Tell me about your second dog.

[Robb]

It's barely been a week since I lost the first dog I ever had to cancer. His sister's missing him as much as I do, and I'm thinking about bringing another husky into the house. For both of us, really.

I'd like to hear from dog owners who lost a pet, and found themselves with another. I've got a few opportunities, but I'm still working out the feelings end of everything. :)

[IndyOp]

1. Get a second dog when you feel you are ready --

There is no 'right time' -- there isn't too soon or too long to wait.

Do take the time to meet a couple of different dogs and to introduce them to your girl to make sure that they are compatible.

Remember that it will be an adjustment. Think back to when one of your dogs was new -- acclimating a them to your household requires energy and patience. The new dog won't be as 'easy' as your long-time friend - expect the unexpected. It is easy to sometimes feel frustrated with the new pet when they aren't like the old one - and they will be different.

You won't stop missing your dearly departed buddy - so it is a good idea to make a point of remembering him in some special way over the next few weeks (and months...).

When you are ready to appreciate someone brand new in your life, and you have the energy and patience to help them acclimate, and you can take the time to meet a few dogs and feel comfortable that you've found the right one -- then that, IMHO, will be the exactly right time to get a new dog. It could be tomorrow, next week or next month.

I hope this is at least a little bit helpful...

:hi:

[Samurai_Writer]

2. I lost my dog last June

And the last couple of months, I keep finding myself on PetFinder looking at the dogs available in my area. However, as much as I want another dog, I know I can't get one right now. My two cats are doing really well right now without a dog in our apartment, and my housemate who lives downstairs already has two huge dogs. I get to play with them and walk them whenever I want. I still look longingly at the PetFinder ads, though.

I've told myself when my cats are gone (one is 14, one is 11), I will get a dog. But that probably won't be for a few more years yet.

[RebelOne]

3. I lost my 12-year-old Rottweiler in 1999.

A friend in Florida had a Rottie that she paid a fortune for because she was going to breed her but decided not to. So a month later, I inherited my second Rottie, Legend. She was 2-1/2 years old at the time. She is now 8-1/2. It's going to kill me when I lose her.

[hippiechick]

4. Sorry to hear about your loss, Robb ...

... I can't even begin to imagine what a life without HippieDog Hank would be like. :cry:

I did adopt a 'second dog' last summer - Ray Charles LaBeagle - to sort of help me emotionally divest from Hank (to 'share the love' as it were) so that when the time comes it might be easier.

But I don't know that that's going to be the answer. :shrug:

[livetohike]

5. My sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your dog Robb

:hug:

We lost our first dog we had to cancer when he was nearly eight years old (too young) :-(. We found we couldn't live without a dog and ended up bringing home two puppies from the same litter two months after our Smokey died. These two puppies were such a joy, of course they could never take Smokey's place.

Misty lived to be 13.5 and Ranger was two weeks shy of his 16th birthday when he passed. One month later we brought home Cindy (8 weeks old) and then a month after that we brought home Murphy (he was also 8 weeks old).

The only advice I have is that 1)you will know when the time is right to bring home another dog and 2)don't expect that dog to be anything like the one you lost. In fact, we always had Lab/Shepherd mixes and I didn't want to compare our new dogs to the old ones, so we got entirely different breeds this time. A Louisiana Catahoula Leopard mix and an Australian Cattle Dog mix. They love each other and are both herding dogs, so they get along well :-).

Good luck and keep us posted on what happens next.

[Beaverhausen]

6. I'm sorry about your dog. Please keep this in mind

When you adopt another dog, you will give a loving home to one of the millions of animals out there who need homes.

You aren't "replacing" your old friend, but you are giving a home to another animal who needs one.

I think you will know when the time is right. :hug:

I lost one of my kitties 5 years ago and it took me about 5 months until I felt right about bringing in another one. About the time I felt ready a friend said a friend of hers found a stray mom and kitten living on a golf course and did I want the kitten? It was perfect timing.