Having raised puppies for a good while now, I have had so many people come to me after losing their dog. Some died from old age, and some from an illness relatively young. One thing I know for sure is that everyone grieves differently. Some prefer to have time after the loss of their dog, they need time to process their loss and memorialize the death of their furry best friend. The mourning period is different for everyone. It can last from weeks to up to a year. It’s a very real and painful emotion, and time does help one heal. Very often the knowledge that your beloved pet is no longer suffering eases the pain. Allow yourself the time to feel the sorrow, take time off of work, and work through the grief.
When a person you love dies, society knows how to support you. Unfortunately, when your dog passes, the same understanding doesn’t always occur. “It’s just a dog.” We know how important pets are to our families, and how often their lives are centered around their pets. They celebrate their birthdays, carry pictures of them on their phones, have artwork made, and more.
When discussing the idea of getting a new puppy after your loss, I’ve heard a myriad of responses. Everything from, “I could never replace Fido”, “Fido wouldn’t want me to replace him”, “Never again” or it’s too painful to ever go through this sense of loss again.
Almost without fail, people get a new puppy after a loss. Some people even get a puppy when they know their dog is getting old and frail. They have another dog, that they don’t want to be alone once their older one passes, and they feel that the adjustment to a new puppy is better when both their other dogs are still alive. A new puppy sometimes gives the older dog a new lease on life, and they see glimpses of the older dog being playful with the puppy.
No, you can’t replace your lost dog, but you can fill the void. After years of owning a dog, there is an emptiness, and a disruption of a routine. The walks and snuggling on the couch. There’s a hole that can be filled with a new puppy. He isn’t going to replace your dog, but he will bring you happiness and help families ease their grief. Once you’ve experienced the joys of being a dog parent, it’s hard not to share your life with a four legged friend.
Without a doubt, a new puppy can fill your heart with love, give you new purpose and diminish the overwhelming emptiness for you, your family and your other pets. Puppy antics bring a smile back to your face and help shorten the grief you feel. If you’ve recently lost a dog, we send you lots of love and virtual hugs. When you are ready for a new puppy, we’d love to chat about exactly what kind of puppy you are looking for. We pride ourselves in matching the perfect puppy with each unique and wonderful puppy owner.
