Decided to get another pet after loss.

How does it feel owning a new puppy after losing my beautiful companion of 12yrs.

My beautiful cocker spaniel Carrie. 

I feel a bag of mixed emotions,  from guilt too happiness. 

Sad too that my beautiful Carrie is no longer here to share in the fun of having a new puppy running around the house.

I get very emotional whenever thoughts of my little cocker come into my mind.

When this happens when I am holding my little Jack Russell  Rosie, I let her know it is not her making me feel sad.

I hold her close and speak softly into her ears, close to my face.

She looks at me as if she is listening to every word I tell her.

A bag of mixed emotions which is held inside a lucky dip.

I have no idea which emotions shall arise each day.

They get picked out of the blue , triggered by whatever is going on in my day.

I often find myself comparing my new puppy to how my beautiful cocker spaniel acted when I was training her.

Yet it is impossible to do.

Two completely different breeds and temperaments yet similar in every way. 

I teach my new puppy in exactly the same way I taught my cocker spaniel. 

Their learning and picking up their new skills is just the same amount of time for each.

There is no difference there, I feel it is down to who the owner is and the patience they spend with their pet.

I knew before I decided to eventually get my new puppy that I was setting my life to one year to dedicate myself towards her learning.

She was top priority as was my cocker, who went onto gain her medals in training.

I shall not put my new puppy forward for her medals I want her to be just herself with myself able to control her bad behaviours.

So far so good.

I am happy and sad and still very much miss my cocker spaniel. 

Rosie shall be more independent rather than cling to only myself. 

I shall give her more space to find herself to how she shall turn out to be.

With my cocker spaniel I tended to treat her like a child.

I do love to nurture and love animals especially dogs.

I know my boundaries to save me from the unbearable facts of life.

My new puppy is my dog not my child as my cocker spaniel was to me.

Rosie is a family member who is loved very much and has all the love any pet can have.

It is so different yet similar too.

A bit like humans we are all born with our bodies yet we are all different. 

I am so glad I managed to go and find a puppy who came walking towards me when I got on the grass along with her siblings to see which one picked me out.

Rosie picked me out she licked my face all over and ran around and around me.

So Rosie it was meant to be the one who chose me.

Making the decision was not easy it took months of decision.

Not something I did on a whim.

I knew what was involved. 

Lots of sleepless nights.

Lots of mishaps in the house and rearranging the house to suit tiny sharp teeth.

Also little objects all put away from a tiny little mouth to swallow.

She had fun getting her wash she tries to swim, with her being miniature jack Russell puppy she fits into my kitchen sink.

I found out next day that I am allergic to her shampoo. 

I was covered in red spots very itchy indeed.

Her harness is xxs yet 2inches to large for her.

I place it on her and hold it in place to get her use to it.

The day shall come soon enough of which she shall be wearing it.

She has a lovely dog carrier seat with clip too seatbelt.

Cannot wait to see  her reaction to this.

I take her out into the car and sit her in it and play with her favourite toys.

One day the driving the car shall begin and she wont notice  it moving being use to her new seat.

She sleeps in her crate at night.

I do not believe in locking any domestic animal  into a cage.

She sleeps from 10pm until 7am with first meal at 9am followed by 2 more meals.

With training treats in between. 

She eats dry food , I did put jelly meat added but she now prefers dry food on its own.

She knaws away at marrow bones to help her teeth grow stronger. 

Ouch and they are.

She can sit, go down and wait and bring her toys to me.

It takes 5mins at each mealtimes  to play with her teaching her these skills using her mealtime food.

If you do think you are not ready then listen to your heart.

One day like myself it may just happen or may not.

I send you my deepest condolences to you for your pet loss or congratulations if you have your new puppy or rescue pet.

Annie.