Advice please. Our old dog died yesterday

[blueblizz]

I've had my dog 15years lived 8 homes with me, came to my wedding, lived all through dd first 5yrs. I've nursed her for 2wks with suspected tumour. Eventually couldn't stand, eat and gagging for breath... obviously had to put her out of her misery. That happened yday. I'm so upset but keeping it together best I can as daughter finishes school end of week/has concerts and won't tell her til then. She thinks at vets cos still very poorly dog.
We def want another dog...scruffy crossbread rescue dog again. I am due a baby end Sept. We thought it best to wait til baby is here rather than get dog then introduce a baby as well which dog may find hard. Does anyone have any advice on this please? Perhaps been in a similar position? I am a stay at home mum at the mo so would be here for dog and baby.
Many thanks

[mignonette]

This may read as very soppy but your post is such a heartwarming wonderful example of Mother love. To think of you hiding your grief so your DD can finish her school week well makes me well up.

I'm so sorry for you and your family. I'm still grieving my cat who died last November. I hope you remember your dog with happiness through the tears..xx

[LEMisdisappointed]

Oh you poor thing :( I think it is a very natural urge to get a new dog quite quickly and ordinarily i would say go for it - two months is the longest i have lasted without a dog. Although i actually think you should wait until after the baby is born - simply because i think its is far easier to introduce a dog to a household that already has a baby in it than to introduce the dog to the household, get it settled and then a baby comes along and upsets the apple cart.

This will also give you time to settle with the baby etc and you can enjoy the dog more.

So sorry for your loss, its just so heart breaking.

[DocMarten]

Really sorry to read this. I would also be in the'get one now' club rather than after baby arrives.

[blueblizz]

Oh... I am crying again!! I only turned the computer off to do some housework (tears as hoovering up the dog hairs!!). Thank you, thank you for all of your kind words, it means so much to me. Do you ever stop crying? Thank you especially mignonette. My daughter is really missing dog and even slept on her bean bag last night because our dog loved it!! I wait for her to sleep and then cry my eyes out!! Oh dear.
I was thinking that having the summer to enjoy a new dog would be wonderful but I also remember my old dog when I brought the baby home last time. As soon as it cried she was over to see what it was that had come to our house!! The dog settled to it very well but that may have been luck. I was thinking of a slightly older rescue dog, maybe 2 or 3yrs so maybe better to wait. If a puppy then I think I could have that first.
Thank you again. What lovely people you are.

[mignonette]

You are not the only one in tears now Blue....Maybe the best advice i can offer is to let the dog pounds/rehomers advise you as different dogs have different reactions. They can also assist with a gradual introduction too.

Your old dog needs her space for you to grieve her too. I'm not ready for a new cat and I only found that out when I started visiting cats needing rehoming. I was overcome with longing for my old cat, not a new one. You may or may not be the same.

The new baby will help, I'm sure. for you all..

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I' m sorry you've list your beloved pet. I would think twice about not telling your daughter I still (at 40) think my Mum was wrong not to tell me straight away when my cat died when I was 9. As a vet and a Mum I find that the vast majority of children are very upset briefly then very pragmatic often asking when the next pet is arriving.
I would wait until baby has arrived and you are all settled so that you have plenty of time to give to your new pet.

[blueblizz]

Thank you again. I will tell my daughter but as knowing how hard it is for her to get through school this week I think that it is kinder to wait until the weekend when she can cry/ have us around to talk it over with rather than expecting teachers to mop up any tears. I really value your opinion Lone cat especially as you are a vet and seen this many times! We will wait for the baby but also chat to vet/ dogs' home to find the most suitable dog for our family. I agree, at the moment I want my old dog backl.....not really the best start for a new dog. Thank you again for your kind words and replies.

[Awks]

We lost our dog recently and told our kids everything. they seem to cope with what they know but when they sense you aren't telling them then they get insecure as well as upset. Poor you, it's horrible x

[blueblizz]

Yes, I would very much agree. We will tell her tomorrow as she will finish for holidays. We will all feel better when it is out in the open. I would have loved to have told her straight away but she is only 5 and had to go on stage for school shows/ prizegiving etc. I'll be happy when we can all cuddle and move on together. Thank you for sharing your stories.