[pablotn]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time beagle fan.

My buddy of almost 16 years passed away last week from heart failure, and he was a beagle mix. I had him since a pup, and he really made me appreciate how special the beagle breed is.

I have recently begun my search for my next companion, and absolutely will be getting a beagle puppy. I am single and the house is simply empty and has no soul for me. As a matter of fact I have already found a potential match and have a visit scheduled for the 17th of this month.

I have asked other dog owners who have lost past friends how long they waited before getting another friend. Responses varied but most indicated a few weeks. So I ask the broader community, How long did you wait?

Paul

 

[Joe Johnston]

Hi Paul and welcome. Sorry to hear about your Beag passing. We unexpectedly lost ours, it was truly like loosing a family member and my wife still cries when she thinks about it. So I can feel your pain brother.

To answer your question, I guess it really depends on the person. We had 2 already when Vinnie died. So we still had a dog (non Beagle) afterward. I can tell you this, if it was me, I would get another fairly quickly. Call me sappy or whatever, but we just like having a Beagle around. We have recently taken in a Beagle so we are a Beagle house again.

The way I look at it, you gave your Beagle a loving home and he gave you years of happiness in return. Put that same focus on your next one, as I am sure you will. Best of luck on that and keep us posted.

 

[Tucker]

I think it is different for everyone. You just have to wait until you know it is right. It sounds like you are ready.
A few years agao we had three dogs. Now we are at one and are looking to go back to two. Things are just now getting right with our lives to take on a second beagle. We actually were ready last year, but we were moving so we didn't want to put a dog throught the trauma of that.

 

[RosCole]

Welcome!
Sorry for your recent loss, I am sure it is difficult.

As far as getting a new dog is concerned, that is totally up to you! I would probably want another fairly quickly too, I can't imagine my life anymore without a dog(s)

Good luck, and keep up posted.

 

[Dinoz]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you took good care of him to live to 16.

As the above have mentioned, it is purely up to you. Everyone is different, but I would probably wait a few weeks, which will be taken up by the time you actually find the right pup... all the best.

 

[tntnjmom]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It's so incredibly difficult.

While we haven't lost a beagle, we did lose our beloved cat, Garfield, the day after Father's Day this year. I'm a total cat person and it was so heartbreaking. I, too, felt like the house had no soul with him gone. Even JoJo, our beagle, seemed lost without him.

I tried to convince myself to wait awhile before adopting another cat, but about a month later, we found a local woman who had a litter of kittens. We ended up with 2 of them and the soul's back in the house!

I think ultimately, it's up to you. There's no set time you should wait.
Happy searching! Can't wait to see pics!

 

[Pack Leader]

After losing my childhood dogs 13 months apart, my wonderful Henry boy came into our family about 6 weeks after our last pup passed. She had been very ill so it wasn't totally unexpected, but the shock and sadness was very hard for us. We all grieved for awhile, but ultimately decided we wanted some sunshine in our home. We hadn't had a puppy in 13 years! My heart goes out to you, but I can tell you that I've never felt guilty about getting another dog, because it never feels like a replacement. Each of my dogs had distinct personalities and brought special qualities to my life.

 

[pablotn]

Thanks for the feedback guys, and yes even though I knew it was coming his passing was one of the most difficult things I have had to experience. He passed on a Friday before my family was getting together so I took that as his gift to me. I could not have imagined what my weekend would have been like just hovering by myself around the house. I appreciate all the kind words.

And a good point Henry's mom, I do not want to view it as a replacement and originally I felt a little guilty. But it was soon after I came to grips that there was no reason for that and was silly. I am viewing it more as a tribute to his ongoing memory.

I am really getting excited about my new pup.

 

[Mollys Mom]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I don't think there is a specific time to wait, each person is different. As long as you are over the initial grief enough to focus on your choice and also be careful not to hope that the new dog will be the same as your dog that passed. They are all different and bring us joy in different ways.

 

[bubbles]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I can only speak from my personal experience. We put our cocker spaniel to sleep on May 9, 2005. I was going absolutely bonkers without a dog in the house. It seemed so lifeless, empty. My husband was not ready for another dog but I began searching for a beagle to rescue almost immediately. Three weeks later (Memorial Day) we met Snoopy. She was a blessing and really helped us heal. Everybody grieves differently but for me being without a dog is like living without a best friend. And when we met Snoopy we knew she was the one.

 

[My2Beagles]

<span style="font-size: 11pt">First, I want to welcome you to BW

Sorry I was not here sooner but at times, my online time is hit & miss. Second, I am so sorry to hear of your loss - WOW - almost 16 years is a long life for a dog - what terrific care you must have given to your friend.

Now, as for your question, how long to wait - that is definitely an individual decision. For me, I know it is not healthy to be without a dog in my life. When I got Shiloh B, my first Beagle, my little Oreo - a YorkiPoo - was 11 and I thought in poor health. He just wasn't acting well and even tho we had been to the vet and told everything was good except for needing a dental cleaning, I still began looking for another dog, just in case. After Shiloh B joined me & Oreo and Oreo got that dental cleaning (the dental disease he had, had begun affecting other major body systems = acting in poor health because he was), Oreo lived almost 5 more years & by that time, I was use to having 2 dogs in the house. A few months before I had to help Oreo cross the Rainbow Bridge - I knew for sure this time his passing was near & since Shiloh B had grown up with another dog in the house, I felt it would be good to get another - not just for me this time but Shiloh B would love a companion. In February of 2007 when Oreo did cross the Bridge - he was almost blind/deaf, suffered from incontinence & had a slight brain infarct in the summer of 2006, Shasta B had been in the house for a few months. Shiloh B did miss his little big brother for a few days (I still do) but having Shasta B in the house did lessen the pain of loss a little.

One more thing I have come to believe. I have had dogs most of my life - I grew up with them and continue having dogs in my life as I grow older. I know there is no way I could ever replace one with another plus I believe it to be totally unfair to expect a new pup to replace the old one. My belief is that by getting a new one - that is my way to honor those that have been in my life in years gone by, even the most recent. Each one has it's own place in my heart & each one has brought something new to my life - it is only right that I honor them by passing on & giving to another the gifts they have brought to me.

(ok, is that sappy enuf - oh well, once I start talking, it is not easy to shut me up

)</span>

 

[GriffinsMom]

I recently lost my precious cat. She was my soulmate as far as I was concerned. The problem I had was that she was 'my' cat and my live in boyfreind didnt feel for her too much, so when she was killed we decided to get 'our' pet and ended up with Griffin, the beagle

I think Rosie was gone for about a month before getting Griff, but it was a couple weeks after getting him that I kinda stopped resenting him for being here when Rosie was gone. We are now a happy family and I can honestly say that I am happy to have him. It was a struggle to bring another pet into the house for me, but that feeling didnt last too long.

 

[cobismom]

Paul, I am so sorry for your loss. We sent Chipper home to the RAinbow Bridge almost two years now, and the big spot he filled in our hearts is still a little hollow.

I didn't start looking for about a month after Chipper passed. Then, I just looked, if they even looked like Chip they were out.
When it was time, about three months, I got serious and started asking every vet, dog lover, breeder, show person if they knew of any beagles that were for sale or needed homes. We found the perfect pup for us, a 13 month old, defective show pup from a breeder, and love smacked us in the face with beagle kisses. Casie is a lot like Chipper, but looks nothing like him, but somewhere in those little brown eyes are Chip's looking back at us. You'll know when the time is right, because your heart will tell you. Good luck, it sounds like you got the right pup for you the first time, so you know how that feels and can run with it. Be sure to show us your new addition when he/she arrives.

Cathy, mom to Cobi and Casie