A new baby...

It's all about balance. You don't want to over-treat or under-treat with any aspect of care.

Note on Lepto. We have it very bad in our area and the risk of the disease is way more than the shot. My dogs tolerated it fine. I wouldn't do it though unless there were a very real risk. Bordatella I did when the dogs were pups but never after that.
 
Brodie was my heart dog. I had him when I met my husband- who had Casey. Brodie got cancer that was eating him alive and we wound up giving him rest 9 days before my wedding. We brought home Annabelle the day after my wedding. I don't know what I'd do without that little sass ball. It hurts. I agree. Titers are an option that help to not over vaccinate, but also let you know- HEY this one isn't working anymore. The diseases that vaccines are for are dreadful things. I mean, another way to look at it is: Yes vaccines *might* cause problems, but some of these diseases will cause death.
 
We lasted 6 weeks from losing Lir on Christmas Eve (he went to sleep and never woke up) to driving 7 hours to pick up Kel. We had long ago vowed No More Pets, and that once our pets started crossing the Bridge, we wouldn't bring another one in.

Yeah, right. It surprised the both of us how large a hole that little sheltie left in our hearts, plus it was obvious our scotty, who had come into the family as a puppy when Lir was just 1, was grieving; our shiloh had no clue why there was no cranky snaggle-toothed bag of hair pushing him around.

We did not want a blue merle, yet Kel is a blue merle, albeit, looks more like a tricolor. Where Lir was quiet, Kel is LOUD (and hubby wants me to look into bark-softening him), Lir was reserved, Kel is happy wallowing in mud then careening around the yard. Two very different personalities.

We didn't replace one sheltie with another, we simply brought one in since it seemed almost unnatural to NOT have a sheltie in the house.

There is no right time or wrong time or too soon or too late. Sometimes the one that you never thought you would miss is the first one you look to.
 
I can sympathize. It took 10 years after loosing our last sheltie (Prince) before I could even think about getting another dog. My first "requirement" for a new dog was that it be any breed except a sheltie as I didn't think I could deal with the reminder of our last dog. Then my sister called to say that her uncle-in-law had a litter of Shelties. The first puppy I met looked so much like our Prince that I was struggling to choke back tears. That convinced me even more that a sheltie wouldn't be the right match. But then I met another pup. Unlike Prince, His ears were adorably floppy and he had a black stripe up his nose. Both features were different enough that I no longer wanted to burst into tears. Seeing the sheltie antics reminded me of the good times and made me relize just how big a hole was left from our last dog. Over the next week I couldn't get that pup out of my mind and the following weekend I made the 4 hour trip back to pick him up. It was the best decision I could have ever made.

So my advice to you would be that if looking at a puppy that resembles your last pup is too painful then try meeting some Sheltie puppies that aren't so similar. Like me, you may be surprised at how some small differences in appearance can make a huge difference in your readiness to welcome a new puppy into your home and heart.
 
When Lucy died, I lasted 2 months. I realized that the only way to recover was to get another dog. Phoebe looks very different and that helps. I will warn you though, there will be aggravations......like, Humph! Lucy didn't pee on the carpet or chew the rug or bite my feet. Going through puppyhood again takes some getting used to.
 
Life isn't right once you have had a sheltie and then don't...I didn't think I could get another after my 2nd left the planet. But now I have two, one is two and the other will be two come fall. I can't imagine life w/o both of them. They are totally different than my previous girls, but extremely special in their own way. At the end of the day, when we head for bed and they curl up at my feet on either side of me. I am just happy I forged ahead, and welcomed them into my life. It wouldn't be as special had I not. All I can say is you will know when it it right for you.
 
Well.. I bring my puppy home this Saturday. I decided to name him Oliver. I can't fight the tears as I type this post. I will miss Scottie forever!!
 
great name...and yes Scottie will be missed by you forever. I know most of us on the forum have been through it. It doesn't ebb, but it gets easier. The great thing is you will have new adventures with Oliver that will be precious in their own right. Very happy for you. I hope the week goes fast so you can get your lil furball.
 
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