Page 2 | Being dogless is utterly shit

JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 2021-02-13T13:56:12+00:00

I’m miserable. My beautiful boy died in December. He would have loved the snow we’re having now. We would have all been outside playing with him and having the best time. He’d have filled himself up on snowballs. There’d be huge paw prints in the yard. The house would have been drenched and filthy after he came in and rubbed and shook himself over the sofas and the rug and the walls. I’d have photos of him sliding himself down the garden. He’d make yellow snow. All our snow is white. I hate it.

purpleme12 · 14/02/2021 22:45

I am soooo sorry to read this
I can feel your pain so much
It's making me cry
I get it
Xx

Honeyroar · 14/02/2021 22:59

It’s horrible. But even though future dogs will not be the beloved dog that you lost they’ll still be wonderful and love you. I have a theory that when a dog dies they take a piece of your heart with them, but the next dog gives you their whole heart to fill the hole. Eventually your heart becomes a patchwork of all the dogs that you’ve had. I’ve lost two most wonderful dogs in the last couple of years and I miss them like crazy, but I still love the two dogs I have now. And it does help having to go out for walks and care for them. There’s not that empty house. A lot of rescues I know are already starting to get 10 month old adolescent lockdown dogs. Somewhere out there there’s another dog out there waiting for you.. You’re not disrespecting your old dog’s memory.

Original poster

JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 14/02/2021 23:01

I have a theory that when a dog dies they take a piece of your heart with them, but the next dog gives you their whole heart to fill the hole. Eventually your heart becomes a patchwork of all the dogs that you’ve had.

That’s quite beautiful. Thank you.

OP posts:

Petalpup · 14/02/2021 23:14

It’s so hard.
We had our 14 year old pts just before the first lockdown and I missed him so much with all the walks we did and he would have loved us all being at home so much.
We have gone for the lockdown puppy madness and have a 3 month old pup now (planned and conceived in the summer and autumn before covid took hold again-if we’d known about new variant and lockdown we probably would have left it longer)
I do love her but still have lots of moments when I just want our old dog back instead.

Nineinchnailfile · 14/02/2021 23:15

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

I have a theory that when a dog dies they take a piece of your heart with them, but the next dog gives you their whole heart to fill the hole. Eventually your heart becomes a patchwork of all the dogs that you’ve had.

That’s quite beautiful. Thank you.

Ah that is lovely

purpleme12 · 14/02/2021 23:16

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

I have a theory that when a dog dies they take a piece of your heart with them, but the next dog gives you their whole heart to fill the hole. Eventually your heart becomes a patchwork of all the dogs that you’ve had.

That’s quite beautiful. Thank you.

Oh my god this just makes me cry 😭😭

NovemberR · 14/02/2021 23:23

I'm so sorry for all who have lost a beloved dog. I utterly adore our daft boy, but I look at him and feel sad he'll probably be our last.

The way prices have risen this year is utterly insane. We will not be able to afford another dog, I know.

Original poster

JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority · 14/02/2021 23:23

We had our 14 year old pts just before the first lockdown and I missed him so much with all the walks we did and he would have loved us all being at home so much.

This is one thing I was grateful for, that for his final months he had us all at home, me pretty much full time. He was my shadow and I know he was never happier than when he had his head on my lap. Luckily he got to do that for most of his last few months.

OP posts:

purpleme12 · 14/02/2021 23:30

God this thread has me in tears 😭

jessyjo2 · 14/02/2021 23:35

Thats awful OP. I can sympathise. We lost our wee one a year ago. Family heartbroken and was so quiet in the house. I wanted to wait for maybe 6 months but hubby wanted another within weeks. Turns out it was right decision. Although we miss old dog, talk about it and sad she isnt here, it has helped having new dog as a distraction.

pumpkinpie01 · 14/02/2021 23:37

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority I can sympathise it's so tough and horrible. Our lovely lab x was pts in the first lockdown we had no idea she had cancer we took her to the vets at 1 as she had started to breathe strangely and she was pts at 4 we had no idea she was so ill , there were no signs at all. I posted on here at the time and everyone was so kind. I could not imagine having another dog I just wanted mine back. We still went for walks and borrowed my sons dogs but obviously it's not the same. My dh and dc were ready for another dog months ago but I just wasn't until a couple of weeks ago and then I had doubts again . I posted on here again as I couldn't imagine loving another dog but at the same time I wanted another , everyone told me I could and would love another. And now here I am with a little black lab x curled up next to me , we have had her a week and can't wait til we can go for walks . It took me 10 months to feel ready , you will know when you feel ready. I really feel for you , big unmumsnetty hugs

leekandpotsoup · 14/02/2021 23:38

@JackieWeaverIsTheAuthority

We had our 14 year old pts just before the first lockdown and I missed him so much with all the walks we did and he would have loved us all being at home so much.

This is one thing I was grateful for, that for his final months he had us all at home, me pretty much full time. He was my shadow and I know he was never happier than when he had his head on my lap. Luckily he got to do that for most of his last few months.

Yes I'm glad that we were able to be there with him the throughout all the lockdown. We cared for him and loved him made sure he was happy. I massaged his legs and his head and shoulders every day in case his muscles were aching with the neuropathy. He had weekly hydrotherapy too.

I think he his last months were happy. Even in his last few minutes he wagged his tail and licked my face

Fireflylane · 15/02/2021 09:01

Its awful isn't it. We lost our beloved beagle last week we had had her nearly 11 years I had more photos of her and videos than anything else on my phone, as teenagers now don't want to be photographed. My DD had set up an Instagram account for her 5 years ago, we have had hundreds and hundreds of messages from all over the world who followed her account, that has been so helpful for us in the healing process. Its pointless now going out for a walk without her. She was my companion, my everything. I agree people have got dogs throughout lockdown I dread to think how many people will give up dogs especially beagles as they are very hard to train. I saw a 5 month old beagle online someone wanted to give up through work commitments . Maybe in the future we will rehome one of these dogs probably a beagle. #adoptdontshop

NoProblem123 · 15/02/2021 09:57

@Fireflylane so sorry to hear about your beagle. We had a IG account for our shihtzu too. I can’t bear to look at it right now.
We’ve been borrowing my mum’s dog but she’s going round the house looking for our lost dog and it’s killing me, I’ve taken her home.
How do people get through dog grief ? I’ve looked on the bereavement board and feel awful reading some of the stories on there when it’s ‘just’ a dog we’ve lost
I’ve been looking at puppies for sale but I know it’s too soon and I’d be comparing it to my lost dog and I don’t want to do that either. So I’m just stuck at home surrounded by everything that reminds me of her.

pumpkinpie01 · 15/02/2021 10:47

@firefly and @NoProblem123 its so so hard isn't in, Im 10 months down the line and still miss mine so much despite getting a puppy last week. I still struggle to talk about our dog without tears forming or a massive lump in my throat. All you can do is let yourselves cry , my dc had a lovely drawing done of her which is in the lounge I cried when I got it but I'm glad they had it done.Its crap if only they could live forever.

Fireflylane · 15/02/2021 11:04

@NoProblem123 @pumpkinpie01 Ben Fogle wrote a great piece on Instagram about losing his beloved black lab, worth a read. Its not just a dog for anyone is it. Poppy was my 4th child and needed me constantly I couldn't even hoover the stairs without her on the step below. Oh I've cried and I'm so glad she was in my arms when she died we were all there, its absolutely heartbreaking but I hope it will get easier

Honeyroar · 15/02/2021 11:14

We’re kind of lucky. We’ve never really had to think about getting another dog, they seem to find us. We’ve never bought a dog and only had two from rescues, the others have all been either found tipped out on the road (we’re pretty rural) or dogs that have desperately needed a new home and someone has asked us. One of my current dogs came from a Mumsnet post! Even this week someone rang me asking if I knew anyone that could rehome a dog. I didn’t take it, but found it someone else that was looking.

purpleme12 · 15/02/2021 12:12

Life's just not not the same without a dog😭

NoProblem123 · 15/02/2021 13:43

@Fireflylane the piece by Ben Fogle had me in floods, and the Chris Packham one, and the Monty Don one about lovely Nigel

It’s so comforting to hear people on here talk about their special dogs. They are like another child but you know they won’t leave you, and they don’t slam doors, stomp up the stairs and sulk - they are like really lovely children x

Fireflylane · 15/02/2021 13:53

@NoProblem123 I will have to look at Chris Packham and Monty Don. I met "Nigel" Monty's dog he used to spend time living at his son's house who happened to live next door to my DDs violin teacher. I also follow Professor Noel Fitzpatrick on Instagram such a lovely man. Yes dogs don't sulk, always happy to see you whatever day you have had, give you so much love, all they ask in return is to be fed, walked, and of course loved. People who have never had a dog have missed out in life