Can you love a new dog as much as your first dog love?

[thecatdidit]

I've recently this month had my beautiful girl pts, she was only 11. She was my first ever dog and I love her so much. I miss her sorely.
My question is to people who've had several dogs, can you love another dog as much? I adored my girl, she was my soulmate dog.

I'm not looking at replacing her as that's impossible of course. I won't be thinking about a new dog until next spring at the earliest.

Thanks for reading, I've only just been able to put my feelings down recently.

Each dog has their own personality and so you’re not replacing your girl. Yes people do love another dog afterwards but sometimes it takes time. If you get a puppy and you have to deal with puppy training it’s hard when you’ve lost a dog that was so good but it’ll come with time. I’ve known people who couldn’t get another of the same breed because they wouldn’t compare to their first dog and some who have said they were such a brilliant dog they couldn’t think of getting anything other than that breed.

Yes once you’ve given enough time to bond properly with them, and not expect too much immediately because it takes time for that bond and love to grow.

I'm in my third dog of the same breed. Been joined at the hip with all of them.

I have had many dogs over the years. They have all been lovely and I've loved them all however I really think (for me anyway) some are that little bit more special. Might get shot for saying that. You will love whichever dog young egg though.
It won't replace your old dog but they will make your heart happier.

I’m so sorry for the loss of your girl
I would wait until you feel ‘ready’ and only you will know when that is. Best way I’ve seen it expressed is on here by someone who said along the lines of “it’s when you miss having A dog, rather than That dog”.
When you feel able to take in another dog you will will love it differently, but just as much. We do sort of compare our last dog with our current one sometimes, but not in a negative way - just how they are different (one recidivist chewer and unrepentant counter surfer, one too polite to steal food, for example). You’ll never forget your first dog, so don’t worry about that. Or however many come after - they’ll all be little pockets of happy memory in your heart.

Thank you all, I'm still so raw with my loss but I know I will get another dog. But just not yet. I miss the unconditional love and rhe daily routines.

So sorry about the loss of your beloved girl.

When you feel ready to have another dog yes, you will grow to love it, even if it takes a while.

I'm on my ninth puppy and I've loved all my dogs but some have definitely been more special and had a stronger bond with me. You do love them all differently and they all have unique qualities.

You love them just as much but in a very different way.

Took me three years to adapt after my first dog died. I didn't want another one but the house was so damn quiet and felt empty.

After a while, we ended up with two more and yes, very much bonded with them both as much as the first. Except now I dread the day either of them go, as I know how utterly devastating it is when you love a dog so much.

Just have to think about it as, how lucky are we, to love and be loved by an animal, to feel the loss when they aren't here anymore. They have a great life, that's everything I can give them, even though I know it's going to hurt like hell one day. The pain is worth knowing they were incredibly loved and happy.

I waited too long after my soul dog to get another (2 years). Was totally stupid, I was sad and heartbroken all the time.

I then got 3 and smile every day They're fantastic, mad bastards

Yes absolutely. They’re all different, but all so loved. Rescued our first dog in our early twenties, he was the daft party dog. Our next dog saved me after I lost our first child, I could never imagine not having her but she went a year ago. The next is our kids comfort dog, and lastly the baby of the house, spoilt by all and so cute is our two year old.

All loved and all different. I could never not have one.

I'm so sorry! It hurts like hell - it's 5 years since I lost my horrible semi-feral dog that I adored. She was 12 and we had a very specific bond - I thought I'd never get over it and could never have another dog.

We had a new dog within 6 months. I struggled to bond with him at first because I was almost resentful that he wasn't her. He seemed so needy whilst she was fierce and aloof (whilst being terrified of life). However - he has his own personality, and I very quickly developed a new and slightly different bond with him. My first heart dog was very special to me and she was a very complex, neurotic character - dog #2 is completely different but he is so perfect, I can't imagine being without him now.

We got dog #3 2 years ago and he is a total knobhead different again. They are all unique, and they find a way into your heart. You can love another dog again.

Sorry for your loss 💜
But yes, in short, you will love any future dog enormously. The love is different but just as huge. Same as with people. There may be people in your life that you wholeheartedly love, but each person is different so each love is different. That's how it will be with a future dog. You will know when the time is right to bring another one into your life.

Sorry for your loss

Yes, you love each dog differently, they have different personalities just as people do.

My fourth dog, the only male from four of the same breed, is my soul dog. He was supposed to be DH's dog but bonded tightly to me and we adore each other. He's 9 now, and when he goes I don't think I will be able to have another one as the pain of losing him will be too much.

Yes, you can love them just as much but differently, I'm sorry for your loss

No, you can't.
The first one will be always be special, the same as children.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

My experience is that I had a fantastic dog as a teenager. We lost him to cancer aged just five. I couldn't bear the idea of another dog at the time, or for years afterwards. (At some point the years afterwards blended into years where it wouldn't have been appropriate or practical to have a dog given my lifestyle.)

I didn't have another dog for almost 25 years in the end. When we got her, it was totally uncomplicated. She was an incredibly chilled and special dog - everyone loved her, including people in the family who dislike and/or are scared of dogs. She died of liver failure at 8 years old.

If it had been just me, I'm not sure what would have happened, but as a family we were on the waiting list for a puppy within a couple of months of her death and we bought the puppy home about nine months after losing her. Puppy is currently a challenging teenager. She's great fun, has a lovely nature and I think will grow into a wonderful dog. I love her dearly, but I'm aware she wouldn't be with us if DDog 2 was still alive, and I still miss DDog 2 very much. I also love having a dog - the house feels better, I enjoy being out on dog walks again, I like the routine with a dog in it, she's a point of bonding and unity with our more aloof teenagers. On balance, I am glad we did it, but it isn't uncomplicated.

I think any approach that works for you is right. And I'm sure you'll love your new dog if you have one.

I have a friend in her 70s who not only gets the exact same breed, but also calls it the same name. So she’s on say, her 5th black lab called Max (not his real name).

I don’t judge. There’s no right or wrong.

For our family, I have had several dogs since early childhood. Personally I need time, and time again to bond with each one, and I can’t ever compare them. It’s just different.

I'm sorry you lost your girl. Lots of love to you
I've been thinking about this a lot this week as my dear dog1 has badly damaged his back legs and we are awaiting an appointment with a surgeon on Wednesday to see if anything can be done. I fear we might be facing a horrible choice. He has been on crate rest this week but hates the crate so in practice one of us has had hold of him at all times since last Wednesday, as he keeps trying to get up.

We have three dogs, him, one a year younger and a 17 week old puppy. I love them all a lot but I think dog one is my sort of once in a life time dog. I got him when I was at a very low ebb and I would say he literally saved my life in lots of ways. I adore that Dog, just on a slightly different level to the other two iyswim?

I am very glad of the other two though. And will be even more so if we end up losing the first.

We always had dogs growing up and each of us in our family has one that was our favourite looking back-a different one for all of us oddly enough. Though again they were all loved by all of us.

My first dog was an absolute delight: snuggly, friendly with everyone, uncomplicated, always happy. My second dog don’t have such a good start in life and she was initially scared of EVERYTHING and very distrustustful. Over the past year, she’s really come out of her shell and her joy is a thing to behold. First time of admitting it: I think I love my bond with her is deeper.

People were shocked when we got one of our dogs four days after her predecessor died tragically young. We never stopped loving the predecessor and feeling so sad that she died unnecessarily. It didn't stop us loving her successor, who gave us something to look forward to, made us get up and get out and was generally so mischievous and loveable that life just seemed better. I was working from home, alone in the house all day.

I still think of the one who died too young, and she's been gone 15 years now. I think your heart just knows when it is ready and there always seems room to fall in love with another dog. The successor was a kind of half-sister to the first so it felt as if a little bit of her was still with us. The two of them were very different personalities: the one who died was gentle and sensitive and the next one was a bit of a brat, but very affectionate.

So very for your sad loss.
We lost our little schnauzer (Daisy) during covid and didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye because of vets restrictions. We were totally bereft without her and our home was so empty.
We decided not to have another dog but eventually found ourselves looking at rescues locally. After a year we found a local breeder with mini schnauzer puppies and took the plunge. We now have a beautiful little lass, totally different from Daisy but we love her equally as much.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories, they all are so heart felt and I feel that everyone of you are brilliant dog parents. How fortunate they are to have you and of course, you to have them.

This from @piscofrisco really resonates with me."I have three dogs, him, one a year younger and a 17 week old puppy. I love them all a lot but I think dog one is my sort of once in a life time dog. I got him when I was at a very low ebb and I would say he literally saved my life in lots of ways. I adore that Dog, just on a slightly different level to the other two iyswim?" I understand you!
I was at a very low ebb, too when I got my dear dog, I'd never had one before and I credit her with my recovery from anxiety and depression. I'm glad to report that I have not sunk into depression again (I feared I might) but naturally I am sad and bereft.
How did your consultation go with the surgeon on Wednesday? Sending positive thoughts your way 💐