I know this is a terrible decision but...

[Unmute]

I lost my beautiful staffie last week. She had lung cancer and I had to have her put her to sleep last Tuesday. I only had her for 6 years (she was an adult when I adopted her - unknown age), but she was my best friend and my entire life revolved around her routine.

I'm lost without her. I live alone and the house is horrible and empty.

I have put down a deposit on a staffie pup. She'll be ready to come home towards the end of July.

I know this is the wrong thing to do, and I know the pup won't replace my best girl, but I really can't cope without a dog.

All the things I like doing (walking/hiking, sitting in the park with a coffee, leaving social events early and going home to lie on the couch) are better with a dog.

I have had puppies before, so I know what I'm in for, and I have plans for dogsitters/walkers when I need to leave her. I work mostly from home and will work entirely from home until the pup is old enough to be left for a couple of hours. I don't think I have completely lost my mind.

Please talk to me about your crazy wrong dog related decisions that turned out alright!

I don't think it's a bad decision. Make sure you start leaving the puppy for a few minutes immediately. With the increase in WFH, we see a lot of separation anxiety in puppies.

Good point - I've been focused on how I can be at home full-time for a bit, but I will make sure I still pop out for short periods.

We lost our wonderful dog at 16. We couldn’t live without a dog in the house and got a puppy 3 weeks later. I still mourn our lovely old dog, and having a puppy was much harder work than I remembered, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I think it honours a dog’s memory to want to share life with another. You can only do what feels right for you.

I didn’t get another dog for years when my dog died, it was silly of me as all I did was miss out on everything you said that’s better with a dog. In the future I will always get an another dog right away.
Enjoy your little pup @Unmute ❤️
Please add pics for us staffie lovers.

Agree with pp to leave her on her own for 15 mins the first day you get her and then increase it by 5 mins every few days. Also don’t make any sort of big deal of saying hello or goodbye when you leave/return. I don’t think you have made a bad decision at all and even though your soul dog can’t be replaced I’m sure you will grow to have just as strong a bond with your lovely new pup. Are you getting a male or female and do you have a name picked out? Hope it all goes really well for you both

The pup (name tbc but probably Harriet - Hatty for short), and my gorgeous girl.

I think it's a great decision. By chance, we lost our DDog a few days before collecting a new puppy. It helped get us through what would have been a very sad time.

Staffies are TERRIBLE, obviously.

Matilda is nearly thirteen now (photo from last week) and, like you, I think I'll always have one. They are clowns, fun, calm around most everything, and just enjoy being around their people. M is starting to have a few issues (struggling with stairs, walks slower, mainly pottering in the garden but still playful) and, realistically, I know we're on the last stretch.

If you want to share a photo of your girl I'm sure we'd all enjoy hearing more 💚

I don't see why it's the wrong decision. If you are grieving a dog you loved then focussing on training and being with a new puppy can really help you. Why do you think it's a bad decision OP? I think it's lovely and I hope you're really happy when puppy arrives!

My photos are under review, apparently. Safe to say, the pup is gorgeous, but not as beautiful as Chloe was.

I don't know why I think it's a bad decision. I guess I feel like I need time to grieve but I will still be doing that even with a pup around.

Not a bad decision at all! A bad decision might be getting a fourth rescue dog because you got emotionally blackmailed, lol, and obviously three mental rescues wasn’t enough… so I’ve heard…

I don’t think it’s a bad decision. Quite the opposite.

We had reserved a pup within 3 weeks of our old dog dying. Doesn’t stop you missing the old dog, but it helped us recover.

I don't think this is a bad idea!
Of course the pup won't replace lovely Chloe but she will be different! She will be special for who she is.
You obviously have a lovely home set up and a lot of love to give a dog. It sounds like a great decision.
So sorry for your loss. My lovely lab is my life and I can't imagine life without him.

We lost our beautiful girl October 22, brought our rescue home a few months later, best thing ever, wished we had done it even sooner as the time without one was so strange.

We have had our gorgeous new girl for over 2 years but we still miss our beloved girl. We are away at a cottage in the countryside this week and I’ve had a little cry as my old girl would have loved it here.

Getting a new furry friend won’t stop the grief it will just help. I hope you have years of fun with your new bestie.

I’m so very sorry for your loss. A new pup can never replace your dog but they can provide a reason to smile and to get up every morning. (Lost my 5 year old last month and I’m so so glad I have a 7 month old pup to keep me going.)
With regards to staying home play it by ear. Some don’t mind being left for short periods. Some pups can’t cope with being left at all.

One thing I am looking forward to is being able to socialise this pup properly. Chloe was dog reactive and anxious when I adopted her. Despite massive improvements she couldn't be off the lead or walked in busy areas. I just adjusted to suit her, but it was difficult at times.

I'm going to get the pup out and about as soon as possible, on buses, trains, in cafes, and around other dogs.

I feel disloyal thinking of ways the new pup will be 'better' than Chloe. Stupid, I know.

I am so sorry to hear about Chloe. She was a very beautiful girl and I'm sure you gave her the most amazing 6 years ❤

Honestly @Unmute , if you can care for a dog financially, emotionally, mentally and physically then go for it.

BUT be prepared for feeling resentful, sad and occasionally angry initially. That is completely normal! You will get points where you think "she's not Chloe / she's not behaving like Chloe would / she isn't as well trained as Chloe" and you will get upset and that's ok!

Once Hattie settles down of an evening and you're having puppy cuddles on the sofa, a little piece of that happiness that Chloe gave you will come back bit by bit 😊

Good luck and you must post gorgeous puppy photos once you get her!

Can I be honest? I did struggle with the ways that new pup wasn't our beloved old dog. I waited eight months before getting her, and should probably have given it a bit longer in fairness to the puppy.

But I do adore her now. She's a lively, headstrong little nutter where the old dog was timid around other dogs, so she needs a great deal of input (which is very good for me, as a home worker). After a year, she is now 'the dog' and not 'the new dog', if that makes sense.

In terms of "bad" dog decisions that have turned out ok... A couple of years ago, we heard about a rescue dog locally who was due to be euthanized if he couldn't find a home. DH wanted to take him but we already have one very active, big dog and I didn't really want another (plus the timing was terrible with various things going on with the house and jobs).

I agreed one day (in a moment of weakness!) to take him out for a walk with our dog to see if they got on. This was strictly on the understanding that it was just a walk to get him some exercise and socialisation and that we would take him back to his foster at the end of the day.

2 years later..... 😂

We were told he could be aggressive and nervous but I believe this is down to how his old owners treated him as he is brilliant with us (this has taken work and trust though!). But he is the loveliest, softest dog and him and our other dog are the best of friends, love chasing each other round in the local fields and cuddle up together on the sofa every night ❤Best decision DH has ever made (after marrying me of course 😆)

Thanks for the honesty. In theory, I am prepared for it to be difficult. Hopefully the reality isn't much more difficult than I am anticipating!

I'm collecting Chloe's ashes today and I think I will hold onto them until I can take the pup for a walk to scatter them in one of Chloe's favourite spots.

Our last dog died in the August and we had a puppy the next July it isnt madness imo.look forward to your new puppy they are hard work but worth it.

Its definitely not a bad decision. I lost precious old dogs in November 23 and in Feb this year and got pups VERY VERY soon after losing each of them. Theyhey have been a wonderful distraction, a focus for our love and attention and have allowed us to return to the long walks and days out in the countryside that we love so much. They are very different to our beloved past dogs, they are not as affectionate or knowing or in tune with us. However, they are just 20 mths and 5 months so plenty of time for the bond to strengthen ! They are so funny and sweet and very responsive to training. No regrets at all. I saw somebody pose the question "If it were you no longer here, would you want your dog to be alone or to find someone else to love and care for him?" That told me all I needed to hear! Puppies are hard work, fustrating, annoying and they poo and pee ALOT but, they bring joy and companionship, purpose, they make you laugh alot, get you out of bed in the mornings and they give you the happiness of loving and being loved. Good for you OP, be excited not worried.

So sorry for your loss

I lost my little lad on 16th October last year, just 2 weeks after his 6th birthday to stomach cancer. He was only poorly for 3 days so it was a mega shock. On 23rd December I brought home an 8 week old puppy.
She's amazing, she's nothing like my little lad but she's really brought some joy back to us.
We weren't trying to replace him, but needed "something" and she happened to be it! Some might say it was too soon, but for us it wasn't

You'll be grand! Xx

We got our puppy when I was 3 months pregnant. My husband always wanted a dog but I was never keen, this was the last litter the breeder was doing so we decided to go for it. My husband works away so a lot of the time I had a puppy, a newborn and my older child on my own.

Life was mental, it still is to be honest but I love it. My daughter is almost one and a half now and their bond is beyond incredible.

Best decision we ever made, the dog is my sidekick I adore him.

Your new girl will not replace your precious dog, but you’ll make more room to love her just as much I’m sure xx

Dogs are pure bundles of love! I am sorry for your loss, I know how much it hurts. Every time I have lost a companion I say "no more" as the pain is so great but my house is not a home without a dog. I don't love the 'replacement' the same way as I do the new dog, they all have their unique traits and personalities but I do love all of them and I know that they love me.
The one thing I can guarantee is that Chloe would want you to be happy, our dogs hate seeing us upset. Welcome your new family member with Chloe's blessing, love cannot be diluted by being shared!