How to move on from losing the best dog ever ...

[furbaby]

After losing our darling boy in may (staffy who had cancer aged 12) We were so upset and didn, t think we would get over the heart break :(
After much deciding we got our new staffy boy puppy in august , he is s darling and we both love him lots but its just not helping how I thought it would .
dh seems to love him unconditionaly but I can, t help thinking about our old boy and how much smarter and better behaved he was as a pup .
I was looking at photos of old dog yesterday and said to dh "what happened to old boys kong"
Went to let new pup in from garden and he had old boys kong in his mouth , he must have found it in the garden :)
Did make me smile .
But how do you ever get over loosing a dog , I would give anything for just some time again with our special boy ...,, I love and miss him do much .
probably don, t help myself as have only pics of old boy on my phone and tablet .
dh seems content with our new pup but for me he could never reach the standard as extra special dog :(

[ButThereAgain]

I'm so sorry to hear that Wordsmith. What a horrible shock.

[shepherdsdelight]

wordsmith
Although it is less than 2 week since we lost our dog, we have already found the next dog to share our lives with. Dh particularly is finding the dog-shaped hole in his life unbearable.
We have found a rescue dog, approx 2 years old. She is very cute and has had some basic training already. Very excited that we can complete the formalities this Sunday.
I can well understand that some people may think it indecently quick to take on a new dog, but ........ we need a dog in the centre of our life!

[Wordsmith]

shepherdsdelight I don't think it's too soon at all. I completely understand and feel the same. We have already started looking and are travelling tomorrow to see some baby cairns who are only 10 days old. They won't be ready till mid-Jan but that will be good timing for us I think. Plus they are all girls so I don't feel we are replacing our darling boy, the pup we choose will be another much loved member of our family.

I am still finding it so difficult but it has certainly helped the children knowing that another dog will be coming into our family soon.

[Wordsmith]

shepherdsdelight I am so pleased you are able to find another dog so soon. I hope we will feel the same tomorrow. Thank you and to ButThereAgain for your kind words.

[ButThereAgain]

Best wishes to both of you for a very very happy future with the new dogs you are moving towards getting. I don't think it shows any lack of love/respect for the memory for the dogs you have so sadly lost.

[furbaby]

sheperdgood for you in getting another dog to enjoy your life with . It must have all been so hard .

wordsmith was so shocked by what happened to your darling dog .
your poor family :( he was still a baby .life just bloody sucks sometimes .
Good luck with new girl and hope she fills the missing bit .
helly good luck with new dog , have not heard of irish terrier before ..,, I will google :)
sheperd good for you taking on a rescue . I am sure things will work out great .
I am happy that even though we have lost our babies we can move on and are filling that dog shaped hole in our hearts .
I am having a rubbish day and for no reason at all I am missing my old boy so very much , I just need one last kiss and cuddle .
you have all helped me so much in getting oveor my darling boy but I still get that panicky feeling that I just need to be with him:(
Pisses me off so much when people slag off staffys , they would, nt if they had met our darling sensitive boy .
Thank you so much everyone for your replys , you have helped me so much :)

[Owllady]

Gosh wordsmith, what a shock. I am so sorry x

[VeganCow]

My dog -walking friend lost her special dog 5 years ago.
It took her 3 years after that to actually let her younger dog (now 9) in.
She was subconsciously shutting him out, and forever comparing him to her other dog. Even saying things like 'If I could send him away and have her back would do it in a second'

Each dog is an individual in its own right. Stop comparing.

Also you need to remember that you are comparing your 12 year old gentle lad with a toddler! That does not work.
Your new dog has the right to not to have to live up to old boy. How about looking at it like he was sent to you by old boy to help you recover?