I have four dogs and they are my life. They are my family. Virtually all my time is taken up caring for them, training, exercising, grooming etc. I love them so much that I worry excessively about how I'm going to cope when they die. It really scares me. I suppose it would be different if I had a lot of family or friends or hobbies to distract me but I don't have really, just my dogs. I suppose there is nothing to say really apart from "you'll just have to cope". Any advice gratefully received.

I'm in the same boat right now. I have three dogs, the oldest will be 14 years old in May and he's starting to show his age. I constantly worry, wondering how I will deal with his death.

I've had dogs all my life, some that lived only a short time, others that had a very long life. No matter how long they are with us, their loss is always hard.

The only thing I can say, enjoy every moment you have with them, worrying about the future will only cause stress. The sad fact is, a dogs life, compared to ours, is very short. If you adopt a dog you will most likely be around to say good bye.

Okay, now I'm going to go give each of my fur babies a big hug. :)

It's never easy losing someone you love and to people who really love their dogs as much as you and many of us here, its like losing a family member. I honestly don't know how I'd live my day to day life without my girls but thankfully they are still young and if all goes well I'll have many years before their time comes, but I have lost dogs before and from time to time I still cry. There is nothing that I can say that will make it not hurt. The grief and pain is inevitable, maybe one of the few things in life that is beyond all doubt guaranteed. All things must come to an end and that is beyond your control. What is in your control is how they live their lives and the quality of what they have. Instead of focusing on their deaths, focus on their lives instead. Comfort yourself in knowing that they have good, happy lives and when its time that they had a peaceful end. Maybe you could keep a scrapbook or album of your dogs to always be able to look back on.

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Originally Posted by sajjw

I have four dogs and they are my life. They are my family. Virtually all my time is taken up caring for them, training, exercising, grooming etc. I love them so much that I worry excessively about how I'm going to cope when they die. It really scares me. I suppose it would be different if I had a lot of family or friends or hobbies to distract me but I don't have really, just my dogs. I suppose there is nothing to say really apart from "you'll just have to cope". Any advice gratefully received.

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How do your children factor into this?

[QUOTE=Doggyguy disagrees: What do her children have to do with her dogs?[/QUOTE]


Sorry you didn't like what I posted on another thread and followed me over here. You might want to actually read the threads before you comment and also read the rules of the site. Ask Me Help Desk - FAQ

I got one from him too, on another dog thread, before he even posted a single thing.

Someone didn't read the rules and is a bit sanctimonious.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

I got one from him too, on another dog thread, before he even posted a single thing.

Someone didn't read the rules and is a bit sanctimonious.

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Well, to the contrary - I think someone is back with another user name because someone has very careful put himself in a position of responding with comments so he/she can't get any reddies. Take a look.

Well, I have to say Judy, I agree.

No worries, he/she will be caught soon. ;)