ralphie250

when my mother in law passed away 5 years ago my wife and i inherated her dog named boxer. he was a rat terrier. after 17 years they had to put him to sleep yesterday

on monday he fell down the stairs and dislocated his hip andpoped it out of the socket. my wife and her sister took him to the vet yesterday and the vet told them that if they did the surgery on him that he wouldnt make it through it due to his health problems and his age. so they decided it was best for the dog to put him to sleep so he didnt suffer anymore. .

boxer and i never saw eye to eye but he respedced me and i did him as well. we told my daughter that he went to heaven, and seemingly to my suprise she understood. when he moved in my black lab was 2 and she was mice to him. now she seems depressed. she knows he aint coming back. she wanted to sleep in the bed with us last night and i let her (i normally dont and she normally dosent try).

so the question is,
do i get another dog for my daughter and lab or not???

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

Iliftrocks

If you have the room, and the attention to give it, sure.

__________________
bill hicks - "I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."

dlish

well you had the room, so why not fill the void if you can afford to?

1) get the dog

2) lose a few useless question marks

__________________
An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

UnclearContent

I would wait a few weeks. Give both the pup and your baby girl a chance to mourn and adjust.

Then, sure, if you want.

chinese crested

For your little girl especialy-


RainbowBridge.com
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...


It had a happy ending, its last years it was treated with love after the loss of its owner. I think you had him on borrowed time, and now they are together again.
Most rescues encourage volunteer dog walkers - its a half way step, and you may just not be able to not fall in love. If you are going to rescues, read the signs before you even think to look at the dogs. If they are unsuitable, its best to pass them by. You dont have to pick on a first visit - they will understand the feelings going round inside you if you explain, they wont push you into anything.
I hope you do find place in your heart and at your hearth for another canine. So many nice dogs out there in sometimes dire straits - not just old dogs, pups too.
Good luck to you and your pack, may your number and efficiency increase soon as your hearts say it is right.

---------- Post added at 10:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

Choose together as a family. No pitbulls, akitas or samoyds. Get a book of dogs out of the library and lern about the different breeds together. Of course mine are the best breed in the world but my crossess have been the best crosses in the world too.Each leaves smiles. Look at life expectancy, at genetic health traits. My lot are long lived and do come with very long hair as well as nude. All rescues, so is the mastiff. I should thank the stupid people who dumped them all for all the love I have in my life.

ralphie250

that was very toughing. thank you very much.

madison (my black lab) was a stray. i found her on the side of the road when she was approx 4 weeks old. if we do get another one we'll get one from a shelter of somesort or something to that effect.


and a very nice web site.

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

genuinegirly

There's no harm in getting another friendly slobberer to fill a void. After you have narrowed down your choices, bring your lab with you to the rescue, to make sure you find personalities that won't clash.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

ralphie250

as dumb as it sounds. i didnt know i could do that?

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

chinese crested

Usualy that will be your second visit. You can walk them together in a designated area. If they start to scrap, throw a coat or something over their heahs and they let go - if ever when you are out you get a problem.

DaeHanL

Do you need a forum to decide that? Listen to your head and heart and do what you feel/think is the best solution. I personally am a dog maniac. I don't know if i'd ever be quick to replace either of my dogs, but would eventually have to for my and my wife's sake. Good luck and please check out petfinder.com to rescue.

chinese crested

You are out of my area, sorry I cant help, but wherever you are, there are people like me.
Please update us with the tale of your new pack member. Us dog people will be straining at the leash to see what canine you go home with.

---------- Post added at 12:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 AM ----------

I bring my dead dogs home, so the others can walk over and sniff, and know their friend no longer inhabits this old piece of broken meat. They understand death - I do this because all of mine have been abandoned. They will come see me when it is my turn - they will accept my death, and know I didnt abandon them, that they are Good Dogs. I still call my old gal in sometimes, at the time of twilight barking, sing her little songs - so she knows where we are and she is still loved.

---------- Post added at 01:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 AM ----------

I was thinking. To give visits to a dogs home another purpose for your daughter, you could suggest you make a cake for the dogs who are waiting for their new homes.
Any shelter will appreciate it as a donation, its the best for training and assessing dogs. I have made them for the rescue one of my dogs came from. Your lab can be test subject - it will enjoy that, being a lab and it being good food.

Liver cake (for dogs)
Blend a pound of liver with half a bulb of garlic and one or two eggs.
Pour this goop into half a pound of flour and stir in.
Pour into a greased and floured cake tin, and whack it in the oven at about 200 for about 20 mins. Test it like you would a fruit cake - slide a knife in and see if it comes out clean or covered in raw gloop.
When cooked (dog says hot bits are best - again - animal test on the lab), cut it and bag it - it will keep for 6 days in the fridge, or you can freeze it down. You can also decorate with primula cheese in a tube, or cook in cake tray, some add peanut butter or a very little marmite.

I thought if she is taking them treats, on its own, a good and honest reason to visit, it might be easier leaving 30 or 40 dogs behind. Hope I am not being an interfering nut job. Call went out last month for a home needed. 5yr old lab working (until dumped) sniffer dog. Hopefully, he will find a very special home that will suit his needs to be active and working. I contacted the local rescue people who volunteer to help search with police for missing people. They dont use dogs, but they knew the people who do, so they kindly passed on the details. Lot of fingers crossed. Cost a fortune to train - and just dumped.

ralphie250

No i dont, just looking for other opnions.



I am a dog person. i love my lab. since boxer hasnt come home madison has been sleeping in my daughters bed with her at night. she would do this on occasion before but now she stays right there with my daughter.

not sure what the right time is to get another dog. i guess it will hit me when its time.

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

chinese crested

Dogs grieve too. Remember the bomb dog that died in Afghanistan of a broken heart.

ralphie250

i dont know what thats about?

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

DaeHanL

My wife and I foster for the local SPCA. Normally I would suggest giving that a try, but with a young child. I would never risk it. Or wait, did we establish her age? Cause my niece and nephew, 9 & 11, are a great help ntm they love all the new doggies!

ralphie250

shes 3.

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

chinese crested

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...th-afghanistan

They came home together.

---------- Post added at 09:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 AM ----------

I dont think its so much age, its if they are 'dog children'. Your daughter has probably been trained by the dogs to an extent, and also I suspect she has been raised to be 'dog sensible'. Some older children are less suitable than some smaller ones.
She is at a lovely age. You see everything through fresh eyes as you explain and show things to her I expect.

DaeHanL

I was speaking of young age being an issue with fosters. They come from god knows where, and can have some serious baggage. Snapping at a child is the least of your worries in some cases.

Even with dogs from good backgrounds, especially larger breeds, children can be an issue because of their energy levels. Kids can excite easily, and all dogs respond to the change in energy levels. Large breeds, not knowing their own size/strength, can hurt kids unintentionally. I've seen kicks knocked down, faces clawed, and thrown about. All of these things of course can be corrected by a alpha personality and patience. My niece is still afraid of dogs because she had a bad experience with her mom's friend's dog. (she's 4 now)

I have fostered and rehabbed numerous dogs. All successfully. I've even helped mommy dogs in labor, raised pups from the time they were sacs, and found them all homes. It's rewarding, but it has its risks.

chinese crested

I usualy find myself with dogs at the other end of their lives. I wouldnt recommend this with a child - too much grief involved. I pick up dogs who sometimes can not be rehomed because they have weeks rather than months left. Sometimes all you can offer is happy endings and love.
Sadly, you have to bear in mind that some people lie when handing a dog in - just like some people lie when selling a car. They think they are doing the dog a favour perhaps, but its not, most problems can be dealt with if they are known about, before a dog is up for rehoming - thats where foster homes work best isnt it DaeHanla, to draw out the slightly shell shocked, and encourage good behaviour.
I had one little boy in, and he would go out for a wee, and then stand at the door. Took us a while to realise - he was waiting for us to wipe his feet - because thats what he had been taught. Dear little chap, near dead with starvation - he would have loved his own 3yr old, and an older dog whose lead he could follow. Needed someone to play with, that was all.

Craven Morehead

Yes dogs grieve. We had two Sheltie males from the same litter. Brothers that never were separated their entire life. When one died the remaining grieved visibly for 6 weeks. It was heartbreaking. Bad enough to lose a pet but to see the profound effect it had on our remaining dog was just terrible. He eventually became his old self.

I think I'd wait until your lab seems back to normal. Then consider a new dog.

DaeHanL

You are absolutely correct Chinese Crested! As long as they haven't gone over the edge. I also know about dog grieving. My chows were from the same litter, and when the girl passed (miss her constantly myself) the brother nearly starved himself to death. Went from about 85lbs muscle to 65 skin and bones. After a couple trips to the vet and some steak encouragement he comeback to us. Heart- breaking experience.

ralphie250

my lab seems like shes not eating. when i made dinner last night i made her her own plate. she ate that.

__________________
tomorrow i'm taking me fishing, hang a sign on the door of my life,
tell the world i've gone missing and i wont be back for a while.

chinese crested

Ralphie, to encourage her to eat, play with her a little - fetching a toy, charging after it, hunting it down, bringing back the 'kill' - that encourages appetite in a dog. Last weekend mine got lambs kidneys as a treat (reduced), and they like a little raw, and some cooked off added to their dinner.
Do you have canine friends, perhaps people and dogs that you would walk with? It would probably benefit you all to go out for a sociable play - other dog owners, as you have seen here, they are generaly a decent lot, and I am sure they would be happy to help pick up your girls spirits if you mention she is grieving. We tend to attract some of the dog scared dogs - my pack is solid, used to fosters - helps shy dogs come out of themselves and be dogs, gives them a bit of confidence. We always look out for the newly adopted - you know how it is, if the rest of th pack come running, the new friend will do so too. When I have fallen over, my boy has come to offer me his shoulder to help me up - bless him, he is so small and so gallant, he offers me all that he is, and I take a very little help, for if I took none, it would hurt him. The girls will go back to back on the path and watch out for all comers. Funny little lot, my canine family. Taught themselves that.