New Dog?

My beloved pet dog has been diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure and is not expected to live very much longer.
I am obviously ver upset as he is only 11 yrs old, I had expected to have him for at least 3 more years,Now I have a dilemma. I have never been without a dog so I am thinking of getting a puppy now, not to replace my dog but as a new companion.
Is this a heartless thing to do? I feel so guilty about it. How will my poorly dog react to a new puppy in the home, will he feel I don't love him anymore? If I wait until his demise then I will have the problem of finding the breed of puppy I want and I just know I will not cope without having my dog to greet me when I come home if I have been out without him.
Anyone else had to face this, if so , how did you cope without a dog?

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Laura Cannon

• Last online: 2 Sep 2010
• Mother Hen
• Posts: 118
• Registered: 9 August 2006
• From: Winchester, UK

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Have you made a decision yet? It's a terrible thing to have to face and my heart goes out to you.

I wonder if a new puppy is right at this time though, when your older dog may be feeling tired and needing your care and attention. You could spend the time you have now considering the right breed for you and even contacting reputable breeders so you can quickly look for a puppy when the time is right, but perhaps in 11 years you've forgotten quite how disruptive a new puppy is and how much time they'll need from you.

I think when the time comes there will be a terrible hole in your life while you wait for your new dog and you might consider volunteering as a dog walker during this period - lots of elderly and ill people rely on such services in order to be able to keep their dogs once they can't get out themselves, and local kennels need dog walkers too quite often. It might fill that hole for you while you wait for your puppy to be ready.

I do hope your old dog isn't suffering too much and is comfortable.

Laura