How soon is too soon?

Author
Discussion

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,034 posts

168 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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We very sadly had to have our 13.5yr old working cocker put to sleep on the 17th, it was unexpected though he had been unwell for some months.

I have idly been browsing the rescue shelter websites but nothing has sprung out and we aren't convinced what we want to do (we have a 9yr old Westie).

Today though, an 11mth old WCS appears on a rescue page & both myself & my OH (who said never again after the pain of losing Scooby) are both head over heels!

My head keeps telling me all the reasons why not, my heart is bursting & I'm now worrying we won't get him despite having submitted an application!

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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It is so personal that only you can answer the question.

Having seen your post showing the first and last photo of photo of Scooby I know he meant a lot to you. Having a working cocker myself I know how they get under your skin.

Last year we had to put our 20 year old cat to sleep. We lasted three weeks before we were down to the cat rescue society. In don't know if that's right or wrong but it felt OK to me, and still does.

Good luck

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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Our Beardie died 3 months ago, and our Lab last week. Mrs Get is already online looking for the next.

I'm insisting we have a proper foreign holiday first (as we never get one with dogs!)

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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garythesign said:
It is so personal that only you can answer the question.
^^This. There are no hard and fast rules. I'd say that if you've been looking and have applied, you're ready. If you weren't ready you wouldn't even be able to contemplate it.

It's the best tribute we can pay to those we have lost, to offer a place in our hearts to another. It doesn't mean you love them any less or are trying to replace them.

Very best of luck and keep us updated smile

tonyb1968

1,156 posts

145 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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I have been there when I lost Lucky, we were meant to pick her up but unfortunately she had a vestibular episode which she wasnt recovering from, it was very painful and the house was very empty without her frown

It sounds really bad but I lasted a few days before I was looking for another dog, not a replacement but another family friend, I felt REALLY guilty about seeing Lottie so close after losing Lucky (Lucky was pts on the Friday, a week Sunday I was around seeing Lottie).

It felt so wrong but it was exactly what I needed, I was so lucky to be picked by Lottie and I have not looked back smile

If YOU and your OH feel its right, then do it, you may feel guilty because its so near to when Scooby passed but Scooby will be happy that you have another 4 legged friend to look after you, you won't forget Scooby and all those great times you had together, its just that your journey is carrying on and the joy of having years of friendship and fun outweigh the final outcome that happens to us all in the end smile

robbocop33

1,184 posts

106 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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Been through this a couple of times and all i can say it is a personal thing when it's right.When we got Bowie our Husky it was 6 weeks after we lost our Dane.When we were going through the interview to get a dog (Bowie) with Dogs Trust they asked when we lost our last dog,when we said 6 weeks there was a builders estimate it's going to cost you 'sucking wind through the teeth' moment from the lady.But everything went great,when we seen little(well at that time) Bowie at 5 months old in the kennel it was the first dog i seen!and it couldn't have gone better,we just love her so much,she has turned out to be a 'very' special,clever dog,but ofcourse Jess our Dane is often in our mind and i'm sure she would have wanted us not to sit and be miserable!;-)

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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As everyone has said. It is very personal and there is absolutely no right or wrong situation here. Only how you feel.

We took 5 months (I especially was actually quite traumatised by what we went through with Jimmy) we went on a holiday that Jimmy was meant to a part of and I couldn't bear the thought of taking another dog but the holiday felt so odd without a dog so the following weekend we picked up Bryn!

I will say that Bryn is just wonderful and we are so lucky to have him (and now Mabel) but it took me many months to feel completely bonded with him.

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Monday 3rd April 2017
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When you go on your:

GetCarter said:
proper foreign holiday
...why don't you see if there's a little street hound that would love a new home in the Scottish highlands?

myvision

1,931 posts

135 months

Tuesday 4th April 2017
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Lost my mate Harry at Christmas can't think of getting another mate yet.

HTP99

22,443 posts

139 months

Tuesday 4th April 2017
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4 and a half years ago Humphrey our Pug was PTS, I was devastated, I didn't even want to think about another dog, 4 weeks later we had re-homed a rather naughty deaf French Bull Dog called Daisy and we now have three dogs in total.

From speaking to others, it just tends to happen.


LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,034 posts

168 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
Quick update.

We have a home check booked for tomorrow for one of the spaniel rescue people, no specific dog available but we'll be ready if/when one arrives.

Keeping an eye on all the local recue shelters, there are several dogs in assessment that may or may not become available.

I've had several spaniels over the years, I said if we got another dog we'd try something different so why am I drawn back to spaniels again?!

Open minded, that's the great thing about rescue, the dog chooses you doesn't it so we could end up with anything?!

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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LordHaveMurci said:
Quick update.

We have a home check booked for tomorrow for one of the spaniel rescue people, no specific dog available but we'll be ready if/when one arrives.

Keeping an eye on all the local recue shelters, there are several dogs in assessment that may or may not become available.

I've had several spaniels over the years, I said if we got another dog we'd try something different so why am I drawn back to spaniels again?!

Open minded, that's the great thing about rescue, the dog chooses you doesn't it so we could end up with anything?!
Hope all goes well tomorrow. Surely no reason why it shouldn't, but you never know with rescues

We have had various breeds over the years. Most of them have been black.

As you say, they often chose us.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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Well it didn't take Mrs Get long to find some pups!

We pick up the fella having his ear licked in mid May


mustdash

360 posts

127 months

Wednesday 19th April 2017
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We had a collie / GSD cross (Charlie) and a Trail Hound (Woody). Both rescues, and homed within a couple of months of each other 10 years ago.
At the back end of February, Charlie was diagnosed with cancer. Between diagnosis and having to make the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS was just over a month (it spread so quickly that there wasn't much that could be done). Luckily he was his normal bouncy self until the very last day when he struggled to get up etc - we knew it was his time.

Woody has always lived with him, so we knew that when the time came, it would be difficult for him - after all, how do you explain to a dog that his best mate, the dog he has been with practically 24/7 for the last 10 years isn't coming home. I found myself looking at rescue centre websites before Charlie had been put to sleep - the guilt I felt at doing that was immense. However, about 3 days after Charlie had gone I was looking for another friend for Woody and while I felt guilty, I could already see the negative change in Woody losing Charlie, so knew that it was the right thing to do, for him at least. It's not been an easy process, guilt and doubt was always an issue to begin with, not to mention Woody loves other dogs and loves to play, but at 11 years old also likes his own space - some of the rescue dogs he's met haven't taken "no" for an answer so there have been 'disagreements' betwee nthem when he's told them off. That being said, we have now narrowed it down to 2 fantastic dogs that he gets on with - my next challenge is persuading the other half to rehome both!

I think the point of this is that every home / person / dog / situation is different - only you will know when its the best / right time to start looking for another dog. You can ask 100 different people and will get 100 different answers.

Whatever you decide - good luck in your search!

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Wednesday 19th April 2017
quotequote all
mustdash said:
We had a collie / GSD cross (Charlie) and a Trail Hound (Woody). Both rescues, and homed within a couple of months of each other 10 years ago.
At the back end of February, Charlie was diagnosed with cancer. Between diagnosis and having to make the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS was just over a month (it spread so quickly that there wasn't much that could be done). Luckily he was his normal bouncy self until the very last day when he struggled to get up etc - we knew it was his time.

Woody has always lived with him, so we knew that when the time came, it would be difficult for him - after all, how do you explain to a dog that his best mate, the dog he has been with practically 24/7 for the last 10 years isn't coming home. I found myself looking at rescue centre websites before Charlie had been put to sleep - the guilt I felt at doing that was immense. However, about 3 days after Charlie had gone I was looking for another friend for Woody and while I felt guilty, I could already see the negative change in Woody losing Charlie, so knew that it was the right thing to do, for him at least. It's not been an easy process, guilt and doubt was always an issue to begin with, not to mention Woody loves other dogs and loves to play, but at 11 years old also likes his own space - some of the rescue dogs he's met haven't taken "no" for an answer so there have been 'disagreements' betwee nthem when he's told them off. That being said, we have now narrowed it down to 2 fantastic dogs that he gets on with - my next challenge is persuading the other half to rehome both!

I think the point of this is that every home / person / dog / situation is different - only you will know when its the best / right time to start looking for another dog. You can ask 100 different people and will get 100 different answers.

Whatever you decide - good luck in your search!
Great post - keep us updated smile

Would love to see a photo of Woody - I think Trailhounds are gorgeous.

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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We have a 3hr round trip tomorrow to see an 11mth old rescue sprocker - he's the one that convinced us we wanted another as soon as we saw his photo & we've had to wait weeks for him to finish assessment & become available to adopt.

Wish us luck!

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Friday 21st April 2017
quotequote all
Good luck smile

I know how you feel, we said goodbye to Lucy last year on our birthday in November (the wife and I share a birthday) it was one of the hardest things we ever had to do.

Just before Christmas we picked up Noodle and at the start of February; Inara, both are are mental and adorable but neither were a replacement for a dog that meant so much to us but they have become just as important to us.

moorx

3,481 posts

113 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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Very best of luck, I will keep everything crossed for you smile

Keep us updated.

Granfondo

12,241 posts

205 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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Only you will know when the time is right.

Then this we bundle came along!

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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LordHaveMurci said:
We have a 3hr round trip tomorrow to see an 11mth old rescue sprocker - he's the one that convinced us we wanted another as soon as we saw his photo & we've had to wait weeks for him to finish assessment & become available to adopt.

Wish us luck!
I wish you luck

I hope all goes well.

Photos will be needed