When is too soon?

I am so sorry to hear about your poor dog, I know the feeling as I lost my best friend about 6 years ago and it was heartbreaking. I did not however have another dog, I just could not go through it all again, I was so desolate when I lost my dog that the thought of getting attached to something else again was not an option. I have never had another dog since. But I think that if you feel that you could love another dog then you should, and I think it is lovely that you are getting it from a shelter, if you get one be sure to show some pics, I would love to see it.

It really is your own choice. If you think you are ready, than maybe you really are. If you have love to give another animal, than go for it, there are plenty out there that sure do need it. I'd love to take in another pet, but can't, since my dog wouldn't allow it.

similar to everyone else, i'm sorry to hear about your dog. but i'm sure he had a great life with you loving him. i've lost my pet before and i guess we can never 'heal' from the loss. however, there's never a 'right' time to get another pet. sometimes we get another pet to kinda fill the void left by our deceased pet. as long as you do not expect the new dog to do what your dog had being doing, it's not too soon. if you know that the new dog is an individual by himself that's enough already. and NO, you are not 'unfaithful' to your dog if you get one now. they will always remain in our hearts forever. i still miss my boy even though seven years has passed. :(

yes, go for it! We actually got a puppy right before our old dog passed away. We knew he was about to die, so we thought it would be easier if we went ahead and got another dog. And it was! It makes things seem less odd.

Go for it staright away! That's hat we would do, what we have donme in the past, with cats and dogs that have passed away. You have to get back on the horse that's thrown you, and caring for a new life in the family will help plug the gap and heal the heart. It will not REPLACE the old dog, nothing could ever do that, but you're not seeking to replace, just move on to something new. Keeping busy with a young pup will help take your mind off and avoids moping about your loss. Good Luck!

Sorry abut your companion.I to lost a pet but i said i would not get any more pets but i was lost so i did get a new one pet 6 months later.so now i have 2 cats and a puppy.If you feel that you are lost with out a pet then get one.You will not be sorry or just give yourself a couble of months to see how you feel.

I am so sorry to hear about your older dog passing away. That is so hard to go through. I have had lots of animals and it is always hard when it is time for them to leave. I think that if you feel ready, then I would get the puppy. Also I too, think it is wonderful that you are getting a puppy from a shelter and so you are really doing a fantastic thing to take the puppy and give it a good home. Hope you do get the puppy and that it all works out for you.

I think you should go for it espically as you feel ready to. My partner lost his dog this week as well. He went out and got another dog as he felt like something was missing. He gave a home to a retired greyhound she is lovely and he feels alot happier now.

Sorry you are going through this heartache. I can only say that if you feel ready, then you should go ahead. We lost our girl in march last year and it was very sudden and unexpected as she was only 6! We'd only had her 3 years. We started looking after a week and on the 10th of May we got our new girl, she like her predecessor is a rescued German Shepherd. I've lost a lot of pets over the 50 years I've shared my life with cats and dogs and each is remembered and loved and in no way replaced by another. I've always found having another around distracts me from the grief a little and as I tend to rescue adult dogs sometimes feel it is what they would want me to do. I can't imagine what it is like to come home to an empty house, as both dog and cats come to greet me, it must be really hard. I'd say you sound ready to give another pup the love it needs and I'm sure the right one is waiting for you to find him/her! Good luck and lots of happiness with your new companion!

It sounds to me like you are readyfor a new love with a new dog.I envy you as I would love to have a dog but alasour apartment complex does not allow dogs. I would say go for it as you say you have the love to give another dog. I missed mydog so when we had to let her go. anyway do get your newdog and have fun again. they are a part of the family aren't they?

i am so sorry for your loss...my heart goes out to you... a year ago this past march my best friend had to put her dog down (she was also 13 years old) and had another dog left behind. she didn't think she would want to get another dog, because the loss of her beloved friend was so great. but after a few months, she did decide to get another dog as a companion to the dog she still had, and without the guilt of feeling like she was replacing her lost friend. my point is, she was ready to move on. it is important that, although you will never forget (nor should you) your friend, you can't hold on to that energy when you are around your new puppy. it will send the wrong kind of message to him/her. basically, you need to make sure that you are ready. and to me, it kind of sounds like you are. good luck to you in what ever you decide to do.

Hey enchantedleppard, firstly I'm really sorry to hear that you've lost your friend. Nothing will ever replace him. I don't think that getting a new puppy on board is disrespecting his memory at all. If you're planning to getting one from a resue centre then you're giving another dog the opportunity of a good home & happy life, and I'm sure your old friend would be glad to hear that there was someone in place to guard his territory and keep you safe.

there really isnt any set time for the grieving process in anything. whether its the loss of a human loved one or a pet. you never really stop grieving anyways, and as you said, he cant be replaced, and yer not trying to replace him. only you know if the time is right, and if you feel that youre ready, then its the right time. if youre able to give love and a home to a pup that has no one at all, and want to, i say go for it.

That is so sad. But it sounds like you gave him a great life and he was a happy dog. Getting a new dog depends on you and your family. If you think you are ready for one then I say go for it. Just remember that you will not find one that will replace your companion of 13 years. Look for one that will be an added family member :)

We were in the same predicament you are in a few months ago. Our dog was the same age and we had had her for just as long too. My parents, my father mostly, needed a new companion and we found another dog in very little time. Old pets that have passed can never be replaced but giving a home to a new pet does fill the gap. I think you should just go with the feel of it. If you feel you are ready for a new pet I'd go for it.

We lost our little chichi, about two months ago, she was 13 and as you say, she is irreplacable. I knew it was about time for her to go and her health was getting worse and worse, so last August for my and my daughters Birthday I got us a pup, he looks just like Chichi did only his markings are black and white, her were brown. I love Rascal, and he is a good dog, but I do find myself comparing them. Chichi would never have, or Chichi was....I feel it is not fair to Rascal. So saying that, this is my advice for you, instead of getting the same breed, or a look a like, go for a different bread and look. I hope this helps.

Thank you for looking for a dog in the shelter. It's so sad that people don't look there all the time for pets. A companion holds a very special spot in a person's heart. When we lose that love a hole is created and we feel empty. It's natural to want to fill the void. Some people might feel a bit guilty, thinking they were betraying the dog or cat they loved. Its not true. Any loving gesture_ like buying a new puppy_ deserves a chance to live. As for me_ no more animals. I put my Persian 'Indiana Jones' down because of kidney failure. For months afterwards I had nightmares. I saw Indy sitting on the table in the vets talking to me. Asking 'Why did you kill me, I was still alive?' I know I was looking at my own guilt. But after forty years of pet owning experiences _the darkness of losing them exceeds the joy of loving them. Now back again into the daylight and the joy of new love. It sounds to me like you're about to become proud parents of a brand new puppy. Congrats.

Sorry for your loss. If you feel ready to find another companion, then do.

I don't think there is a set amount of time. It sounds to me like you really miss that presence in your life and you are ready for a new puppy. You realize it won't replace your old dog but it will begin a new chapter of your life.

Since, presumably, you haven't had a puppy in the house for 13 years it is important to realize that puppies can be as annoying as they are adorable. If you feel your grief over your other dog is going to make the "terrible twos" of a puppy tough to handle. Wait. If not, there is nothing like a puppy to take your mind off your loss. And nothing like loving good owners to make a lifetime commitment to another animal who needs it. I know for me when I have lost a pet the empty spot they left in my life and literally in my space had to be filled before I could stop looking for what was gone. I'm very sorry for your loss.