I am with you on this one.

Wow such great input. So many sides. You know I am very fortunate to have Toby so long, being almost 16 and all. But like Diggy4 posted I'll need a lot of help here when Toby goes!

Wow know wonder you are asking. We will be here for you but hopefully that worry is a long tiome away for you and Toby.

Personally I would try not to look at it as a "replacement"....

After the loss there usually is an emptiness in your life, in your home and in your heart....the new pet allows you to continue to love, live and smile again....

It gives you a new focus...instead of being consumed in a death your emotions are redirected in the care and love of the living....it just has to be timed right...

I could never replace mine but I know after a period of time I would want another yorkie to fill the void

Good post.

me either, I think most loving dogs owners have larger than usual hearts. When one of your babies passes a part of your heart goes with them... Luckily with hearts so big we have lots left to give to another baby. :D

I had the most beautiful, smart, friendly white german shepard (Dixie) for 13 years. When my sons (7 years apart) were babies she would protectively stand between any visiters and the babies basinet. She never growled or showed any aggressiveness she just watched over the babies. When they were moved to a crib she slept under their cribs until they were moved to a bed then she would finally come back to sleep with me in my room. She was such a good mommy.

She started having hip problems. I started carrying her outside to potty and she pitifully tried to scoot and follow me around the house. I made sure she was not in pain but she was very uncomfortable. I was going through a divorce and she no longer could hold her urine and didnt know she was even going and having accidents while she slept--- her quality of life was gone!..... I carried her to the vet all by myself... i carried her into the waiting room and laid her on the floor -- i cried as i watched her struggle to sit up...and after sitting there for maybe two minutes i thought i CAN'T do this as i cried and picked her up to carry her back to my car when an older woman (with her dog) followed me outside and wrapped her arms around me and told me -that i would never find the right time and that i am not being fair to my dog and she walked me back in... i stayed with Dixie and held her till she was gone and a piece of me died also.

I never wanted another dog. I married a man with custody of three sons and i had my two sons and on our first anniversary he came home with a surprise behind his back--- a male chicauhaha puppy. He bought him at a pet store and didnt feel the breed or sex made any difference. I was not ready for another dog and i truly never bonded with my Reese. He got lots of attention with our full house and he is a very happy well taken care of 7 year old but I was not ready emotionaly for another dog. I never allowed myslef to love little Reese as much as i did Dixie for fear of the heartache.

I never thought of having 2 dogs until i inheritated a yorkie puppy who is now 6 months old. I didnt know i was ready but oh yes i am and i treasure him with all my heart. This little pup has also brought me closer to Reese since i am constantly trying not to leave the older dog jealous.
It takes time--- it took me 9 years. And sometimes you dont even know you are ready it just happens.

Izzy is not my first Yorkie - I had two males back in 1977 and 1978 and one lived to be 8 and one to 14 years. I vowed that I would NEVER get another dog again because of the deep heartache and pain I felt on losing my boys (JT and Scruffy:D ). So I decided that I would go the cat route since my son was little and he wanted a kitty for his birthday. Well with work, divorce, travel, etc., cats were it for me and no thought of a doggie. Well where I work now there is an artist who breeds and shows Yorkies well we started talking and I told him I used to have two and that conversation was almost 3 years ago. He kept telling me every so often that I "needed" another one and I would always say, "no way...too much work" but in reality it was like too much pain because I never thought of all the good times we shared as a family and all the laughter and joy my boys brought me - I only thought of the pain when they left me. Well one day (right before Memorial Day) Dan (my artist friend) sent me video of Izzy who was in Groveport, Ohio and all he said in the email was, "Take a look at her!"...well - I said oh she's cute and all but no. Well he called his friend who had her and she called me at work and said Dan told me you need a Yorkie now. Well - that was a Friday (Memorial weekend) and Izzy was home with me on Sunday. :D

Something just clicked when I saw her in that video - I knew it was time. Now - when I picked her up at the breeders house she had 3 other Yorkie pups and I looked at them thinking that I might change my mind about Izzy, but then she let Izzy in and the rest is history...I knew she was mine and when we were in the car driving home for two hours - I couldn't believe she was in my lap (well in the Sherpa carrier;) )....of course I cried because in looking at her brought all those memories of my boys back...but they were all happy memories of them and couldn't wait to start our new life at home with Izzy. She has filled my void and there is NOTHING like the love of a Yorkie....I love my cats dearly but Izzy is my best friend and a member of our family. I will never wait that long again.

Oh and I didn't even want a Yorkie again - I was going to get a Jack Russell cause I didn't even want to be reminded of a Yorkie. I am so glad I listened to my heart and not my head.

That's my story!!;) sorry so long:animal-pa

I agree nobody can take their place, but I think a new one helps fill the void.

When I found out my little Shorty dog was terminally ill, I debated whether or not to get another one before or after he passed away. My mom and I talked to many people and decided to get him before. I got Otis in June and Shorty passed away in August 2004. The word "replaced" never, ever entered my mind. When Shorty passed it was Otis who comforted me, and did his best to help me heal. I'm not sure I could've gotten through it without Otis. It was definatley the right thing to do for me. Shorty wouldn't have wanted me to close myself off from the unconditional love that dogs give us.

They cannot be replaced by any means, but a new dog/puppy does help heal the heart. After my beloved Starr passed away, I swore I never wanted another dog EVER:unlove: But my husband forced Luna on me, and having her to love DID help me a lot. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about Starr, and I even had a good cry in the shower last night because Luna is looking so much like her that it heals and breaks my heart all at the same time. It's been almost a year since my baby went to the Rainbow Bridge and the hurt does dull a bit with time, but it never goes away.

Right on the money. Life is pretty lonely in my mind without pets and family.

The Good Lord only gives us furbabies for a short while.... Love them, keep all the happy memories and smile of them alot...
we lost our Boston Terrier, TBone in June(he was 15 1/2) It was so hard but I am simply thankful for the time I did have with him...
The other furbabies in my home made it easier some days and harder some days(when I knew they were looking for him)... but having them made it "ok" to let my Buddy go...
I will one day get another Boston(he was our second), knowing that we can never replace him...
I will NEVER get over losing any of my furbabies but will always be thankful for having each of them in my life...
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WOW! What great heartfelt stories. I guess having Toby so long that I just don't think its possible to heal. I really wouldn't want to compare him to any other dog. A female was suggested, but I think I would have to get a different breed so I wouldn't have to compare. I hope not to make that decision for a very very long time. A lady in Florida approached us at a flea market when she saw Toby telling us that her Yorkie died peacefully at the age of 20 and I thought that dog must have been loved so much that it strived for existence. I hope I can be the one to tell someone that Toby did it too. I find myself now pampering him more than ever, but of course he loves every minute of it!