If you’re thinking about adopting a new puppy after losing your dog, read on for tips to make the transition a little easier on your family.
Losing a dog is not easy, it is a different kind of pain than losing a human loved one.
If you have never had to go through this before, you might be thinking that adopting a new puppy will help ease the pain.
Slow down a minute.
Before you jump in your car and head out to find a new pup to help ease your pain and bring some noise back to a very quiet home, read this.
Especially if you have children who are also grieving, jumping in is no good for anyone, including your new pup.
Related: Should You Adopt a Puppy or an Adult?
Adopting a New Puppy After Losing Your Dog
Grieve:
Allow yourself and yourself and your family to go through all the emotions of losing a family member, that is what our pets are, family.
You don’t want to run right out and fill the void your pet has left behind, because the reality is nothing will heal that wound except time.
Allow your children to grieve. We had a cat run away a couple of years ago and my daughter still to this day, cries about him at night sometimes. Kids have a hard time understanding death, take it easy and allow them to handle it how they need to.
Related: 20 Inspirational loss of a dog quotes
Take time:
Do not jump in the car and drive as fast as you can to your nearest rescue.
Do your research, talk as a family, find the right fit for your family. It may not be the same breed you just lost. Maybe you want a smaller dog, maybe you want a larger dog, if someone in your family has allergies, you might want to look at a hypoallergenic dog breed. There is no need to bring a puppy home immediately.
Be sure you are getting the right fit for your family.
A cool and new name:
Of course you are going to name your pet, but please, do yourself, your kids and your pet a favor and give him his own name.
I know a family who named every dog they ever had the same name. That isn’t really honoring either pet in my opinion. He is his own little ball of fur, give him a new name!
Even better, let your kids pick the name! We had a cat named Karate because, well, my step daughter went to her friend’s karate meet the night before we brought the cat home.
Related: 10 Most Popular Dog Names And Why You Should Avoid Them
Think about your elderly pets:
If you have other pets in the home (cats or other dogs) consider their needs as well.
Are they old?
How will they handle a new pup?
Will they even notice there is a new ball of energy chewing on everything in the house?
If all you have is a fish, I think it is safe to say he won’t care. Unless you were bringing home a cat, then he might care.
But then again, he will forget every time he makes his way around the fishbowl.
Let the kids decide:
Well, not completely.
As the adults and parents, do the research and narrow it down to 2 or 3 breeds that fit your family, and then give the final vote to the kids. It is important that they feel they have a say.
The new puppy:
Now that you have brought him home and everyone is excited, it is important that the kids do not feel as though they are betraying their lost pet by loving a new one.
Also, be careful to remember that this new pup is not your old dog. He is his own little puppy with his own personality and likes and dislikes. This is where the need for time and careful selection comes in handy. Bringing a new puppy home too fast is just filling a void and you will most likely have unreasonable expectations of your new pup.
Losing a pet is very sad, it is different than losing a human.
New pets are fun and exciting!
You might be thinking a puppy will help the grieving process speed up a bit. Just slow down, you don’t have to rush into it. You may have forgotten all that comes along with a new pup if it has been a while. Be prepared for chewing, and house training, and training in general. Make it a family decision.
