First Week

While my puppy was not a sheltie - - my story is the same. We got the little bugger 6 weeks after we lost our beloved blue merle Aussie Quasar. We were hurting, beyond belief.

The puppy raising part was easy -- I crated, we pottied a lot, and we played outside and in the non-carpeted parts of the house. We had a vet visit and began treating for every worm/parasite known to dog-dom. He was an easy and good puppy though. My big old ginormous Aussie Mayson was wonderful with the pup and very very tolerant. I am so thankful for that.

Emotionally -- I told everyone who would listen I would have given anything to have Quay back. I rolled my eyes at the vet when she congratulated me on my new little one. I told her it would be my husband's dog I missed my boy, I will never love again quite like that. Then, about 4 days into the venture, I was home alone holding the puppy watchng National Velvet of all movies, and I just lost it. I started crying for my boy missing him so much. Little Shay started licking my face and whining and wiggling and just was so concerned I was upset. It was that moment I let him in. I truly let him into my heart and I began to heal.

That was my first week with my puppy.

My advice for anyone getting a puppy or dog after a loss, let them in. They are not replacing your angel, they are a whole different kind of love to help you laugh and feel a new joy and forge a new special loving relationship. They are with you for a reason.

 

I'm so glad to see those pictures with an adult dog and a new baby.We will be adding a sheltie puppy in June (hopefully) and my biggest concern is how my (now) only dog will react. I'm hoping he will be just as loving as your dogs are. I'm actually pretty sure he will be as he loves our two grand daughters when they come over.

 

I definitely agree the older dogs need some puppy-free time. Shay spent time crated while I worked and Mayson had sleep time at my feet like always. There were play tmes together inside and then wild romps outside too. As Shay got older the crate was gone but there was baby gate and I would send Mayson out to have nap time alone which he appreciated as by that time his cancer was apparent and advancing. I also started taking Shay out on his own for adventures and training and left Mayson home resting.

 

I'm trying not to allow myself to get too excited just yet. I had a deposit on a litter that didn't happen at the end of last year. Only one puppy was born that the breeder kept, and then some major mis-communication between the breeder and I. Some was my fault and some was the breeder's, but we are on the same page now. He has promised me the female puppy from this future litter no matter if she is a show or a pet puppy.

I'm just in waiting mode right now and crossing my fingers that there will be a little girl in this litter. Once the puppies are born and I know there is one for us I will be excited.