I know this is a terrible decision but...

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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!

Losing a dog is like having your heart ripped out. I’m still grieving my precious boy I lost three years ago

if my other dog wasn’t here and anti dog himself, I’d had got another one

please don’t beat yourself up - your heart will expand to love this new pup, not contract to exclude your old dog. I’m sure Chloe will be happy that you’ve found another companion to share your home and love with

We’ve had Golden Retrievers for over 30 years. We never go more than three weeks before succumbing to a new puppy after a senior dog dies - the house/our lives just don’t feel right. Our ‘mistake’ was to get brother and sister from same litter in one go! Puppy days were chaotic, fraught, expensive and messy but they are nearly three years old now and have settled into the best boy and girl ever

You are grieving OP. Losing Chloe is (whatever MN says) paramount to losing a family member, as she was your family.
Like when parents have a second child, many worry they 'won't possibly be able to love the new baby a much as child 1'. But they do. Just differently as baby 2 is a whole new person. Just as Hattie will be for you. She won't replace Chloe, she will be herself and you will give her an amazing life.
Take the pressure off yourself OP. You sound like an amazing dog mum. And do show pics when Hattie gets here.

Chihuahua is part of my personality. I’ve had one attached to me since I was about 5. They’ve all been special in different ways. If I didn’t have one I’d feel like I was missing an arm or something. I don’t think it’s wrong to get a new friend when your previous friend dies. Enjoy your puppy!

My main question would be, where did you find a puppy that quickly?

Because there are a lot of real shitty staffy breeders out there

I don't think it's bad decision at all, I did similar a few months back.

Lost my 16 year old cat to cancer, vowed never to get another as she was so precious to me, within 2 weeks I'd put a deposit down on a male Maine Coon kitten. Our house was empty without a cat, and my new little man couldn't be more different to my old girl, but we love him so much.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I wish you the best of luck with your new puppy.

I'm not a dog person, but my mum is.

10 years ago our lovely family dog (staffie) died (he was our childhood dog so I was fond of him) and my mum adored him. Within the week my mum (with me and my sister) took some things to the local dog rescue and .. there was this gorgeous little staffie puppy all on her own and my mum fell in love. She went for it and she became her best friend, not to replace but another dog to love. She had her 10 lovely years and unfortunately yesterday had to put her down due to a brain tumour 😞 she's heartbroken but for her getting this rescue puppy was the best thing.

No it’s not the wrong decision as you have love in your heart for another pooch.
Who doesn’t love a staffy, such good company and they have such good qualities.
sorry for the lost of your girl, but she is at peace now and you made the right decision for her and I think that is the best thing to do as hard and as heartbreaking as it is. 💐

I agree with the pp who mentioned where you found a puppy so quickly.
Also are you prepared for the allergies that blues suffer from?
Good breeders don't breed blues, unless one crops up in a mixed colour litter which tend not to suffer from the usual dilute issues.
I don't think looking for another puppy soon is a terrible idea, but I think you need to fully research the issues you may face before it's too late.
Colour dilute alopecia is a good thing to start looking into. Also keep in mind that blues are prone to food allergies as well as environmental allergies. They are also rarely from fully health tested parents.

I’m sorry for your loss.

I’ve done the same as you OP. I waited three months after losing my Lab but now have a staffie pup.
You’ll still grieve and be upset about the dog you lost, but have a new fur friend too. It’s not a bad decision as long as you aren’t expecting them to be the same (as you say, not a replacement) and it isn’t at all.

Enjoy your new puppy xxx

She's not pure blue - she has some red streaks and the litter is mixed, so hopefully she won't have too many issues, but if she does I'll manage.

I've met mum and dad and seen mum with the pups. They're in a family home and all being well looked after.

I wouldn't say the breeders are particularly responsible, either as breeders or pet owners (it was an accidental litter) but I have no major concerns about my pup.

Funnily enough, Chloe had allergies when we lived overseas and needed monthly injections and feet washing after every walk. No issues in the UK, so it must have been something in the environment that we don't have here.

I got my current dog 6 weeks after my last one passed away (I lost two dogs in two years, and I was devastated), and it was absolutely the best decision I could have made. Two years on, and she's my best friend. I wouldn't change a thing. Good luck with your new pup!

It’s not a bad decision if it’s what you want and need.
grief is a very personal thing and we all act differently to it.
i lost my best girl 18 months ago and for me I can’t have another as I can’t cope when they go.
if it’s what you need then it’s a good decision
be kind to yourself as we all have our own ways

I think you are doing exactly the right thing.

When our old boy died at 15 we were heartbroken but DD came to me and said she wasn't being disloyal but it didn't feel like home without a dog.

We got a puppy a couple of months later-actually there were a few days when our boy was alive and our pup was born so they were both in the world at the same time.

Enjoy the puppy-not instead of, but in addition to.

I lost my wee "dairy cow " looking staffie 10yrs ago and vowed never again as it was too painful a loss. Now my work won't allow me the time to get another and I really want one but it's not fair on it.
You go for it and enjoy your new wee Staff.
Pics when you get him please x

Not a bad decision at all.we lost a little Phalene January 23, we did already have another dog
We tried rescues, which were hopeless,6 months down the line got a 7 week old pup,both border collies, they are renowned for being reactive. I've had the same vet 25 years,he said whatever else you do, socialising and desensitizing,so we put her in a backpack on our front, hand under her bum, and carted her around everywhere. The theory was,ask people to stroke the puppy we never needed to ask! This doesn't mean we have forgotten any of our dogs, and we have had 3 live to almost 18
But this is why we always have 2 dogs,used to be 3.

You and Chloe were lucky to have had that time together. I totally get the void they leave, I can't live without a cat in my life! Focussing on a new pup will be brilliant for your health and help the grieving process. I think you've made the right decision for you.

When we’ve lost our dogs we’ve always added an addition (we a multi dog family). Not because we want to replace them but we take on rescue/unwanted dogs and there are so many hoping someone will pick them that it’s never sat right with me not to fill the space.
The other reason why we get another is also for our existing dogs, they are used to having doggy company so to go down to one would leave them bereft.
I don’t think you’ve lost your mind to get another.

Don’t forget, you can’t take a puppy for long walks or hiking until they’re a year old.

I think it’s a great decision and it will work for you, sorry to hear about your other dog, you sound like a wonderful dog owner, best of luck with your new puppy x

That's basically no time at all in the grand scheme of things. Plus lots of that time is winter and I'll be happy with a quick walk to the park/pub. Although, I might try carrying her in a sling for some walks while she's light enough.

Currently waiting impatiently for a new video from the breeder. Apparently he's still in bed after sleeping on the couch next to the pups last night! I'll get an update when he's up.

It's not a silly decision at all. When my DS's cat died at 18 he said he didn't want another one. Within a month he said he hated getting up and no cat around his ankles almost tripping him up. No furry cuddle giver to stroke. We got him a kitten. He said it was quite different from having his older cat. I hope you enjoy your pup. You'll never forget your best girl and the best compliment you can give your cat is to say I loved having her share my life so much I want another one.

We've always had rescue dogs (staffy crosses of some kind, all in the 'older' age group so two were only with us for just over 2 years each) and have done getting another dog just a month after losing one and waiting a few months, having said (when we lost one last year in June), "no more dogs, can't go through that again".

Our current one was the one after "no more dogs..." and we were dogless for exactly 3 months before we adopted her. She was what we call an "emergency adoption" - her previous owner died suddenly and our then 5 year old staffy-labrador cross needed a home urgently, so she came to us. She is a JOY! We cannot imagine life without this funny, extremely energetic (my fitness is at a level I haven't had for almost 30 years because of the long, fast walks I do with her daily). I've added a photo of our gorgeous girl (it might take a while to appear).

It's never a mistake for a dog lover to take a new dog into their home. And Harriet WILL turn out to be as beautiful as Chloe (who looks a lot like a dog we used to have!), trust me!

I don't think it's a bad decision. The night before my first dog was pts I got in touch with a breeder. Like you my whole life revolves around my dog. The puppy didn't replace old dog by any means. Good luck with the puppy.