How long did you wait?

pippixox

pippixox

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Obviously some of you have multiple dogs so are not left with none of one sadly dies. But if you had only the one how long have you waited?

Although it was only yesterday he went (after bad cancer diagnosis Thursday morning) our house feels so empty with no dog (I had always planned to get a second when he was a bit older- as it was a shock to lose him aged 5, so we would never not have a dog!)

We miss him so much and can never replace him, but I spotted my husband googling GSD rescue last night! There are so many poor dogs stuck in kennels and I want to help them all! Is legacy will be the first dog we rescued- and we want to keep helping ones in need.

Although I said I don't want to rush I have already spotted a potential dog and she needs a home ASAP. She has caught my eye. I saw my last dog (poor thing basically for sale on free advertising as they didn't want him anymore aged 2) on a Sunday night and met him Tuesday and brought him home on trial... tend to follow a gut feeling!

Am I being mad! I don't want it to seem like we love our boy any less by getting a new dog so soon.
 
I lost my pup at 4 months old which was absolutely devastating. 3 days later the same breeder had another litter and although I couldn't bare the thought of having another dog one was destined to be mine. She will never replace the one I lost but I wouldn't be without her; she has taken me to places I never thought I would go and is the most trainable dog I have ever met. She is so, so rewarding and literally gives me a reason to get up and smile every day.

So my answer to you is if you are thinking of getting another one, and feel strong enough to do so so soon then go for it! Dogs bring us so much joy and a new one will help to heal your broken heart.
 
I lost two 14 year old labradors within 3 weeks of each other leaving me with an 18 month old springer/collie who had never been an only dog. My husband didn't want another one and as I was home it was ok but I returned to full time work when she was 4 so got a springer pup to keep her company. Would never wait again, she is now 12 and both my husband and I are considering another pup now so the springer will have company when we inevitably loose the older dog. It also helps the new pup learn from the older dog, makes training much quicker and easier.
 
i lost my lurcher in september and if my collie cross had been pining i would have got another straight away ,however she seemed fine and accepted that my lurcher had gone(vet came home and collie cross saw the body) and now wish that i had as i miss my girl so much but as i have now got a loan horse and am out for 3 hours every morning i dont feel i can get another dog and leave it immediately....i still window shop on the internet though so may yet find one...
 
for me personally, as soon as possible. I try to not be without a dog-early last year we took on a wee 5yo rescue to bridge the gap between our old dog (who was still with us) and a pup that we hadn't yet decided upon. We lost the old boy end of April then unexpectedly lost the girl in July, two weeks before picking up our chosen pup. Horrible, dogless two weeks that OH and I both agreed we didn't want to go through again.
 
You would not be replacing your last dog, but helping a new one. She will be completely different and can never replace the one you lost, but she needs a home, you have an empty home, makes sense to me.
 
Last time I went down to one dog, I lost my dog of a lifetime on 4th December and picked up a new rescue on 14th December - part of this was that I hated leaving my remaining greyhound alone when I was at work (she wasn't bothered at all!) and part of it was that I wanted to give some other poor soul a good home. Go for it :)
 
2 weeks. Obviously we weren't going to buy from the first litter we saw, yeah, right. They looked just like the one that had died.

I don't think there's a right or wrong length of time to wait.
 
Everyone copes with the grieving process in their own way. There is no right and wrong time length. Go with what you are feeling. Sounds as if some poor soul is going to be very lucky to end up with you.
 
Clodagh said:
You would not be replacing your last dog, but helping a new one. She will be completely different and can never replace the one you lost, but she needs a home, you have an empty home, makes sense to me.
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Couldn't have put it better myself! Absolutely agree. A house is not a home without a dog. When I lost my only dog many years ago, I brought a puppy home just two weeks later - and I would have collected her sooner had it been possible. I did go through an initial period of feeling dreadfully guilty and as though I had replaced my old dog. However, I came to realise that you can never replace one dog with another, they are all unique. Your boy would wholeheartedly approve of you helping another needy soul, I have no doubt about that.

Can we know a little about the potential new girl? :)
 
We waited 2 months but it was miserable without a dog, I looked before that but couldn't find a young BC in a rescue, ended up buying 5 month old privately. felt I had to wait a bit but wouldn't again, if you see the right one that needs you, go for it.
 
GSDx Staffie (funnily I had said I would always get GSD or possibly a Staffie would fit in as well as a GSD because there are so many in kennel- the 2 combined) Nearly 11 months, poor girl has been handed in as they don't have time/energy. And had 2 other homes fall through. She has been in a foster for 2 weeks then 4 weeks in a trainers home. Now needs a home to avoid going to kennels. Despite not wanting to rush.... (Mostly as felt it looks like replacing my gorgeous boy-but everyone's comments have put my mind to rest) they are in Essex- a small rescue- nearly 3 hours from us. But one of the ladies is going to family in Surrey tomorrow about 20 miles from us so said they can come tomorrow night to see our house and let us meet her :) with possible 2 week trial.

Obviously she is young so needs continued training, not a big deal really. The one thing they have said is she is nervous with men and can bark at them. As was previously hurt by a man :( but sure she can warm to my husband who is a softy!
 
pippixox said:
Obviously some of you have multiple dogs so are not left with none of one sadly dies. But if you had only the one how long have you waited?

Although it was only yesterday he went (after bad cancer diagnosis Thursday morning) our house feels so empty with no dog (I had always planned to get a second when he was a bit older- as it was a shock to lose him aged 5, so we would never not have a dog!)

We miss him so much and can never replace him, but I spotted my husband googling GSD rescue last night! There are so many poor dogs stuck in kennels and I want to help them all! Is legacy will be the first dog we rescued- and we want to keep helping ones in need.

Although I said I don't want to rush I have already spotted a potential dog and she needs a home ASAP. She has caught my eye. I saw my last dog (poor thing basically for sale on free advertising as they didn't want him anymore aged 2) on a Sunday night and met him Tuesday and brought him home on trial... tend to follow a gut feeling!

Am I being mad! I don't want it to seem like we love our boy any less by getting a new dog so soon.
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We have had single dogs we lost the first before our holiday and found one when we came back and likewise the 2nd.

It isn't about time it is what is right for the family. One friend lost her dog and stopped at the charity on the way home and said " which dog has been here the longest" and said i will have her. Some people need time to stop the hurt other,s get one sooner has it helps the grieving process.
 
pippixox said:
GSDx Staffie (funnily I had said I would always get GSD or possibly a Staffie would fit in as well as a GSD because there are so many in kennel- the 2 combined) Nearly 11 months, poor girl has been handed in as they don't have time/energy. And had 2 other homes fall through. She has been in a foster for 2 weeks then 4 weeks in a trainers home. Now needs a home to avoid going to kennels. Despite not wanting to rush.... (Mostly as felt it looks like replacing my gorgeous boy-but everyone's comments have put my mind to rest) they are in Essex- a small rescue- nearly 3 hours from us. But one of the ladies is going to family in Surrey tomorrow about 20 miles from us so said they can come tomorrow night to see our house and let us meet her :) with possible 2 week trial.

Obviously she is young so needs continued training, not a big deal really. The one thing they have said is she is nervous with men and can bark at them. As was previously hurt by a man :( but sure she can warm to my husband who is a softy!
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Aw bless her, good luck. I assume she is known to be fine with babies/small children?
 
Yes she has lived with young children. They said she basically got handed in as they lacked time to exercise her (probably no longer cute enough) but I am used to a high energy dog. she is coming to visit at our house and in the early evening when baby will still be awake so we can see how she responds.

It's in Essex, paws crossed (saw their page on Facebook as they post of one of the dogs rescue/rehoming pages)- but she has spent a month at a dog boards and trainer merseas mutts.
 
Couple of months since I lost my beautiful Clumber, and have posted here about looking at another dog. I am trying not to rush into something unsuitable just to fill the gap (I do have another old dog). You need a sensible head on, another dog will not replace the one you lost, they are individuals. But as Im doing it myself cant say you shouldn't! Good luck
 
I thought I would want to wait, but decided to see how I felt once he was PTS -and within 24 hours both my husband and I were thinking about getting another rescue.
We just have to be more careful than before as we have a baby. But have a good feeling about this girl so we shall see.
 
pippixox said:
Yes she has lived with young children. They said she basically got handed in as they lacked time to exercise her (probably no longer cute enough) but I am used to a high energy dog. she is coming to visit at our house and in the early evening when baby will still be awake so we can see how she responds.

It's in Essex, paws crossed (saw their page on Facebook as they post of one of the dogs rescue/rehoming pages)- but she has spent a month at a dog boards and trainer merseas mutts.
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Not one I know, but I don't know many tbh, only the ones round here. Good luck.
 
I don't think it matter how soon you get a new dog you shouldn't feel guilty your offering a lovely home to a dog that very much needs one, I hope she is what's your looking for and it all works out well and she goes home with you, please let us know how it goes.
 
Clodagh said:
You would not be replacing your last dog, but helping a new one. She will be completely different and can never replace the one you lost, but she needs a home, you have an empty home, makes sense to me.
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This
Many years ago when my children were 2.5 yrs and 6 months old my old dog went missing, I searched high and low for months but we got a new dog within 2 weeks and if my other dog had turned up we would just have had 2.
In 2015 I had my 7 yr old lurcher put to sleep and 5 weeks later had my 15 yr and 17 yr dogs put down together leaving us with no dogs. I did not get another's about 5 months as I had weekends away that I had been restricted with for a while and I knew my next dog would restrict me again to start with.
I wait as long as feel right each time.
 
We had 2 dogs so they were company for each other when we were out, when the first 1 died I didn't want to get another because I felt disloyal and like I was trying to replace her but the remaining dog had never been an only dog and he needed a new companion so we got another one from the rescue and I cried the whole journey home feeling guilty about my old dog, within a day this had passed and I had reconciled that I was doing the best for both the current dogs and obviously didn't mean I loved Tey any less (she's still my dog of a lifetime and I am typing this wearing a heart pendant necklace with her ashes and fur in it)
 
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It went well. She had a sniff around and stroke and was very relaxed with me. She is scared of men and when my husband came in she barked for a few minutes. Then sniffed him and had a stroke, barked a bit more and when licked him: all nerves. But the trainer who she has been with for a month says she loves her husband now. Her back story is sad- first owner gave her to someone else when she was a few months old. He beat her (hence fear of men and also hi-vis, preaumably he wore one for work) then someone basically took her off him as saw how she was treated and handed her in. The lady has 14 in her home and fosters and rehomes them completely self funded. She is only 11 months old and has been in 5 places.

Baby was in bed. She has been around toddlers with no problem. Pretty sure the lady was happy with us and our set up- so have said we would like her on trial (they say 2 weeks). Need to see how she is with baby when he is awake. The fear of men may take a bit of work, but being in a secure home I'm sure will help and she is young.

She is very brite, apparently learnt to open doors with push down handles and getting on well with recall and lead work.

She has a GSD head and then her body is in between the size of a spaniel and GSD. So a nice size.

Watch this space!....
 
I did have a few tears when she left as miss my boy so much. She was completely different and lovely in her own way. Has her own issues to work on like he did (he was reactive to most dogs- his only issue).
 
I have to say while I think the time gap is up to everyone I would be extremely, extremely wary of taking a dog with known nervous tendancies into a house with a baby, particularly a medium to large dog.

Any dog can snap but to me puppies adapt much better to babies and while they learn can't do serious damage
 
pippixox said:
Obviously some of you have multiple dogs so are not left with none of one sadly dies. But if you had only the one how long have you waited?

Although it was only yesterday he went (after bad cancer diagnosis Thursday morning) our house feels so empty with no dog (I had always planned to get a second when he was a bit older- as it was a shock to lose him aged 5, so we would never not have a dog!)

We miss him so much and can never replace him, but I spotted my husband googling GSD rescue last night! There are so many poor dogs stuck in kennels and I want to help them all! Is legacy will be the first dog we rescued- and we want to keep helping ones in need.

Although I said I don't want to rush I have already spotted a potential dog and she needs a home ASAP. She has caught my eye. I saw my last dog (poor thing basically for sale on free advertising as they didn't want him anymore aged 2) on a Sunday night and met him Tuesday and brought him home on trial... tend to follow a gut feeling!

Am I being mad! I don't want it to seem like we love our boy any less by getting a new dog so soon.
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Sad to hear you lost your dog so young. Mine was 16 yrs.and after wards I swore it would be my last and I was planning all the dog free things I could do with my time.!After a week I was feeling bereft without a dog and was googling the shelters in a bid to find another.
The perfect small dog came up a week later and I am so happy to be a dog owner again.I still miss my oldie sometimes but we had lovely times and life goes on.
 
A friend of mine flagged this dog up to me as a possible dog for him but she is no good for him.
She looks lovely and is certainly a dog I would want to meet if I was looking, I would hesitate with a rescue that does not want you to travel and meet the dog in a place the dog is settled, the dog has been placed with an IMDT trainer for quite a few weeks for a reason, I would worry she will miss the company of all the dogs she mixes with at the trainers as they also board dogs on a day to day basis and over night so she has had a lot of stimulation.
When my girls were very small I would not have adult rescues as I was always happier with puppies growing up with the kids.
Good luck though.
 
Completely understand people's reservations- she is only 11 months so practically a puppy to me!
Other dog company: I pick up my friends dogs to take to the farm to do the horses most days as she works long hours (a spaniel and jr) so she can socialise regularly. Plus walks on the common. I would not want a second new dog at the same time as working on her training (although in the long run I would love 2). In an ideal world she would of benefited from having my older boy around but obviously that isn't possible!

She was brought to us because she is 3 hours away but the trainer was visiting family 1 hour from us and needed to do a home check so thought due to the distance she would combine the two.

We will be careful and take the trial very seriously- if she isn't good enough (within reason as a young excited dog) around our baby or we don't feel she is happy with us then we will not keep her. But I think she has real potential that will come out more when she has a permanent home.
 
I really hope it all works out, as she sounds like she really needs that special, understanding home who will continue her socialisation and training.

Her having no experience of babies would certainly make me much more cautious but the fact she is good with toddlers is encouraging. Has she actually lived with small children of any age? As you have decided to go ahead with the trial, I am sure I don't need to tell you to have your wits about you and never leave dog and baby alone together (even for a second).

Let us know how it goes. When does she arrive?
 
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