Hiya Itex:
Very sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved doggie.
He sounds like a wonderful guy and like you were very attached to him, so no wonder you have to grieve for awhile over his passing on.
Pets are like family members, almost like children, to me. My oldest dog is a big german sheppard mutt and I am so attached to her that I was afraid I would really lose it, when she goes. She is 9 so won't live for too many more years. I decided to get a pup, last winter, and that way, when my big girl goes, I will still have my little girl (she's a mix of blue healer, german sheppard and border collie....what a cute little busy body she is!!!). I think she will extend the life of my older dog by keeping her more active. They really seem to love eachother (they greet eachother every morning and when they have been separated/away from eachother..... with a kiss!!).
Over the years I have had several dogs, some pure breds and others mixed breeds. All of them had thier own personalities and were a joy to raise. Once, a dog who I think I was more attached to than any other I have had before or since, was hit by a car and killed very suddenly. I was pregnant at the time and had already lost my first child, so I was very upset about losing my pet and extremely concerned that the emotional upheaval would cause me to lose another child.
I went out, the very night my dog was killed, and got a new pup. I figgered a pup would not replace my sweet lost dog but that I would have to pay attention to a pup, that a pup would keep me busy and give some breaks between my grieving over my other dog (because puppies are so darn cute and busy that you just have to smile, some of the time when you're around them
).
Anyhow, it worked. I was kept busy with my new puppy and although I did grieve a lot over my dear dog that died, I carried my baby to term and was blessed with a beautiful daughter. The new pup was 6 months old when my baby was born and I was very worried that, being a purebred german sheppard, she might be severely jealous of the new addition to our family. She was too....for about 5 minutes. After that, she became the greatest protector, play mate, adoring companion to my child that might ever have been imagined. She was not the same as my poor dog that passed away, different personality, not a mixed breed, etc but....she was a most loving and loyal friend, as any that could be wished for....and especially had an instinct it seemed to keep my child safe (maybe she sensed my intense worry of losing another child....my fear being very real??). All I can say is I would not want to be the one to hurt that child while within sight of that dog....it would have been suicide!!!
I guess the point of my little story here is that you will know when it's time to get another dog and even if that doesn't seem ok to do right now, keep it in the back of your mind, as a hope for the future. You sound like a wonderful pet owner....giving so much of yourself to your pet and appreciating and respecting what your pet gives back. People like you are the best pet owners and are so admirable. You put some pretty lousy pet owners to shame!! It's so hard to lose our very much loved animals but for me....I can now look back and just be thankful that I was blessed with such wonderful, truly unique and loving friends and with the chance to enjoy them and share with them, in my life. You will get there too, ITex, and hopefully, be busy training a sweet, new, adorable, busy, completely different personalitywise pup, who you will love and enjoy just as much as your old pal Behr. And he will always live in your heart, for ever and ever, no matter how much time passes.
((((((((((((ITex)))))))))))))))
Sela
