Family can't agree on a dog breed, and not having a dog is destroying my mental health

[sadpuppyy]

Our family recently lost our beloved dog. I work from home and so was always used to having my sweet dog with me during the day. They were company, and walking them during my lunch break and after finishing work was the perfect antidote to a day spent sitting at my desk all day. My dog was my entire life. I am autistic so he also helped fill the social void in my life. I am devastated by the loss of my dog, but I am also massively struggling with the loneliness and boredom of now being home alone all day.

As a family we are all in agreement that we want another dog, but nobody can agree on a dog breed. Half the family want to get the same breed as the dog we lost, the other half think that would be weird and want something different. Each side won't budge. It's such a big decision with a lot of emotional weight to it, but it just feels like we're getting nowhere. I'm not bothered either way, I just want a dog. Any dog.

Has anyone else had this issue? How did you decide/compromise?

You should choose as you appear to be the primary caregiver.

Get a rescue dog.

You'll have a bit of choice that way but not loads.

What are the two breeds?
Could you get a rescue?
You should decide as you are with it the most.

Adopt don’t shop

You should decide. Maybe if you visited a rescue, the dog might “choose” you?

We went to a rescue to meet 2 specific dogs. Of these, I had one in my mind as being the one we would eventually take home. He looked a bit like the dog I had had growing up so I sort of had my heart set on him. But we met the other one first, took him on a nice walk and sort of became attached to him during that walk. So we ended up with him instead!

I had my heart set on a greyhound or lurcher, except I didn’t want a saluki because I thought they looked a bit dainty and girlish (not meant to be offensive … I am a girl, just not a particularly girly one). I also didn’t want a white dog because I thought they would show the dirt.

Anyway, we ended up with a white saluki…he seemed to be quite keen on us at the rescue. He’s been with us for 5 years now and he’s the best!

What are your feelings? Can you go and meet some of these dogs and then decide? I chose a dog breed that typically had a temperament that was very much like my previous (soul) dog. My dog was an utter breed fail, however. Instead of being a stoic, bomb-proof temperament, she was highly anxious and reactive. Despite being hard work, she was also adorable, goofy and totally eccentric, so we all adored her. She also taught us about our own expectations. We are currently sans doggie and it’s killing us all. Will be a few years until we have time and place so we have to make do with a goldfish. (Not remotely satisfying.)

So sorry for the loss of your beloved dog, this time will be very hard for you.
My advice, do your research and get a breed which fits in with your lifestyle.
We always go for a rescue. I don't place any importance on the look of the dog.
I know the size we want and I just spend time reading the dogs history, see if there are any red flags and make sure the dog ticks the boxes in terms of us being a good fit for each other.
We have ended up with a breed of dog I never thought we would have but in terms of what we were looking for the dog is perfect and everything has worked out really well.
I hope the same for you OP.