I need advice and help. I had 2 9 year old litter mate german shepards (1 male and 1 female). For the past year my female has been paralyzed in her back legs due to degenerative myelopathy. A little over one week ago we had to put her down because it was affecting her front legs and she was unable to get up most of the time. This was the most difficult decision...she was my baby. Personally, I went through 5 years of fertility to have a baby and do have a 5 year old daughter now and she is the only child I can have. My dogs are my children and were my support through so much. I am feeling so empty and my other dog is so sad. My whole family wants to get a new puppy. I am in no way trying to replace Rona....I never could.

I am getting some concern from the family saying it is too soon and I shouldnt do this. That we should concentrate on the dog we have. Yet I thought, getting a female puppy would help him. Please give me your insight on this issue.

Is it to soon? Should we wait? Do you think it would help him or not?

Thank you so much.

You lnow your dog better than anyone else. If you feel he needs a friend or that you are ready go ahead. Follow your heart, everyone is different. Some people go right out and get another furbaby to fill the void, others take longer. I think some don't know if they can go through the pain they felt again, of the loss.
You do whats best for you no matter what anyone else thinks or says. Nina

First, let me say I am so sorry for the loss of your dog. But, I to agree with Nina. Everyone needs to do what they feel is best for themselves and their family and othet pets. Maybe you could talk to your vet about how your other furbaby is reacting to the loss, and if he thinks it would help to have a new puppy around. No one knows how they will react to having a new one around, but you are the only ones who can make that choice. I hope all goes well. I almost got a new kitten this weekend, but decided I wasn't ready yet. But, that is just my choice. Please keep us posted and let us know how you're doing.
Trish

while everyone has their own momentum to get a new pet, this is true, in your case i would say it is still too soon. with only a week since your pet's passing, i feel you need to give yourself and your other dog time to grieve (see the resources section for various articles on grieving - both human and animal). you say your remaining pet is depressed, best you can do is give him lots of love as he works his way through the loss. getting a new playmate this soon may confuse him, and the two animals may not "mesh" as well at this early point.

again, this is my opinion. your family needs to do what it feels is right, despite what others may say.

GSgirl- I am very sorry for your loss and completely understand the position you are in. I too had fertility issues and my 2 dogs were more support to me during those times. We got our yellow lab, Belle when she was just a puppy and got Mocha, a lab/pit mix when she was a little over a year old. Belle and Mocha were only 4 months apart in age. They were so closely bonded. They groomed each other and slept next each other and played so well. This spring, out of the blue, Mocha stopped eating and over the course of the next few months, her health got worse. We learned that she had congestive heart failure caused by a protein disorder. Her body could not retain any proteins, therefore she lost her muscle mass and was building up fluids in her chest and abdomen. After exhausting all efforts to help her, I had to make the decision to put her to sleep. I knew that it would negatively affect Belle as they had been so close and she did get depressed and also got severe anxiety. Mocha was my "baby" and it was so hard to lose her and I didn't want to "replace" her...she couldn't be replaced. I had originally decided due to my husband being deployed to Iraq that we wait to decide whether to get another dog until he came home. The first week, Belle was very depressed and I thought her and I could get through Mocha's loss together. Then Belle started scratching her face raw from anxiety. Then she got to the point where she would stand at the door while I was gone and lick the door. She licked the paint off my door and I began coming home to HUGE piles of dog slobber on my floor. Belle made the decision for me to start looking for another dog. She was not happy alone and I could not stand her being like that. I found a black lab/pit mix puppy at one of the local shelters and decided to give it a go. It was the best decision I could have made for Belle. I knew it was going to be hard because the bond Mocha and I had I don't think could ever be again with another dog. There was only a little over 2 weeks in between the time I lost Mocha and brought Zoey into our family. Zoey has been with us now for 3 weeks. The first few days, I didn't know if it was the right decision because Belle didn't want anything to do with her. Belle is almost 8 now with hip dysplasia and I was worried that she wouldn't like having to deal with a puppy around. After the first few days of ignoring Zoey, Belle began to play with her. There are times now that Belle acts just like she did as a puppy. It has been good to see that because I didn't think she ever would again. Belle has not scratched her face nor left me any more piles of slobber at the door since getting Zoey.

I just wanted to post to you to let you know that although I was hesitant to get another dog so soon after Mocha's passing, it has been good for our family. Ultimately, you have to do what you feel is best for you and your family. I am still grieving for Mocha but I did what I thought was best for the "remaining family" and it has turned out just fine.

Please know that this is only my experience. I have learned that Belle is the type of dog that needs doggy companionship. I don't know if Belle and Zoey will ever have as close of a relationship as she and Mocha had but so far, it is off to as good of a start as I hoped it would.

After losing my Meiko, I was concerned about our other cat. They were also very close in age. They slept together, cleaned each other, played and wrestled around, and were very close. Once Meiko passed, Sasha started to get sick. She would just meow constantly at nothing, as if she were calling him. She would run her paws at the back door and we couldn't leave otherwise we would hear her crying outside. After a week, I thought I would try and get her a new playmate. She really didn't want that much to do with him and I knew I WAS NOT ready at all. I had a very close bond with Meiko, closer than any animal, including the current ones that I have now. I took the kitten back to the shelter because he was sick and I was emotionally and physically drained from worry and I didn't want to put Sasha at risk either. Then another week or two went by and she started getting worse. She developed a respiratory infection and her eyes started to constantly tear. I thought that even though I wasn't ready, she needed a companion. I went a found another kitty at a shelter, one that was healthy, and brought him home. It has been almost two months now. Only on occasion does she meow out for him (you can tell because they aren't the usual meows, they are long cries). They have started to chase each other around the house and she even started to clean him the other day. I have caught them napping together as well. There are times when she doesn't want to be bothered and with bring her claws out but he knows and backs away. I think that getting him when I did was a good decision since she is slowly getting back to herself and is no longer sick. It has been hard sometimes with the way I feel because nobody could even compare to the bond that I had with Meiko. Part of me died with him and there is a void that can never be filled. I have begun to open my heart up again though and I have found a different love for the new kitten, as each one has a seperate place in my heart that is special to them.
Only you can decide, but some animals can actually mourn themselves sick when they lose their companion. If you do get one, it may take time for the animals to bond. Don't rush them and slowly bring them together. It has been nearly 2 months and the new kitten and Sasha are still becoming friends. It is VERY important that you give the surviving animal lots of attention and remember that they can feel your emotions so you have to be strong for them. This was something that I learned after losing Meiko. Sasha would wake me up at 4 in the morning to play and I got up because I knew she needed me. We leaned on each other for support. I hope everything goes well with your decision. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.......

Ashlee

Here is a picture of the new kitten and Sasha sleeping close together.... This took time but it is happening slowly

I can completely empathize with your loss as I laid my beloved Dixie to rest just today. The pain is unbearable, although I feel better about it now that she is out of pain than I did before when I was still faced with the decision. Her last night was awful. Thankfully she only had one of those and I was convinced that it was time by the time morning came.

She was a beautiful golden retriever with a smile that could melt your heart. I can't even believe she's gone. She has such a sweet soul. There is no replacing her. My three others will never take away the pain I feel from losing her. I will never be able to replace my others when they are gone either.

I guess that's my point to you as you are thinking of possibly getting another. As long as you aren't trying to replace one with another. They are so individual. One of my main fears is that I won't remember every tiny little thing that Dixie did. Her sweet smile, the way she walked down the hall scratching her back on the wall all the way down, the way she always had to have something in her mouth when she greeted you, the way she tried to get well just for me, etc. She was an individual and I don't want to forget a single thing.

The song I sang as I laid her to rest went like this:

I wouldn't have missed it for the world
Wouldn't have missed loving you girl
You made my whole life worth while
With your smile

I wouldn't trade one memory
Cause you mean too much to me
Even though I lost you girl
I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

There's no way I can ever replace her but I certainly won't rule out the possibility that someone else with their own soul will need me. The joy I had with Dixie far outweighs the pain of her loss. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I can certainly understand what everyone is going through. I went to the local animal shelter the other day. They had cute kittens and other cats there. I think I went to see how I would feel, and if any of them spoke to my heart. While I enjoyed their antics and laughed at them, I have to admit that none of them really said "take me home" . I just take that as a sign that I am not ready yet. I am still in pain over losing Scooter, as I know everyone is about losing their pets. Plus, I think my other 3 cats would not be ready to accept another cat into the household either. I will read up on the articles suggested on pet's mourning and how to further help them. I can still go and volunteer at the shelter, and love and hold those that need it. The shelter is not far from my home, so at least, I can do that. You will know when you are ready. Give yourself and your family time, and when the time is right, you will bring another pet to love into your home.

GSGirl,
Did you get your pups from a breeder? If so, maybe you could contact the breeder and get his/her's input. If not, I'd probably say talk to your vet or an actual certified trainer or breeder of GS's to see what they say. If you had 2 littermates who were together for 9 years, they'd have been very close emotionally, and while I agree that it's sad to see your other dog go through this grief, it might be problematic to introduce another new pup at this time. But, ultimately you know your other dog best, and I commend you for asking for advice, and for thinking so much of your other dog's emotional state.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and while it was probably one of the hardest decisions of your life, your Rona was blessed that you cared so much about her to make that decision. Good luck to you, your family, and Rona's brother. Take care and let us know what happens - Barbara

When I was a child, we had a wonderful dog named Debbie. She had four puppies and we found homes for three and kept one, Zoe. Zoe died at the young age of nine from heart disease. Debbie was then 11 years old. We thought Debbie was terribly depressed and unhappy, so we got a new puppy named Nicole. When Nicole enetered the house, Debbie ran happily over and when she saw it wasn't Zoe she turned away and showed no interest. In time, they grew a closer, but it was never like it was with her daughter. In short, like with humans, a new pet doesn't replace the old one in the heart of the surviving pet, although it might be better than being alone.

I don't think it is ever too soon or too long to wait - it is whatever brings you and the remaining pet the most comfort. Some pets do not want a new companion and do very well with extra human attention. Others desparately need company. Some older dogs will find a puppy overwhelming and would do better with an older companion. Only you know your pet.

I am sorry for you loss.

Daisy's Mommy

I rescued another Boston terrier about a week after Meg passed. I don't think it's about time, it's about finding that dog whose eyes tell you yes. You will know when it's time. There isn't a set amount of time to wait.
About getting a puppy ... that might be really hard on a 9 year old dog - and you for that matter. Puppies are wonderful and loving and cute ... and naughty and annoying and destructive. I would consider a young adult for a new playmate for your older guy. A puppy might be too much for him. Sure, 9 isn't ancient, but in two years, he will start to slow down and a puppy will still be crazy. Don't get roped into the droopy, sweet puppy eyes. There are plenty of adult dogs that need homes and could fit into your family well, even if they do carry a bit of baggage. If you want another shepherd, I'm sure there is a local rescue in your area that could help find you the perfect playmate for your boy. Check petfinder.org. A new adult dog is just as exciting as a puppy and usually a lot less work.
I am very sorry for your loss. I know how hearbreaking it is to lose a pet to a slowly progressing debilitating disease.