As some of you may remember we put our elderly lab to sleep a few weeks ago. We started the half hearted search for a new companion shortly afterwards. Currently we have a Pomeranian who is as sweet as can be. She has done relatively well although she did go from 12 pounds to 9.75 pounds since Sasha died.
Ok now the real story. My “heart dog” was my sheltie Calvin who died almost 6 years ago at 16 years old. I adore him to this day. I don’t count the days anymore but I don’t know that I will ever be truly over his loss. There are three wonderful pomeranian puppies available for adoption at a puppy rescue relatively nearby. They look like any one of them would be a wonderful pet. But they also have a sheltie puppy. She is a sable and white, not a tri like Calvin was. So I am thinking maybe get another sheltie instead. But then I say why not keep looking for a tri colored sheltie puppy and get the whole package? Which leads me to think that I am trying to recreate Calvin which obviously isn’t possible.
So, I guess the question is go with something totally different ie one of the pom pups perhaps or find a tri colored sheltie and see if I get lucky and get a dog almost as nice as Calvin, get the sable sheltie as its close but not so close as to make constant comparisons, or give it more time to sink in?
I vote sable sheltie.
I’m always a little ooged when people look for dogs that look just like their former dogs. I feel that they are almost certainly setting themselves up for disappointment when the other dog ultimately does not behave in the same way.
On the other hand, you really seem to love shelties as a breed. Maybe it’s time to bring a sheltie back into your life – albeit a sheltie that is different enough that it isn’t burdened with too many expectations.
Easy. Get the sable sheltie AND one of the Pom puppies!
That sounds like a great idea! Unfortunately my HOA will only allow two dogs per house. Here is the sable sheltie, as you can see there is a little more to her story but its not anything I couldn’t handle I don’t think. In the last pic on the bottom of the page there is a tri colored sheltie in the background and my heart gravitates toward him/her. I know, I am mental!
http://www.delawarepuppyrescue.com/animals/detail?AnimalID=1706239
Go with the Sheltie or just keep looking until you see a dog that you keep going back to. I’ve always wanted an airedale, but DH prefers GSD’s, so I was determined to get a big, shepherd mix type of dog and kept looking and looking at the rescues and shelters. One day I saw this funny looking little black terrier mix at the local shelter who I just kept going back to. It came down to choosing between him and a really beautiful female GSD mix.
I took the little black terrier, and in just 2 weeks I could not imagine my life wthout him. He is smart, well behaved, energertic, and is at my heel every second that I’m at home, even though DD is home with him all day. I can walk him off leash, he’s great around the horses, and I think he’s finally becoming a little more protective, as DH said he did bark at him yesterday while he was letting himself in the front door.
Your next heart dog will find you if you keep an open mind and go with your gut.
do you just perhaps like the tri-colored sheltie look? lots of people stick within certain breeds/colors and it’s not “just” to “recreate” their prior dog, it’s just because that’s what they like in a dog. People who have yellow lab after yellow lab. People who get black poodles after the loss of a black poodle. Then there are breeds that only come in one color, and if you like the breed and want to stick with it you can only get one color.
Pick the one who needs you the most, and you will find the one you most need.
See that’s just it, I don’t know if I just like that color or if I am trying to accomplish something that is impossible. When Calvin died we waited almost three months before getting another dog, the Pom we have now. I wasn’t really ready for another dog but rushed it because my lab was pining away so much. I even called the vet asking how long she would grieve and he said about two weeks. We were at the two month point when I called!
So we went to this farm that had shelties and poms both as those were the two breeds that I had it narrowed down to. I was holding a sable sheltie female that I had sort of picked out of the litter and a man that was also there shopping asked to hold her. I let him and two minutes later he bought her! So I was ready to leave without anything when our Pom emerged from nowhere and wiggled her butt and waved her paws. I picked her up and she licked my face like crazy. So we took her home as sort of the consolation prize. She is a wonderful dog and a great representative of the breed but I resented her at first for not being Calvin. That is long gone and I am happy to have her. The real ironic thing is the lab hated her for about a month. I guess she resented her as well.
That whole experience makes me think maybe its just too soon for any dog right now even though I was nowhere near as bonded with the lab as Calvin. He was a twice in a lifetime dog…yes I was lucky enough to have a heart dog as a kid as well.
I just had to put my lab to sleep three weeks ago. When we are ready for a new dog, I am sure I’ll gravitate to the ones that look just like him so that I can recreate him…but I know every dog is different, so I’m going the puppy to “pick” me when I go and see the litter. I say go and meet them all and see which personality you fall in love with. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what they look like - it’s about who they are 
Two years ago, we lost two elderly dogs within 6 days of each other. After giving the human family time to get over their loss, I got the go ahead from my DH (one of the dogs had been his beloved brittany), I started shopping on PetFinder, and passed on the information to him for followup on any that he liked. He had been in contact with some of the rescues when I found the two that we did adopt at a rescue in GA.
They were not the breed of dog that my DH really wanted, but he fell in love just by the photos, and brought Jenna and Cubby home a week later, after a long road trip, and spending hours with the whole litter to decide which pups he wanted.
The point to my rambling might be that when you see and/or meet the dog, your heart will let you know that this is the next member of your family.
I also agree that ultimately the personality of the dog is what works, not so much a specific breed or color.
As I am sure you already know, they are all different. Every time I lose a dog, I always wish I could just start over with that same dog, just like before. Each time, though, I fall in love with the new dog - even though the new one is always different. You’ll find things to love about whichever one you choose, though.
If it were me, I’d go interact with the available poms and the sheltie and just see if there is one that you like. If you really like the appearance of the tri-color sheltie, then by all means look for a tri-colored one. Don’t make the mistake of thinking, though, that the dog’s color will make it more like your old dog.
I would not rush into anything, do exactly what you want to do and something will just seem right whenever it happens.
It took me four years, after I lost my border collie to a rattler, to get my current little dog, a kind of dog I really would not have even contemplated at first and she is a super great dog, as I was ready for her then…
No matter what we get, if we are normal human beings, don’t have other problems, we will make the best of it and be glad it happened the way it did.
Remember, when getting your next companion, if in doubt, don’t.
You will know when the right one comes along.
A dog will be with you for many, many years.
I also like the shelties, tricolor and sable ones and by pure chance didn’t get one this time around, but may next time around.
Shelties are the only bred that I have never found one I am allergic to, at all.
The point to my rambling might be that when you see and/or meet the dog, your heart will let you know that this is the next member of your family.
well, you know, I think this is the worst way possible to pick a dog, and is a major reason why so many dogs end up in shelters- people randomly pick up “cute” dogs without considering the more important aspects to matching dogs to people. It’s very important to match a dog’s needs/characteristics to the family’s lifestyle or both will be miserable. Go to the shelter and pick out a cutey pie border collie mix your heart “lets you know you need” who needs 6+ hours of exercise a day when you can barely manage a 20 minute walk? not going to work. Pick out a snappy wild little hunting terrier your “heart” says you need when you have a cat who is going to suffer horribly from your choice? not going to work.
Research breeds carefully and DON’T pick the cute one in the corner just because it’s cute, make sure it’s personality and breed(s) match your lifestyle.
Most reputable breeders won’t let you “pick” your pup out of the litter, either, they interview you in detail and select the pup for you. I’d be thinking “bad breeder” if they invited me to come pick, esp. if they had more than one litter on the ground at the same time.
I should have known I could count on the COTH enablers! I was giving the whole liking the look of the tri colored sheltie the bestsome thought and there may be some merit to that. Without compare my favorite colored horses are the dark bay/black ones. My heart horse is my first foal and the only way she could be any more beautiful is if she had more white on her! Hmmmm. Maybe I am not mental, just opinionated? Thanks!
[QUOTE=wendy;4306845]
well, you know, I think this is the worst way possible to pick a dog, and is a major reason why so many dogs end up in shelters- people randomly pick up “cute” dogs without considering the more important aspects to matching dogs to people. It’s very important to match a dog’s needs/characteristics to the family’s lifestyle or both will be miserable. Go to the shelter and pick out a cutey pie border collie mix your heart “lets you know you need” who needs 6+ hours of exercise a day when you can barely manage a 20 minute walk? not going to work. Pick out a snappy wild little hunting terrier your “heart” says you need when you have a cat who is going to suffer horribly from your choice? not going to work.
Research breeds carefully and DON’T pick the cute one in the corner just because it’s cute, make sure it’s personality and breed(s) match your lifestyle.
Most reputable breeders won’t let you “pick” your pup out of the litter, either, they interview you in detail and select the pup for you. I’d be thinking “bad breeder” if they invited me to come pick, esp. if they had more than one litter on the ground at the same time.[/QUOTE]
Wendy, of course you are right, but there are people on this board we would all give this advice to, and people who we know we don’t have to.
pick the personality that suits you…dont get stuck on color.
also decide what you want this dog to do…sheltie better choice to follow you to the barn and “work” with you
Pom probably better to greet you at home
You are probably right but don’t tell my pom that! She is the ultimate barn dog complete with helping herself from the manure pile and rolling in anything stinky she can find. I have started carrying her to the car when its wet out because she insists on going right through the middle of the mud puddle. We have a whole household of confused animals. All three of my cats go outside in the morning and pee in the grass beside the dog, used to be dogs. Its a sight to see.
As others have said, keep looking until you find the dog that you really want. When I bought my liver Dal, I wanted a black and white. After having my liver, that’s the only color I wanted. Then I found a cute little JRT that curled up in my lap. Unfortunately I hadn’t done enough research and she was probably not the dog to have along with my Dal. I did though and both lived to very long ages. Although I loved my JRT, I never bonded with her like my Dal. When I lost my Dal, I ended up rescuing another liver Dal. She reminded me in many ways of the one I had lost, but you know…she wasn’t him and I never felt about her like I had my other one. My current puppy (a Border Terrier) picked me out and I have found she is my soulmate. This time I had done a lot of research on many breeds that I liked, including shelties, but she was the one who I ended up with. I think although we love all our dogs, every now and then you get that special bond. So don’t try to recreate based on color or breed. Just keep your heart available and be open and research and the right dog will be there. It may be a sheltie, it may be a mixed breed, or it could be very dissimilar to your boy. Just be clear in your head what you would NOT live with.
I’ve actually been in a similar situation. I had a wonderful tri female Sheltie - Kacey. She was a once in a lifetime Sheltie and I absolutely adored her. She was almost 16 when I lost her. Her kids (from her only litter) are almost 15 now. I have wanted another Sheltie to train and trial for some time now.
A friend of mine had an Aussie litter that is descended from my first Aussie. I said for months before the litter was born that I didn’t want a pup because I was waiting to find a Sheltie. When all was said and done, I brought a little blue boy home and I don’t regret it at all. We just had a special connection. He is a very special guy who is extremely clever and makes me laugh
I am still waiting for a Sheltie pup. I found a breeder whose dogs I am interested in and I am now on a waiting list. At first I specified that I wanted a tri girl, but a friend of mine pointed out that I was still comparing tri Shelties to my Kacey and that no Sheltie would live up to that standard - it’s not fair to the pup to saddle her with those expectations. So while I still want a girl, I am open to other colors if the pup appears to have the temperament and personality I am looking for. I love the look of tri Shelties, but I have to remind myself that there will never be another dog like Kacey, and enjoy each dog as an individual. I think I have finally let go of the idea of getting another dog just like Kacey and I’m really ready for a new pup
Good Luck!
Not sure if it’s this way for everyone, but it can be bittersweet to have a new dog that’s very similar to a past beloved one. While you’ll adore the dog, the constant reminder can be sad at times and sometimes it’s hard not to compare the new identical one to the past lost one. And it’s not fair to a new dog to have a legend to try to live up to.
However, a lot of people also seem to do great by getting almost identical dogs all the time. And if you’re stuck on certain breeds it’s hard to get them looking any different anyways.
When I “dog shop” I make a mental list of exactly what I want in a dog and then shop from there without any preconceived ideas for breed, color or type. I go out and meet dogs and ignore cuteness factors (as much as pssible) and find the puppy that fits my ideal in it’s personality and type. Sometimes it’s a breed or mix I never would have considered before meeting the actual pup, LOL!
Also consider personality in regards to how it will get along with your Pom, who sounds like she’s grieving the loss of her buddy.
I have to say Poms are cute as heck though, I’m not a small dog lover usually but Poms are my fave small dog. And I’ve never met a stupid Sheltie. Smart little dudes.
