I am welcoming a new one into my home in less than a week and couldn't be any more excited for a new journey.
I had a Golden from age 20-33. Had to say goodbye to him last November - I think I posted about it here around that time. I was pretty broken up about it. He was incredible in so many ways and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had if not the best.
I needed time to heal and adjust to not having him around anymore. Still miss him every day. But now all of my memories of him are from his best days and all of the great times I had with him.
Decided it was time for a new guy. And this one will never replace the first one. He'll be his own dog and have his own personality and all of his own things. I'd never try to clone my first or just try to replace him (though they do look similar!)
at the end of February. We toyed with the idea of a pup a few weeks back. Just didn't feel right. Plus I'm not really enamored with the idea of a puppy.
Might be time for a visit to the local Humane Society.
We have had cats and had to put them both down in the last 6 months. Been a tough time as they were very dog like cats not your standard leave me alone cat (we still have one of those).
Very excited for the new dog journey though. My wife has wanted one for years, but i always said i wanted a small fenced in yard at least that i could let the dog out in some times. Of course we settled in DC/NOVA recently and i dont envision getting a yard with a fence anytime soon since housing in this area is out of control, lol.
at the end of February. We toyed with the idea of a pup a few weeks back. Just didn't feel right. Plus I'm not really enamored with the idea of a puppy.
Might be time for a visit to the local Humane Society.
It's been a little over 7 months for me - but even as recently as like 2 months ago, I didn't think I was ready for a new one.
It takes time. It's weird, you kind of just get to a point where you feel like it's the right.
For me, there was a guilt phase where I felt like getting another dog was an attempt to "replace" my first one or just fill a void, and I firmly believe that every dog deserves to be him/herself and not have to live in the shadow of another who came before them. I also felt bad in the sense that my first was so special to me - getting a new one felt like I would be "forgetting" him, but none of that is true.
I've finally understood the difference and know I am approaching it the right way. I just had to heal mentally and make sure I was doing this for the right reasons. Which I know I am. My new guy is going to get all the love he can handle.
He's going to be named Ike. I think this being a Giants board, you can safely determine where I got that from. :) Our Ike was one of of my favorite Giants ever.
that we (as in humans) don't deserve dogs. I have 2 large breed dogs, a 5 y/o German Shepherd and a 1 y/o Black Lab. The German Shepherd is my dog, in a sense that i wanted her from the get go. My wife never really wanted a dog, and I had always wanted a GSD growing up. When i heard about and local breeder that my mother knew had recently had a litter, I jumped at the opportunity. Ruby has become the Matriarch of the family. Constantly keeps close watch over the kids and always ready to alert us of anything suspicious. Ruby is smart and easy to train and extremely well behaved. SO all was well, when my wife decided that she needed to get Ruby a friend and wanted to rescue a Black lab that a friend of a friend no longer wanted. I had always gone back and forth about getting another dog and a Black Lab is another realm. We adopted Bear last August and Ruby immediately had no love for him. He is dorkiest, doofy little idiot that i've ever known. For as smart and refined as ruby is, Bear is the complete opposite. Sloppy Drinker, eats everything, chews everything, incessantly plays fetch, jumps up on you, gets up on the couch and sits on your lap. Follows you to the ends of the earth just to be with you. At first I hated him. He was a terror, I was so used to how well behaved Ruby was that I just could not get used to this little fury nightmare running through my house. But the one thing I noticed, he loved us. He is completely infatuated with My wife and kids. He can't wait to play with both of them and he even attempts to bounce around with Ruby when she lets him. But all of that pailed in comparison for how he was towards me. From the start he knew that I didn't want him. so he has made it his goal to change my feelings. The faces, the noises, the licking . All to win my approval for his place in the family. As you could probably tell, he won.
Don't go to the Humane Society. Find a good local rescue group and I'm sure you'll be very happy. I received a letter recently stating that about 2% of the Humane Society's money goes to local shelters. They've been dropped by Better business bureau and one other rating group that, unfortunately, eludes me at this time. Good luck in your search.
and she's a scamp -- but we adore each other -- dogs are the best!!!
Dogs are the best! Perfect cure for empty nest syndrome too. Last year just before hurricane Irma, we rescued a fixed female black mouth cur. Sandy has a personality that is far different from any dog I've known.
I'll never forget the void I felt when I had to say goodbye to my boy in November. I was so upset and just mentally and emotionally exhausted so I laid down and slept for about 2 hours after he passed, and when I woke up, the realization that he wasn't next to my bed the way he usually was, and then the realization that he was also just not anywhere in the house really crushed me. It was almost surreal.
Time heals - it always takes time.
But, I've lost close friends, family members, etc. I was introduced to loss at a very young age unfortunately, and I can say with absolute certainty that my dog passing hurt every bit as much as the passing of friends and family. It might sound crazy to say that, but to me, it's not.
at the Vet yesterday to have some work done on her teeth. They had to put her under anesthesia. I was a wreck all day, until I picked her up. Dogs are the the greatest!!
She was half Daschund, half Yorkie.
She was our Dorkie.
She was half Daschund, half Yorkie.
She was our Dorkie.
Atl_Giants: so sorry for your loss. I'm also sorry, but the Dorkie name made me laugh out loud. I'm sure she was a wonderful pooch.
No worries, she was a very happy little dog, we had lots of fun together with that silly moniker.
I had a Golden from age 20-33. Had to say goodbye to him last November - I think I posted about it here around that time. I was pretty broken up about it. He was incredible in so many ways and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had if not the best.
I needed time to heal and adjust to not having him around anymore. Still miss him every day. But now all of my memories of him are from his best days and all of the great times I had with him.
Decided it was time for a new guy. And this one will never replace the first one. He'll be his own dog and have his own personality and all of his own things. I'd never try to clone my first or just try to replace him (though they do look similar!)
Dogs are the fucking best, man.
This has to be someone either with no kids, no dog, or extremely good children.
My dog is the best to talk to - hangs on every single word, always smiling, never talks back. The three kids? Not so much.
Might be time for a visit to the local Humane Society.
We have had cats and had to put them both down in the last 6 months. Been a tough time as they were very dog like cats not your standard leave me alone cat (we still have one of those).
Very excited for the new dog journey though. My wife has wanted one for years, but i always said i wanted a small fenced in yard at least that i could let the dog out in some times. Of course we settled in DC/NOVA recently and i dont envision getting a yard with a fence anytime soon since housing in this area is out of control, lol.
Might be time for a visit to the local Humane Society.
It's been a little over 7 months for me - but even as recently as like 2 months ago, I didn't think I was ready for a new one.
It takes time. It's weird, you kind of just get to a point where you feel like it's the right.
For me, there was a guilt phase where I felt like getting another dog was an attempt to "replace" my first one or just fill a void, and I firmly believe that every dog deserves to be him/herself and not have to live in the shadow of another who came before them. I also felt bad in the sense that my first was so special to me - getting a new one felt like I would be "forgetting" him, but none of that is true.
I've finally understood the difference and know I am approaching it the right way. I just had to heal mentally and make sure I was doing this for the right reasons. Which I know I am. My new guy is going to get all the love he can handle.
He's going to be named Ike. I think this being a Giants board, you can safely determine where I got that from. :) Our Ike was one of of my favorite Giants ever.
Ruby - ( New Window )
Dogs are the best! Perfect cure for empty nest syndrome too. Last year just before hurricane Irma, we rescued a fixed female black mouth cur. Sandy has a personality that is far different from any dog I've known.
She looks like this:
The day when your dog dies is a tough day...
The day when your dog dies is a tough day...
You can say that again...
I'll never forget the void I felt when I had to say goodbye to my boy in November. I was so upset and just mentally and emotionally exhausted so I laid down and slept for about 2 hours after he passed, and when I woke up, the realization that he wasn't next to my bed the way he usually was, and then the realization that he was also just not anywhere in the house really crushed me. It was almost surreal.
Time heals - it always takes time.
But, I've lost close friends, family members, etc. I was introduced to loss at a very young age unfortunately, and I can say with absolute certainty that my dog passing hurt every bit as much as the passing of friends and family. It might sound crazy to say that, but to me, it's not.
Dogs ARE family.
Atl_Giant, so sorry for your loss.