I wish I had never got a dog.

[BeetMeToIt]

Because I love him so so much I can’t bear the thought of him one day not being my sidekick. I genuinely don’t know how I will get over the pain of when he’s gone. It’s something I occasionally think of and it hits me with such sadness.

He’s 2 <blush>.

I’ve never owned a pet so I had no idea of the love I would feel for a dog. He is a PITA at all times but he has the cutest little face I like to smoosh daily.

Mine is 11, it's unbearable the thought of them not being there anymore. I've had a dog and a horse go already and it's awful.

Thanks @Kittykatchunjy 😊

I felt completely the same, I started getting really anxious about it the older he got but do you know what, when the time comes it's truly truly heartbreaking of course but something just gets you through it. The process of taking him To be pts and waiting in the waiting room whilst he looked at me not knowing what was coming was awful, collecting his ashes was even worse...the days and weeks that followed I was inconsolable, my heart ached for him. Two years on I still feel sad and still sometimes shed a tear but I have another dog now and I love him just as much as my last. Losing one dog would never put me off having another.

Try not to think about it op, try and enjoy the moments you have now, I know that's easier said than done sometimes.

I came to shout at you about being irresponsible🤣 but then I melted! What a really lovely post.

I feel the same as you about my dog. I will need bereavement councilling when he goes, i love him that much & I will be heartbroken every day without him. If I had the choice to have him live forever or have £100k & 10 adorable puppies, I would have him☺️

OP I feel exactly the same. My gorgeous girl is 10 now. Before she hit 10, she was basically a puppy. Everyone she met commented on how puppy like she was. You would never have known her age. But it feels like since she turned 10, she is an old lady now :(. Her legs are stiffer, she is grey and just looks older. I think about losing her most days even though I don't want to think about it. Often when I'm laying in bed at night. It's awful. She's my first dog and I can't imagine going through it again. The thought terrifies me and breaks my heart. Sending love to you and your pup!!

I feel completely the same and mine’s nearly 10… I grew up with dogs and wanted our family home to have one and our children to experience one growing up but I already know I will never get another after. The pain will be too much to go through again. I remember how upset I was when our childhood dogs had to be put to sleep and I’ve really struggled when we’ve lost cats but it definitely feels 100 times worse losing a dog. I try not to think about it!!

Snap. I feel exactly the same. I had no idea of the love I'd feel for this wonderful creature. I now cry at the thought of losing her, and she's also only 2.

Totally understandable. We had our beloved dog pts Easter 2021. She had an inoperable tumour and went downhill fast. It was such a shock and I remember loudly sobbing on my stairs when I was told there was nothing they could do. She was only 9. I can honestly say it has taken me over a year to stop crying when I think of her.

We now have a puppy, completely different breed, so it took us 16 months before we felt we could open our hearts to another dog. She is 10 months now and I love her completely and sometimes I feel sick thinking of how I'm going to be distraught when we lose her. But, as others have said, all you can do is make sure that their life is filled with love and happiness. We are lucky to have them in our lives and grief is the price we pay for love.

Yes the same. Our doggo is two. Can't bear the thought that she won't here forever. I feel like my heart is contracting reading everyone's replies.

Look at that gorgeous, handsome face!

You could always foster/adopt an older one later in life if you didn’t want to be without.

I get you. I lost my sweetest baby in lockdown and it was heartbreaking. I will never forget her. I have new dogs now and they do things that remind me of her. You just get through it. Enjoy your sweetheart every day x

https://poets.org/poem/power-dog

The people two doors up are new to their neigbourhood but their dog died recently (was about 14). I wasn't the only neighbour who wrote them a condolence note.

Just the thought that my dog cannot live forever breaks my heart! I love her like she is my child!

I love these posts and empathise with your fears of grief and loss but my own experience of owning a dog is different. I love my 7 year old very much. He is my shadow, curled up beside me as I write and I never feel a moment of negativity towards him. However, I will never own another dog because as my life moves towards empty nest, I don't enjoy the tie my dog represents, the lack of spontaneity, the lack of freedom. I will be so sad when the inevitable happens and appreciate and hope it will be many many years away but I would not want to be tied down again by an animal. The costs and planning involved in having them cared for when I want/need to be away for any length of time is an enormous concern. I wish you all many many happy years with your good boys and girls.

My beautiful 12 year old girl has been diagnosed with a cancer and waiting for surgery next week. I just hope she is going to be ok as I couldn't imagine losing her yet.

That’s a big part of why I won’t consider another dog. Ours had to be PTS after getting really sick. It was just awful, even though she was getting on a bit and becoming an old lady, it was still such a shock! She had been by my side for years and I didn’t really fully comprehend what an absolute wrench it is. For the kids too. But then you have those amazing memories and I wouldn’t trade the time we had with her against the grief of losing her.

I remember this Youtuber I used to follow had a 'last day' with her dog before he was pts - took him to his favourite beach, gave him his favourite food etc. I thought, oh my god, that would be absolutely heartbreaking. I suppose I'd only ever thought of pets dying very suddenly or having to make a sudden decision to have them pts and it happening quite quickly (as bad as that would be). The reality hit me and it has really put me off ever getting a dog. I have cats - I am very attached to them and would be very upset if anything happened to them but it wouldn't be a full on bereavement for me.

I never believed in love at first sight until I met our beautiful labrador. Carrying him to the car at 8 weeks old, and he wagged his tail and instantly trusted me - I could have exploded with love for him from that moment.

We let our dog have cheeseburgers 😂 she usually was not allowed them but coveted them. Everything on it! It was a bloody horrible day but I like to think she felt like it was a great day.

Fostering is something I’d love to do - probably not adopting as I’d just get too attached, but I’m definitely planning on having a dog/s in my life in some way as I grown older

@Kanaloa Aww I bet it was a lovely day for her 🙂

I'm the same.

I picked up my sprocker when he was 10 weeks old, he's 9 this year and has seen me through 13 miscarriages, the loss of my parents and a mental health breakdown.

He's patient, gentle, loves a cuddle, licks my tears and I adore him with every bit of me.

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and have had hyperemesis throughout, he's laid on the bathroom floor next to me being sick for hours on end.

I cannot imagine life without him.

I lost my beautiful boy 10 years ago next month and I still miss him dearly. I cried for two days straight and grieved for months, and said I would never get another. I still haven't yet but I would now be open to the idea, though I know it would be something I'd have to really think about - and the main reason I'm considering it is that he absolutely loved other dogs and if by chance there is a Heaven I know he'll be furious with me if I don't rock up with a whole pack for him to play with!

One of our dogs had a massive slap up roast dinner the night before .😋

It’s the same for me, my dog is 14 and has many illnesses, currently controlled by medication, she has surpassed the vets prediction of living for 12 months since diagnosis and has hit 16 months so we have had extra time, even though I know she is going to die soon I actually can’t believe she will, I’m in denial I think, it’s incomprehensible that she won’t be beside me, I’ve had her since she was 12 weeks old, I don’t know how I will get through it, it worries me greatly.