents of the retriever pups are amazing and I have my pick of the litter. Have seen the litter and the parents. Ready July 10th

Thoughts?? Thanks. My children are 3/5.
Thanks
Cheryl

Here's my opinion:
1- if you're ready to handle the - ugh - responsabilities of a new puppy (and BOY can that be work)
and
2- if your family has grieved enough to get over the loss of your dog and can move on without passing "baggage" onto the new dog - then go ahead

I feel that if the kids have already stared talking about your dog in the past sense like, "remember when he/she used to . . . " and they're speaking in happy terms and not in a sad way, then they may be ready. But at their ages vs the dog's age - they were used to an adult dog with adult manners and a puppy will be WAY different for them. If you're sure they can handle a puppy's manners and behaviours - go for it.

So, sorry about your loss!

I can't tell you to get a new pup or not, but I can tell you about my experience...

About 5 years ago, my 4 year old schnauzer died. His kidneys failed. I was heart broken!! He was a young dog with no health issues. One day he was doing fine, the next, I was putting him down.

4 days later, I had the oppurtunity to get a mini schnauzer pup!! I was so excited and I jumped on the oppurtunity!!

I soon realised that I wasn't done greiving for Chase. I wasn't mentally or emotionally prepared for a new puppy, I wanted a replacement for Chase. I had a really hard time bonding with my new pup and it took me a really long time to accept her for the dog she is.

I love her to death now, she is 5 years old, and is a great buddy!!

If I had to make this same decision again, I would wait until I was done greiving and was ready to start over with a new puppy.

Good Luck!

Scout died very suddenly in August. I knew I would get another dog and began looking casually about 2 weeks later. I figured it would take a while to find the right dog anyway, so no harm in looking.

Ella showed up 6 weeks after Scout had died. I played with Ella for 2 hours or so at the SPCA and decided that she had so much potential and I really liked her. What was I waiting for and adopted her. I had just gone back to school in the city at age 35 and so it was probably not the smartest time to get a new dog. Commuting and homework and and and...There were some badddddddd days in the beginning.

I will admit that there have been some bumpy times in the last 6 months where I just wanted Scout back. We were such a fine team and I knew her every move and what every expression meant. There was no guess work involved. Coming home after a long day at school all I wanted was to see her there and have that stress-free walk together. She was 9 so she was mellow. My brain felt like it was being stretched way too hard with all of the things I was learning both during the day and at home with the dog.

That being said, I knew I didn't want to pass that longing on to Ella so I chose times to grieve for Scout. During my commute, in the bath (Ella never comes in there). When with Ella it was about Ella. I was good about that!

She has proven to be even more work than I thought a rescue would be, but it is rewarding and she is amazing and I do love having a dog around like you do.

I saw one of Brad's episodes where the couple had lost a good dog pal and they still had his stuff everywhere. I was bawling through the whole thing and on commercials I went around the house and took down all of Scout's photos. Yup, tearing up now even. Just like he had the couple do, I went out the next day and bought photo frames just the right colour for Ella and put her picture up about a week later. I had a week or so with no dog photos at all. Just the bare nails hanging on the wall. It was tough. But it was time to start moving on and celebrating my new dog. Things started going better with her training after that too. In the end I brought out one photo of Scout and me in the canoe. It reminds me of all of the great trips we went on together, but it is somewhere discreet. Ella is everywhere.

I still talk about Scout and I think that's ok. I don't think I compare Ella as being negative to Scout but just different because I am finding her to be so different. It isn't bad at all, it simply amazes me sometimes so I comment on it here in the forums. Now that we have some of the wildness under control I am able to really see Ella's personality for who she is and celebrate that. Different from my buddy Scout but just as great.

You said the litter won't be ready until July. Can you tell them you're slightly torn about the decision right now and just see how the next weeks go? Would they let you back out last minute if when the adoption time comes you realize you aren't ready?

Sorry for the loss of your pet. Good luck with deciding what to do now.

I think it's human nature to compare a new dog with your old-faithful, though they can never measure up.
With time though you let go of the old and accept the new,even though there will always be differences.
I don't think there is a time frame for getting a new dog, as you will never forget the old one and still compare the two.
That said, only you know how your heart feels. If you think it's time, do it.
Kids and puppies go great together, you just have to watch them.(as if you don't already )
And we'll never take down all of the pictures of our past dogs. There a couple of pictures around the house. I think there is a difference between remembrance and obsession.

Truthfully this is a question that no one can answear other than yourself.

As KeymoFrisby mentioned ask yourself those couple of questions...........and be honest with yourself.

As for my expereince. We had to put down our Schnauzer down 2 years ago. Hardest thing I ever had to do. I told the kids NO MORE dogs. Well, 2 weeks later, I was the one bringing home a puppy. Was this too soon? Sometimes I think that it may have been. I'm not sure if I was really done the greiving part. But I wouldn't change what I have done, I love Bailey to bits. Also I sometimes wonder if Mya ( our older dog) was ready for this as well, if she was done greiving over Schultz.


Sorry for your loss.

Thanks for all of your answers!! I have come to the realization, that yes, this is a personal decision. An opinion from my mother who is not a dog person does not help me. Neither does the opinion from my mother in law, who is definietly NOT a dog person help me. I have to make this decision on my own....

thus....

We are getting the puppy!! Wahoo..

thanks, it feels right!
Cheryl

Well Congrats Cheryl

Can I make a couple of suggestions. One be perpared to have alot of patience. With a new puppy and two young children it is going to be a crazy couple of weeks to start. Just remembering when we brought home our old dog ( was a January) I had a 4 and 6 year old, then in June brought home a newborn. But those first few weeks were abit crazy. Just the excitiment of a new puppy with kids could at times get nuts.

And two. I not sure how long it has been since you have had a puppy in the house, so maybe download Brad's first two chapters of his book. They are FREE and there is alot of information to get you started with your new puppy.

Have fun and enjoy your new puppy !!!

Congrats on getting a puppy.
I'm finally going to the kennel to see the dogs next saturday. I'm honestly still unsure if I can go there see all the goldies and not tear up about my Mav who I lost just after Christmas. I'm honestly not sure that I'm ready but I do know one thing I miss having a dog so much.
It is so hard to know when is time. I know that I've been struggling with it myself.

As to how long, our "old" dog, Cujo, had to be put down Jan., 2007. Last night my 11 year old was hugging duke and said "I love Duke, but he'll never be another Cujo"
I think we all compare our "new dogs" to the old ones, which will never be fair. A puppy especially, cannot know the things your dog you had for years did.